6 BR | 6 BA | SLEEPS 12

It would be hard to describe this home without first mentioning the views. From its plateau high above the Douro River, this 17th-century quinta looks out across the water and hillsides that are lined in ancient vineyards. The house itself is the heart of an agricultural estate, and as such is steeped in history. Decor remains mostly traditional, with stone walls, tiled and wooden floors, and a color palette of bold white with pops of vivid blue.

5 BR | 6 BA | SLEEPS 10

Designed by the well-known Portuguese architect João Favila Menezes, this holiday home in Portugal has become an important reference point for contemporary architecture in the region and, as such respects the fundamental principles of traditional Alentejano architecture in its thoughtful construction.

4 BR | 4 BA | SLEEPS 10

Strikingly minimalistic, with sleek concrete floors, vaulted ceilings and walls of glass, this contemporary home takes cool, slow-living Comporta to polished new levels. Named for the small songbirds that flutter around it, this villa for rent in Portugal offers spacious, fully equipped common areas hung with art and splashed with color, plus extra privacy provided by the stands of pines that surround it.

3 BR | 2.5 BA | SLEEPS 6

A raw, muscular structure where concrete beams crisscross solidly overhead, this dense home still manages to feel breezy and minimal, even a little bit seafaring, with light flowing through pivoting and sliding doors and a submarine-styled round window cut into its rose-toned façade.

4 BR | 3 BA | SLEEPS 9

Informed by the modernist architecture of Portugal, an expansive beach house contrasts beautifully with the rugged coastal landscape of the Algarve. Built 40 years ago, it was designed by the legendary Portuguese architect Francisco Keil do Amaral, behind many prominent projects involving the urbanization of the Algarve and the urban plan for the Tróia Peninsula. His portfolio also includes monuments such as the original Lisbon Airport and Lisbon Exhibition and Congress Centre, and in 1962, he won the Valmor Prize for a Lisbon family home called the Silva Brito House.

Surrounded at once by sea and city, this architect-designed complex in Porto’s prosperous Foz neighborhood balances traditional seaside living with a contemporary urban vision. Historical facades have been retained and enlivened, marked by water’s edge balconies, expansive sea views and verdant private courtyards, while interiors offer a fresh take on oceanfront living via sleek urban styling, free of coastal kitsch.

2 BR | 2 BA | SLEEPS 4

Set in a quiet area of the historic Baixa/Chiado district, this vacation home rental in Lisbon is within a short walk of the best of this fascinating city.