The nicest places to sleep in the Portuguese Algarve
After many years Spain to have fully explored (don't panic, we won't stop there) is now Portugal it's your turn. We were already 'up' Porto en Lisbon, but we had kind of forgotten about the Algarve until now. We collected a lot of nice places to sleep and promise to keep adding to the list. Portugal, here Bart comes!
Not unimportant: make sure to include the list of the most beautiful/finest/you want hotels in Portugal, apart from the Algarve: 10+ hotels in Portugal.
Casinha de Sardinha is a nice, bright studio in the old, historic city center of Lagos. When you arrive you immediately fall in love with the white and azure blue exterior, and within an instant you will fall in love. Inside, the white and blue continues as usual. The wall is half filled with those Moroccan-like tiles. It has all the luxurious amenities of one corporate shop hotel but that one privacy of a house and we think that combination is great. Fun for the family or for you friends.
Âmago-Casa Lenta, or “the slow house”, breathes peace, nature and tranquilitySlow living is the way of life here: it's all about catching your breath, letting go of your schedule, and enjoying the moment. And the aesthetics? That gets something too. Think: modern design, terracotta tones, tropical plants, whitewashed walls, and fuchsia flowers. Add olive trees, cacti, and pristine white bath towels, and you get the idea – it doesn't get more Portuguese than that.
Nearby, you'll find charming villages like Loulé and Olhão, with narrow streets and colorful markets. But honestly? With such a lovely pool, you really don't want to leave.
Beautiful, eco-ok and in the Portuguese sun. The Lemon Lodge knows how to seduce you. This eco-friendly B&B in the Algarve was created as a dream of a couple of (Dutch) friends who wanted to live more in contact with nature. A simple life, eating from the land and picking a lemon from the trees here and there. It's life. But in Portuguese style. Oh yes, at The Lemon Lodge they also specialize in The Wim Hof Method. To give your holiday that extra kick, if you want that, of course. The Lemon Lodge
Sometimes there are places where you immediately feel at home, and... Pink house is one of them. The relaxed atmosphere can be found everywhere: around the pool, on the patio or in one of the sun-drenched outdoor areas. Don't worry, there's plenty of shade. And we continue, because whitewashed walls, a clear blue sky, luxurious sunbeds (with real bath towels) and cocktails at sunset. The perfect ingredients for a wonderful stay.
Whether you come with your loved one, boyfriend, girlfriend or family, that little bit of extra attention is there for everyone. At the pool with a cold glass of wine and a snack in your hand? We don't say no. A wonderfully fresh and spread bed every evening? Arranged with the hotel's turn-down service. The staff does not care about your stay pico bello to put in order.
A good start is half the battle and if you want to start somewhere, it is the hotel (oh no, the us 'mor than a hotel') in beautiful Lagos. Casa Mae Lagos is the name, and it is a fresh, white, creative enclave that you want to belong to, trust us.
The small coastal town of Lagos, in the south of Portugal, is known for its romantic and secluded beaches, the good life and Portuguese 'tranquilidade'. That is exactly what boutique hotel Casa Mãe preaches: within whitewashed 16th century walls stands a 19th century family home among 5.000 square meters of terraced vegetable garden that has been given a new lease of life. Authentic and modern, fresh and creative it became. The building that houses the hotel is minimalist in architecture, bursting at the seams with work by local artists, has handmade sun-dried terracotta floors, traditional wooden 'reixas' on the façade and unique handmade furniture in the rooms.
The atmosphere is there mellow. Zen. There are palm trees on the large pool terrace and everyone actually seems to be smiling, even the beach chairs (but that's because they have faces made from a single blue paint stroke). There are 22 rooms, all with large balconies and a hammock. But… What about that 'more than a hotel'? Well, Casa Mãe has its own farm, a published magazine, a greedy boutique and the club organizes dozens of collaborations with Portuguese artisans. The restaurant is called Orta and has a large open kitchen with a bar - also nice if you don't sleep here. The best products from Portugal are on the plates, as well as wines (natural wines from small producers).
Casa Mãe is located on the border of the wild Algarve (surfers and golfers area), between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. You can lie in the sun on the long, quiet sandy beaches for nine months a year.
Fly to Faro, Portugal and take the half-hour drive to the Algarve, to the Fazenda Nova hotel in the town Tavira. The area looks straight out of the holiday books with numerous small fishing harbours, white sandy beaches and excellent local restaurants. The Portuguese country house has 9 rooms, all with a private terrace or garden, a penthouse and two family apartments, each furnished by the lady of the house - a former fashion editor from London - with design and flea market finds. The library is overloaded with old cult and fashion magazines and the enormous vegetable and herb garden forms the basis of the hotel restaurant. Be sure to visit the island in the area Armona and to the towns Fuseta en Olhão (there is a nice flea market here on Sundays).
If you ask Google about Olhão, you will get the answer: “a city for people who love the authentic Portugal”. It's a good thing that we love it. In an old casa with a view over the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Casa dos Mercados has 6 suites. Casa dos Mercados opened in 2022 after the property has been renovated in natural tones and materials. Whether you go as a couple or with a group of friends, each with a separate room, it is a nice “home” during a trip to the Algarve.
Forget the rest (oh no, that's a joke of course) and book – especially when traveling with children – this amazing campsite. It won't get much better, that's a promise. “A five billion star experience“. After years of traveling, owners Wim and Sophie have settled in their own piece of Africa, but in Portugal. Ha! There are eight among the vineyards, fruit trees and wild flowers safari lodge tents, each with its own swimming pool, yes please.
The kids will also have fun at Safari Lodge Algarve. Playing, romping, swimming, picking grapes in the vineyard and more. Nice villages in the area, authentic towns and you can be on the beach within half an hour beach You'll be glamping as glamping should be: in a luxurious tent and with plenty of neat sanitary facilities to enjoy a wonderful, comfortable holiday.
One of the most beautiful places in Portugal must be the coastal town of Comporta. And let's have an insider who gives away the very best tips: Barts Best or the Portuguese Comporta
