Portugal has many strengths, but its beaches must be its standout draw. Not only for the dizzying choice and variety along its long coastline but also for their exceptional quality and cleanliness. Is it any wonder that the majority of Portuguese spend every minute of their free time at the praia, happy to lunch on the warm bola de Berlim doughnuts that boys bring, in boxes, weaving deftly through the crowds.
If you’d rather make forays to the beach than stay all day, here is a selection of the best beach hotels in Portugal, allowing you to dip in and out of the sands as well as the sea. And while these are in the Algarve, so blessed by its golden beaches, those who want to combine coast with culture should choose somewhere near Silves, the Moorish capital of what was then Al-Gharb (the west) from the 8th to the 13th century.
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.
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2,134
per night
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568
per night
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532
per night
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323
per night
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368
per night
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384
per night
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229
per night
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714
per night
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271
per night
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177
per night
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From a decanter-shaped pool and the 25,000-bottle cellar to the grape-pip treatments at its spa, …
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This whitewashed, 248-room hotel lies low along the clifftops, within the sound of the sea. With …
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The flagship property of the small, but perfectly formed, Memmo Hotels collection, with sister pr…
