The Best Beach Villas in the Algarve

There’s no better place to tick off sun, sea and sand than staying in a gorgeous villa where the beach is just metres from your door. It’s an indulgence that suits every type of holiday – whether it’s romance, family or luxury that’s taking you beachside. Portugal’s sun-kissed southern coast is one of our favourite destinations for a barefoot getaway – we’re talking long, lazy days of utter seaside simplicity, with sun-soaked skies and the loveliest of golden beaches. Below are five of our favourite villas for a dreamy beachside getaway in the Algarve. There’s no need to think about travel here – these villas all offer gorgeous beaches right next door.

Beach Cottage, Ferragudo

Approximately 200m from beautiful Beach Cottage in Ferragudo stretches sunny and sandy Praia Grande Beach along the Serra de Sintra coastline. Beach Cottage’s location next to Praia Grande is truly enviable, with the beach being accessible via a gently sloping track from the villa’s grounds. Praia Grande is spacious, spanning 2km in length, and is not only family friendly, but also an ideal spot for those who have a taste for surfing and body boarding. There are plenty of facilities such as cafes, bars, and restaurants along the beach, as well as a beautiful coastal footpath which stretches towards the pretty seaside beach and town of Praia das Macas for those who enjoy lazy walks along the shimmering sea. This path is especially interesting when travelling in the opposite direction during low tides, as Praia Grande (Big Beach) joins up with its neighbouring smaller beach, Praia Pequena (Little Beach).

The southern end of lovely Praia Grande is dominated by towering, picturesque cliffs, with one set of the exposed rock faces displaying a prehistoric set of some sixty dinosaur footprints, supposedly said to be 125 million years old and belonging to either an Iguanodon or Megalosaurus. Meanwhile, along the northern side of the beach impressively stands one of Europe’s largest saltwater swimming pools, ideal for children to enjoy at times when the waves become more intense.

Praia Grande’s charming coastal town Armação de Pêra is also rich in history and culture, home to winding narrow streets, local fish markets and historical landmarks such as the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos. For young people, there is also a very lively nightlife around Praia Grande, from seaside bars to nightclubs influenced by a mixture of local culture and other international influences. Therefore, whether you are holidaying with friends or family of any age, Praia Grande promises unforgettable holiday experiences.

Villa Balbina, Galé

With a hidden sandy pathway leading you straight from our luxury ABOVE Villa Balbina to tranquil Praia da Balbina beach, Villa Balbina’s coastal location is the epitome of a seaside oasis. Praia da Balbina is a tucked away, off-the-beaten-path seaside paradise just on your doorstep, with its unique cliff formations and dramatic backdrop giving it a secluded and unspoiled atmosphere, perfect for both those eager for a romantic escape and families looking for a quiet and relaxing day out. The sand at Praia da Balbina is also golden and soft, and the sea water is clean and crystal clear, demonstrating this beach to be a picturesque coastal haven, enviably located right on your doorstep. A further 1km drive along is an additional, more popular golden sandy beach called Praia de Gale, located near the bustling coastal town of Albufeira.

Praia de Gale is a safe beach supervised by on duty lifeguards, which also has beautifully clean and clear water for you to swim in. The east side of Praia de Gale is characterised by intricate rock formations and ancient fossils, where you can discover scenic natural pools teaming with sea life, as well as secret cliffside caves. This end of the beach however is narrower than the west end, which is wide, open and ideal for long coastal walks along the glistening sea. The west side of Praia de Gale is set next to nearby local restaurants where you can explore the delicious Portuguese cuisine with the sea here being perfect for water sports and surfing, for those who love a high feeling of adrenaline and a sense of adventure. This side of the beach is strongly suggested to be the best side of the beach for lounging under the sun and relaxing, with glossy sun beds available for hire here as well.

Casa da Praia, Vale do Lobo

Backed by dramatic red rocketing cliff faces which contrast the pearly white sand below, is picture-perfect Praia de Vale do Lobo, just a short 400m walk from our Casa da Praia villa.

Praia de Vale do Lobo is a fabulous beach to come to with family and friends, with a spectacular night life for young people to enjoy on hot summer evenings. Being rarely overcrowded, the beach contains long and regularly maintained winding sands making it ideal for long beach walks, with a special hiking trail available in addition so that you can admire the exquisite coastal scenery around you. For those with a passion for water sports there are also local operators dotted along the beach who offer high speed water activities such as sky-high parasailing and fast going waterskiing through Praia de Vale do Lobo’s vast expanse of blue sea.

Another short 2km drive away from Casa da Praia is elegant Praia do Garrão, which is split into several sections - Praia do Garrão Nascente (the eastern section) and Praia do Garrão Poente (the western section), with a small third section sitting in the middle called “Julia’s Beach.” The eastern end of the beach contains a variety of bars and restaurants, as well as a well-known party location called Sunset Bar where the sunset is celebrated each day by partygoers. Meanwhile towards the western end is the Dunas Douradas lagoon which home to many bird species. There is a network of footbridges across the dune which you can walk along, however the lagoon itself is not fit for bathing in.

With its array of seaside wildlife and constant maintenance and nearby facilities, Praia do Garrão is an ideal place for families to spend a day beside the seaside. Like Praia de Vale do Lobo, this beach contains several water sports operators and does get busy in the summer, though you should always be able to find space to sit. There are sun loungers and umbrellas available for hire along the beach, with some seaside pavilions even offering massages, making it an ideal spot for relaxation.

Villa Mourisco, Carvoeiro

Set on a coastal cliff-top, our stunning ABOVE Villa Mourisco has direct special access to soft sandy Praia do Paraíso down a long and scenic private flight of footsteps. Praia do Paraíso is a relatively hidden and unknown little beach, virtually private due to its secluded surroundings. The small beach is located in a little cove and is ideal for a relaxing retreat away from the crowds and noise familiar to other more popular beaches. With magnificent cliffs protecting the beach from wind, Praia do Paraíso is ideal for relaxing and sunbathing in warm weather and is best to visit when the tides are low, as the beach almost disappears during high tides. Praia do Paraíso has stunning coastal views and is beautifully picturesque, making it perfect for couples who prefer privacy. In addition, this cosy little beach is also home to tucked away, secret little caves, which those feeling adventurous can explore.

Only a short 3.5km drive away from Villa Mourisco you can also find Praia de Centianes. Almost completely surrounded by towering gold-coloured cliffs, the beach here is calm, flawless and unspoiled, with very few strong winds. Even in the heights of summer it is never overly crowded and provides an excellent spot for people to go snorkelling and diving. The water here is transparent, and the sand is silky and clean, making it picture perfect and ideal to swim in. There are plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas which are available for hire here, and there is a water sports operator here as well, so you have the opportunity to try different water activities such as jet skiing and waterskiing. The cliffs along the beach have been eroded over time as well so don’t be too surprised if you discover the occasional tucked away small cave in one of the cliff’s faces too!

Casa da Filipa, Ferragudo

Beautiful Casa da Filipa in Ferragudo is one of our most treasured seafront beach villas. Accessed by a steep set of private steps from the villa is Praia Infanta, a secluded and untouched hidden gem just steps from your holiday retreat. This breathtaking little cove holds a natural charm and is perfect for those who love snorkelling.

However, this beach is unsupervised and becomes completely submerged in high tides, so it is best to check the tides before chancing a trip.

Praia Grande is also a short 1km drive away, being a very popular destination for those who love water sports and want a hot sunny day at the beach. In the opposite direction meanwhile is Praia do Pintadinho, which is also a 1km drive away.

Praia do Pintadinho, like Praia Grande, is a beautiful golden sandy beach to relax on for those looking for a leisurely nice day out. The beach is located in a wind protected bay, meaning that the ocean does not get too rough here which makes it ideal for those looking to sunbathe in the hot weather. The water here is clean and ideal for swimming and snorkelling in, with a lifeguard on duty during high seasons, demonstrating it to be a nice and protected beach for families with small children to go to. This beach is also predominantly used by locals, making it much quieter than other beaches in the area such as Pria Grande and although you won’t find any water sport operators at Praia do Pintadinho, there are many experienced divers in the area who can take you to explore several sunken shipwrecks that have laid to rest on Praia do Pintadinho’s seabed. There is also a beach restaurant here which serves fresh seafood dishes so that you can really get a sense of what it’s like living on the Portuguese coast.

The Algarve has a number of gorgeous Portuguese beach villas so is a standout choice for a villa getaway by the sea - take a look at our Algarve travel guide to start planning where you should go.