Excellence Luxury Villas · Alcácer do Sal
Luxury Villas in Alcácer do Sal
Villas between a castle town on the Sado and the white beaches of Comporta, with rice fields and cork oaks in between
As featured in
A castle town on the Sado, with Comporta at the end of the road
Alcácer do Sal is one of the oldest towns in Portugal, and it carries its age lightly. Whitewashed houses step down a hill to the river Sado, storks nest on the church towers, and the castle at the top stands on around 2,700 years of history. Iron Age traders, Romans and Moors all held the hill before Portugal took it for good in 1217. Below the town the river opens into an estuary of rice fields, salt pans and reed beds.
Few visitors realise that Comporta lies within the municipality of Alcácer do Sal, so the parish runs all the way to the Atlantic. Our collection here runs to 39 villas. They range from timber and reed houses among the pines and dunes near Comporta to quintas in the cork oak country inland, most with private pools.
Here is how to choose between river, countryside and coast, and when to come.
Alcácer do Sal at a glance
- Villas
- 39 across the countryside and the Comporta coast, sleeping up to 16 guests
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,400 to £6,700 a week, from around £1,400
- Best areas
- Comporta and the coast for beaches; the farmland around Alcácer for space and quiet
- Best time
- May, June, September and October; July and August for the beach
- Getting there
- Lisbon airport is around an hour away by road
Browse all 39 villas in Alcácer do Sal
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Citrus Beach Portugal4 bedrooms
Comporta Villa Portugal5 bedrooms
Palm House | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta6 bedrooms
Lavanda Sea | 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta5 bedroomsWhere to stay in Alcácer do Sal
Comporta and its coast for white beaches and walks through the rice fields, the farmland around Alcácer for quintas and quiet, Setúbal for the Arrábida hills and the ferry to Tróia, and the wider Alentejo for wine and empty roads.
Castle, crypt and a riverside lunch
Start at the castle. The Pousada now occupies the old convent of Aracoeli inside the walls, and beneath it the Cripta Arqueológica lays bare the layers of the hill's past: Iron Age streets, Roman walls, Islamic structures and medieval foundations, all in one space. It is closed on Mondays, and an hour is enough to see it.
Next door, the church of Santa Maria do Castelo has a stork's nest on its spire and a view over the river and the plain beyond. Then walk down through the old streets to the riverside for lunch, which is almost certain to involve the local rice.
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The same parish, a different world
Drive west for around half an hour and the cork oaks give way to stone pines, then dunes, then miles of pale sand at Comporta. The village has become the most fashionable address on this coast, yet it still has rice paddies on its doorstep and a low-rise, barefoot style.
Close by, the fishermen's stilt harbour at Carrasqueira, a maze of wooden jetties over the mud of the estuary, is at its most atmospheric towards sunset. Further north, the Tróia peninsula has long beaches, golf and a ferry across the Sado to Setúbal.
Dolphins, flamingos and stone pines
The Sado estuary is a nature reserve and home to some 200 species of bird, from white storks and herons to flamingos on the mudflats. It also has one of the few resident populations of bottlenose dolphins in Europe, best seen from a boat.
Inland lies the montado, cork oaks and stone pines over open grazing land. This is pine nut country: Alcácer and neighbouring Grândola produce more than half of Portugal's crop, and the cones are gathered by hand between December and March. It is quiet, spacious country, very good for walking, cycling and riding.
Rice, razor clams and a June fair
The cooking here is built on rice. Look for arroz de lingueirão, a soupy rice with razor clams, along with cuttlefish, prawns and lobster, and finish with pinhoadas, the town's pine nut sweets. Each June the PIMEL fair celebrates local honey, pine nuts, cork, rice, salt, wine and the old convent sweets.
May, June, September and October are the best months: warm, but without the inland heat of high summer, when it is best to stay close to the coast. Our concierge can arrange boat trips on the Sado, tables in Comporta, tee times at Tróia and transfers from Lisbon.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Alcácer do Sal
Casa Eira | 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £5,686 a week
Moradia Carregueira | 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £4,950 a week
Villa Nin | 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,909 a week
Villa Carras | 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta4 bedrooms · sleeps 9From £3,889 a week
Quinta Montado Alcacer Alcacer do Sal: Stunning 3-Bedroom Family Villa with Private Pool in Historic Portuguese Countryside Resort3 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,707 a week
Villa Baixo | 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Comporta4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,536 a week
Villa Torroal Portugal3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £3,344 a week
Quinta Montado Alcacer: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Golf Access in Portugal’s Alentejo Region4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,283 a weekWhy book your Alcácer do Sal villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Villas here range from houses among the dunes near Comporta to quintas well inland, and we know which put you closest to the beach, the town or real seclusion. With 39 properties in Alcácer do Sal, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Dolphin and birdwatching boat trips on the Sado, a private chef, tee times at Tróia, horse riding, restaurant tables in Comporta, car hire and transfers from Lisbon. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stay in Alcácer do Sal or Comporta?
Choose the coast around Comporta if the beach is the main point of the holiday. Choose the countryside around Alcácer for space and privacy, close to the castle and the riverside restaurants. The two are only around half an hour apart, so it is easy to enjoy both.
When is the best time to visit Alcácer do Sal?
Late spring and early autumn are best, with warm days for walking, cycling and boat trips on the estuary. July and August are best spent near the coast, as it can be very hot inland. The PIMEL fair is held each June.
Can you see dolphins on the Sado?
Yes. The Sado estuary has one of the few resident groups of bottlenose dolphins in Europe, and boat trips go out to look for them, often with flamingos and herons on the way. Our concierge can book a private boat.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Alcácer do Sal?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Alcácer do Sal cost?
Across our 39 villas in Alcácer do Sal, weekly rates typically range from £2,400 to £6,700, with the most affordable from around £1,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Alcácer do Sal?
Lisbon airport is around an hour away by road, heading south on the A2 motorway. Our concierge can arrange private transfers or car hire.
Are there villas in Alcácer do Sal for large groups?
Yes. Our Alcácer do Sal collection includes properties with up to 7 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Alcácer do Sal
39 villas around Alcácer do Sal and Comporta, booked direct with our concierge on hand