Hotels
The best hotels in the Algarve: nine places to stay, west cliffs to east lagoons
At Ponta da Piedade outside Lagos, the cliffs rise from the sea in towers of gold and ochre, riddled with caves and arches carved by the waves over thousands of years. Small boats nose in between them, close enough to touch the rock. Further east, the coast flattens into lagoons and sandbars. The Algarve is two coastlines in one, and your hotel decides which you see more of.
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The Algarve is Portugal's southernmost region, a strip of coast about 150 kilometres long from Sagres in the west to the Spanish border in the east. West of Albufeira the coast is dramatic, with cliffs of gold and red, sea caves such as Benagil and small coves between rock walls. East of Faro it is flat, with lagoons, sandbars and the Ria Formosa nature park.
The Algarve is a long-standing British favourite for summer holidays, golf and winter sun, with flights of under three hours. The sea is the Atlantic, so the water is fresher than the Mediterranean, but the beaches are wide and clean. Faro airport sits midway along the coast, and each end is about an hour's drive. We have chosen nine hotels across the west, the middle and the east. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
Short answer: where to stay in the Algarve
For cliffs, caves and a lively town, stay in Lagos or Carvoeiro in the west. Albufeira has the most life and the most beaches, but also the most tourism. Families and golfers do well around Quinta do Lago in the east, and Tavira suits anyone who wants a calm, authentically Portuguese small town.
Best for romance: Vila Vita Parc
Best for families: Martinhal Sagres
Best for a first visit: Tivoli Carvoeiro
Best for value: The Magnolia Hotel
Best for design: Bela Vista Hotel & Spa
How to choose a hotel in the Algarve
West or east: the west has cliffs, caves and waves, the east has flat sandy beaches and calm lagoons. Faro sits in between.
The Atlantic is fresh: the water is cooler than the Mediterranean, even in summer. Choose a hotel with a heated pool outside July and August.
Hire a car: the best coves and villages are spread along the coast, and buses are infrequent.
Albufeira after dark: the centre and The Strip are known for summer nightlife. Stay outside the centre if you want calm.
Golf: the Algarve has some of Europe's best courses, especially around Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago. Book tee times with your hotel.
The building
Martinhal Sagres from the outside.
The west: Sagres, Lagos and Portimão
The westernmost stretch has wild cliffs, surf beaches at Sagres and the lively town of Lagos, with an old quarter, harbour and some of the Algarve's loveliest coves.
Martinhal Sagres: built for families
Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort stands by the beach near Sagres, at the south-western tip of Europe, with villas and rooms in gardens, several pools and a huge programme for children of all ages.
It is our family pick, with everything designed around children, from a nursery to teenage activities, while adults get a spa and good food. It is right for families who want nature and space. Sagres is often windy and the water cold, but the beaches are beautiful and nearly empty outside summer, and Cape St Vincent is a short drive away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Martinhal Sagres
The view
The view from Cascade Wellness Resort.
Cascade Wellness Resort: by the cliffs at Lagos
Cascade Wellness Resort sits on the cliffs at Ponta da Piedade outside Lagos, with large gardens, several pools, a spa and sea-view rooms. The coves below are reached by steps or by boat.
It is a strong pick for couples and families who want a spa, space and Lagos ten minutes away, and it is ideal for walking the clifftop trail. The beach below is small and a walk away. Lagos old town has good restaurants and bars, and boat trips into the caves leave from the harbour.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cascade Wellness Resort
From the air
Bela Vista from the air.
Bela Vista: a mansion on Praia da Rocha
Bela Vista Hotel & Spa occupies an old mansion on the cliff above Praia da Rocha in Portimão, its walls covered in blue and white azulejos, the Portuguese painted tiles. Rooms are modern and bright, looking over the beach.
This is our design pick, blending old and new with real confidence. It appeals to couples who want a small luxury hotel with history and the beach right below. The street outside is busy in summer, but the hotel is an island of calm, and its restaurant and terrace above the beach are lovely at sunset.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Bela Vista Hotel
The pool
The pool at Tivoli Carvoeiro.
The middle: Carvoeiro, Porches and Albufeira
Between Portimão and Albufeira lie some of the best-known coves, including Benagil with its famous sea cave. Albufeira is the largest resort on the coast, with an old town, beaches and plenty of nightlife.
Tivoli Carvoeiro: on the cliff by Algar Seco
Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort sits on the cliffs outside the village of Carvoeiro, close to the rock formations of Algar Seco, with a pool, spa and sea-view rooms.
It makes an easy first choice, putting you in the most beautiful stretch of coast with Carvoeiro and the boat trips to Benagil close by. It is well suited to couples and families. The beach is not directly below, but Carvoeiro's village beach is a stroll away, with fish restaurants around its little square.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tivoli Carvoeiro
The pool
The pool at Vila Vita Parc.
Vila Vita Parc: gardens on the clifftop
Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa sits on the cliffs at Porches, with extensive gardens, several pools, a spa, restaurants and steps down to the beach beneath the cliffs.
It gets our vote as the romantic pick and one of the best-known luxury hotels in the Algarve. It suits couples and families who want space, service and a choice of restaurants in one place. Rates are high and the resort is large, but the gardens bring calm.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Vila Vita Parc
The lobby
The lobby at Grande Real Santa Eulália.
Grande Real Santa Eulália: the beach east of Albufeira
Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort & Hotel Spa stands by Santa Eulália beach east of Albufeira, with large pools, a spa and sea-view rooms.
It is a good fit for travellers who want Albufeira close by without staying in the centre, and it works for couples and families. The beach is long and lovely but popular in summer. Albufeira is half an hour's walk along the coast or a short taxi ride.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grande Real Santa Eulália
The beach
The beach at Pine Cliffs.
Pine Cliffs: golf and pines above the beach
Pine Cliffs Hotel stands on the red cliffs above Falésia beach east of Albufeira, with pine woods, a golf course, several pools and a lift down to the sand.
It works best for families and golfers who want a big resort with everything in one place. Falésia is one of the longest beaches in the Algarve. It is expensive and large, but there is room for everyone, and the kids' club and golf academy make a week easy.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pine Cliffs
The pool
The pool at The Magnolia Hotel.
The east: Quinta do Lago and Tavira
East of Faro lies the golfing enclave of Quinta do Lago beside the Ria Formosa nature park, and further east the handsome town of Tavira, with its Roman bridge, churches and island beaches.
The Magnolia Hotel: retro and good value in Quinta do Lago
The Magnolia Hotel sits in Quinta do Lago, with a colourful retro interior, a pool and rooms around a garden. The beach and the Ria Formosa lagoon are a short ride away.
It takes our value pick, putting you in one of the Algarve's priciest areas at a sensible rate. It is made for couples and families who want golf and beach. It is not on the beach, but the hotel lends bikes, and cycle paths along the lagoon are rich in birdlife.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Magnolia Hotel
The building
Pousada Tavira from the outside.
Pousada Tavira: an old convent in town
Pousada Convento de Tavira occupies an old convent on the hill in Tavira, with cloisters, a garden pool and rooms looking over the town's rooftops.
It is ideal for travellers who want an authentic Portuguese town with history, restaurants and boats to the beaches of Ilha de Tavira. It works well for couples who want calm and history. It is not on the beach, but island boats leave from town, and in the evening the streets down to the river are quiet and the restaurants serve fish from the lagoon.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pousada Convento de Tavira
When to book
Summer: July and August are hot and busy, especially in Albufeira. Book early.
Spring and autumn: April to June and September to October are the best months for many, warm and calm.
Winter: November to March is mild and quiet, with low rates and good conditions for golf and walking.
Hotels in the Algarve: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Algarve?
Lagos and Carvoeiro for cliffs and caves, Albufeira for life and beaches, and Quinta do Lago and Tavira for golf, lagoons and calm.
Where is the Benagil cave?
Between Carvoeiro and Albufeira. It is reached by boat or kayak from Benagil beach, or on boat trips from Portimão and Carvoeiro.
Is the sea warm in the Algarve?
It is the Atlantic, so the water is fresher than the Mediterranean, even in summer. It is warmest in August and September, and often a little warmer in the east.
Do you need a car in the Algarve?
To see the coast, yes. Buses link the towns but rarely reach the beaches, and the coastal train skips them too.
Is the Algarve good in winter?
Yes, for golf, walking and mild weather. The sea is cold, so it is not a beach holiday, but many hotels have heated pools and spas.