Get prepared for loads of pleasure whenever you discover Lagos, Portugal. Lagos sits on the Algarve coast and is thought for its well-known seashores, energetic nightlife, and pure magnificence. Surrounded by a golden shoreline full of lovely rock formations, there are many sights to see and actions to do making it the right seaside vacation vacation spot.
Top Things to do in Lagos
Lagos sights are diverse and plentiful. You may hike the Seven Hanging Valleys, go to a museum, or take one of many dolphin-watching boat excursions. There are many issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, and this information will cowl the best possible.
1. Ponta da Piedade
If you’ve seen photos of Lagos, the probabilities are that you simply’ve seen Ponta da Piedade. Ponta da Piedade is a headland of hanging rock formations, with caves and grottos solely accessible by water. From land, you possibly can hike to the Ponta da Piedade scenic viewpoint, admiring the distinctive formations and snapping the postcard-perfect shot that has change into so related to Lagos.
Visiting Ponta da Piedade is definitely one of many prime issues to do in Lagos. You’ll spot sea stacks and arches and catch glimpses of the caves when visiting Ponta da Piedade from the land. The burnt yellow rock makes Ponta da Piedade much more lovely, and the orange look is attribute of Portugal’s Algarve area. Even in the event you go to Lagos for only a few days, prioritize visiting Ponta da Piedade.
2. Take a ship tour from Lagos Marina
So, you may take a ship tour from Lagos Marina to go to the ocean caves and spectacular rock formations of Ponta da Piedade. However, there are many totally different boat journeys you could take, so enterprise down to the marina and decide whichever takes your fancy. A ship journey is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal. The sea breeze, beautiful shoreline, and pleasant marine life are a profitable mixture and swimsuit each traveler and their itinerary.
The dolphin-watching boat excursions are extraordinarily common however ensure you select correctly. We advocate this tour in the event you’ve by no means seen wild dolphins because it retains a protected distance and doesn’t stress the animals.
Other common day journeys embody sundown catamaran cruises and longer, half-day cruises alongside the Algarve Coast. These longer cruises typically embody breaks for swimming and snorkeling and enterprise to pure sights just like the Benagil Cave.
3. Praia de Dona Ana
Praia de Dona Ana is likely one of the most lovely seashores within the Algarve. The seaside is situated on the Ponta da Piedade headland and is surrounded by limestone formations with golden strata. Easy to attain, stuffed with amenities like showers and bogs, and completely beautiful to have a look at, visiting Praia Dona Ana Beach is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Lagos.
You can attain Praia Dona Ana Beach in 20 minutes on foot from Lagos city middle after which climb down from the headland through a set of lengthy wood steps. The seaside has calm waters and is great for much less assured swimmers and households. Praia Dona Ana Beach is your most suitable option out of the Lagos seashores for a soothing seaside day. Just get there early to beat the crowds, because it is likely one of the hottest seashores close to Lagos.
4. Praia da Luz
Fancy exploring additional afield? Praia da Luz is a coastal city simply 10 km west of Lagos, and you may simply take a day journey by leaping on the bus for a twenty-minute experience. Praia de Luz has a large seaside with watersports, lifeguards, and cafes – but it lacks the touristy environment of Lagos’ seashores.
Visiting Praia da Luz is a superb choice in order for you to expertise beautiful seashores outdoors of Lagos and luxuriate in a unique, extra resort-like environment than the seashores in Lagos. It is simple to attain on public transport and isn’t a secluded seaside – good for a straightforward day journey.
5. Parque Aventura
Parque Aventura is Portuguese for ‘Adventure Park’, which ought to communicate for itself. Parque Aventura is the place to go for an adrenaline rush and enjoyable challenges in Lagos. The park has an in depth excessive ropes course that takes you thru the tree tops. While in the event you desire to hold your ft on the bottom, you possibly can take a look at your talent with a paintball sport on the park’s paintball area.
We counsel heading to Parque Aventura later within the afternoon when temperatures are now not sky excessive. The park stays open till 6 pm on daily basis, so visiting out of noon warmth shouldn’t be difficult.
6. Spend a morning in Lagos Old Town
For that cobblestone streets expertise, you don’t have to enterprise far in Lagos. Lagos Old Town is filled with cobbled streets and colourful buildings, and the historic middle is surrounded by previous metropolis partitions.
Spending a morning in Lagos Old Town is one of the simplest ways to stability time on its greatest seashores. There are retailers, bakeries, and small pubs to sit al fresco with a pint of Sagres. It can be an atmospheric place to attempt some conventional Portuguese delicacies too. If you’re going to splash out on a meal, selecting a restaurant or cafe within the Old Town is a good suggestion. And, in case you are caught for alternative, the recent seafood is scrumptious.
7. Visit Mercado de Escravos
Mercado de Escravos is one in every of Lagos’ most lovely buildings, but it additionally holds a few of Portugal’s darkest historical past. Mercado de Escravos was Europe’s first slave market, and the earliest dated slave market held there dates again to 1444.
The museum now educates guests on the slavery tragedy. It reveals the harrowing particulars of the market’s occasions by participating exhibitions. If you have an interest in socio-political historical past or need to study extra about Portugal’s extra troubling historical past, Mercado de Escravos needs to be in your radar.
8. Praia dos Estudantes
Praia dos Estudantes is one other of Lagos’ greatest seashores, and it’s best to go to it even in case you are solely in Lagos for a couple of days. The small seaside is famed for its distinctive bridges and tunnels, which guests use to entry totally different areas of the seaside. You can change between the northern and southern sections of the seaside by strolling by a pure tunnel within the cliff face. While overhead, there’s an previous Roman bridge connecting the cliffs.
The format of Praia dos Estudantes simply makes it probably the most fascinating seashores on the Algarve. This is the most effective seaside for you in order for you a memorable seaside day. Plus, it’s inside strolling distance of Lagos city middle.
9. Go kayaking to the ocean caves
You can actually take a ship journey to see these magnificent caves, however the extra adventurous may be tempted by a kayaking journey. Exploring the ocean caves by kayak is a unique expertise and definitely not for the fainthearted or unfit.
You can lease a kayak and head out independently or go on a guided kayak tour – all of it is dependent upon your confidence. Either means, you’ll have the option to stand up shut with the gorgeous formations alongside the coast and see marine life of their pure habitat. You can squeeze by tiny sea caves and tunnels that bigger boats can not match by, providing you with rather more alternatives to discover. And, in the event you get fortunate, a pod of dolphins would possibly pop up round you.
10. Praia do Vale de Centeanes
Praia do Vale de Centeanes is likely one of the prime seashores to take a day journey from Lagos. It takes round forty minutes to drive to and is best to go to if in case you have a rental automobile, relatively than catching a number of buses. So, why make the journey?
Visiting Praia do Vale de Centeanes is the most effective on a windy day as a result of it’s backed by towering limestone cliffs. It is a dramatic introduction to the Algarve’s attribute cliff-backed seashores. It can be rather more spacious than the small seashores round Lagos. For a heavenly seaside day, it’s nicely price a day journey.
11. Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos
Family holidays will be troublesome, particularly when it comes to preserving little youngsters entertained. The Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos is completely tailor-made towards households – offering participating, child-friendly science reveals and actions. So in case you are touring with youngsters and wish to hold them entertained, Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos is a enjoyable, dependable choice.
The science museum is open from 10 am till 6 pm on daily basis aside from Mondays. It is a superb place to go to, escape the noon solar, or hold busy if the climate is horrible. The museum additionally has indoor and outside reveals, making the expertise satisfying and diverse.
12. Meia Praia
Meia Praia is the most important seaside round Lagos and stretches over 4 km in size. On a busy day, visiting Meia Praia is a means to assure your self a sunbathing spot. Lagos will get so busy in summer time that Meia Praia turns into a little bit of an emergency choice.
Meia Praia is conveniently situated simply outdoors the Old Town and inside simple strolling distance of the city middle. Visiting Meia Praia is a good concept in order for you to squeeze a seaside day right into a busy day or simply be shut to many facilities.
13. Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
If you want staying energetic, strolling the Seven Hanging Valleys is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal. The coastal path is a 5.7km out-and-back path that arguably covers essentially the most scenic part of the Algarve shoreline. The route begins at Praia da Marinha and ends at Praia de Vale Centeanes, taking round two to three hours to full.
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail passes beautiful vistas, together with many sea caves and spectacular formations. You may hike it a method, which might take about 2-3 hours, or stroll the trail as an out-and-back path in round six hours. The alternative is yours.
14. Praia do Camilo
Looking for a secluded seaside? Praia do Camilo is the one for you. The small seaside is accessed by a wood staircase of over 200 steps – so put together your self for a exercise. Praia do Camilo is completely well worth the effort, although. The seaside has crystal-clear blue-green water and the Algarve’s attribute orange glow in its golden sand and cliffs.
Praia do Camilo additionally has a tunnel connecting two totally different sections of the seaside. You can stroll by the pure tunnel and decide your favourite (or the least busy in the event you’re visiting in peak season). Praia do Camilo is a enjoyable, fairly place to go to close to Lagos.
15. Visit Ponta da Bandeira Fort
History lovers, this attraction is for you. Ponta da Bandeira is a Seventeenth-century fortress advanced that now runs as a museum and artwork exhibition venue. Ponta da Bandeira overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Praia de Batata Beach and was as soon as a stronghold in opposition to enemies attacking the Algarve from the ocean.
Heading over the drawbridge, you’ll have sufficient exhibitions to hold you entertained for no less than an hour or two. Ponta da Bandeira is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, to get a historic perception into the realm.
16. Praia da Batata
So, you’ve visited Ponta da Bandeira. As we talked about above, the fort overlooks Praia da Batata, which is an attractive seaside to go to close to Lagos. And, if topping up your tan beneath a Seventeenth-century fort sounds memorable, it’s price including to your itinerary. The sands are famously smooth and golden, and the waters are calm and ideal for swimming.
Visiting Ponta da Bandeira and Praia de Batata is a superb mixture. Start your morning on the fort, after which head to the seaside to take pleasure in some afternoon solar.
17. Spend a day in Faro City
Lagos is filled with issues to do, however since you’ll in all probability journey to Faro for Faro Airport anyway, it’s price dedicating time to exploring Faro as nicely. You may even plan a day in Faro earlier than you fly residence.
Faro is definitely essentially the most well-known metropolis on the Algarve. In reality, it’s thought of by many because the gateway to the area. However, its metropolis middle is a good place to spend a few hours – which we extremely advocate doing. Walk the Old Town to admire the cobbled streets and neoclassical structure. Then go to the main sights just like the Arco de Vila, Faro Cathedral, and the Municipal Museum.
If you haven’t rented a automobile and wish to discover Faro, this tour has you lined. You can even see different cool cities within the Algarve like Olhão, Tavira, and Cacela Velha.
18. Tour inside Igreja de Santo Antonio
Igreja de Santo is an ornate Catholic Church with Baroque structure and numerous historical past behind it. The church is situated contained in the Old Town and is definitely added to a morning within the city middle. Igreja de Santo is believed to be the birthing place of Saint Anthony of Lisbon – which means it holds nice spiritual significance, particularly amongst the residents of Lagos.
The church inside is beautiful, and you may stroll by, admiring the sculptures and no-expense-spared decorations. There’s additionally a small museum, which incorporates reveals and extra details about the church and Saint Anthony of Lisbon. Allow an hour or two to expertise Igreja de Santo totally.
Lagos FAQs
Now that we’ve lined the most effective issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, let’s have a look at some widespread FAQs.
How to get to Lagos
Lagos is situated in Southern Portugal on the Algarve shoreline. The simplest way to attain Lagos is to fly into Faro Airport after which catch public transport to Lagos. You can take a shuttle bus straight from the airport or journey into Faro to catch the practice to Lagos. Allow round three hours for each choices.
Since Lagos sits on the Atlantic Ocean, there are a number of ferry routes in the event you fancy an journey. You are greatest contemplating catching a ferry in order for you to ferry hop down the Portuguese coast.
As additionally it is situated in mainland Europe, you may take a street journey to Lagos from Spain, France, and even the UK in case you are feeling significantly adventurous. Driving throughout Europe is common, and also you’ll simply want to be comfy adjusting to totally different driving kinds. Also, remember that you’ll want a for much longer timeframe for this, and we’d advocate permitting no less than two weeks to street journey to after which take pleasure in Lagos comfortably.
Getting round Lagos
Lagos is a city and has every little thing out there inside strolling distance. Some of essentially the most picturesque seashores within the area are only a quick stroll from Lagos city middle. Plus, there’s Lagos practice station the place you possibly can catch a practice to close by spots on day journeys. You can simply get round Lagos and its surrounding space with out driving a automobile. If you need to keep native and are solely visiting for a couple of days, we advise sticking to strolling and public transport.
Of course, you may rent a rental automobile in order for you the liberty to discover additional afield. You’ll have the option to head up the shoreline and even out to the Valley of Guadiana Natural Park. If that is the case, you could want to ebook a rental automobile to decide up from Faro Airport with the intention to drive to Lagos as an alternative of catching public transport.
Best time to go to Lagos
The greatest time to go to Lagos is in its shoulder seasons – early fall or late spring. The trick is to keep away from the crowds however nonetheless get good climate. After all, why not take advantage of Lagos’ lovely seashores?
May and June are the most effective months to go to Lagos in spring, whereas September and early October are the most effective months in fall. Still, struggling to resolve? The environment tends to be barely higher in spring when native tourism is excitedly warming up for the height season in summer time. It can be normally a bit breezier in spring, which is nice for outside actions.
Where to keep in Lagos
Last however not least, the place do you have to keep in Lagos? There are a great deal of high-quality choices to swimsuit all budgets, however these are our absolute favorites.
Budget lodge: Old School Guest House
Lagos has hostels, however it’s higher to keep on the Old School Guest House for slightly further. It is the highest-rated budget-friendly choice in Lagos, and every visitor will get a double or twin room. It additionally has a central location in Lagos city middle.
You’ll have a shared kitchen, free bikes, complimentary wi-fi, and even BBQ amenities. There’s additionally a paid airport shuttle to make your airport expertise extra stress-free.
Mid-range lodge: Fazenda Viegas
Fazenda Viegas is a privately run resort relatively than a big business lodging alternative. The good thing about that is that there are considerate touches like on-site wine tasting classes, a welcome drink, and implausible sporting amenities like a soccer pitch and volleyball courts.
Guests can select to keep in an residence or villa, and whenever you aren’t swimming within the outside pool, you possibly can head to the closest seaside – about 2km away.
Luxury lodge: Boavista Golf & Spa
If you need luxurious, say no extra. Boavista Golf & Spa is a five-star property with all of the indulgent amenities you may need. Guests select between townhouses and villas, so neglect about cramped lodge rooms or small residence complexes. There can be a shared rooftop terrace, infinite leisure actions, and an indoor heated pool. While for further pampering, you possibly can head to the spa to take pleasure in a sauna, steam room, scorching tub, and gymnasium.
To Conclude
A visit to Lagos is likely one of the greatest seaside holidays you may soak up Europe. Between the beautiful landscapes and vibrant Portuguese tradition, there are such a lot of issues to do in Lagos, Portugal. We hope you get the possibility to expertise as lots of these items as attainable.
Once you’ve visited Lagos, it’s best to discover the remainder of the Algarve area. There are many wonderful cities in Portugal, plus the Douro Valley and Obidos in the event you journey additional up north. Trust us, you’ll want a return journey.