5 Best Hotels in Albufeira, The Algarve

This resort's low-rise architecture beautifully blends into the landscape, which includes sand dunes and pretty gardens shaded by pines trees. There are six pools (one of them indoors), a fitness center, and a sprawling spa where various treatments can be enjoyed in the open air. There are also six restaurants and bars. Located in a prime spot overlooking Albufeira's Falésia Beach, the Epic Sana may not have the postal code of its Golden Triangle counterparts, but it certainly has the high quality to match them.

Grand in style, the cliff-top Santa Eulália occupies a privileged position just a short drive from the town center. It has large, modern rooms (ask for one facing the sea), and a host of facilities, including an impressive spa. The dining room of choice here is the Santa Eulália Restaurant, which overlooks the bay.

One of Albufeira's most comfortable lodgings is a 10-minute walk from the main square. Smart, well-equipped rooms have private balconies; ask for one with a sea view, or you may end up facing the busy main road. A courtesy bus runs you to nearby beaches. Reserve well in advance for summer stays here, as package-tour operators tend to book whole blocks of rooms.

Perfect for families, this sprawling resort offers activities ranging from golf to tennis to water sports, along with direct access to a lovely cliff-backed beach. Some of the guest rooms are decorated with traditional azulejo Portuguese tiles, while others are sleek and modern. Decompress at the upscale Serenity Spa, or spend time at the internationally-renowned Annabel Croft Tennis Academy.

Stylish rooms and suites have a decadent feel, and some boast indoor or outdoor whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. Outside you'll find beautifully landscaped gardens with a heated pool and access to a semi-private beach. Don't miss the hotel's eponymous restaurant: one of Portugal's most highly rated helmed by a two-Michelin-star chef.