Lagos is a historic and fascinating city situated on the picturesque Western Algarve coastline. It is a city that boasts a rich seafaring heritage, pristine beaches and authentic Portuguese character, which has responsibly grown into one of the most popular tourist destinations of southern Portugal.

Lagos is the ideal holiday destination if you want more than just beautiful beaches and glorious weather for your holiday. The city offers a vibrant nightlife, outstanding restaurants, historical sights and exciting activities, along with day trips to Silves, Sagres or Praia da Luz.

Despite its popularity, Lagos has not succumbed to mass tourism, and still retains its distinctive character and Portuguese charm. Found along its cobbled streets of whitewashed buildings are trendy bars and restaurants that sit harmoniously next to traditional Portuguese cafes and family-run shops.

 

 

The many sights and activities to be found in Lagos make the city one of the best day trip destinations of the western Algarve. Your day trip could include exploring the historic quarter, a walk along the stunning coastline and a boat trip around the Ponta da Piedade headland.
There is a lot to love about Lagos, and the city is a favourite with long-stay residents and remote workers.

This article will show why you must visit Lagos, either for your holiday or as a day trip, helping you get the most from this wonderful destination.
Related articles: Sights of Lagos - Beach guide

The Old Town – The rich history of Lagos is reflected in the many sights within the cobbled streets of its charming historic centre. These sights include the extravagant interior of the Igreja de Santo Antonio, the ancient city walls, and the Forte da Bandeira, which once protected the harbour mouth.

Ponta da Piedade – The picturesque headland to the south of Lagos is formed of highly weathered limestone cliffs that have been carved into unique formations. These include sea arches, hidden grottos, and precariously balanced stacks, which are best seen by boat tour.

The Praia de Dona Ana beach – A glorious, sandy beach that is considered one of the Algarve's finest. This beautiful beach nestles at the base of golden cliffs, is lapped by turquoise waters and provides a magical setting for your day on the beach.

Lagos is the largest city in the western Algarve, with a population of 31,000 that almost doubles in summer with the influx of tourists. The city extends along the Bensafrim River, at the confluence of two geological features: the Ponta da Piedade headland and the sand dunes of the Rio Alvor nature reserve.

 

 

These two very different coastal landscapes are what makes Lagos such an amazing destination for a beach holiday. There is the surfing beach of Porto Mós with its huge Atlantic waves, the idyllic and sheltered beaches within the Ponta da Piedade headland, or the pristine Meia Praia beach that extends for almost 2km.

The Forte da Ponta da Bandeira

The sheltered Bensafrim estuary was also key to Lagos' seafaring history. It was here during the 14th century that Prince Henry the Navigator established his seafaring school, and later it became a major centre for sea trade.

The modern city of Lagos is the perfect blend of historic and progressive. It is home to a diverse range of nationalities and people, but has not lost any of its Portuguese heritage.

For visitors, the city is compact and easily walkable, with four key areas - the historic quarter, the marina, Porto de Mós, and Meia Praia. The historic quarter is the heart of Lagos and lies to the west of the Bensafrim estuary. The marina complex is the modern side of Lagos, situated to the north of the city.

Porto de Mós is a calm, residential area to the far south of the city, while the sand-swept shoreline of the Meia Praia extends to the east of Lagos and is the location for many of the larger hotel complexes.

Lagos has a rich seafaring history

Lagos is one of the best destinations in the western Algarve for a day trip. It is a vibrant and historic city that provides a perfect blend of historical sights and interesting tourist attractions.

There are sufficient sights to easily fill a day of sightseeing, and a suggested day trip would be to spend the morning exploring the historic centre and the afternoon visiting the Ponta da Piedade headland and the beaches.

Lagos has excellent public transport connecting it to the surrounding region, and it is very easy to travel to Lagos from the other major towns of the central Algarve.

Below is an interactive map showing a suggested walking tour of Lagos that begins at the train station. The green line and markers is the tour of the historic centre, and the yellow line is the tour of the Ponta da Piedade coastline.

Sights along the route: 1) Lagos Marina 2) Municipal market 3) Gil Eanes plaza 4) Former slave market 5) Saint António Church 6) Santa Maria church 7) city walls 8) Saint Gonçalo city gate 9) Ponta da Bandeira Fort 10) Batata beach 11) Pinhão beach 12) Dona Ana beach 13) Camilo beach 14) Ponta da Piedade 15) Discoveries waxwork museum 16) Meia Praia beach

Insight: Instead of walking the yellow Ponta da Piedade route, you may wish to instead join a boat tour. We have worked with GetYourGuide for the last seven years, and some of their best tours of Lagos include:

Lagos has a wide-ranging appeal due to its extensive facilities, activities, natural beauty and heritage.
Visitors seeking a cultural holiday will be impressed by the number of historical monuments and the city's genuine Portuguese atmosphere, while younger couples will enjoy its lively nightlife, numerous exciting activities and liberal attitudes.

Families tend to visit Lagos during the school holidays (July-August) when the region basks in glorious hot weather. The summer will be hot, with relaxing days on the beach or around the pool, and evenings spent discovering the multitude of bars and restaurants. Families with teenagers will be impressed with the range of activities on offer, including water parks, boat trips and surf schools.

Being such a desirable destination, Lagos has a sizable population of remote workers who often work in tech or creative roles. This has resulted in a year-round, young and vibrant population that loves surfing and embracing local cultures, with an artisan, yoga and spiritual scene well established within the city.

Please note: Lagos is not suitable for groups wanting to drink and party excessively (typically stag or hen parties). For this, head to the Strip in Albufeira.

The ideal time to spend in Lagos can vary from 1 or 2 to 7 days, depending on how much time you have to discover the city and the surrounding region.

A brief, one-day trip will allow you to see the majority of the sights, as shown in the tour above, but you would miss Lagos' lively nightlife and food scene. If you have a touring holiday of the Algarve, plan at least two days to see Lagos, the first day for the city and the second day for the beaches and the Ponta da Piedade.

Lagos is ideal for a 1-week holiday, which allows time for enjoying the beaches and taking excursions to the towns of Sagres, Silves, Praia da Luz and Portimão. As Lagos is a major city, there is a wide selection of restaurants and bars, and it is easily possible to eat somewhere completely different every day.

A suggested itinerary for a 1-week holiday could be:
Day 1 - Explore the historic centre of Lagos
Day 2 - Boat tour of the Ponta da Piedade, and a relaxing beach afternoon.
Day 3 - Day trip to Sagres and the Cabo de São Vicente
Day 4 - Day trip to Silves
Day 5 - Day trip to a theme park (Zoomarine) or waterpark (Slide & Splash)
Day 6 - Day trip to Portimão and Praia da Rocha
Day 7 - Day trip to Praia de Luz and Burgau (ideal for cycling)
Note: A car is not needed for this itinerary, as there is an excellent public transport network.
Related articles: 1 week in Lagos - 3 days in Lagos

The modern marina complex of Lagos, filled with social bars and restaurants

Lagos is a major city and popular holidays destination and there are over 270 different accommodation options. Some of the best options include:

Cascade Wellness Resort - Sitting between the Ponta da Piedade and the Porto Mós beach this cliff top 5 star hotel complex offers a tranquil atmosphere, a beautiful pool complex and high-end tourism. Expensive but highly recommended.

Iberostar Selection - Positioned along the Meia Praia beach, this beachfront 5-star resort offers multiple pools and dining options, but is a 2.5km walk to the centre of Lagos. This is hotel when you want a beach focused holiday.

Avenida Hotel - Fantastic 4-star hotel right in the centre of Lagos, and is where to be based if you want to be in the centre of the action. Beautiful roof top pool and lounge area, but smaller than the out-of-town complexes.

Casa Mãe - The perfect blend of Portugues character and 5-star refinement. Known for its outstanding service, Casa Mãe is the recommended choice for travellers seeking a serene and luxurious experience.

Vila Galé - The largest hotel of Lagos, positioned on the western side of the Meia Praia beach and within walking distance of central Lagos. A wide selection of amenities, and the best hotel for a family holiday.

Palmares Beach House (Adults only) - Where to head to for a tranquil, child free holiday. Beautiful setting, wonderful modern facilities but its serenity means it’s a long way from central Lagos, 4.5km away.

Atlantic Hotel - A charming smaller-sized 4-star hotel in the Porto Mós area of Lagos. Its location may not be as good as some hotels, but it compensates with excellent customer service and a more personable feel than larger hotels.

Villas D. Dinis (adults only) - A smaller adults only hotel within walking distance of the Praia Dona Ana beach.

Often, the best accommodation in Portugal is found in the family-run guest houses that are cherished and loved by their owners. The best examples of cherished guest houses in Lagos are the delightful Villa Zawaia B&B, the Blue Moon Guest House, and Casa Creativa Lagos. As they only have a handful of rooms they will sell out.

For cheaper options there are many decent hostels some of our favourites include Boutique Taghostel, Olive Hostel and Orange3 Hostel.

Insight: Due to the ongoing housing issues in popular tourist areas throughout Portugal, we cannot recommend rental apartments in any residential areas of Lagos. The problem stems from investors purchasing houses and apartments for short-term rentals, which pushes up rents and makes house ownership unachievable for locals. If you are a tourist, please stay in a hotel, guest house, or hostel.

We have worked with Booking.com for the past seven years, and the map below displays the best hotels and accommodation in Lagos. If you adjust the dates to suit your holiday, it will display current prices and availability.

Booking.com

If the map doesn’t load, please click on this link to see the best hotels in Lagos.

Insight: Many hotels allow for free cancellation. This is very beneficial for visitors, as it allows you to secure a low-priced hotel now, but continue browsing risk-free up until your holiday.

Lagos is a fantastic destination for a family holiday. The city boasts a wide selection of family-friendly hotels, while restaurants, attractions and activities are welcoming of children. Lagos has a much more relaxed atmosphere than many of the other larger beach towns in the Algarve, such as Albufeira or Praia da Rocha.

The city's beaches are ideal for children, with golden sands and clean sea waters that are supervised by lifeguards during the summer. The western side of Meia Praia beach and beaches in the Ponta da Piedade headland are sheltered from the region's powerful waves and strong currents.

Lagos Zoo is a great excursion for younger children, and children of all ages will enjoy the dolphin-watching boat trips that depart from the harbour.

If you are on holiday with older children and teenagers, there are many activities designed for their age, including the Slide & Splash water park, the Zoomarine marine park and the 'high rope courses' at Parque Aventura. Lagos is also a great location to learn how to surf.

The peak season of Lagos is between June and September, but the weather is suitable for spending time on the beaches from May until mid-October.

July and August are the peak months for family holidays, while June and September are popular with visitors without children. The shoulder seasons (May-June and September-October) are ideal for activity-based holidays such as cycling, golf or hiking.

The low season is from November until Easter, but as Lagos has a large permanent population and is popular with remote workers, most restaurants and bars remain open year-round. Lagos should never be considered as a winter sun destination, but the Algarve will have some of the best weather of mainland Europe between November and February.
Related article: When to visit Lagos

The average day time maximum and the nighttime minimum temperature for Lagos

The average hours of sunshine per day and monthly rainfall (in mm)

Lagos has some of the finest beaches in the Algarve, and there are four beautiful beaches within walking distance of the town. The Meia Praia is a vast, sandy beach that extends for 4km, while the Praia da Batata, Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo are more secluded beaches that are surrounded by golden-coloured cliffs and lapped by crystal-clear sea waters.

On the south-western side of Lagos is the Porto de Mos beach, an area popular with resort hotels and holiday homes - and a great choice if you prefer not to be in the centre of the busy city.

The sheer number of varied beaches within the vicinity of Lagos means that space can easily be found to enjoy a relaxing day under the glorious sun, even at the height of summer.
Related articles: Beaches of Lagos

The Praia Dona Ana beach

The massive Praia de Porto de Mós beach

The Ponta da Piedade is a series of highly-weathered cliffs that form the southern headland of Lagos. The powerful Atlantic Ocean has chiselled stone arches, grottos and sea caves into the colourful golden cliffs, and these cliffs are considered the best natural feature of the Algarve.

There are scenic hiking routes along the top of the headland, but a more enjoyable experience is to hire a boat and navigate the unique rock formations from the water.
Related articles: Ponta da Piedade guide

The Ponta da Piedade cliffs are best explored by boat

The two best day trips from Lagos are to the historic town of Silves and the surfing town of Sagres.

Sagres lies at the western tip of mainland Europe and is a region savaged by ceaseless winds and mighty Atlantic seas. The town is a popular surfing destination and is ideal for tourists who appreciate nature's raw power.

Silves was the ancient capital of the Algarve and remnants of this glorious past are found throughout the peaceful and relaxed town. The prominent feature of Silves is the massive red brick castle, while traditional houses and shops line the cobbled streets that lead down to the river.

Alternative day trips from Lagos include the peaceful resort town of Praia da Luz, the shopping town of Portimão and the hectic resort town of Praia da Rocha. All of these day trips can be reached by inexpensive public transport and there is no requirement to hire a rental car while on holiday here.
Related articles: Day trip to Sagres - Silves introduction

Silves is a very scenic town in southern Portugal

The nearest international airport to Lagos is Faro Airport, which is 90km to the east of the city. There are infrequent train and bus services from Faro city to Lagos, but these routes do not pass close to the airport, so a bus or taxi is needed to travel from the airport to Faro city centre.

We strongly recommend organising a transfer from the airport to Lagos, as public transport is poor and a taxi hailed from the terminal will be very expensive (expect to pay €110 or even more). Two recommended options are private transfers (€75, 60-minute journey) or shared minibus transfer (€25, 100-minute journey).

Another option is to use one of the ride-hailing apps, such as Uber and Bolt. These are much cheaper than a regular taxi, and an Uber or Bolt fare from the airport to Lagos would be around €55. The issue with Uber and Bolt is that during the peak season, there is incredibly high demand, and it can take a very long time to be connected to a driver. Also, during high-demand times, fares are much more expensive.
Related article: Faro airport to Lagos