Villas in Algarve

Villas in the Algarve

You'll struggle to beat the Algarve for a villa holiday, a location with beautiful beaches and plenty to do. With more than 100 miles of coastline, the Algarve is renowned for its beautiful beaches, featuring golden sands and the inviting waters of the Atlantic Ocean. While famed for its beaches, Algarve holidays provide the perfect blend of entertainment and relaxation, with its many resorts boasting an assortment of leisure activities, from water sports to world-class golf courses. Expect to be charmed by the likes of Albufeira, Vilamoura and Carvoeiro, all offering a unique taste of Portuguese culture in the popular South Coast.

Laden with breathtaking cliffs, sandy bays and plenty of fun, family-friendly activities and attractions, the Algarve is very much the ideal holiday destination. Search our holiday rentals in the Algarve, from luxury villas with private pools, to villas near the beach and golf.

Apart from its beautiful sandy beaches, the Algarve is also famous for wonderful weather and great food and wine. The coastline is relatively unspoilt: the Algarve doesn’t suffer from densely built up villa complexes. Even in the busiest resorts of Vilamoura, Quarteira and Albufeira you’ll find well laid out villa developments with space to breathe.

Eight reasons why you should book a holiday villa in the Algarve The Algarve is a favourite for holidaymakers and it’s easy to see why.

1. The Algarve is easy to get to: Faro, the main airport, has direct flights to around 30 to 40 European airports although the exact number depends on the season. There are over 20 direct flights to various UK airports alone.
2. The weather in the Algarve is fantastic: It’s not too hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter. In July and August temperatures peak around 35 degrees Celsius whilst in winter it still reaches over 15 degrees with plenty of clear sunny days.
3. The beaches in the Algarve are great: You’re never far from a beautiful, sandy beach. The Algarve’s coastline is mainly south and west facing so you’ll get long sunny days and beautiful sunsets.
4. The villas in the Algarve are good and affordable: The Algarve offers value for money compared to other mainstream holiday destinations. Villas are typically well maintained and usually have a private pool. Most are close to one of the Algarve’s many golden beaches but if you want peace and quiet then it’s easy to find a charming villa in a tranquil village where only the bells from the goats will disturb your view of the countryside.
5. The food in the Algarve is delicious: It’s easy to find something to suit all tastes and budgets from grilled chicken piri-piri to Michelin-starred cuisine. If you prefer to cook yourself you’ll find that most villas have well-equipped kitchens and a barbeque by the pool. It’s also easy to find good quality local fish, meat, fruit and veg at the many local markets and supermarkets.
6. The Algarve has some of the world’s best golf courses: There’s plenty to choose from top tier courses such as San Lorenzo in Quinta do Lago or the Vale do Lobo golf course to more reasonable courses at Vilamoura, Albufeira and Portimao.
7. There are plenty of other sports you can do in the Algarve: From wind surfing, tennis, hiking and riding all the way to dedicated sports camps for schools and teams to fit in some pre-season training. Vale do Lobo in the Algarve’s Golden Triangle is a favourite for football pre-season training: it has hosted teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and England.
8. The Algarve is great for a family holiday: Everything is so easy and most villas are geared up for young children. A good villa manager can provide you with cots, high chairs and other child-friendly accessories. But it’s not just the villas: the Algarve makes it easy for families. The restaurants welcome children, it’s easy to drive and park, the sandy beaches are perfect for building endless sandcastles and there aren’t many insects and mosquitoes.

Getting to and around the Algarve

Faro is the main airport in the Algarve, with direct flights to most major European airports. The airport is typically served by low cost airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet, Jet2 and others but you can also fly with the premium flag carriers. It is easy to fly to all year round although there are more flights in the busy summer months.

If you want to get out and about then you should hire a car. The Algarve is easy to drive around and park: most restaurants, beaches, supermarkets and other attractions have plenty of parking. Most of the villas will also have their own parking places but please check the property description for details.

There are plenty of car hire options at Faro airport if you want to drive straight to your villa but you should also be able to find car hire near in most towns and resorts. Please note: you should be aware that the A22, the main motorway running the length of the Algarve, is a toll road. The easiest way to pay the tolls is via transponder, an electronic charging device which sits in the car. If you want a transponder then you will need to ask your car hire company when you collect the car. Alternatively you can go to a local post office and pay but this can be time consuming. The other option is to avoid the A22 altogether and use the local roads that run along the coast

Where to go in Algarve

The Algarve is roughly a rectangle 150 kilometres (94 miles) wide by 50 kilometres (31 miles) deep. It is often divided into three main parts: Western, Central and Eastern. Most of the popular holiday destinations are west of Faro and its airport. But nothing is too far: even Sagres, the last major town in the western part of the Algarve’s, is only approximately a 90 minute drive from the airport. Heading east in the other direction the town of Vila Real de Sant Antonio, on the Portuguese – Spanish border, is less than an hour’s drive away.

Albufeira

Albufeira is one of the largest and liveliest resorts in the Algarve and is ideal for a busy family beach holiday. It was originally a fishing village but is now a large town consisting of two parts: the historic Old Town and the much newer Strip.

The Old Town is Albufeira’s historic heart centred around the main square which is full of family friendly restaurants and shops. The traditional cobbled streets that lead off the square are full of shops which are open late during the summer months. There are also two sandy beaches a short walk from the Old Town: Praia do Peneco at the western end and Praio dos Pescadores (fishermen’s beach) at the eastern end.

The Strip is the newer, busier part of the town and has some of the Algarve’s best nightlife. As the name suggests The Strip, properly known as Avenida Sa Carneiro, is a road full of bars and nightclubs. In the summer it is packed with tourists enjoying themselves – don’t come here if you’re looking for a quiet night out.

Albufeira is also home to some the Algarve’s biggest and most popular nightclubs, including Kadoc and Kiss. Kadoc is one of the best known clubs in the Algarve and is a few kilometres east on the road to Vilamoura. Kiss is smaller but in Albufeira itself, between The Strip and the Old Town and only a short walk from both.

One of the Algarve’s many treasures, Albufeira is home to many eminent allures. Unravel a range of traditional restaurants and bars in its illustrious Old Town, or enjoy the Albufeira weather on one of its many beaches.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura is one of the Algarve’s finest holiday resorts with great beaches, good food and nightlife and golf and other activities. It was originally built in the 1980s as a golfing centre but has grown into a much more varied holiday resort with plenty to do. However its golfing heritage is very obvious and many of the villas in Vilamoura are laid out around the golf courses around the resort.

Vilamoura is centred on its marina right next to the huge sandy beach that lines the southern Algarve coast. The marina is full of shops, bars and restaurants as well as the casino at the eastern side by the beach. The marina gets busy at night as holidaymakers come to eat, drink or just people watch.

Most of the villas are anywhere between 500 metres to a few kilometres from the marina. It’s not that easy to find a villa near the beach, with or without a private pool, as the beachfront is mostly taken up by apartments – you’ll have to go little bit inland. If you’re willing to drive you’ll have no problem finding a high quality, modern villa with its own pool set by a golf course.

From championship golf courses to sandy beaches, the super-chic town of Vilamoura is ideal for a laid back, sun-filled stay. With its famed marina, you can expect delicious seafood, complimented by the beautiful Vilamoura weather.

Quarteira

Quarteira is one of the Algarve’s original holiday resorts and is set on the vast, sandy beach that links Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo to Quarteira and Vilamoura.

The town itself doesn’t show the Algarve at its best: it is full of older apartment blocks that don’t have much character. However it is busy in the summer months and you can’t beat the location next to the beach which is perfect for children. It is also easy to get to as it is roughly half an hour’s drive from Faro airport. There is also plenty to do in the surrounding area, from golf at neighbouring Vilamoura to Aquashow, one of the Algarve’s best waterparks and funfairs which will keep kids and adults happy all day long.

East from Quarteira are Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago. This is where you’ll find the Algarve’s most luxurious and exclusive villas. The two resorts are a few kilometres apart and you can walk along the beach or drive on the quiet road connecting them.

Vale do Lobo is one of the Algarve’s first holiday resorts and was founded in the 1960s; it is centred around the Praca next to the beach. The villas are built around the golf course which weaves its way amongst the villas – making for a very green and open development.

Quinta do Lago, often known just as Quinta, is a much bigger and more modern development with a more American feel. Many of the villas are big and spectacular: think five- or six-bedroom detached villas with large gardens enclosed by high walls. Quinta is popular with celebrities especially footballers who value their privacy and want to practice their golf.

Both resorts are popular with well-heeled families. There are lots of high-end restaurants and some bars. But if you’re after hectic nightlife then there may be more suitable places to stay.

Loulé

Loulé is a traditional market town set in the hills a few kilometres back from the Algarve’s coast. It is popular for a “day out” as the traditional covered market and tree lined streets give you a feel for the more authentic side of Portugal.

The town is proper working town: it is the administrative capital for the region and is full of ordinary Portuguese going about their daily lives. Renting a villa in Loulé gives you a taste of the quieter, more relaxed side of the Algarve. You’ll be away from the crowds on the coast and, if you’re lucky, with nothing but the bells from the neighbouring farmer’s goats to disturb you. But make sure you hire a car so you can get out from your villa and explore the surrounding area.

Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro is a picturesque resort town set around a small sandy beach flanked by cliffs at either end. It was originally a fishing village but has now grown into a bustling resort which can get very busy in the summer. However it isn’t overrun with high rise apartment blocks: the area around Carvoeiro consist mostly of villas, many with private pools.

Carvoeiro is a quieter, diverse family friendly resort renowned for its wondrous marine life and leisure activities with good restaurants and a few nice bars. If you’re after nightlife it’s a short drive to Praia da Rocha in Portimao, around 12 km away. Enjoy its lovely beaches and traditional Portuguese restaurants whilst in the bloom of the wonderful Carvoeiro weather.

Lagos

Lagos is the third largest town in the Algarve and one of the most interesting. It was a famous port in the 14th and 15th century during the Age of Discovery when Portugal explored the African coast and the eastern part of South America. Even now the 16th century city walls protect the charming centre.

Lagos combines a charming historic centre, wonderful beaches and buzzing nightlife. The city centre has a wide range of traditional restaurants and places to drink, from cosy bars to buzzing bars cum nightclubs. There are also plenty of beaches nearby but the biggest two sandy beaches are Praia de Porto de Mos to the west and Meia Praia to the east. Both are only a short distance from the town.

From historical 16th Century walls to 5km of inviting bronze coastline, the stunning, inclusive town of Lagos has played host to couples, families and young groups through its lush scenery, leisure facilities and vibrant nightlife.

Sagres

Sagres is at the western end of the Algarve and is unlike other parts of the region. It is far less developed with wild landscapes and windy beaches. The town is popular with surfers and more independent holidaymakers wanting to get away from the crowds of the mainstream Algarve resorts.

Sagres itself is a quiet, charming town centred on a pretty square. It has a picturesque harbour and beautiful beaches nearby which are popular all year round with surfers.

In Sagres you’ll typically find larger villas with their own private pools, close to one of the town’s beaches.

Tavira

Tavira is an old Moorish town in the eastern Algarve, around 25km from the Spanish border and half an hour’s drive from Faro airport. It has retained its historic character and is a proper functioning town, making it a wonderful place to visit all year round.

Tavira has a relaxing feel and is perfect for wandering or enjoying a quiet moment in one of its many cafes. It is also close to some wonderful beaches including the Praia de Tavira at the western edge of Tavira island (Ilha de Tavira). Ilha de Tavira is connected by a frequent and inexpensive ferry.

Praia da Luz

Enjoy the crystal waters of its blue flag beach, or indulge in the many local restaurants and shops that decorate the promenade. With great opportunities for water-sports, fishing and boat trips, it is ideal for a family stay.

Alvor

Alvor offers a slice of authentic Portuguese culture and history. The ancient fishing village is full of charm and natural beauty, with its golden coastline providing the perfect setting to enjoy the sunny Alvor weather.