The best hotels in the Algarve for a stylish stay in the Portuguese sunshine
There's never a bad time to visit Portugal's sun-kissed southern region, in our opinion. In the summer, the days are long and dry, and in the winter you can generally expect to find a mild 18 degrees Celsius. If you're planning a trip right now or looking for travel inspiration, you'll want to see our pick of the best hotels in the Algarve.
Lisbon and Porto are other Portuguese favourites we love throughout the year, but whether you're searching for where is hot in April or the best beach holidays in Europe, the Algarve is a region that certainly won't disappoint.
The Algarve is an anomaly and a seeming contradiction: chic but windswept, upmarket but elemental. Many people flock here for the golf courses alone (there are more than 40, some of them world-class), and celebrities are often spotted hanging out in its many exclusive retreats and glitzy beach clubs.
But there’s so much more to this compelling place than these, including 82 Blue Flag beaches (one of the largest concentrations in all of Europe), sprawling natural parks to explore, and a striking coastline of striated cliffs, sea pillars, rock arches and hidden grottos.
The best Algarve hotels seek inspiration from these natural wonders without trying to outshine them. Many are hideaways from the world – perfect for couples and those looking for a wellbeing-focused escape, or perhaps simply a little ‘me’ time in a place where worries and woes disappear as if by magic.
Others are extensive five-star, all-inclusive resorts with something to amuse and entertain all ages and tastes; some include villas that are ideal for larger gatherings of family or friends, combining space and privacy with access to hotel facilities for the ultimate in laid-back, flexible breaks.
And as well as being popular for its year-round sunshine and mild winter temperatures, the Algarve is less than three hours’ flight time from the UK, making it a brilliant choice for long weekends as well as lengthier getaways.
Feeling inspired? Check out Red's pick of the best hotels in the Algarve.
Pine Cliffs Resort, Albufeira
Set at the top of a red sandstone cliff in grounds scented by pines, this vast resort embraces hotel rooms and suites, villas and townhouses in seven different properties, meaning there’s something for everyone. When you’re not lounging on Pine Cliffs Resort's private section of Falésia Beach (voted among the world’s best in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards), you can connect with the local heritage, cuisine and landscape via concierge-crafted activities and itineraries that include learning about azulejo tiles and handicrafts.
There are plenty of lovely restaurants to visit in the area, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better selection than there is on-site: O Pescador is the place for fresh fish overlooking the ocean, Zest offers healthy bites, Maré is the relaxed beach eatery, while Piri Piri Steakhouse does exactly what it says on the tin. There’s also an on-site cooking school with lessons in local and Michelin-starred cuisine, a golf course, an Annabel Croft tennis academy and a state-of-the-art spa.
Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa, Porches
Dining is unforgettable at this member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World portfolio: as well as a two-Michelin-starred restaurant among its own eateries, Vila Vita Parc offers guests the chance to eat off-site at venues including the Vila Vita Biergarten & Butcher authentic Bavarian beer garden in the nearby village of Porches, and the Praia Dourada with its chill-out lounge on the sand.
Overlooking a romantic little bay, this full-on resort also has extensive golf amenities including a clifftop driving range, fantastic family facilities and accommodation including villas with private pools and up to five bedrooms. You'll also be spoilt for choice when it comes to off-site experiences, that include everything from art classes and tile-making workshops to wine tastings and classic car tours.
Anantara Vilamoura, Quarteira
This five-star minimalist sanctuary 15 minutes inland of the iconic Falésia Beach is the perfect place to sip Veuve Clicquot champagne in poolside cabanas, indulge in ancient Mediterranean and Ayurvedic therapies in the sleek spa, and hop aboard a daily shuttle to Purobeach Vilamoura beach club with its DJ sessions.
But there’s plenty to keep you busy at Anantara Vilamoura should you wish: the cookery school runs visits to Loulé market to shop for ingredients for Algarvian dishes such as cataplana, while the ‘Experience Gurus’ will book you the likes of vineyard visits, horse-back expeditions and hot-air balloon rides over orange groves. If you come as a family, there are dance and football academies and other activities for kids and teens.
Conversas de Alpende, Santa Rita
The name gives it away: ‘Porch Conversations’ is an intimate retreat with charming, hands-on hosts happy to kick back and shoot the breeze with guests. Nestled in orchard-dotted grounds in the eastern Algarve, a five-minute drive from the vast wild sweep of the Praia da Fábrica, this low-rise farmhouse lures with a shimmering saltwater swimming pool lined with loungers and cabanas.
The decor at Conversas de Alpende has more than a touch of Ibiza-chic about it, with lots of raffia and weathered woods, but the delicious cuisine is classic Portuguese. Plum spots are the treehouses with their Atlantic views and romantic pool-side cabins with an outdoor shower. There’s also a spacious family apartment for up to six, with a handy kitchenette and jacuzzi on the terrace.
Octant Vila Monte, Moncarapacho
Boho chic abounds at this rural spot 15 minutes inland of the Praia da Fuseta river-beach between Faro and Tavira. Airy rooms and suites with mainly white decor include family options, or Octant Vila Monte also has the exclusive, state-of-the-art Vila Indigo with its private pool, that's perfect for multigenerational holidays or get-togethers with friends.
A treatment hut, two pools and two restaurants beckon, and you can even do the rounds of the fruit and vegetable gardens to help pick the ingredients in your supper. The lunar cycle is taken seriously here, too: depending on when you stay, you can sign up for new moon stargazing and full moon hikes to the mountains to observe nocturnal wildlife. Other unique activities include private boat trips to Fuzeta Island, traditional pottery masterclasses and guided tours to discover the region's impressive salt production.
Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort Hotel, Sagres
Overlooking the beach of the same name within a protected national park, Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort has stylish rooms, suites and villas offering natural simplicity that allows it to blend organically into its remarkable setting. The vast grounds give kids scope to roam, and there are brilliant sports academies, kids’ clubs, special teen activities and a watersports centre for wind-surfing, kayaking and SUP.
Meanwhile, adults can retreat to the spa with its organic treatments and outdoor Pilates happy in the knowledge that’s there’s a food-delivery service from all three restaurants, plus a deli and wine shop. Tempting activities include Jeep safaris, visits to the Fortaleza sea fort and tuk-tuk tours of Sagres.
Octant Praia Verde, Castro Marim
Hidden amidst the pine trees 10 minutes from the beach, the cool and contemporary Octant Praia Verde is a place to immerse yourself in nature, with woodland walks and alfresco yoga. It’s another good choice for families, featuring suites with kitchenettes, a kids’ pool separate to the main saltwater pool, a complimentary kids’ club and delicious wood-fired pizzas in its modern-rustic restaurant, where you’ll also encounter dishes from the Josper grill or cooked in clay pots.
The congenial staff will set you up with all manner of activities, from oyster tastings and secluded picnics to horse-riding and nature safaris. Adventurers will also love the opportunity to embark on a 'Skyxpedition', soaking up the beauty of the Algarve from the sky.
Quinta Do Lago Country Club, Almancil
In the midst of the Ria Formosa nature reserve with its pine woods, canals, marshes and islands, Quinta Do Lago Country Club is part of an exclusive resort of Algarve hotels and villas that's loved by celebrities.
Accommodation comes in the form of light-flooded apartments with up to three bedrooms, and there are beachfront fish restaurants, a tennis centre and a lake-sports centre hosting sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and eco-tours along the Ria Formosa. This is also a great spot for some blissful solitude – perhaps hiking or running to the sound of seabirds above the long golden Atlantic beach. Just don't be surprised if you bump into a few big-name footballers and actors along the way...
Conrad Algarve, Almancil
Another option within the Ria Formosa Natural Park, this airy contemporary resort has rich heritage and design. Built to resemble an 18th-century palace, Conrad Algarve has a local tuberaria flower and filigree motif throughout and a focus on the outdoors, including at its serviced and consistently buzzy Beach Club.
This is a great choice for foodies – one of its restaurants is Michelin-starred, and you can get hands-on learning about regional food and drink with the likes of cataplana masterclasses, market visits with a chef, vineyard trips, and oyster or olive-oil tastings. On-site you can focus on your wellbeing in the holistic spa, and if you’re here as a family, there’s a great kids’ club too.
Domes Lake Resort, Vilamoura
Another hotel handy for Falésia Beach is the sleek Domes Lake Resort, tailor-made for those looking for an active holiday. Guests can pick from sailing, snorkelling trips, diving and golf at five world-class courses located just minutes away, and then unique local experiences including clam- and oyster-picking, bird-watching and guided tours through the channels of the Ria Formosa reserve with its fishing communities.
Of course, you can relax to your heart’s content here, too: beside the beach-like pool with its natural sandy bottom, in the sprawling spa and in eateries including Makris, a ‘floating’ restaurant on an esplanade on the lake, and Topos that serves excellent neo-Greek seafood. Those travelling with a brood appreciate the kids’ club and apartments with kitchenettes.
Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort, Carvoeiro
Picnics and candlelit dinners in a clifftop garden and sipping sundowners in the Sky Bar are among the many memorable things you can do at Tivoli Carvoeiro, a glossy contemporary option that's perfect for families, couple and friends alike.
It’s a great place for a wellbeing break, with a Natura Bissé spa including a steam room, indoor pool, bespoke fitness programmes, personal training, yoga and meditative walks along the breathtaking Seven Hanging Valleys trails. The outdoor pool has splendid views of the ocean, cliffs and sea stacks, and there are several alluring restaurants including One, which showcases local wines. Golf-lovers can also avail of the hotel's shuttle service to reach the many nearby courses.
Hospedaria, Alvisquer
This 1917-built rural tavern now oozes rustic chic in five suites with neutral hues and warm natural materials offsetting concrete floors and ceilings. Some have outdoor showers, and one has a sitting room with a fireplace.
Reserved for ages 12 years and up, Hospedaria is a retreat from the world, with an outdoor plunge pool (heated in winter), an honesty bar and even a resident donkey, Ernesto, who you can wash, brush and feed. The owners offer tuk-tuk rides to the beach, mountains and historic cities, with picnics and beach umbrella provided, or you can rent a Vespa and head off under your own steam. One experience you certainly make time for, however, is dinner at nearby Pensão Agrícola that can be arranged upon prior request.
Quinta dos Perfumes, Tavira
On the site of 1950s factory that distilled mallows (malva) to produce fragrant essential oils, this citrus farm is now a stylish hideaway called Quinta dos Perfumes, where you can swim in an outdoor saltwater pool tucked away inside the orange groves.
You can also kick back in a cabana by the vast lawn, eat delicious light meals based on produce from the organic kitchen garden (there’s no restaurant, but there is a bar service) and borrow a bike to discover the wildlife that visits the property, including hares, partridges, foxes and eagles. All of the bright and stylish rooms come with lovely views of the sea or gardens, and include studios with kitchenettes that can sleep up to five people.
Grand House, Vila Real de Santo António
At the less-visited eastern end of the Algarve, at the border with Spain, this Relais & Châteaux property has a Roaring Twenties feel thanks to its Belle Epoque architectural details and Art Deco and colonial touches. At Grand House, there's a time capsule of a bar with a vintage mahogany counter, live jazz and mixologist-crafted Negronis and absinthe cocktails to sip as the sea breeze floats in from the open balconies.
The Grand Salon restaurant is equally atmospheric, or there’s the waterfront Grand Beach Club restaurant on the private beach 3km from the hotel, serving modern comfort food with a Portuguese twist, from ceviche to Iberian black pork ribs.
Casa Mãe, Lagos
This fun and lively transformation of an abandoned seaside estate in the historic port of Lagos offers accommodation with three different vibes: boho-chic cabanas with hammocks and outdoor showers, vintage Heritage Suites in the characterful 19th-century estate house looking down over the vegetable garden, and cosy minimalist rooms in the most modern building.
This is a place run very much with sustainability in mind, with home-grown seasonal vegetables and an army of 200 chickens providing eggs, plus close relationships with local suppliers including cured-meat makers, a goats-cheese artisan, winemakers, an olive-oil maker and a seafood lady. Wellness retreats and creative residencies are hosted here from time to time, and there’s a lovely outdoor pool.
You Might Also Like
