Excellence Luxury Villas · Loulé
Luxury Villa Rentals in Loulé
Villas with private pools from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo to Vilamoura, with an old Moorish market town in the hills behind
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The Algarve's grandest coast, and the town that owns it
A great many British holidaymakers have stayed in Loulé without knowing it. The municipality runs from the cork oaks and limestone hills of the interior down to the sea, and it takes in Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Almancil, Vilamoura and Quarteira. Most of the Algarve's best-known golf and beach addresses fall within its borders.
Our Loulé collection runs to 240+ villas, from contemporary houses on the fairways of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo to family villas in Almancil, homes close to the marina at Vilamoura and quieter country houses inland. Almost all have private pools.
The town of Loulé itself, a few miles inland, is the part visitors tend to miss. It has a domed market hall, a fine old church and the liveliest carnival in the south. Here is how the coast and the hills fit together.
Loulé at a glance
- Villas
- 240+ across the Loulé municipality, with up to 9 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,600 to £6,000 a week, from around £1,100
- Best areas
- Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Almancil; Vilamoura and Quarteira; Loulé town and the hills
- Best time
- May to October for the beach; spring and autumn for golf, walking and the market
- Airport
- Faro, roughly 15 to 30 minutes from most villas
Browse all 240+ villas in Loulé
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Villa Atlantico Portugal5 bedrooms
Villa Atlanta | 5-Bedroom Villa in Quinta do Lago Almancil5 bedrooms
Villa Lis Portugal6 bedrooms
Villa Trilho Portugal5 bedroomsWhere to stay in Loulé
Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Almancil for golf and the Ria Formosa beaches, Vilamoura and Quarteira for the marina and a long seafront, and Loulé town and its hill villages for a more traditional Algarve.
Fairways, pine woods and a lagoon
The western edge of the Ria Formosa lagoon marks the start of the Algarve's most sought-after stretch of coast. At Quinta do Lago, a long wooden footbridge crosses the lagoon to the beach. Next door, Vale do Lobo runs down to golden sand and red cliffs. Both are laid out around championship golf courses, and the villas sit among umbrella pines.
Almancil is the town that serves them both. It has supermarkets, bakeries and some well-regarded restaurants, and on its edge stands the little church of São Lourenço, lined inside with blue and white azulejos from the early eighteenth century.
Browse villas in Almancil
Yachts, Roman ruins and a fish market
Vilamoura is built around one of the largest marinas in Portugal. The quayside is lined with restaurants, and boat trips, fishing and sailing leave from the pontoons. There is more golf here, and the Roman ruins at Cerro da Vila sit, rather incongruously, a short walk from the yachts.
Quarteira, just to the east, was a fishing town long before the resorts arrived, and it has kept a working character. A long seafront promenade runs beside the beach, and the morning fish market is worth getting up for.
Browse villas in Vilamoura
Pink domes and quiet villages
Loulé's municipal market dates from 1908 and was built in a Moorish Revival style, with domes and horseshoe arches. Saturday is the day to go, when stalls of oranges, almonds and dried herbs spill out into the streets. Close by are the remains of the castle walls, the church of São Clemente, whose bell tower is thought to have begun life as a minaret, and lanes of workshops where coppersmiths still hammer cataplanas.
Inland, the hills empty quickly. Querença has a whitewashed church on a sleepy square, Alte is known for its springs, and above Salir the limestone ridge of Rocha da Pena makes a good morning's walk.
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Cataplana, carnival and a long summer
Eating well here is easy. There is grilled fish in Quarteira, cataplana by the marina, and almond and fig sweets from Loulé market. In the hills you will find medronho, the fierce local spirit distilled from strawberry tree fruit.
Loulé's carnival, which goes back to 1906, fills the town with floats in February. At Easter comes the Festa da Mãe Soberana, the largest religious festival in the Algarve, when the statue of the town's patroness is carried down the hill and, two weeks later, back up it. The beach season runs from May to October, and spring and autumn are best for golf. Our concierge can book tee times, tables and a carnival-week villa well ahead.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Loulé
Villa Loja Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £11,699 a week
Villa Lorenzo Portugal6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £11,407 a week
Villa Ridia | 4-Bedroom Villa in Quinta do Lago Almancil4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £10,977 a week
Quinta Palmera Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £10,767 a week
Villa Fonte Santa | 7-Bedroom Villa in Vilamoura Quarteira7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £10,736 a week
Rent Villa Luxurious Retreat Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £10,689 a week
Casa Montinho | 9-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Loule9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £10,683 a week
Casa Wyma | 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Quinta do Lago Faro5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £10,503 a weekWhy book your Loulé villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Loulé covers everything from lagoon-side golf estates to farmhouses in the hills, and we know which villas are a stroll from the beach and which are a short drive from Saturday market. With 240+ properties in Loulé, 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
Tee times at Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura, boat trips from Vilamoura marina, a private chef, restaurant reservations, car hire and transfers from Faro. 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
Where is the best place to stay in Loulé?
For golf and beaches, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are the most exclusive, and Almancil puts both within a short drive. Vilamoura suits those who want the marina and restaurants close by, and the countryside around Loulé town suits anyone after peace and a more traditional Algarve.
Is Loulé on the coast?
The town of Loulé is a few miles inland, but the municipality reaches the sea and includes Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Vilamoura and Quarteira. Most of our Loulé villas are close to the coast, and some sit in the quieter hills behind it.
When is the best time to visit Loulé?
May to October is best for the beach. Spring and autumn are ideal for golf and walking in the hills. February brings the carnival, and the Festa da Mãe Soberana takes place over Easter.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Loulé?
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 Loulé cost?
Across our 240+ villas in Loulé, weekly rates typically range from £1,600 to £6,000, with the most affordable from around £1,100 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 far is Loulé from Faro airport?
Faro airport is close by. Almancil, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are typically around 15 to 20 minutes away, Loulé town around 20 minutes and Vilamoura around half an hour. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there villas in Loulé for large groups?
Yes. Our Loulé collection includes properties with up to 9 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 Loulé
240+ villas across Loulé, from Quinta do Lago to the hills, booked direct with our concierge on hand