Best Beach Hotels in Portugal

Perched above the golden sands of Falesia Beach, EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel blends modern design, wellness, and coastal serenity across 162 rooms, 24 garden suites, and 43 resort apartments. The architecture embraces clean lines, glass façades, and natural materials that echo the Algarve’s landscapes, while interiors are styled in calming hues of sand and sea. Dining spans multiple venues including ABYAD Restaurant for contemporary Mediterranean dishes, AL QUIMIA for fine dining with tasting menus, and LIMA Restaurant for relaxed all-day dining beside the pool.

The hotel’s SAYANNA Wellness & Spa is a 1,500-square-metre sanctuary featuring nine treatment rooms, an indoor pool, Turkish bath, and private garden pavilion for yoga or meditation. Families benefit from dedicated children’s pools, the Little Stars Kids Club, and easy beach access via a scenic wooden walkway. With tennis courts, five outdoor pools, and a prime location near Vilamoura, EPIC SANA offers a sophisticated yet laid-back retreat along Portugal’s most picturesque coastline.

Located on the island’s northern coast, this Shangri-La property offers six-star service. Its private white sand beach provides opportunities for watersports. Or you can get active by playing tennis and golf onsite. Babysitting services and a kids’ club take care of the children, while you spend time in the spa, or enjoy a romantic candlelit meal for two overlooking the ocean. There are six restaurants and bars in total, serving everything from international buffet food to tapas sharing plates and gourmet oven-baked pizza. Stay in a bedroom, a suite, a tree-house villa, or a garden villa.

The Saccharum Hotel, part of the Savoy Signature collection, is a luxurious 5-star resort situated in Arco da Calheta, Madeira, Portugal. The hotel is inspired by the island’s sugar cane heritage, featuring contemporary design with natural elements. Accommodations range from stylish rooms to opulent suites, many with panoramic ocean views. The resort offers diverse dining options, including a buffet restaurant, an à la carte restaurant, and multiple bars. Guests can indulge in the premium spa with a range of treatments, multiple swimming pools, a fitness centre, and a variety of activities such as yoga and Tai Chi. The hotel also features state-of-the-art conference facilities, making it suitable for both leisure and business travellers. Additionally, Saccharum provides unique experiences like local food workshops and mixology classes, enhancing the cultural and culinary experience.

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.

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.

The coastal town of Cascais in Portugal has added a new jewel to its crown with the opening of the Legacy Hotel Cascais, Curio Collection by Hilton. This luxurious boutique hotel, featuring 59 exquisitely designed rooms, captures the essence of Cascais’ royal heritage as a summer retreat for European nobility since King Louis I’s reign in 1890. Strategically located 28 km from Lisbon, it provides a perfect base for exploring the historical and cultural treasures of the region, including the vibrant old town, pristine beaches, and notable attractions like the Conde de Castro Guimaraes Museum and Boca do Inferno. The hotel’s contemporary elegance is showcased through modern furnishings and rooms with ocean-view balconies, complemented by amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and a fitness centre. Culinary delights await at Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890, which combines Italian and Portuguese flavours.

The Farol Hotel flawlessly combines contemporary luxury with the historical allure of a coastal setting with its cliff-top setting. This boutique hotel integrates a 19th-century mansion, previously owned by the Count of Cabral, with striking modern architecture. Just a short walk from the cobblestone paths of Cascais and the picturesque Estoril Coast, the hotel captivates guests with breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views from its outdoor saltwater pool and the On the Rocks bar. Its 33 rooms and suites, some boasting 180-degree ocean vistas, enhance the guest experience. Other features include two dining venues and bars that serve a delicious selection of Mediterranean fusion dishes, inventive sushi, and signature cocktails.

It is clear why Dunas Douradas Beach Club, Quinta do Lago, has been hailed as Europe’s Leading  Resort. Located in Algarves Golden Triangle it has sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and its pristine beaches. Its luxurious apartments are elegant with a Scandinavian-inspired interior which is both welcoming and relaxing. The apartments are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and all apartments have a private terrace and BBQ so guests can enjoy the Portuguese sunset whilst enjoying some alfresco dining. The resort has two outdoor swimming pools and one indoor pool, it also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness centre, sauna and kids club. The resort also runs along the golden sand beaches of the Algarve and guests can indulge in water-based activities or venture slightly further afield to one of the famous Vale do Lobo golf courses. The resort’s restaurant, the Saudade Restaurant and Bar, serves exquisite local and international cuisine which can be paired with exceptional local wines.

You can rest or play at W, although it’s advisable to leave the work behind and make the most of the vibe here. Opening its doors in the summer of 2022, this new W provides sea-view bedrooms to a backdrop of golden cliffs and has a stunning feature pool set across two levels, with a waterfall. If you’d rather swim in the ocean, it’s just a 15-minute walk away, or yards to the nearest bus stop to explore further afield. Dine on Portuguese or Italian cuisine (there are two serving the former and one serving the latter), relax in a hanging chair or on a day bed and book a range of treatments in the spa.

Just outside of Porto, on the coast, is Vila Foz Hotel & Spa. Designed by Nina Andrade da Silva, it’s housed in a 19th-century villa with rooms in the main building and a newer wing. Those preferring a more modern feel should opt for the latter, while the original spaces offer stucco ceilings and hardwood floors – both have Maison Codage bath products. Airport transfers are by the hotel’s vintage Rolls-Royce, personal trainers take guests on runs, bikes are available for use and there’s a complimentary shuttle bus into the city. This was the neighbourhood’s first five-star residence, with a Michelin-starred restaurant and ornate interiors with the prolific use of onyx.

Pine Cliffs Ocean Suites, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Algarve, is located in Albufeira, Portugal, resting atop the region’s iconic red sandstone cliffs with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Situated approximately 30 minutes by car from Faro International Airport, the resort offers direct access to the renowned Falésia Beach.

Pine Cliffs Ocean Suites is a recent addition to the award-winning Pine Cliffs Resort, designed to reflect traditional Portuguese architecture. It features 148 spacious suites and apartments, including two Presidential Suites with expansive terraces offering stunning sea views. The accommodations are thoughtfully furnished, featuring relaxing living areas, state-of-the-art technology, and en-suite bathrooms. One- and two-bedroom suites also include fully equipped kitchens and dining areas with seating for six, with floor-to-ceiling doors leading to private balconies that provide spectacular views across the landscaped grounds or the Atlantic Ocean.

You have access to a variety of amenities, including the Serenity Spa, a 1,100m² facility with an indoor pool and an outdoor area with a jacuzzi. Dining options are diverse, featuring restaurants such as Zest, which focuses on healthy, organic-based foods, and Yakuza Algarve by Olivier, one of the finest Japanese restaurants in the Algarve. The resort also offers a range of leisure activities, including tennis and padel courts, a 9-hole clifftop golf course, and the Porto Pirata children’s area, which features two oversized pirate ships and a daily range of activities and games.

A panoramic elevator provides access to a scenic walkway leading to Falésia Beach, known for its golden sands and family-friendly water sports. The resort’s location allows guests to explore local attractions such as the Fisherman Village in Albufeira, the Moorish Castle of Silves, and the Ria Formosa Natural Park.