Is Vilamoura Worth Visiting in 2026? Yes It’s Great

Last updated on January 1st, 2026 at 01:17 pm

Are you thinking of visiting the Algarve?

Trying to decide where to stay?

I’ve stayed in Vilamoura and think it’s a great base in the Algarve area.

Read on for everything you need to know and see if it’s right for you too 👇

Is Vilamoura Worth Visiting?

Many people head to Albufeira in the Algarve. It’s a very busy destination that attracts a large number of British visitors. As such there are lots of places catering to the British. They offer full English breakfasts and menus in English for example.

That’s absolutely fine if that’s what you want but for me, Albufeira is a little too busy.

Vilamoura is a quieter spot than Albufeira.

It’s actually closer to Faro Airport. Faro is the main airport for the Algarve area. Whilst Albufeira is 30 miles from Faro, Vilamoura is 18 miles away.

It is easy to reach Vilamoura via the motorway, the A22, or the main N125 road.

Vilamoura is a great destination if you want somewhere a little greener than Albufeira. There are several golf courses in and around the town which make it feel like this.

There is a lovely marina with a selection of shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy.

Many people do speak and understand English in Vilamoura, as they do in the whole of the Algarve.

There is great food and drink to enjoy in and around Vilamoura. There are menus available in English to help you with what you might like to order but there are definitely less menus based around English dishes. I don’t remember seeing English breakfasts during my stay in Vilamoura.

There are, like the rest of the Algarve area, beautiful wide sandy beaches at Vilamoura. Several of the hotels offer a beach shuttle service such as the Pestana Vila Sol where I stayed.

Vilamoura tends to have lower height and smaller size hotels than Albufeira, which is a reflection of the fact that less people visit. However, the standard of hotels and service is excellent.

Many of the day trips and tours that are popular and available from Albufeira are available from Vilamoura too. These include cave and coastal boat trips.

Vilamoura has the remains of a Roman villa which is an interesting way to spend an hour or so.

One thing to bear in mind is that Vilamoura is set a little inland from the marina and the beach. From the Pestana Vila Sol, where I stayed, it was around 1.5 miles to walk to the marina and then another 1 mile to the beach area.

If you want easier access to the beach then there are some lovely hotels beside the marina such as the Dom Pedro, the Crown Plaza etc.

The marina area of Vilamoura runs into the beach and marina area of Quarteria and there are more hotels there too.

Scroll around the map of Vilamoura Hotel for lots of hotel options!

Is Vilamoura Worth Visiting Conclusion

• Vilamoura is a great option if you prefer somewhere a little quieter and greener
• There are great hotels very close to the beach if you want a beach based holiday
• Vilamoura can offer better value than some of the busier parts of the Algarve

You May Also Like;

If you found my ‘Is Vilamoura Worth Visiting’ article useful you might also like;

• How to Get to Vilamoura – details of planes, trains and buses from the UK and connections from Faro airport to Vilamoura
• Where to Stay in Vilamoura – where I stayed plus some great alternatives for you
• Is Vilamoura Safe? – here’s what I experienced plus some useful stats
• Is Vilamoura Expensive? – here’s how it compares to other places
• My solo female holiday experience in Vilamoura

Here’s the complete review of my Vilamoura Holiday

Further Reading