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The best independent guide to Lagos
LagosPortugalGuide.com
The best independent guide to Lagos
Home page - Sights & Activities - 3 days in Lagos - 1 Week - Beach guide - Airport to Lagos - Ponta da Piedade
Praia da Batata Beach, Lagos
The Praia da Batata is the most popular beach of Lagos, in-part due to its close proximity to the city centre.
This is the beach where most visitors head to for their first beach trip, and the beach does not disappoint. The sands are soft and golden, the waters clean and calm, and the setting is beautiful, with golden coloured cliffs. The only issue is, as it is the closest beach to central Lagos, it will be very busy in the summer months.
The Praia da Batata is a good beach, and makes for an easy option for a relaxing day on the beach.
Related articles: Beach guide- Introduction to Lagos - Sights and activities
The Praia da Batata overlooks the mouth of the Lagos estuary
Forte da Ponta da Bandeira guarded Lagos estuary since the 17th century
Praia da Batata Tourist Information
The Praia da Batata is situated at the mouth of the Rio Bensafrim river, close to the Forte da Ponta da Bandeira. It is just a short walk from the main tourist area of Lagos, along the Avenida dos Descobrimentos and the scenic estuary promenade.
Batata should be considered as a sheltered beach, the eastward-facing direction means it is protected from powerful waves, while the cliffs offer shelter from strong sea breezes on blustery days.
The Praia da Batata is a popular beach for families; the seawaters are safe, it is close to shops and restaurants and during the summer months, it is supervised by lifeguards.
The Batata beach is set amidst the same golden cliffs as the Ponta da Piedade headland, but these cliffs are much lower
The rocky headland at the southern end of the Praia da Batata
The northern edge of the beach is divided by a long concrete pier, which formed the Cais da Solaria (Solaria docks), but today this area is used for launching kayaks and small sailing boats. At the mouth of the Rio Bensafrim is the delightful Fortaleza da Ponta da Bandeira. This squat but solid fort dates from the 17th century and can be entered for €2.
To the southern end Batata beach is bounded by steep cliffs, and around the headland is the tiny Praia dos Estudantes beach. On the cliffs above the Praia da Batata is the “Mar” restaurant, which is a good option for a lunchtime meal.
As the beach faces an eastward direction and is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the huge headland, so there are almost no waves. Most Portuguese families allow their children to swim in the still waters.
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