Get prepared for loads of pleasure if you discover Lagos, Portugal. Lagos sits on the Algarve coast and is understood for its well-known seashores, vigorous nightlife, and pure magnificence. Surrounded by a golden shoreline crammed with stunning rock formations, there are many sights to see and actions to do making it the proper seaside vacation vacation spot.
Top Things to do in Lagos
Lagos points of interest 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 very best.
1. Ponta da Piedade
If you’ve seen footage of Lagos, the possibilities are that you simply’ve seen Ponta da Piedade. Ponta da Piedade is a headland of placing 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 develop 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 stunning, and the orange look is attribute of Portugal’s Algarve area. Even when you go to Lagos for only a few days, prioritize visiting Ponta da Piedade.
2. Take a ship tour from Lagos Marina
So, you would 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 that you would be able to take, so enterprise down to the marina and decide whichever takes your fancy. A ship journey is likely one of the finest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal. The sea breeze, beautiful shoreline, and pleasant marine life are a successful mixture and swimsuit each traveler and their itinerary.
The dolphin-watching boat excursions are extraordinarily in style however ensure you select properly. We advocate this tour when you’ve by no means seen wild dolphins because it retains a secure distance and doesn’t stress the animals.
Other in style 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 points of interest just like the Benagil Cave.
3. Praia de Dona Ana
Praia de Dona Ana is likely one of the most stunning seashores within the Algarve. The seaside is positioned on the Ponta da Piedade headland and is surrounded by limestone formations with golden strata. Easy to attain, filled with amenities like showers and bogs, and completely beautiful to take a look at, visiting Praia Dona Ana Beach is likely one of the finest 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 by way of a set of lengthy picket steps. The seaside has calm waters and is great for much less assured swimmers and households. Praia Dona Ana Beach is your best 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 journey. Praia de Luz has an enormous seaside with watersports, lifeguards, and cafes – but it lacks the touristy environment of Lagos’ seashores.
Visiting Praia da Luz is a wonderful choice if you would like to expertise beautiful seashores exterior of Lagos and revel in a distinct, 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 simple 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 intensive excessive ropes course that takes you thru the tree tops. While when you favor to preserve your toes on the bottom, you possibly can check your ability with a paintball recreation 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 the easiest way to stability time on its finest seashores. There are outlets, bakeries, and small pubs to sit al fresco with a pint of Sagres. It can also 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, if you’re caught for alternative, the recent seafood is scrumptious.
7. Visit Mercado de Escravos
Mercado de Escravos is one in every of Lagos’ most stunning 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 partaking 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 must be in your radar.
8. Praia dos Estudantes
Praia dos Estudantes is one other of Lagos’ finest seashores, and it’s best to go to it even if you’re 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 swap between the northern and southern sections of the seaside by strolling by a pure tunnel within the cliff face. While overhead, there may be an previous Roman bridge connecting the cliffs.
The format of Praia dos Estudantes simply makes it one of the vital attention-grabbing seashores on the Algarve. This is the very best seaside for you if you would like a memorable seaside day. Plus, it’s inside strolling distance of Lagos city middle.
9. Go kayaking to the ocean caves
You can definitely take a ship journey to see these magnificent caves, however the extra adventurous could be tempted by a kayaking journey. Exploring the ocean caves by kayak is a distinct expertise and definitely not for the fainthearted or unfit.
You can hire a kayak and head out independently or go on a guided kayak tour – all of it will depend on your confidence. Either method, you’ll find a way 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’t match by, supplying you with way more alternatives to discover. And, when you get fortunate, a pod of dolphins may 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 you probably have a rental automotive, relatively than catching a number of buses. So, why make the journey?
Visiting Praia do Vale de Centeanes is the very best 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 also be way more spacious than the small seashores round Lagos. For a heavenly seaside day, it’s effectively value a day journey.
11. Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos
Family holidays will be tough, particularly when it comes to preserving little kids entertained. The Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos is fully tailor-made towards households – offering partaking, child-friendly science displays and actions. So if you’re touring with kids and wish to preserve 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 other than Mondays. It is a wonderful place to go to, escape the noon solar, or preserve busy if the climate is horrible. The museum additionally has indoor and outside displays, making the expertise pleasing 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 method 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 positioned simply exterior the Old Town and inside simple strolling distance of the city middle. Visiting Meia Praia is a superb thought if you would like 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 lively, strolling the Seven Hanging Valleys is likely one of the finest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal. The coastal path is a 5.7km out-and-back path that arguably covers probably 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 technique, 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 picket staircase of over 200 steps – so put together your self for a exercise. Praia do Camilo is completely definitely 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 when 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 towards enemies attacking the Algarve from the ocean.
Heading over the drawbridge, you’ll have sufficient exhibitions to preserve you entertained for a minimum of an hour or two. Ponta da Bandeira is likely one of the finest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, to get a historic perception into the world.
16. Praia da Batata
So, you’ve visited Ponta da Bandeira. As we talked about above, the fort overlooks Praia da Batata, which is a stupendous seaside to go to close to Lagos. And, if topping up your tan underneath a Seventeenth-century fort sounds memorable, it’s value including to your itinerary. The sands are famously mushy and golden, and the waters are calm and excellent for swimming.
Visiting Ponta da Bandeira and Praia de Batata is a wonderful mixture. Start your morning on the fort, after which head to the seaside to get pleasure from some afternoon solar.
17. Spend a day in Faro City
Lagos is filled with issues to do, however since you’ll most likely journey to Faro for Faro Airport anyway, it’s value dedicating time to exploring Faro as effectively. You may even plan a day in Faro earlier than you fly house.
Faro is definitely probably 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 superb 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 points of interest just like the Arco de Vila, Faro Cathedral, and the Municipal Museum.
If you haven’t rented a automotive and wish to discover Faro, this tour has you lined. You may also 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 a variety of historical past behind it. The church is positioned 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 displays 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 very best issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, let’s take a look at some widespread FAQs.
How to get to Lagos
Lagos is positioned 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 when you fancy an journey. You are finest contemplating catching a ferry if you would like to ferry hop down the Portuguese coast.
As it is usually positioned in mainland Europe, you would take a highway journey to Lagos from Spain, France, and even the UK if you’re feeling significantly adventurous. Driving throughout Europe is in style, and also you’ll simply want to be comfy adjusting to totally different driving kinds. Also, remember the fact that you’ll want a for much longer timeframe for this, and we’d advocate permitting a minimum of two weeks to highway journey to after which get pleasure from Lagos comfortably.
Getting round Lagos
Lagos is a city and has all the pieces out there inside strolling distance. Some of probably the most picturesque seashores within the area are only a brief stroll from Lagos city middle. Plus, there may be 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 automotive. 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 would rent a rental automotive if you would like the liberty to discover additional afield. You’ll find a way to head up the shoreline and even out to the Valley of Guadiana Natural Park. If that is the case, it’s possible you’ll want to ebook a rental automotive to decide up from Faro Airport so to drive to Lagos as an alternative of catching public transport.
Best time to go to Lagos
The finest 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’ stunning seashores?
May and June are the very best months to go to Lagos in spring, whereas September and early October are the very best months in fall. Still, struggling to determine? 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 also be often a bit breezier in spring, which is sweet 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 just a little additional. 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 industrial lodging alternative. The good thing about that is that there are considerate touches like on-site wine tasting periods, 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 if 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 would need. Guests select between townhouses and villas, so neglect about cramped lodge rooms or small residence complexes. There can also be a shared rooftop terrace, countless leisure actions, and an indoor heated pool. While for additional pampering, you possibly can head to the spa to get pleasure from a sauna, steam room, scorching tub, and gymnasium.
To Conclude
A visit to Lagos is likely one of the finest seaside holidays you would absorb 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 prospect to expertise as lots of this stuff as attainable.
Once you’ve visited Lagos, it’s best to discover the remainder of the Algarve area. There are many superb cities in Portugal, plus the Douro Valley and Obidos when you journey additional up north. Trust us, you’ll want a return journey.