Villas in Portugal

• Villas for every group: From traditional whitewashed quintas to sleek modern homes with private pools, gardens and barbecues, Portugal's villas suit families, groups and couples, and many welcome pets too. When you want a touch of luxury on your holiday, it's hard to beat a villa.
• Where to base yourself: The Algarve draws beach and golf lovers, Lisbon and Porto offer stylish city breaks, and the islands of Madeira and the Azores reward those exploring further afield.
• Guest favourites: Rural homes with private pools in the Alentejo and the Lisbon countryside earn near-perfect scores for space, comfort and peaceful surroundings.
• Things to do: Surf the Atlantic breaks, follow the northern wine routes, ride Lisbon's trams and explore Porto, Madeira and the Algarve's championship golf courses.

Holiday villas in Portugal range from traditional whitewashed quintas that preserve the country's character to sleek, modern builds with open-plan kitchens and floor-to-ceiling glazing that frames the Atlantic. Most sit along the coast, around Lisbon, the Algarve, Sintra and Cascais, and many happily welcome families, larger groups and four-legged companions. If a villa isn't quite right, you can also browse holiday homes across Portugal, self-catering apartments in Portugal or coastal beach houses.

• Private gardens, patios and outdoor dining areas for long, al fresco summer evenings
• Villas with private swimming pools, ideal for cooling off in the Algarve heat
• Beachfront and waterfront settings, including our beachside villas for the shortest stroll to the sand
• Fully fitted kitchens, barbecues and off-street parking
• Space for 8 to 10 guests, suiting families and groups travelling together

Add a few filters to your search and you'll quickly narrow things down to the villa that suits your party best.

What are the best areas to stay in Portugal?

For a first visit, the Algarve is the most popular choice, but Portugal rewards travellers who venture further afield. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Holidu guests consistently rate Portugal's villas highly, particularly for their pools, spacious interiors and the warm welcome from local hosts. Standalone homes with private pools in the Alentejo and the Lisbon countryside have proved especially popular this year, earning near-perfect scores for comfort, cleanliness and peaceful settings.

Here are our top-rated villas from the past year:

1. Monte Barriga: Cosy retreat with private pool and air conditioning - 10.0: A spacious country retreat sleeping up to ten near Nossa Senhora das Neves in Baixo Alentejo, with a private pool and plenty of room for groups.
2. Holiday home 'A Casa Dos Raminhos' with private pool and terrace - 9.9+: This three-bedroom home in Vila de Frades, Baixo Alentejo comes with a private pool and sunny terrace, and is a real favourite for families wanting quiet, rural surroundings.
3. Holiday home 'Vila River Sublime' with private pool, wifi and air conditioning - 9.6+: Sleeping eight near Valada in the Lisbon Region, this riverside villa offers a private pool within easy reach of the capital, and guests highlight the comfort and views.

Portugal occupies the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, and most of its cities are built on the windswept Atlantic coast. Offshore, the country also claims the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores, volcanic isles that offer a very different experience from the Portuguese mainland.

🥗Where to eat in Portugal?

Portuguese food is hearty fare. The nation's love for seafood, especially bacalhao (salt cod), reflects its maritime history. Former colonies like Mozambique and Angola have also had a strong influence on the Portuguese table, with spicy peri-peri dishes often on the menu. You can dine well all over the country, but here are some of our travel experts' favourite restaurants:

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Charlotte and Henry, who stayed near Lisbon, recommend Cervejaria Ramiro in Portugal: a long-established seafood house where the garlic prawns and giant tiger prawns are well worth the inevitable queue.

1. Surf the Atlantic breaks
2. Tee off in the Algarve
3. Follow the northern wine routes
4. Ride Lisbon's trams
5. Discover Porto and the Douro
6. Escape to Madeira
7. Hunt for Portuguese crafts

1. Surf the Atlantic breaks

   Portugal's windswept Atlantic coast is a surfer's playground. Beginners can find their feet on the gentle rollers of Costa da Caparica, just south of Lisbon, whilst more confident surfers head to Ericeira, Europe's first World Surfing Reserve. The truly daring try to tackle Nazaré, famous for some of the biggest waves on the planet, or Peniche, known to surfers as the European Pipeline.

2. Tee off in the Algarve

   Portugal's mild climate means you can play almost all year round, and nowhere does golf quite like the Algarve. Manicured fairways and challenging greens sit against a backdrop of pine, cliff and the azure Atlantic, with championship courses dotted right along the coast. Many of our golf holidays in Portugal offer villas close to golf courses, so you can roll out of bed and onto the first hole.

3. Follow the northern wine routes

   In the north, you can sample crisp vinho verde around Guimarães, Braga and Amarante, or follow the wine route from Cávado to Lima through Barcelos, Viana do Castelo and Ponte de Lima. Near the Galician border, the towns of Vilanova de Cerveira and Caminha pour a fresh alvarinho. Pair a tour with a long lunch and you'll understand why Portuguese wines inspire such loyalty.

4. Ride Lisbon's trams

   Lisbon is a multicultural capital where centuries of history still lend each district a village feel. Wander the Pombaline streets of Baixa, stroll along the river to Belém and out to the Parque das Nações, or lose an afternoon in the cultural quarters. Make sure you hop on the famous tram 28, which rattles past many of the city's landmarks, and round off the evening listening to World Heritage fado in a tucked-away bar.

5. Discover Porto and the Douro

   Rising up from the banks of the River Douro, Porto draws you in with hilly old streets, a tangle of riverside lanes in Ribeira and the city's celebrated port wine cellars across the water in Vila Nova de Gaia. It's an excellent destination for lovers of food and wine. Take a slow cruise or train ride up the terraced Douro Valley to see the country's most beautiful vineyards.

6. Escape to Madeira

   The Madeira archipelago captivates with a fabulous year-round climate, lush gardens and dramatic volcanic scenery. Wander parks full of exotic flora, hike the island's famous levada water channels, and seek out picture-perfect views over the towering cliffs at Porto Moniz and Câmara de Lobos. Time your visit for the colourful Flower Festival or the New Year's fireworks.

7. Hunt for Portuguese crafts

   Portugal has a long tradition in the fine arts of jewellery and craft. Look out for intricate gold filigree bracelets, necklaces and earrings, alongside embroidery, lace, ceramics and wrought iron. The most prized find of all is the Viana heart, a curved, ornate heart that appears on everything from pendants to tablecloths and makes a lovely souvenir.