The Best Hotels to Book in Praia da Rocha, Portugal

These compact studios, apartments and hotel rooms nuzzle up to the 8th fairway of the Pestana Gramacho golf course, with its waves of greenery and olive and almond trees. Nights here are whisper-quiet. The breakfast buffet room and bar are a scenic 15-minute walk away, so there’s nothing nearby to disturb your sleep. If you want a livelier evening, of course, you can drive to the main strip of Praia da Rocha in 20 minutes.

There are just a few footsteps between the Jupiter Algarve Hotel and the beach. Book a sea-view room to look out over the pastry-coloured sands from your balcony. The outdoor pool is the hub of this hotel; it’s a great place to enjoy one of the neon-coloured cocktails the bar serves. On the food front, the hotel’s home to a buffet restaurant, but there are dozens of other eateries nearby.

The names of prime ministers, counts and kings are inked into the guest book of this 19th-century hotel. It’s easy to understand why, as the building sits atop a low cliff on the edge of Praia da Rocha, offering sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. The interior is just as photo-worthy as the exterior, with chandeliers, hand-painted tiles, sculptures, statement textiles and ceramics everywhere.

Oriental Beach is right on the edge of the sandy shoreline. The hotel’s garden is one of the best places to take in the view of the sand and sea. Four-poster daybeds and loungers top the buzz-cut grass, and there’s a pool here, too. Inside, the hotel’s design lives up to its name, with lanterns, futon seating and woven rugs. The atrium, meanwhile, has a Zen-like water feature.

Set inside a restored sardine-canning factory, this adults-only hotel overlooks the Arade River, a 20-minute walk from the sands of Praia da Rocha. You’ll get the best views of the water from the balconies of the river-view rooms and the rooftop pool, surrounded by Bali beds. Be sure to try the restaurant. As a nod to the hotel’s history, it serves plenty of seafood dishes – don’t miss the cataplana, a seafood stew made with shrimp and monkfish.

There are only 10 rooms at this restored manor-house hotel, a short walk from the beach. There’s a jewellery-box colour scheme to them all – think platinum and gold headboards, cushions and upholstery. There’s no restaurant on-site, but the hotel does offer the option of a Portuguese-style breakfast with cold meats, fruits, juice and pastries, such as the pastel de nata (custard tart), for an extra fee.

This fuss-free group of apartments is on the western edge of Portimão, with its 15th-century church and lace shops. Each apartment has a kitchenette suitable for making breakfasts and light meals. There are vending machines in the apartment block lobby, where you can pick up essentials such as water, coffee and snacks. There’s an on-site pool, too, but if you’d rather swim in the Atlantic, you can drive to Praia da Rocha in 10 minutes.

Each suite-style room at Hotel da Rocha has a balcony. Some look out over Praia da Rocha, which is mere metres away, while others take in views of the Serra de Monchique. The hotel has a pool and a restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner buffets. If you prefer to dine à la carte, restaurants surround the hotel – tapas, Chinese and Italian are just a few options.