When people imagine an Algarve holiday, they often picture golden beaches, dramatic cliffs, sunshine and beautiful villas with swimming pools.
But there is one important question when booking your luxury villa holiday:
Where in the Algarve should you stay?
The Algarve is wonderfully varied. You can choose glamorous resorts, busy towns, lively nightlife destinations, historic fishing communities or tiny villages where life moves at a completely different pace.
For a luxury villa holiday, however, we believe the Western Algarve – particularly the coastline west of Lagos – offers something increasingly difficult to find elsewhere: beautiful scenery, authentic Portuguese character, excellent beaches and the space to properly relax.
And among the towns and villages of the Western Algarve, there is one destination that we believe offers the best balance of all…
Salema.
But we’re biased, of course.
So let’s compare the area’s most popular destinations – and explain honestly why we think Salema is such a special place for a luxury Algarve villa holiday.
Why Choose the Western Algarve?
The Algarve becomes noticeably different as you travel west.
The large resorts and heavily developed stretches of the central Algarve gradually give way to:
- Smaller towns and fishing villages
- Dramatic cliffs and beautiful coastline
- Quieter beaches
- More open countryside
- Spectacular Atlantic scenery
- A slower, more relaxed atmosphere
The Western Algarve also gives you a remarkable amount of variety within a relatively compact area.
You can spend one day exploring the historic streets and restaurants of Lagos, another relaxing on a quiet beach and another driving to Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente to watch the sunset at the south-western edge of Europe.
For visitors who want more than simply a resort holiday, it is a wonderful part of Portugal to explore.
The question is: which town or village should become your base?
Lagos: The Lively All-Rounder
Best for: Restaurants, nightlife, history and plenty of things to do
Lagos is probably the best-known destination in the Western Algarve – and for good reason.
It has a beautiful historic centre, an impressive choice of restaurants and bars, a marina, excellent beaches and some of the Algarve’s most famous coastal scenery.
Places such as Ponta da Piedade, Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo are among the region’s iconic sights.
If you want to be somewhere with plenty happening around you, Lagos is an excellent choice.
The advantages of Lagos
- Huge choice of restaurants and bars
- Historic old town
- Excellent beaches nearby
- Boat trips and water activities
- Good transport connections
- Plenty to do without travelling far
- A lively atmosphere throughout much of the year
The downside?
Popularity comes at a price.
During the busiest summer months, Lagos can feel considerably busier than the smaller villages further west. Restaurants, beaches and streets become crowded and the experience can feel more like staying in a popular tourist town than escaping to a peaceful corner of Portugal.
For some people, that’s perfect.
But if your idea of a luxury villa holiday involves waking up to sea views, walking to a quieter beach and returning to the peace of your own private villa and pool, you may prefer somewhere smaller.
Our verdict: Lagos is brilliant to visit – but you don’t necessarily want to stay in the middle of it.
Praia da Luz: Convenient and Family-Friendly
Best for: Families who want plenty of facilities within walking distance
Praia da Luz is a popular choice for families and longer stays.
It has a large sandy beach, a pleasant seafront, plenty of restaurants and supermarkets and a relaxed holiday atmosphere.
It is also conveniently close to Lagos.
The advantages of Praia da Luz
- Large beach
- Plenty of restaurants
- Good range of facilities
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Easy access to Lagos
- Lots of accommodation options
Luz is a practical choice. You can easily spend a week there without needing to travel very far.
The downside?
For some visitors, Praia da Luz can feel more like a traditional holiday resort than an authentic Portuguese village.
It is also more developed than Salema and doesn’t offer quite the same feeling of discovering somewhere special and slightly removed from the busiest parts of the Algarve.
Our verdict: Excellent for convenience and families with young kids who want lots of facilities. But if you want more character and a stronger sense of escaping the crowds, keep travelling west.
Burgau: Beautiful, Charming and Full of Character
Best for: Couples and visitors who love traditional village atmosphere
Burgau is one of the prettiest villages in the Western Algarve.
Whitewashed houses tumble down towards a sheltered beach, while narrow streets and small restaurants give the village plenty of traditional charm.
It is easy to understand why people fall in love with Burgau.
The advantages of Burgau
- Beautiful traditional village
- Excellent beach
- Great character
- Good restaurants for its size
- Close to Lagos
- Fantastic coastal walks
Burgau feels much more intimate than Lagos or Praia da Luz.
The downside?
It is also compact.
For visitors who like plenty of space, a larger beach, a broader choice of restaurants and the feeling of being able to really spread out during their holiday, Burgau can feel a little small.
The village’s steep streets may also not suit everyone.
Our verdict: A beautiful choice and one of our favourite villages in the Western Algarve. But for us, Salema offers a little more space and a higher quality of restaurant, while retaining the same sense of authentic Portuguese charm.
Sagres: Wild, Dramatic and Completely Different
Best for: Surfers, walkers and lovers of dramatic landscapes
Sagres is unlike anywhere else in the Algarve.
Located close to the south-western tip of Portugal, it feels exposed, dramatic and wonderfully wild.
This is a destination for:
- Surfers
- Walkers
- Nature lovers
- Adventurers
- Sunset chasers
The surrounding coastline is spectacular and Cabo de São Vicente is one of the most dramatic places in southern Portugal.
The advantages of Sagres
- Incredible scenery
- Excellent surfing
- Spectacular sunsets
- Access to wild Atlantic beaches
- Fantastic walking
- A laid-back atmosphere
The downside?
Sagres can be windier and more exposed than the south-facing villages further east.
The Atlantic influence is much stronger here, and the town doesn’t offer quite the same traditional beach-village experience as Salema.
It’s an amazing place to explore.
But for a relaxing luxury villa holiday where you want beautiful sea views, a sheltered beach and a choice of restaurants within walking distance, you may not want to be based there for your entire stay.
Our verdict: An essential day trip from Salema. A fantastic destination – but, for many villa holidays, better explored than used as your permanent base.
And Then There’s Salema…
A Proper Village. A Proper Beach. One of the Best Locations in the Western Algarve.
This is where we make our case.
Salema manages to offer something that is becoming increasingly rare in popular holiday destinations:
It still feels like a real place.
It is a small fishing village rather than a purpose-built resort.
You can still see fishing boats on the beach. You can walk through the village rather than along rows of enormous hotels. The pace is slower, and the atmosphere feels distinctly Portuguese.
But Salema is not isolated.
That’s the key.
You can enjoy the peace of a small village while remaining perfectly positioned to explore the Western Algarve.
The Beach Is a Major Reason to Choose Salema
Salema has a beautiful, long sandy beach framed by dramatic cliffs.
Unlike some tiny coves, there is space here.
You can walk along the sand, spend the day on the beach and still enjoy that wonderful feeling of being surrounded by spectacular scenery rather than towering hotels and large resorts.
For families, the beach is a huge advantage.
For couples, it is equally special.
And for guests staying in a luxury villa, there is something rather wonderful about being able to combine:
A private pool at home – with a genuinely beautiful beach within walking distance.
Why choose between the two?
Salema Gives You Authenticity Without Isolation
This is perhaps Salema’s greatest strength.
Some beautiful villages in Portugal are wonderfully authentic – but can feel isolated.
Some large resorts offer everything you could possibly need – but have lost much of their local character and could be anywhere.
Salema sits somewhere in the middle.
You can walk to restaurants.
You can walk to the beach.
You can enjoy a relaxed drink overlooking the sea.
And yet, within a relatively short drive, you can explore:
- Lagos
- Praia da Luz
- Burgau
- Sagres
- The wild beaches of the Costa Vicentina
- Beautiful walking routes
- Surf beaches
- Historic towns and villages
You can have a quiet day in Salema – and a completely different adventure the following day.
A Luxury Villa Holiday Doesn’t Have to Mean Staying in a Resort
When people hear the phrase “luxury Algarve villa”, they sometimes imagine the Golden Triangle, large golf resorts and highly developed areas filled with expensive hotels.
And those destinations certainly have their appeal.
But luxury means different things to different people.
For us, real luxury can mean:
- Waking up to an uninterrupted sea view
- Swimming in your own private pool
- Having space for your family and friends
- Walking to the beach
- Watching the sunset with a glass of wine
- Not fighting for a sunbed
- Having a beautiful restaurant within walking distance
- Returning to peace and privacy at the end of the day
That is the type of luxury the Western Algarve does exceptionally well.
And Salema offers it without losing its soul.
Salema vs Lagos: The Best of Both Worlds?
If you’re deciding between Lagos and Salema, our recommendation would be simple:
Stay in Salema. Visit Lagos.
Lagos is close enough to enjoy its restaurants, shops, historic streets and attractions.
But at the end of the day, you can leave the crowds behind and return to the peace of the village.
You don’t have to choose between a lively town and a peaceful holiday.
You can enjoy both.
Salema vs Praia da Luz
Choose Praia da Luz if:
- You want more shops and services
- You prefer a larger holiday resort
- You want plenty happening within walking distance
Choose Salema if:
- You want a quieter holiday
- Authentic village character matters to you
- You want a less developed destination
- You love the idea of boats on the beach and dramatic coastal scenery
Both are excellent choices.
But Salema feels more like somewhere you discover.
Salema vs Burgau
This is a difficult one because Burgau is genuinely beautiful.
Choose Burgau if:
- You want a compact, picturesque village
- You enjoy steep traditional streets
- Being very close to Lagos is important
Choose Salema if:
- You want a larger beach
- You prefer more space
- You want a slightly quieter atmosphere
- You want to be positioned further towards Sagres and the wilder Western Algarve
For a luxury villa holiday, particularly for larger families or groups, we think Salema has the advantage.
Salema vs Sagres
Choose Sagres if:
- Surfing is a major priority
- You love dramatic Atlantic scenery
- You want hiking and adventure
- You don’t mind windier conditions
Choose Salema if:
- You want a more traditional beach holiday
- Walking to quality restaurants and the beach is important
- You want a more sheltered south-facing location with less wind from the Atlantic
- You want easy access to both Lagos and Sagres
Again, the beauty of staying in Salema is that you can easily experience Sagres without committing your entire holiday to its wilder environment.
Why Salema Works So Well for Families and Groups
Luxury villas are particularly popular with:
- Large families
- Multi-generational holidays
- Groups of friends
- Families travelling with grandparents
- People celebrating special occasions
For these types of holidays, location matters enormously.
You don’t want to have to drive every time somebody wants:
- The beach
- Lunch
- An ice cream
- A drink
- A restaurant
You also don’t necessarily want to stay in the middle of a busy town.
Salema offers a very attractive compromise.
The village is small enough to feel relaxed.
But it has enough going on that you can enjoy your holiday without constantly getting into the car.
Add a luxury villa with a private pool, sea views and plenty of space, and you have something that works exceptionally well for groups of different ages.
The Western Algarve’s Best-Kept Secret?
Perhaps Salema isn’t really a secret anymore.
People who discover it often return.
But compared with many of the Algarve’s larger resorts, it remains refreshingly understated.
You won’t find huge nightclub districts.
You won’t find rows of high-rise hotels dominating the beach.
Instead, you’ll find a village that has managed to welcome visitors while retaining much of the character that made people fall in love with it in the first place.
And that, in our opinion, is becoming increasingly valuable.
Our Verdict: Why We Choose Salema
There are plenty of wonderful places to stay in the Western Algarve.
Lagos offers energy, history and entertainment.
Praia da Luz offers convenience and family-friendly facilities.
Burgau offers postcard-perfect village charm.
Sagres offers adventure and spectacular Atlantic scenery.
But Salema offers balance.
And perhaps most importantly: Salema gives you the feeling that you’ve escaped somewhere special.
You can spend the day exploring the Western Algarve, surfing on the Atlantic coast, wandering through Lagos or watching the sunset at Cabo de São Vicente.
Then you can return to your villa, pour yourself a drink, look out towards the sea and remember why you came to the Algarve in the first place.
Discover Simply Salema’s Luxury Villas
If you’re looking for a luxury villa in the Western Algarve, explore our collection of beautiful properties in Salema.
With private pools, spectacular sea views, generous outdoor spaces and the beach and village within easy reach, our villas offer the perfect base from which to experience one of Portugal’s most beautiful corners.
Discover the Western Algarve. Discover Salema.
