The Best Hotels to Book in Lagos, Portugal, for Every Traveller

When you don’t plan on swimming and sunbathing at Uma Casa à Beira Sol, a romantic three-star garden hotel, walk towards the nearby coastline. Praia Dona Ana and Praia Camilo, two of the Algarve’s best beaches, are close. Back at the hotel, privacy is guaranteed, with stone walls and lush plants wrapping around each of the 14 guest rooms, including a few apartments. Enjoy a breakfast of fresh fruits, baked goods, honey or jelly on your private terrace.

Quinta Bonita, a grand, whitewashed country house, lives up to its Portuguese moniker of “beautiful estate”. The luxury, family-run hotel, surrounded by 1ha (2 acres) of botanical gardens, is one of the best places to stay in Lagos. With just eight guest rooms, a two-bedroom cottage and an outdoor pool, it has an assuredly private feel. It ranks high for its location, too; approximately 6km (4mi) from Ponta da Piedade beach and 4km (2mi) from Lagos’ town centre.

Lover of Portuguese wine? Vila Valverde, a luxury hotel surrounded by orange and olive trees and sitting on 12 acres (5ha) of land, has a wine cellar with a good collection of bottles. The hotel, a 19th-century manor house, also has a restaurant, garden, spa and indoor and outdoor pools. If you decide to explore the local surroundings, the old fishing town of Praia da Luz village is a 20-minute walk away; it’s home to family-run and Michelin-recommended restaurants (including a one-star recipient) and its namesake beach.

Cascade Wellness Resort, just a 10-minute walk from the beach, is a luxury hotel in Lagos that blends a coastal escape with the modern conveniences of a spa and health centre. The decor in the rooms is themed around different continents, taking inspiration from the Age of Discoveries, when many world expeditions left from near Lagos. You can enjoy three restaurants, two bars (one of which is seasonal), two tennis courts, services for families and much more.

Fancy yourself a skilled surfer? Base yourself at the Soul and Surf, and take on the swells of the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re a newbie or just need a refresher, book lessons with an ISA-qualified instructor directly through the hotel. Those who’d rather keep their feet on dry land can relax in the quinta (country house) countryside gardens and enjoy wellness pursuits such as pranayama, vinyasa flow and yin yoga, as well as meditations classes. In the early evening, head to the hotel’s al fresco dining area and tuck into home-made pizza, cooked in its wood-fired oven.

Staying in any of Casa Mãe’s three cabanas is a Zen affair – think private patios, hammocks and outdoor showers and tubs. Terracotta-tile floors, low-level beds and rattan armchairs also come as standard. Take in the lovely vistas of the hotel’s vegetable garden from the 19th-century estate house, brimming with unique vintage furniture. And try delicious local food at its restaurant, Orta; start your day with eggs from its farm, feast on artisanal ibérico (ham) at lunch and sample the catch of the day at dinner time.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find better views of the Algarve than from the Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda. This 24-room property atop a hill boasts sweeping views of the coastline, which are best enjoyed while swimming or savouring the hotel’s private-label coffee on its terrace. Start your day on the right foot with complimentary morning yoga classes, held in the garden, before enjoying a Swedish massage in the spa, which uses Neal’s Yard Remedies products.

The five-star Palmares Beach House Hotel near Lagos, a luxury golf resort, offers you the chance to connect with nature without losing any convenience. In addition to having 20 spacious rooms with balconies, the hotel also boasts ocean views, a restaurant and bar, and a beach shuttle. It’s 3km (2mi) from Meia Praia and a short 10-minute drive from the Lagos Adventure Park.

The family-run Moonshine Lifestyle Bed and Breakfast is one of the best places to stay in Lagos for pure-and-simple convenience. Spacious ground floor rooms boast kitchenettes, complete with white goods, and offer direct access to the pool – perfect for families who don’t want to commute far for a swim. However, if you’re desperate for the sea, the B&B is just 400m (1,312ft) from Meia Praia, which is also the largest beach in Lagos.

Vila Graciosa Guesthouse, a 15-minute walk from the centre of Lagos and built 20 years ago by host Susana’s family, balances traditional Portuguese architecture and a contemporary vibe. Think turquoise feature walls, stone floors and dark wood furniture in rooms, along with a hot pink confine around the large pool and rattan shade shelter. Susana is on hand to organise adventurous activities, including windsurfing, dolphin watching, kayaking, surfing, and grotto and cave tours; she also knows all the best local restaurants. Finish your day with a Thai yoga class or an oil-enriched massage.