Hotels in Quarteira

Quarteira is the working-class neighbour of Vilamoura on the Algarve coast, a former fishing town that grew fast into a resort of tightly packed apartment towers along a long, sandy beach. It has never had the polish of the marina next door or the golf-estate exclusivity of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago further east, and that is precisely its appeal: prices tend to be gentler, many of the holidaymakers are Portuguese families, and the town still feels lived-in outside of August.

The seafront promenade is the centre of everything, lined with cafés and grilled-fish restaurants, and the fish market and weekly street market keep a local rhythm going. Be honest: the skyline is dense, concrete and unlovely, and in high summer the beach and promenade get very crowded. Faro airport is a short drive away, which makes Quarteira an easy base for short breaks. Stay along the promenade near the western end, towards Vilamoura, for beach access, the best restaurants and an easy walk to the marina.