Praia do Peneco(Praia do Túnel, Praia do Tunel)

Located within the municipality of Albufeira on the southern coast of the Algarve, Praia do Tunel - also known as Praia do Peneco - is a small but wide golden sand beach with many rocky formations and considered the most photographed beach in the town of Albufeira.  This famous beach is positioned below the steep cliffs and just adjacent to the larger and more well-known Praia dos Pescadores on its eastern side.  A jutting rock splits Praia do Tunel from Praia dos Pescadores and has a beautiful backdrop of golden limestone cliffs, hidden caves, coastal vegetation, and many oceanfront buildings, including homes, shops, beach bars, luxurious hotels, and upscale restaurants, which together provide Instagram-worthy views of the vast North Atlantic Ocean.  The beach got its name from a 20-meter-long tunnel that connects the town square and beach through the cliffs that run beside the tourism office in Albufeira's downtown.  It is worth noting that the rugged cliffs at the beach are subject to erosion, so we recommend being careful while below, as there is a possibility of falling rocks and stones.  Praia do Tunel has been awarded the Blue Flag certification due to its cleanliness and water quality standards.

Praia do Tunel offers many amenities, including seasonal lifeguards, restrooms, showers, sun loungers, parasols, beach equipment rental facilities, a tunnel, a nearby outdoor escalator, a lift, wooden ramps, stairs, and many restaurants.

Praia do Tunel is a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, walking, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, surfing, jet-skiing, parasailing, stand-up paddleboarding, and hiking.  If you are planning to go into the water, there is a safe area to swim, but we recommend being cautious as water is known to have unpredictable rip currents.  The water near the beach is shallow, which is ideal for canoes, kayaks, pedalos, and small boats.  If you enjoy surfing, the beach provides great opportunities for surfers due to its frequent windy weather.  In addition, visitors can rent beach equipment or book kayak and boat tours.  Snorkelers and divers may spot an array of marine life, making it a fascinating spot for nature enthusiasts.  Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  The beach hosts numerous musical concerts, festivals, New Year's Eve celebrations, and many other live shows throughout the year.   The beach attracts a large influx of visitors due to its convenient location, especially during the summer season.  Dogs are not allowed here, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.

Praia do Tunel offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Praia do Tunel is easy - the beach has a few street parking spots located at Esplanada Dr. Frutuoso da Silva 9, Albufeira.  Alternatively, another free parking lot at R. Maria Teresa Semedo de Azevedo 1, Albufeira provides easy access to the beach.  After parking, visitors can access this beach through a tunnel located at the end of the pedestrian street, Rua 5 de Outubro.  Otherwise, from the western side of the Old Town, visitors can use stairs down to the beach or use a modern elevator at the end of Rua Latino Coelho.

Interestingly, there is a walkway at the westernmost point of the beach that ends at the cave known as the Xorino Grotto. Many legends from the 13th century claim that this cave was used as a refuge by the Moors after the Christian conquest of Albufeira.

There are many attractions near Praia do Tunel.  Aqualand Algarve is a family-friendly water park that features many thrilling water slides, wave pools, a lazy river, and splash pools.  It offers many other amenities, including restaurants, snack bars, picnic areas, sun loungers, parasol rental facilities, and locker rental services.  Zoomarine Algarve is a popular marine theme park that offers interesting dolphin shows, sea lion presentations, tropical bird performances, and educational exhibitions focused on protecting marine life and promoting environmental awareness.  In addition, visitors can also enjoy a mini-roller coaster, carousel, giant wheel, water slides, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities.  The Castle of Paderne is a well-preserved 12th-century Moorish fortress that features crenelated walls, towers, and a central courtyard.  It offers a unique glimpse into medieval history and provides panoramic views of the town of Albufeira and the Quarteira River. 

Marina de Albufeira is a family-friendly recreational area with many amenities, including restaurants, bars, swimming pools, shops, a promenade, and water sports activities.  Visitors can enjoy boat trips and stroll along the promenade.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Albufeira Old Town is located in the central part of the city and is well-known for its narrow cobblestone streets, buildings adorned with colorful trim, churches, museums, and traditional Portuguese architecture.  In addition, it offers a unique blend of history, culture, dining, and entertainment, making it a must-visit destination for tourists exploring the Algarve region of Portugal.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants on Praia do Tunel.  Roca Beach Bar & Restaurante is right on the beach and serves amazing salads, soups, pasta, enchiladas, burgers, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Restaurante El Rancho offers an outdoor seating area and serves delicious steaks, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Flavours is another beachfront restaurant that has outdoor seating areas and serves amazing soup, salads, paninis, pasta, seafood, meat, pork, and poultry dishes.  Restaurante Louisiana serves amazing salads, steaks, sandwiches, seafood, meat, poultry, and pork dishes.   If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Restaurante Aquario serves salads, pasta, enchiladas, burgers, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for nearby Praia do Tunel hotels, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Grand Muthu Oura View Beach Club is three minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness center, a spa with a heated indoor pool, and a restaurant.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Monica Isabel Beach Club, which offers several amenities, including an outdoor pool, a kid’s pool, and a restaurant.   Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Adriana Beach Club Hotel Resort, which has many amenities, including four outdoor pools, a spa, tennis courts, a fitness center, sport fields, a mini-golf facility, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star Villas Barrocal, which offers a few amenities, including an outdoor pool, a game room, and a restaurant.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Hapimag Resort Albufeira offers several amenities, including an outdoor pool, a spa, and a restaurant.