Like the Costa Brava in Spain and the island of Crete in Greece, the Algarve region of Southern Portugal is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for a family beach vacation. This southwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula boasts almost year-round sun and white sands on the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll find the most incredible luxury hotels and resorts with direct access to beautiful beaches, world-class on-site restaurants, and all the amenities you could need for your children right here! Whether you’d prefer to stay near Albufeira, Faro, or Lagos, this curated guide includes only the best resorts in the Algarve for families.
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Table of Contents
Best Resorts in Albufeira
1. Pine Cliffs Resort
Just a 15-minute drive east of Albufeira is a Luxury Collection resort that you will never want to (or have to!) leave. Pine Cliffs Resort may seem removed from other local attractions but this five-star clifftop resort is the main attraction. Guests can take advantage of the direct access to the resort’s beautiful almost-exclusive beach Praia da Falésia with its scenic red cliffs and surf school.
Check into one of the most secluded resorts in the Algarve (yes, the surrounding countryside is filled with aromatic pine trees!) with 217 spacious suites. Most of the modern hotel rooms have garden or sea views. With seven swimming pools, you won’t have to rush your breakfast to save a lounger. Pine Cliffs Resort prides itself on serving everything from crowd-pleasing international breakfast buffets to fine dining restaurants like the Piri Piri Steakhouse.
The perks of staying at the Pine Cliffs Hotel don’t end there. Hit some balls at their 9-hole golf course or tennis courts. Parents can unwind in their state-of-the-art fitness center, Serenity Spa, or Mirador Champagne Bar. But Pine Cliffs don’t neglect their younger guests. The Children’s Village offers award-winning kids’ club activities such as mini-golf, basketball, soccer, face painting, water games, a tennis club, and a games room.
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2. Vila Vita Parc
Tucked away in one of the cute, historic towns scattered around the Algarve called Porches, Vila Vita Parc Resort is not to be overlooked! This luxury resort offers free parking and is only a short drive from Albufeira (around 30 minutes). Staying here is a no-brainer if you plan to rent a car. It’s within walking distance of gorgeous, sandy beaches like Praia dos Beijinhos, Praia da Cova Redonda, and Praia dos Tremoços. It’s the perfect place for your family to enjoy a fun beach vacation.
Vila Vita Parc is known for its luxurious amenities. Sisley Paris Spa makes this five-star resort one of the world’s best spa resorts. The Ocean Restaurant has not one, but two Michelin stars. This resort offers almost 20 different types of accommodation from rooms to suites to apartments with private terraces and spas to suit different budgets.
But don’t think all this luxury means that kids aren’t welcome! Vita Vila Parc offers kids clubs and babysitting services for children aged one to 15. They have an adventure playground with trampolines plus an activity center where they can bake and paint while you’re enjoying some downtime. If you have a handicap, check out Vila Vita Parc’s 27 or 18-hole golf course.
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3. W Algarve
Marriott W Algarve is the perfect place to stay if you’d prefer to be closer to Albufeira. It’s only a 15-minute drive from the town. A short walk – around 20 minutes – will take you to incredible beaches like Praia do Evaristo, a blue-flag-certified coastline with golden sands.
There’s a lot to love about the W Algarve beyond its prime location. It boasts modern, one to four-bedroom apartment suites with air conditioning, private balconies (every room has one!), and floor-to-ceiling windows that don’t obscure the beautiful views. They are ideal for big families who need space.
Speaking of kids, W Algarve has a kids-only outdoor swimming pool. Young ones can make as much noise as they want without disturbing sunbathers. Paper Moon and Market Kitchen are on-site international and Italian restaurants your kids will love, with children’s menus and high chairs. There’s an adventure playground and opportunities for water sports like kayaking, snorkeling, and sailing in pedalos.
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4. Domes Lake Algarve
This is one of the best five-star resorts in the Algarve if your family wants the best of both worlds. It’s a secluded, inclusive hotel on a private lake only a short distance from the scenic fishing village of Vilamoura.
Domes Lake Algarve is a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel with easy access to the Algarve’s championship golf courses like Dom Pedro Millennium Golf Course. Its pièce de résistance is Makris, its anchored floating restaurant serving seasonal Greek cuisine.
Domes Lake Algarve offers something for all types of travelers, especially families. They offer garden or lake-view suites that can accommodate up to eight guests. Each room features stylish tropical decor to match the palm trees growing around the estate. Junior golf classes and Montessori-style kids’ clubs are available at the resort with go-karting and theme parks nearby.
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5. Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort
Carvoeiro is only a 15-minute walk east to one of the best hotels in the Algarve region. Tivoli Carvoeiro is a five-star luxury green resort with a robust sustainability policy benefiting the local economy and environment. They offer 248 newly refurbished rooms including suites and family rooms for large groups. Even better – you can bring your dog or cat too!
Tivoli Carvoeiro boasts easy access to Praia de Vale Covo, a beach with striking sea cave formations. If you’d rather lounge onsite, the hotel’s private pool overlooks the ocean. Their six onsite bars and restaurants serve everything from fresh fish to tapas. Contact Tivoli Carvoeiro to discover all the activities their trained professionals can offer for kids up to 10 years old.
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6. Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve
Halfway between Albufeira and Carvoeiro, the beautiful old fishing village of Vila Lara is one of the best places to base yourself as a family visiting the Algarve. Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve is the best family hotel to book there! Have your pick of kid-friendly compact beaches including Praia da Cova Redonda, the popular Praia da Rocha, and Praia dos Tremoços Oeste.
Vilalara Grand Hotel has five (!) outdoor pools and one is heated. Every suite has a private sun terrace or balcony and their three-bedroom apartments are perfect for groups. Their 11-acre private garden is ideal for an evening stroll. Parents can use the kids club and babysitting service so then can enjoy Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa.
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Best Resorts in the Algarve – Faro
7. Dunas Douradas Beach Club
Dunas Douradas Beach Club is an award-winning five-star resort just a 30-minute drive from Faro Airport and downtown Faro. It’s only a few steps from the 1km-long Praia do Garrão Nascente beach with top-notch beachfront bars like Maria’s Restaurant. It has the warm exterior of a Portuguese villa with the chic, interior design of a Scandinavian cottage.
Enjoy intimate family dinners in your Dunas Douradas apartment with your own BBQ and terrace. Some villas even have their own private pool and hot tub! The property has both outdoor and indoor pools. Saudade Restaurant & Bar serves fusion cuisine, succulent steaks, and fresh fish. There’s a kids’ club for the little ones and a spa and fitness center for the parents.
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8. Martinhal Quinta do Lago Family Resort
It’s difficult to find family resorts in the Algarve that beat Martinhal. They are pioneers in family-friendly accommodation! Martinhal Quinta do Lago is a five-star resort in a beautiful and convenient location on the edge of Ria Formosa Nature Reserve (one of the best places to visit in the Algarve with kids). It’s an easy 20-minute drive to Faro. With two-bedroom townhouses and five-bedroom villas with private pools on their sprawling estate, Martinhal Quinta do Lago can fit any size brood.
Martinhal Quinta do Lago is perfect for multi-generational vacations. Every accommodation option has a kitchen and washing machine so it feels like a home away from home. Stop at the onsite Mercado Deli & Bake for supplies to cook in your villa, or ask the family concierge for a restaurant recommendation. During the day, cool down with a scoop of homemade gelato from the poolside M Bar.
Families can play mini golf, shop at the Quinta do Lago mall, and hike along the scenic Ludo Trail. Martinhal Quinta do Lago provides amenities for families with kids of all ages with baby equipment available to hire from the baby concierge. Leave your youngest six to 23-month-olds in the caring hands of the professionals at the crèche as you take some time to read by the outdoor pool. Your older kids can make friends playing in the kids’ club which boasts an adventure playground, face painting, crafts, and puppet shows.
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9. Aquashow Park Hotel
There are resorts in the Algarve that mostly cater to adults with some facilities for kids, but Aquashow Park Hotel caters to kids first! This four-star hotel is based in the small village of Quarteira. It’s around a 30-minute drive from Faro, but you’ll be lucky if you can pull your kids away from this resort. The hotel is next to a highly-rated waterpark with a ‘watercoaster’, wave pools, huge slides, and every fun water activity under the sun.
Built with families in mind, the Aquashow Park Hotel has bright, interconnecting rooms with countless bed formations (including bunk beds!). Enjoy a breakfast buffet at their family-friendly Charme Restaurant or a colorful cocktail at their Sensation Bar. There is also a games room, indoor play room, and three onsite swimming pools. Yes, as well as a waterpark next door!
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10. Conrad Algarve
Conrad Algarve by Hilton was Portugal’s Leading Hotel Winner at the 2023 World Travel Awards. One of their onsite restaurants, Gusto by Heinz Beck, has a Michelin star. You can expect a lot from this five-star resort! Less than a 30-minute drive from Faro, Conrad Algarve is hidden in the countryside and offers everything you would want in a first-class resort.
Choose between stylish family rooms and deluxe suites where you can hang out together. Dine in one of Conrad Algarve’s four onsite restaurants, take a dip in one of two pools, or play doubles at the tennis courts.
The resort has a long list of amenities and fun experiences families can book like clam picking, bike rides through Rio Formosa with a local guide, and one-hour boat tours along the coastline. Conrad Algarve might not have direct beach access, but the soft sands of Praia de Vale do Lobo are only a 10-minute drive away.
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Best Resorts in Lagos
11. Memmo Baleeira Hotel
Located in a scenic fishing village known as “the end of the world”, Memmo Baleeira Hotel is one of the most truly special resorts in the Algarve. It’s about a 40-minute drive west of Lagos, but there’s plenty to do in Sagres like building sandcastles on Praia da Baleeira or swimming in the sea at Praia da Mareta. Many families visiting Sagres like to go sailing or kayaking. There are also some cool ruins (like the Baleeira Fort and Sagres Fortress) to see if you take a hike along the cliff edge.
This four-star design hotel offers family-friendly suites with kitchenettes; essential when traveling with babies. There’s an outdoor and indoor pool so you can make a splash whatever the weather. Memmo Baleeira also offers free breakfast, an onsite restaurant and lounge, and a pool bar.
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12. Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda
Only a ten-minute drive from Lagos Old Town, staying at Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda is perfect if you don’t want to spend much time in the car. This four-star hotel is a short walk from the second-longest beach near Lagos, Porto Mós Beach, a prime surfing spot with crystal clear water. The secluded beaches of Praia do Camilo and Praia Dona Ana are close by, with calm seas and picturesque rocky sea cliffs.
Vivenda Miranda’s decor blends bright colors with authentic Portuguese design for a unique stay. Their Boutique Grand Suite is perfect for large families with its two bathrooms and spacious lounge area. An outdoor pool, spa, restaurant, and bar are among the amenities offered here. There is also a game room where you can hang out as a family.
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13. Belmar Spa & Beach Resort
Belmar Spa & Beach Resort resembles a huge, classic luxury villa with whitewashed walls, multiple outdoor pools, and palm trees dotted around the terraces. It’s one of the best resorts in the Algarve for spa facilities with a Turkish bath, indoor pool, sauna, hydrotherapy pool, and personalized treatments. Stay in a two-bedroom apartment or duplex if you’re traveling with extended family or older kids. You can stay close by while having separate spaces.
While Belmar Spa & Beach Resort doesn’t have kids’ clubs onsite, there are plenty of family activities nearby. Zoolagos is one of the top zoos in the area with over 140 species, great for an afternoon visit. Slide & Splash is the country’s largest waterpark and is only a 30-minute drive away.
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14. Martinhal Sagres Family Resort
Do you like the sound of staying in a Martinhal resort and a village called “the end of the world”? Lucky for you, the five-star Martinhal Sagres Family Resort exists, and it’s everything you’d hope it to be. This resort is a 40-minute drive west of Lagos and a short walk to the family-friendly Praia do Martinhal where you can swim or paddleboard.
There’s a huge range of accommodation options to suit your budget and family size from terrace rooms to large, luxury villas with private pools. Kids aged six months to pre-teen can take advantage of the onsite kids’ club and crèche while older teens can play ping pong or video games in the Blue Room. With three restaurants offering takeaway options and kids’ menus, you can design your own Algarve vacation at Martinhal.
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15. Cascade Wellness Resort
Cascade Wellness Resort is one of the most luxurious five-star resorts in the Algarve near Lagos that doesn’t neglect its littlest guests. Praia do Canavial is just a short walk from the resort and the Ponta de Piedade Boardwalk Endpoint is the perfect spot for a family evening stroll to catch the famous Algarve sunsets.
Choose from one of their spacious rooms, suites, apartments, or villas with five outdoor swimming pools (two just for families!). They offer a kids’ club and complementary babysitting services for children aged six months to 12 years old. There’s a games room and an impressive adventure playground too. Enjoy a casual family meal at the Mundi Restaurant and drinks and snacks at the handy poolside Sandy Bar.
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Best Resorts in the Algarve for Your Family Trip
Choosing the perfect family resort could make or break your family holiday. You want a great place with spacious rooms in a great location with easy access to beaches, large outdoor pools, and PLENTY of dining options for children. Luckily, this list of the best resorts in the Algarve for families will ensure you find the right place to stay.