Villa Thyme, a villa rental in Melides, Portugal

A Vivid Hilltop Retreat in Melides Countryside

With four bedrooms and baths (two queens, and two rooms each with two singles), this boxy, bright 200-square-meter villa is an ode to contemporary coastal living. With a pool at its angular heart, the cubic outpost sits on a hill, a vivid white retreat brightened further by oversized glass and sleek, spare furnishings.

The terrace and garden overlook the green landscape, and the outdoor kitchen and dining pergola rival the indoor kitchen, with the added plus of a post-prandial swim or a sunset viewing.

Around

Situated in a quiet rural area, this villa offers respite from the coastal hustle and bustle, yet remains close to all the necessary amenities such as a local restaurant (2km), a supermarket (10km), beaches (125m) and a golf course (13km).

Nearby Melides and its surrounds have a lot to offer. Some have said Melides is to the Comporta coast what Montauk is to the Hamptons or Cogolin is to St. Tropez—not as famous, but every bit as worth it. Hip global nomads have marked it as their new favorite playground, riding in on the coattails of French designers, international architects, entrepreneurial urbanites, and modern art collectors and jetsetters.

The village’s landscape differs a little from others in the greater Alentejo region due to the Lagoa de Melides, or lagoon that surrounds the community and contains a stunning variety of flora and fauna. Waterbird habitat is also abundant, and eels from the waterways make for a popular catch for local diners. Rice paddies and cork fields also create a unique oceanfront landscape, and further inland, the higher altitude relief of the Serra de Grândola creates an area of footpaths and hiking trails, gurgling streams and a 19-kilometer circular route, the Vereda de Melides, designed for exploring the region on bike or foot. The region’s beaches extend for miles, offering an abundance of outdoor recreation activities, notably surfing and riding the wind.