If you’re planning on tying the knot and want inspiration for a magical honeymoon destination, then look no further than the Algarve. The Algarve is a fabulous honeymoon destination, offering privacy, intimacy, discretion and incredible food, drink and scenery; everything newlyweds could ask for to mark the start of a new life together, and more.
From lavish private villas to luxurious honeymoon suits, atmospheric restaurants and sea-view bars, stunning beach walks and fairytale countryside refuges, it is an idyllic destination for couples looking to celebrate their love and make amazing memories.
When it comes to romantic hotels, the Algarve has them in spades. From scenic coastal resorts to heavenly countryside retreats, whatever your preferences rest assured they will be catered for with the region’s trademark hospitality and amazing weather.
One of the Algarve’s most popular honeymoon resorts is the glamorous Pine Cliffs Resort on Praia da Falésia in Albufeira. Overlooking beautiful cliffs and a golden beach, Pine Cliffs sets the bar high from the moment of arrival. With 11 varied restaurants and a sumptuous spa on-site, among other luxury facilities, it has long been a favourite among discerning couples. Its deluxe suites are lavish havens of comfort and privacy that takes romance to new heights.
Another resort popular for its romantic charm and dreamy location is the five-star Vila Vita Parc, a romantic bubble where no detail is overlooked and couples can simply relax with beautiful views and every whim catered for. To make your stay extra special, enjoy a meal at the resort’s on-site two Michelin-star Ocean restaurant. Explore Vila Vita’s lovely location, heading to nearby Porches to see the famed local pottery, and enjoy a romantic drink overlooking the postcard perfect Nossa Senhora da Rocha chapel on a craggy seafront promontory, as the sun sets.
If you really want to get away from the world and just be wrapped up in each others’ company, head to Vila Vita’s sister resort, the Herdade do Grous wine estate in Beja (Alentejo, about a 1h45min hour drive from the Algarve) for a night and relish the peace and tranquillity the luxury rural retreat offers. Set around a vast lake in the middle of rolling vineyards and fields, all rooms have log fires and exquisite little touches that add refinement to its rustic charm. Enjoy the on-site restaurant, sampling locally-reared meats and the estate’s acclaimed eponymous wine.
Also boasting a stunning sea-front location is the Tivoli Carvoeiro, in the fishing village of Carvoeiro, in Lagoa. In a privileged front-line setting right on the cliff tops, it is surrounded by excellent restaurants and romantic coastal walks, to be enjoyed hand in hand, at sunset, while the famed roof terrace Sky Bar is a perfect spot for a magical sun-downer.
If smaller resorts are your preference, the Algarve is home to an array of incredible boutique hotels, where personal touches make your stay like a special home-from-home experience. The award-winning Vila Joya boutique hotel in Albufeira excels at special occasions. With eight individually unique suites to choose from among its rooms, and a two-Michelin star on-site restaurant, it has wonderful beach walks on the doorstep and a style and history that distinguish it as one of the finest boutique resorts in Europe.
Another excellent boutique resort is Vivenda Miranda in Lagos. Enveloped by tranquil, verdant gardens and with a fine dining restaurant and beautiful spa under its roof, this converted 17th century property that once belonged to nobility is a heady mix of traditional and modern. Offering sweeping views over Porto de Mós beach, the hotel’s unique Boutique Grand Suite is gorgeous; the ultimate honeymoon suite.
If you want something a little different for your honeymoon and want to be among the action, try a stay at the Opus One Luxury Guest House in the heart of Faro. Within walking distance of the Algarve’s main city’s bars and restaurants, its historic old town and marina, this converted town house is the epitome of luxury. Enjoy a stroll to the waterside, indulge in a spot of plane-spotting, shopping, amble the historic walls of the old town, or jump on a boat trip around the Ria Formosa lagoon and its sand banks. If a more active honeymoon is your idea of perfection, with a sumptuous retreat to retire to at the end of the day – hot tub included – then this glamorous hidden gem of a guest house is for you.
Another incredibly romantic getaway is the Villa Termal das Caldas de Monchique Spa Resort. Set amid a luxuriant mountain valley about 30 minutes from the coast, surrounded by fairytale woodland and sparkling spring waters, this hotel oozes chic rustic charm. With roaring open fires in communal areas, the magical Caldas de Monchique springs on its doorstep, the thermal spa a stroll away and a little tavern with an old open fire right next-door, this retreat is perfect in summer, but even more so when the weather is cooler.
When it comes to dining out, you’re spoiled for choice with romantic restaurants in the Algarve.
A rather unusual dining experience and a bit of a well-kept secret is the Windmill Restaurant in Albufeira. With just 12 seats, this bijou eatery is intimate and housed, as the name would indicate, inside a renovated windmill. The dining area is located on the top floor of the historic building, which dates to 1938. The menu is kept small and seasonal to showcase the finest national produce, while the views over Albufeira are breathtaking, particularly at night, when the lights twinkle. The Windmill is a hidden gem, perfect for a truly memorable, romantic occasion.
And in-keeping with unique restaurants, Caniço beach restaurant, located within the Prainha resort complex between Praia da Rocha and Alvor, in the western Algarve, is remarkable. Not so much located on the beach as suspended above the beach, wedged between cliffs overlooking an idyllic cove, Caniço is the ultimate beach restaurant. Enjoy a fabulous meal of sophisticated Mediterranean seafood fare or traditional Algarve cuisine, in this exceptional setting. Accessible only by elevator, Caniço boasts the most incredible sunsets, and in summer the nights are even more heady as after the kitchen closes the DJ comes our for late-night parties. With up-lit cliffs as a backdrop and the deep blue sea stretching out endlessly in front, Caniço is truly a magical spot for a memorable honeymoon meal.
