An hour's drive south of Lisbon, the long surf beaches, sandy dunes, salt flats, rice fields and pine woods of the Comporta coast have gained a loyal following among travel cognoscenti in the last few years. Some compare it to the Hamptons of Europe, or the French Riviera in the 1970s: sleepy villages, laidback bars under big open skies, a few boho-chic resorts, and a golf course. But, above all, those endless beaches - Comporta, Brejos, Carvalhal - over 12km in total, and with water on both sides giving them an island vibe.
The latest thing to blossom here are the beach houses - or rather not-quite-beach houses, since most are a few miles inland among pine woods and moors; but set on such soft sandy ground that you can roam barefoot. We're lucky to be able to offer six of the very best here, thanks to the enterprising young Pedro, who has courted the owners and now handles bookings with the expert touch of a local. Many are reinventions of old barns and cabins, grouped together around a pool, and linked by shady sit-outs, sandy walkways and semi-tropical gardens. This layout makes the larger ones (4-6 bedrooms) perfect for multi-family or multi-gen holidays, or groups of friends; while the smaller ones (2-3 bedrooms) will suit a family. Spend the days surfing, sunbathing, cycling to the village, walking the dunes. Come sunset, fire up the barbie and relax beneath whispering pines as a thousand stars sparkle into life.
Highs
- Whether it's their stunning interior design, pretty vernacular architecture or simple beach chic, all six houses stand out in their own way
- The larger houses' multi-building layout makes them perfect for a group of friends, or 2-3 families travelling together
- The medium villas - with 3 bedrooms each - are great for a larger family, or kids wanting separate rooms
- All except the two-bedroom villa (Lagoon House) have their own private pool
- Some houses are hidden away deep in pine forest for total seclusion; others are within walking distance of the beach
Lows
- Note the houses aren't on the beach, but between 500m-12km inland, so you'll probably need a car for getting around
- The Forest Cabins are a much simpler offering, as reflected by the lower price tag, and not all houses have air conditioning
- All houses require a 7-night stay in summer, generally Saturday to Saturday
- Not ideal with toddlers, and renting baby equipment isn't cheap
- Comporta's upmarket vibe means that it can be pricey in comparison to other coastal villages in Portugal
Best time to go
Any time between mid-May and mid-September, when the weather is sunny and the sea warm enough for swimming. Surfing is best from September to November. In winter - when some houses remain open (with heating of course, plus a fireplace or woodburner) - daytime temperatures hover around 15C: still warm enough for beach walks, horse rides and quick pool dips for the brave.
Our top tips
It can be hard getting your head round the different villas and locationss on offer. So, if you know when you're travelling, start by checking availability for those dates (try and select a Saturday arrival / departure) – and see what's available. On that page you can scroll through an extended photo gallery for each house. Or, if location and proximity to the beach are your key factors, click here for a Google map of the villas.
- Boutique Villas
- 6 villas for 2-12
- Self-catering
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car essential
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Bicycles Available
- Cleaning every 1-3 days
Large Villas (for 8-12)
The 2 large villas include a 6-bedroom thatch masterpiece and a supremely sleek 4-bedroom house (which sleeps 8-10). The former is split between three adjacent buildings - handy if your party comprises multiple families or different generations.
The Moor House (6 bedrooms): three contemporary bungalows hidden under cool thatch roofs and cane-faced walls, connected by sandy walkways and set in huge grounds. Its trump cards include lovely al-fresco dining-living spaces, a stunning 12m pool overlooking moorland, and cool minimalist bedrooms with A/C and shaded terraces. We love how the cane walls cast slatted shadows over the airy living room, with its striking modular sofa and futuristic woodburner.
Moving down a notch in size, the Contemporary House (4 bedrooms) lives up to its name, with angular lines, clean white walls, and huge floor-to-ceiling sliding windows opening out onto a decked pool terrace and wooded horizons. The living room wows with high cement-grey eaves and polished screed floors; there's a gleaming white kitchen and candy-coloured bucket chairs around the long dining table. Bedrooms - similarly styled - include 2 doubles, 1 twin and 1 quadruple (with bunks) for kids, allowing for up to 10 guests.
Medium Villas (for 6-7)
Of the 3-bedroom villas, our top pick would be The Striped Huts: three cane-and-wood barns set around a central pool in a sandy 'garden'. As in the larger houses, the first barn contains the living-dining areas and (compact) kitchen, while the others house the bedrooms (master suite in one, two smaller rooms in the other). Interiors are clean, white, simple, charming. There's a slat-covered dining-chilling terrace and a few pine trees around the perimeter, but overall it's less shady than some other villas.
Set deep in the pine woods, The Forest Cabins is the simplest and the most affordable of all the villas: a real back-to-nature experience. Its three compact wooden cabins, set on a raised wooden deck, house the cosy living-kitchen space, the master bedroom and a pair of smaller double bedrooms. Note that indoor dining space is limited to a small corner table; this is a summer house, and meals are designed to be taken outside on the shaded picnic-style tables; before adjourning to the glorious – and improbably blue – pool.
If that sounds way too rustic, our final 3-bedroom option is a townhouse-style villa in Comporta itself (population: 50 in winter, over 500 in summer). This Comporta Villa has a bright surfer-chic vibe, with a small pool and built-in BBQ on the terrace, and boogie/surf boards in the twin bedroom. You also get two queensize doubles, living-dining spaces for 6 (both indoor and outdoor), and an EV charger in the driveway. This house has no garden to speak of, but the flipside is a choice of restaurants and shops in walking distance, including some on-trend fashion boutiques (Fio d'Agua, TM Collection) and the Rice Museum.
Small Villa (for 4)
The only 2-bedroom villa, the Lagoon House, is a small, simple cottage designed for a couple or a close-knit family, with an emphasis on outdoor living. You'll spend most of your time around the covered patio, with its low-slung sitting area and adjacent wicker-bucket and deck chairs facing out over heathland to pine woods. Step into the white-painted fisherman's cottage to find a sitting room, two bedrooms (one at either end, a double and a double/twin), and a rather basic kitchen (though it does still have a dishwasher). Meals are taken outside, on the shaded dining patio. Each bedroom has a small shower bathroom, but note that one of these is open-plan to the bedroom.
There's no pool, but it's 15 mins' walk to Brejos beach. A block away are two seasonal eateries; but (even if they're open) you'll still want a car for shopping, as the nearest mini-market is 2km / 7 mins' drive away in Carvalhal.
Kids
All of these houses are perfectly set up for one or several families travelling together. We think they're best for mid-aged kids (e.g. 5-13 years) who will enjoy the surf-friendly beaches and the great outdoors in general. For teens wanting a bit of social life, The Comporta Villa is probably best. All except The Lagoon House have a private pool. Most have one (or more) twin, triple or quadruple-bedded room which is designed for kids. All houses can supply a baby cot and a high chair (in some cases, more than one) – by prior arrangement and for an extra cost.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
Cots Available
Baby equipment:
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Kids Activities nearby:
Families Should Know:
The houses are not toddler-proofed to what you might call British standards: most of the pools are unfenced (though some are raised 1-2 feet above ground level), there are no stair gates, some living rooms have breakable objects at toddler level, and some gardens have prickly plants.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The houses are clustered around and to the south of the village of Comporta, between 500m-12km from the coast, and 90 minutes south of Lisbon, in the Alentejo region of Portugal.
> See all villas on a Google map
The Setting
Most houses are set between beaches and pine forests, with bird-rich wetlands and rice fields on your doorstep, and scattered villages nearby. Some houses are within walking distance of Comporta's long sandy beaches (great surf and horse riding); the rest are a short drive or cycle ride away (bikes can easily be hired).
Getting There By Air:
Lisbon Portela Airport (125km) is served by regular flights from across Europe and beyond. From there, we recommend hiring a car so that you can explore the area.
Airports:
- Lisbon Portela 125.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 3.0 km
- Shops 3.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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