| Type: | parish |
| Official Name: | Guia |
| Region: | Algarve |
| Cim: | Algarve |
| District: | Faro |
| Municipality: | Albufeira |
| Coordinates: | 37.126°N -8.299°W |
| Area Total: | 26.80 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 4376 |
| Patron: | Nossa Senhora da Visitação |
| Area Code: | 289 |
| Postal Code: | 8200 |
Guia (pronounced as /pt/) is a town and civil parish in the Portuguese municipality of Albufeira in the Algarve, 5km (03miles) from the coast. The population in 2011 was 4,376,[1] in an area of 26.80 km².[2]
Oral tradition suggest that the name came from the erection of the hermitage to Nossa Senhora da Guia, where the Virgin appeared to the people. Ecclesiastical records from the Bishop of the Algarve indicate that owing to the sanctuary, the parish was created in 1617.
This old settlement is located on the flank of a short mount, the Cerro de São Sebastião, with expansion occurring in the second quarter of 20th century. Among the more important localities of the parish are the settlements of Vale Parra, Vale Rabelho, Montes Juntos, Vale Verde, Cortelhas, Vale da Ursa, Tavagueira and Álamos. 4.6 kilometers to the north of the town of Guia by road is the town of Algoz, in the neighboring municipality of Silves. The coast is 5 kilometers away and the nearest beaches are Lourenço and Galé.
The population of the civil parish has maintained an agricultural tradition, based on a rural society, producing fig, carob, almond, vineyards, wheat, barley and rye, in addition to a wide assortment of fresh vegetables. Guia is also home to Algarve Shopping, a large shopping centre with hypermarket (Continente), shops of a variety of nationally and internationally renowned brands, restaurants and a 9 screen cinema. The civil parish of Guia is home to Zoomarine a theme park with a primary aim; to educate about the seas and the wildlife within them. Guia is known for its numerous chicken piri-piri restaurants, and is known locally and nationally as "The Capital of Chicken"; the very first chicken piri-piri was supposedly grilled here in 1974, by José Carlos Ramires, whose eponymous restaurant is still open today. Situated on the N125 (the main east to west road on the Algarve with the exception of the A22 Motorway) the town is a busy but nevertheless attractive place.