The three-and-a-half-pearl Axis Vermar Conference & Beach Hotel is a large, corporate hotel within a one-minute walk of the beach. Decor is simple and mdoern, and there's a relaxed outdoor pool with plenty of space for sunbathing (a plus, as the beach isn't really swimmable). All 208 rooms have flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning, with a pleasant white and natural wood motif. Some have balconies with ocean views, which come highly recommended by former guests. It's a five-minute drive into town, and there's nothing much to do nearby. The Sao Felix Hotel Hillside & Nature is the best nearby competition, though it's even farther away from Povoa de Varzim's main attractions. However, its beautiful panoramic views of town and the Atlantic Ocean might be worth it.

Located on an Almadan hill with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean, the upscale Aldeia dos Capuchos Golf & Spa is a 10-minute drive from the beach and 25 minutes from Lisbon by car. This family- and business-friendly hotel has 180 modern rooms that range from traditional hotel rooms to apartments with full kitchens. Stunning ocean views, a restaurant, clean indoor and outdoor pools, and a nine-hole golf course are the hotel's main features, as well as a full-service spa, well-equipped gym, and several event spaces. Though it can feel isolated from Lisbon's city center and is farther from the beach than nearby resort-style hotels -- like Ever Caparica -- but the rooms here are far nicer and more contemporary.