Best Luxury Hotels in Portugal

Located in the stunning Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, the Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel provides a healthful green outlook with a backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains. It also provides space for the 18-hole, par 71 golf course covering 5.870 meters that was designed by Robert Trent Jones. Besides this, lies a large curved pool and loungers – a further pool is found indoors, in the spa area. The five-star property was refurbished in 2020, taking its decorative inspiration from the surrounding nature. Its Five Pines Restaurant serves gourmet cuisine, with live music on offer in the Trent Jones bar.

Another top choice for golfers, this 149 bedroom family-friendly resort is close to many excellent courses. It has a huge pool, divided into two sections (heated and ambient), each separated by a meandering wooden walkway. Pair plates with creative cocktails at Kyma and eat seafood at The Glass Terrace Restaurant. There are lots of activities for kids, including an outdoor play area with wooden teepees, a dedicated club during the school holidays and an animation team. And adults can take some time out in the Serenity Spa. A free shuttle bus escorts guests to the bay area, where many more activities can be arranged.

Outside-in architecture with lots of glass creates a modern upscale look at the IHG resort, with whites and blues reflecting its waterside location. The seaside theme is continued in the Atlântico Bar & Restaurant, whose menus heavily feature fish and shellfish. The Lobby Lounge is the setting for a buffet breakfast (cooked items can also be ordered). Every room in the sleek hotel has a balcony or a terrace and dedicated workspace, while bathrooms have chromotherapy showers (some include jacuzzi tubs too). There are two pools, one beside the ocean and the other inside the Elemis spa.

CampoReal Resort has 151 rooms, including family suites, all with terraces. And it provides the option of self-catering apartments or townhouses accommodated separately to the hotel. There is an 18-hole par 72 Donald Steel designed golf course and a golf academy on-site, as well as footgolf and tennis courts, a games room, a wellness centre and water circuit – Amai Spa – and four restaurants for casual through to fine dining. Kids have their own Sunset Pool and Adventure Club, plus there are a further two pools, one of which is indoors.

This is all about barefoot luxury, with a boho vibe. The bar (with a hot tub to the side) and solar-heated infinity pool overlooks the sands, where the hotel’s surf school can be found. Noah also has its own on-site skatepark, yoga classes and an organic veg and herb garden. Its produce is served in the relaxed, all-day dining venue and lantern-lit restaurant right on the beach, with fire pits to keep guests toasty late into the evening. There are 21 rooms decorated in an eclectic coastal chic style, some of which have kitchenettes.

An uber-modern retreat, Areias do Seixo boasts striking concrete and glass architecture. The eco-friendly establishment was built on the site of an ex-chicken farm, with many of the materials re-used – single plastics are a no-no and ingredients come from its organic veg patch. 15 rooms are categorised in themes of Gold, Land, Tree or Love; two are designed in a tent-style and many have features such as outdoor showers, suspended fireplaces, jacuzzi baths and sea-front terraces. It has a trendy restaurant, high-class arty bar, a cinema room and a solar-powered heated pool with plush four-poster day beds. The hotel is also a short stroll to Praia da Mexilhoeira beach.

Conveniently located in the heart of Funchal, this elegant hotel offers gusts the chance to unwind in style beside the rooftop pool while taking in enchanting bay views. Wine lovers will really be in their element here, as not only is there an excellent selection of wines to sample in the onsite bar and restaurant, but the décor throughout the hotel was also inspired by the local fortified wine. The warm tones of the décor follow through into the spacious guest rooms and suites, where large picture windows treat guests to yet more stunning views, while guests are treated to en suite bathrooms and sumptuously decorated bedrooms with king sized beds that ensure a dreamy night’s sleep.

Boasting more than a hundred years of history and a décor that is reminiscent of the British colonial style, guests who appreciate classic elegance are sure to love staying at this luxurious hotel. Rooms and suites feature huge balconies where guests can stand and gaze out at the ocean, while the beautiful gardens are the perfect place to unwind after taking a dip in one of the swimming pools. Guests who want to try something a bit different can sign up for traditional tango or foxtrot dancing classes or lessons with a professional tennis coach – both of these activities are perfect ways to work up an appetite for the award winning dishes that are served in one of the hotels many excellent restaurants.

Set high on a hill and providing spectacular sweeping views down to the Bay of Funchal, this five-star hotel treats guests to private access to their very own stretch of golden sand that is lapped by crystal clear waters. Guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne as soon as they check-in, which helps set the tone for a luxurious and relaxing stay. With three different swimming pools to choose from there will be plenty of opportunities for guests to make waves, while the hotel comes complete with a Turkish bath and sauna, allowing guests to fully unwind before dining on freshly caught seafood on the restaurant terrace while soaking up stunning ocean views.

Located just an eight-minute stroll from a gorgeous sandy beach, this luxurious hotel also offers guests plenty of onsite activities in which to partake. The little ones can join in the fun at the Aquatica Kids World play group under the watchful eye of staff while parents indulge in a little pampering at the Thalasso Sea Spa or take part in one of the twenty different special classes that are offered each week, ranging from sports to cooking. People of all ages are sure to love splashing around in one of the hotel’s infinity pools, while each elegantly decorated guest room and suite comes with its own spacious balcony providing a choice of garden or sea views, air-conditioning, en suite bathrooms and a wide range of other modern conveniences.

With just 81 spacious rooms and suites for guests to choose from, the Castanheiro Boutique Hotel combines traditional style with modern convenience and finesse. Set right next to the Palace of the Jesuits and just a short stroll along winding cobbled streets to dozens of attractions and entertainment options, the hotel also features plenty of onsite amenities for guests to enjoy such as the Til Spa with its hydrotherapy circuit, Turkish bath, sauna and indoor swimming pool. Guests can also make their way up to the rooftop to enjoy stunning panoramic views while splashing around in the heated outdoor swimming pool.

Blending in with its Neo-classical surroundings, the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais was an 18th-century palace, the grand retreat of Portuguese royalty. Come the mid 20th century it was transformed into a 30 bedroom hotel, making use of the frescoes, heavy silk drapes, chandeliers, tapestries and antiques, as opulent decor. Wander outside to the manicured grounds and you’ll find resident peacocks, tennis courts, a pool and the Anantara Spa. The Palácio’s dining room serves local delicacies with an aristocratic approach to the menu options that’ll suit more sophisticated palates.