The Western Algarve is a great option for beach lovers with its cliff-edged beaches and tiny coves. The laid-back towns of Lagos and Sagres are perfect for those who want a little bit of action, while Aljezur serves as the gateway to Costa Vicentina Natural Park with its sleepy villages and spectacular wild beaches. This rugged coastline is a wonderful base for surfing, walking, cycling, canoeing, and birdwatching. Or maybe just chilling. Scroll down to discover some of the best boutique hotels in Lagos, Aljezur, and Costa Vicentina.
Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is a five-star spa hotel in Costa Vicentina. This eco-conscious retreat offers 56 serene rooms, ocean views, three restaurants, a bar, an infinity pool, a gym, and a spa. Choose from Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, or the more luxurious Grand Suite Rooftop with a plunge pool and the Family Suite with a private pool. Explore 220 hectares of nature, wellness treatments, or activities like hiking, surfing, and wildlife watching.
Set in a former quinta (farm), Amaria is a boutique hotel situated in the pristine Costa Vicentina Natural Park, just a short drive from the town of Aljezur. Amaria offers 11 minimalist designed suites, all with their own private patio and garden views, alongside a spacious three-bedroom apartment. This is the kind of place you come to enjoy mornings filled with the sounds of the ocean and birdsong.
Casa Mãe is a gorgeous five-star boutique hotel in the coastal town of Lagos, in the western part of the Algarve. With various accommodation options spread across distinct spaces, Casa Mãe perfectly blends traditional Algarvian architecture and minimalist style. The hotel features a big organic orchard, farm-to-table restaurant, triangular pool, spa with a rooftop pool, outdoor cinema, juice bar, and a concept store dedicated to Portuguese design.
Muxima is an eco-friendly guesthouse perfectly nestled in a green valley near Aljezur. Here, owners’ Paula and Jelle want to share their great love for wild nature and good food with their guests. The houses are beautifully decorated with items collected from many travels and each room has its own, unique style, and are all surrounded by lush green gardens.
Monte da Vilarinha offers a peaceful stay in the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, with stunning valley views and proximity to wild beaches. Accommodations range from studios to three-bedroom houses, all with kitchen access and a swimming pool. Enjoy a locally-sourced breakfast by the poolside restaurant and outdoor adventures like surfing, canoeing, cycling and walking.
The Lemon Lodge, nestled between Monchique's hills and Costa Vicentina's wild beaches, is an off-grid farmstead in rural Algarve. Founded by eco-conscious friends, it offers unique, eco-friendly accommodations near Aljezur, with its stunning beaches, surf spots, and historic trails.
Central Algarve centers around Faro, the region's capital and gateway via its international airport. Here, the serene Ria Formosa Natural Park creates a landscape of lagoons, islands, and protected beaches stretching from Faro to Olhão. The working fishing port of Olhão offers authentic market experiences and ferry access to pristine barrier islands, while São Brás de Alportel provides a peaceful countryside escape in the nearby hills. This area blends accessibility with the natural beauty of Portugal's most important wetland ecosystem. Scroll down to discover some of the best boutique hotels in Faro, Olhão, and the Ria Formosa.
Nestled between the Algarvian hills of São Brás de Alportel and the sea near Faro, Âmago is a six-bedroom guesthouse with pretty gardens and a saltwater pool. Âmago is a passion project brought to life by couple Liz and Alex Harvey, who traded city life in London for the slower-paced Algarve. They have transformed a characterful property into a modern guesthouse that captures the tranquil essence of the region.
Conversas de Alpendre is a charming 12 room family-run boutique farmhouse nestled within the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park in the Eastern Algarve. The farmhouse is surrounded by a lush orchard and offers a heated saltwater swimming pool, which is open year-round.
The Modernist offers six minimalist apartment-style suites in the centre of Faro. Set in a genuine 1970s modernist building, each suite has been restored with full respect for the original mid-century modern design. There's a shared garden patio, a rooftop where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, and an outdoor shower. Discover Faro's architectural gems with the self-walking tour created for guests.
Eastern Algarve reveals the Algarve's most charming and authentic side. Historic Tavira, with its Roman bridge, Moorish castle, and riverside gardens, exudes timeless elegance and is home to some of the Algarve's most beautiful boutique hotels. Nearby Cacela Velha perches on clifftops overlooking the Ria Formosa, while further east, Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António border Spain's Andalusia. This tranquil corner offers salt marsh nature reserves, the Guadiana River, and easy access to explore both Portugal and southern Spain. Scroll down to discover some of the best boutique hotels in Tavira, Castro Marim, and the far eastern Algarve.
Pensão Agrícola is a stunning six-bedroom boutique hotel in the Algarve, nestled between Tavira and Cacela Velha. Enjoy a delicious breakfast on the shady terrace or light meals by the heated plunge pool. Your senses will be delighted by the scents of almond, carob, fig, orange, and olive trees. A gorgeous dinner is also available upon request. Trust us – you'll be in for a treat.
A Hospedaria is a rural boutique hotel nestled between Tavira and Cacela Velha in the Eastern Algarve. It offers five gorgeous suites with private patios, 2.7km from Cabanas beach. The breakfast is excellent, and dinner is available upon request. Enjoy the outdoor terrace with a small yet refreshing pool. This property is the sister hotel of the wonderful Pensão Agrícola, just a few meters away. Fill your lungs with the wonderful aromas that the south of Portugal has to offer—you're surrounded by the scent of almond, carob, fig, orange, and olive trees. It’s a wonderful place to get away from it all and relax.
Companhia das Culturas is a quirky eco boutique hotel in Castro Marim, the Eastern Algarve. Surrounded by 40 acres of pine, cork, carob and olive trees, plus a biological garden, Companhia das Culturas offers nine uniquely decorated rooms, plus four apartments with kitchenettes, two swimming pools, a gorgeous hammam and plenty of spaces to hang out.
São Paulo Boutique Hotel is a beautifully decorated 18th-century Algarvian house turned into a boutique hotel with five uniquely decorated rooms. It features a shared living room, dining room, and inner courtyard with a small saltwater pool. The hotel is adorned with fine works of art by renowned artists and is located in Jardim da Alagoa, one of Tavira's most lovely squares.
Bordoy Grand House is a five-star hotel in Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve's easternmost corner. The hotel has 28 uniquely decorated rooms and suites featuring a blend of Art Nouveau, Baroque, and Colonial styles with contemporary furnishings. The Grand Beach Club, located at the mouth of the Guadiana river, offers an infinity pool, sunbeds, a restaurant, and a bar with views of the sandbanks and boats on the river.
We hope you enjoyed discovering the three faces of the Algarve—from wild western cliffs to serene eastern villages. Each region has its own soul, and each of our handpicked hotels reflects the character of where it's rooted.
Want to explore all our Algarve boutique hotels in one place? Browse our complete collection of the best boutique hotels in the Algarve.
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Obrigada,
Joana & Sofia
Can you recommend boutique hotels in the Algarve on the beach?
None of our featured hotels in the Algarve are beachfront, but in the Algarve you’re never too far from a beach. Casa Mãe in Lagos is within walking distance of Meia Praia, Hospedaria and Pensão Agrícola are near the quieter beaches of the east, and Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is surrounded by the wild west Atlantic coastline.
Are there rural or eco-friendly boutique hotels in the Algarve you recommend?
Yes, a few very special ones. Amaria and Muxima are eco-minded stays near Aljezur, Casas da Quinta de Cima and Companhia das Culturas are tranquil rural retreats in the east, and Praia do Canal Nature Retreat is built with natural materials and a deep respect for the surrounding landscape.
When is the best time to visit the Algarve?
The best time to visit the Algarve is during spring to early summer or fall when the weather is warm, and the crowds are smaller. Summer in the Algarve is hot; July and August are very busy. Winters are perfect for golfers and sun-seekers looking to escape cold temperatures, although many places close in low season.
Do I need a car in the Algarve?
The easiest way to get around the Algarve is by car, as many attractions are spread out. A train runs along the coast, but it’s slow and limited. Local buses connect some of the major towns. Ride-hailing apps (i.e. Uber, Bolt, etc.) are widely available.
Which airport serves the Algarve region?
The primary airport serving the Algarve is Faro Airport (FAO), 4 km west of Faro city. It offers a wide range of flights, connecting the Algarve to destinations across Europe and beyond. In the western Algarve, Portimão Airport (Aeródromo de Portimão, PRM) provides daily charter flights to Lisbon Cascais-Tejo Regional Airport, operated by Sevenair.
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