According to current COVID-19 measures, British visitors who return from Portugal are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine on their return home. However, as the UK is a key tourism market for Portugal, Portuguese and British officials are currently in talks about an ‘air bridge’ for British tourists to avoid a quarantine when returning to the UK from a holiday in Portugal. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that negotiations were under way but pointed out that this would only be allowed “when the evidence shows that it is safe to do so”. Portugal’s Foreign Minister has said that all British people considering going to Portugal this summer will be “most welcome” amid coronavirus and hopes that the air bridge between the two countries will be secured by the end of June. Currently, there is no quarantine for visitors arriving in Portugal, except for the Madeira Islands (until the 1^st July).

With this in mind, we’ve selected some of the most beautiful hotels to consider if we’re given the go-ahead to travel to Portugal.

DISCLAIMER: Despite the lifting of restrictions, if you do decide to travel, you should consider your own risk factors and the quality of healthcare available in the region you are going to if you become ill. Please be careful. 

Anantara Vilamoura

Algarve

Set only within a 15-minute drive from Faro Airport, Anantara Vilamoura is the perfect five-star hotel for golf enthusiasts who want to combine their passion with a beach holiday in the Algarve. The 280-room hotel celebrates all things Portugal, while staying true to Anantara’s sleek, luxury interiors. Rooms are spacious and contemporary, paying tribute to Portuguese art. They all come with balconies which boast breath-taking views of the golf course, the lush gardens or the hotel’s pool.

Ria Restaurant offers a traditional, seafood-based menu, while Emo serves gourmet interpretations of some of the dishes the region’s famed for. Breakfast is served in Victoria Restaurant and includes a mouth-watering selection of pastries, breads, fruits, cheeses and cold cuts.

In addition to its golf course, Anantara Vilamoura also comes with a stunning spa with an indoor pool, treatments by Elemis and a gym (with complimentary classes), as well as a tennis court and four outdoor pools.

Six Senses Douro Valley

Lamego

Housed in a stunningly renovated 19^th-centured manor house, Six Senses Douro Valley in Lamego is a luxe five-star hotel set on a hill which overlooks the vine-covered countryside of the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal.

In true Six Senses style, the hotel’s 50 rooms and 9 suites create a zen atmosphere, encouraging you to immediately forget about all your stresses and worries. Designed by Gianni Gonçalves and spreading out among the vines, they offer panoramic valley views and utmost luxury.

With guests’ well-being being Six Senses Douro Valley’s key priority, the hotel’s 2,200 m² -spa offers an aromatic sauna, a swimming pool, ice showers, as well as an extensive list of treatments and massages based on wine therapy.

A number of lovely restaurants are available onsite, all celebrating the best of the region’s cuisine and local ingredients, as well as its finest wines.

Conrad Algarve

Algarve

Located in Quinta do Lago, one of the world’s favourite luxury destinations, Conrad Algarve is almost a destination in itself. With its 2000 acres of idyllic landscape, part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the hotel is another golf lovers’ favourite. For the ultimate Conrad Algarve experience, make sure you stay at the Roof Garden Suite, which comes with its own plunge pool, direct private access to the spa and your own host.

The spa at Conrad Algarve offers an excellent list of treatments, a swimming pool which is part inside, part outside, two outdoor swimming pools, and one infinity pool with a state-of-the-art underwater music system. The hotel also organises a myriad of activities for its guest, including a day of winemaking, olive oil tastings or exploring the beautiful Algarvian coast on board a Sunseeker Predator 60 motorboat.

Michelin-star Gusto, by three-star Michelin chef Heinz Beck from Rome, serves contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. The Portuguese wine-paired tasting menu prepared by acclaimed sommelier Miguel Martins is absolutely unmissable.

Bairro Alto Hotel

Lisbon

For a quirky stay in one of Lisbon’s most fashionable and lively quarters, consider a stay at Bairro Alto Hotel. Set on a corner of Camões Square and housed in a beautiful building which dates back to the 1600s, this boutique, privately-owned hotel offers 87 beautifully decorated and characterful rooms. Broken down into four different categories, they all offer a blend of contemporary comforts with antique furnishings, as well as thoughtful touches of Portuguese elements.

BAHR Restaurant on the fifth floor of the building serves Portuguese classics such as prawn rissoles and the Chef’s interpretation of the traditional pork and clams dish. If the adjoining bar gets a bit too busy, thanks to its amazing views and divine cocktails, guests of the hotel can enjoy a little more privacy in the sixth-floor bar which is open for hotel residents only.

On the ground floor, you can also find a Pastelaria offering homemade pastéis de nata and other freshly baked pastries. For a quick bite to eat, pop into the hidden-away Mezzanine Bar, serving an all-day menu and cocktails.

Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort

Algarve

You’d be hard pushed to find a hotel better located for exploring the Algarve than Tivoli Carvoeiro. Set up against the awe-inspiring cliffs of the Algarve, the resort enjoys perfect positioning overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Nestled in the small town of Carvoeiro, just a 50-minute drive from Faro International Airport, Tivoli Carvoeiro is an exceptionally renovated upscale resort offering coastal luxury. Planned with its jaw-dropping location in mind, the hotel offers 248 spacious guest rooms and suites, most of which offer panoramic views of the mighty Atlantic. Guests looking to experience Tivoli Carvoeiro to the fullest can stay in one of the hotel’s three exquisite sea-view suites – one of which comes with a private hot tub on the balcony.

With its divine spa, stunning outdoor pool and a beautiful selection of restaurants, all focused on showcasing the best of Algarvian cuisine, Tivoli Carvoeiro is the perfect luxury base from where to explore everything the Algarve has to offer.