Prepare for loads of pleasure once you discover Lagos, Portugal. Lagos sits on the Algarve coast and is thought 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 seashore vacation vacation spot.
Prime Issues to do in Lagos
Lagos sights are diversified and plentiful. You can hike the Seven Hanging Valleys, go to a museum, or take one of many dolphin-watching boat excursions. There are various issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, and this information will cowl the best possible.
1. Ponta da Piedade
If you happen to’ve seen photos of Lagos, the probabilities are that you simply’ve seen Ponta da Piedade. Ponta da Piedade is a headland of putting 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 well 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 in case 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. Nevertheless, there are many totally different boat journeys which you could take, so enterprise all the way down to the marina and decide whichever takes your fancy. A ship journey is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Lagos, Portugal. The ocean 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 correctly. We advocate this tour in case you’ve by no means seen wild dolphins because it retains a protected distance and doesn’t stress the animals.
Different 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 sights just like the Benagil Cave.
3. Praia de Dona Ana
Praia de Dona Ana is without doubt one of the most stunning seashores within the Algarve. The seashore is positioned on the Ponta da Piedade headland and is surrounded by limestone formations with golden strata. Simple to succeed in, stuffed with services like showers and bogs, and completely gorgeous to take a look at, visiting Praia Dona Ana Seaside is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Lagos.
You’ll be able to attain Praia Dona Ana Seaside in 20 minutes on foot from Lagos city middle after which climb down from the headland through a set of lengthy picket steps. The seashore has calm waters and is superb for much less assured swimmers and households. Praia Dona Ana Seaside is your best option out of the Lagos seashores for a calming seashore day. Simply get there early to beat the crowds, because it is without doubt 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’ll simply take a day journey by leaping on the bus for a twenty-minute experience. Praia de Luz has an enormous seashore with watersports, lifeguards, and cafes – but it lacks the touristy environment of Lagos’ seashores.
Visiting Praia da Luz is a wonderful choice if you wish to expertise beautiful seashores exterior of Lagos and luxuriate in a special, extra resort-like environment than the seashores in Lagos. It’s easy to succeed in on public transport and isn’t a secluded seashore – excellent for a straightforward day journey.
5. Parque Aventura
Parque Aventura is Portuguese for ‘Journey 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. Whereas in case you favor to maintain your toes on the bottom, you possibly can take a look at your ability with a paintball sport on the park’s paintball area.
We advise heading to Parque Aventura later within the afternoon when temperatures are now not sky excessive. The park stays open till 6 pm day by day, so visiting out of noon warmth shouldn’t be difficult.
6. Spend a morning in Lagos Outdated City
For that cobblestone streets expertise, you don’t must enterprise far in Lagos. Lagos Outdated City is filled with cobbled streets and colourful buildings, and the historic middle is surrounded by previous metropolis partitions.
Spending a morning in Lagos Outdated City is one of the simplest ways to stability time on its finest seashores. There are retailers, bakeries, and small pubs to sit down al fresco with a pint of Sagres. Additionally it is 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 Outdated City is a good suggestion. And, in case you are caught for alternative, the recent seafood is scrumptious.
7. Go to Mercado de Escravos
Mercado de Escravos is one in all 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 via partaking exhibitions. If you’re considering 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’ finest seashores, and you need to go to it even in case you are solely in Lagos for just a few days. The small seashore is famed for its distinctive bridges and tunnels, which guests use to entry totally different areas of the seashore. You’ll be able to swap between the northern and southern sections of the seashore by strolling via a pure tunnel within the cliff face. Whereas overhead, there’s an previous Roman bridge connecting the cliffs.
The structure of Praia dos Estudantes simply makes it probably the most fascinating seashores on the Algarve. That is the most effective seashore for you if you would like a memorable seashore day. Plus, it’s inside strolling distance of Lagos city middle.
9. Go kayaking to the ocean caves
You’ll be able to actually take a ship journey to see these magnificent caves, however the extra adventurous is likely to be tempted by a kayaking journey. Exploring the ocean caves by kayak is a special expertise and definitely not for the fainthearted or unfit.
You’ll be able to lease a kayak and head out independently or go on a guided kayak tour – all of it relies on your confidence. Both manner, you’ll have the ability to rise up shut with the gorgeous formations alongside the coast and see marine life of their pure habitat. You’ll be able to squeeze via tiny sea caves and tunnels that bigger boats can’t match via, providing you with rather more alternatives to discover. And, in case you get fortunate, a pod of dolphins may pop up round you.
10. Praia do Vale de Centeanes
Praia do Vale de Centeanes is without doubt 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, quite 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’s a dramatic introduction to the Algarve’s attribute cliff-backed seashores. Additionally it is rather more spacious than the small seashores round Lagos. For a heavenly seashore day, it’s effectively value a day journey.
11. Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos
Household holidays may be troublesome, particularly in the case of conserving little kids entertained. The Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos is totally tailor-made towards households – offering partaking, child-friendly science reveals and actions. So in case you are touring with kids and need to maintain them entertained, Centro Ciencia Viva de Lagos is a enjoyable, dependable choice.
The science museum is open from 10 am till 6 pm day by day aside from Mondays. It is a wonderful place to go to, escape the noon solar, or maintain busy if the climate is horrible. The museum additionally has indoor and outside reveals, making the expertise pleasurable and diversified.
12. Meia Praia
Meia Praia is the most important seashore round Lagos and stretches over 4 km in size. On a busy day, visiting Meia Praia is a technique 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 Outdated City and inside simple strolling distance of the city middle. Visiting Meia Praia is a superb thought if you wish to squeeze a seashore day right into a busy day or simply be near many facilities.
13. Seven Hanging Valleys Path
If you happen to like staying energetic, strolling the Seven Hanging Valleys is without doubt 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 a few hours to finish.
The Seven Hanging Valleys Path passes gorgeous vistas, together with many sea caves and spectacular formations. You can 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 selection is yours.
14. Praia do Camilo
On the lookout for a secluded seashore? Praia do Camilo is the one for you. The small seashore 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 seashore 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 seashore. You’ll be able to stroll via the pure tunnel and decide your favourite (or the least busy in case you’re visiting in peak season). Praia do Camilo is a enjoyable, fairly place to go to close to Lagos.
15. Go to Ponta da Bandeira Fort
Historical past lovers, this attraction is for you. Ponta da Bandeira is a Seventeenth-century fortress complicated that now runs as a museum and artwork exhibition venue. Ponta da Bandeira overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Praia de Batata Seaside 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 maintain you entertained for at the very least an hour or two. Ponta da Bandeira is without doubt 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 gorgeous seashore to go to close to Lagos. And, if topping up your tan beneath a Seventeenth-century fort sounds memorable, it’s value including to your itinerary. The sands are famously gentle and golden, and the waters are calm and excellent for swimming.
Visiting Ponta da Bandeira and Praia de Batata is a wonderful mixture. Begin your morning on the fort, after which head to the seashore to get pleasure from some afternoon solar.
17. Spend a day in Faro Metropolis
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 can even plan a day in Faro earlier than you fly house.
Faro is well probably the most well-known metropolis on the Algarve. In truth, it’s thought of by many because the gateway to the area. Nevertheless, its metropolis middle is a superb place to spend a few hours – which we extremely advocate doing. Stroll the Outdated City to admire the cobbled streets and neoclassical structure. Then go to the key sights just like the Arco de Vila, Faro Cathedral, and the Municipal Museum.
When you have not rented a automotive and need to discover Faro, this tour has you coated. Additionally, you will 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 positioned contained in the Outdated City and is well 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’ll stroll via, 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. Enable an hour or two to expertise Igreja de Santo completely.
Lagos FAQs
Now that we’ve coated the most effective issues to do in Lagos, Portugal, let’s take a look at some widespread FAQs.
Tips on how to get to Lagos
Lagos is positioned in Southern Portugal on the Algarve shoreline. The simplest technique to attain Lagos is to fly into Faro Airport after which catch public transport to Lagos. You’ll be able to take a shuttle bus straight from the airport or journey into Faro to catch the prepare to Lagos. Enable round three hours for each choices.
Since Lagos sits on the Atlantic Ocean, there are a number of ferry routes in case you fancy an journey. You’re finest contemplating catching a ferry if you wish to ferry hop down the Portuguese coast.
As it’s also positioned in mainland Europe, you may take a highway journey to Lagos from Spain, France, and even the UK in case you are feeling significantly adventurous. Driving throughout Europe is in style, and also you’ll simply should be comfy adjusting to totally different driving kinds. Additionally, take into account that you’ll want a for much longer time-frame for this, and we’d advocate permitting at the very least 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. A few of the most picturesque seashores within the area are only a brief stroll from Lagos city middle. Plus, there’s Lagos prepare station the place you possibly can catch a prepare to close by spots on day journeys. You’ll be able to simply get round Lagos and its surrounding space with out driving a automotive. If you wish to keep native and are solely visiting for just a few days, we recommend sticking to strolling and public transport.
In fact, you may rent a rental automotive if you would like the liberty to discover additional afield. You’ll have the ability to head up the shoreline and even out to the Valley of Guadiana Pure Park. If that is so, you could want to e-book a rental automotive to choose up from Faro Airport so to drive to Lagos as an alternative of catching public transport.
Greatest time to go to Lagos
The very best 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. In spite of everything, why not benefit from Lagos’ stunning seashores?
Might 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. Nonetheless, 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. Additionally it is normally a bit breezier in spring, which is sweet for outside actions.
The place to remain in Lagos
Final however not least, the place must you keep in Lagos? There are a great deal of high-quality choices to swimsuit all budgets, however these are our absolute favorites.
Price range resort: Outdated Faculty Visitor Home
Lagos has hostels, however it’s higher to remain on the Outdated Faculty Visitor Home for slightly further. It’s 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 services. There’s additionally a paid airport shuttle to make your airport expertise extra stress-free.
Mid-range resort: Fazenda Viegas
Fazenda Viegas is a privately run resort quite than a big business lodging alternative. The advantage of that is that there are considerate touches like on-site wine tasting periods, a welcome drink, and incredible sporting services like a soccer pitch and volleyball courts.
Company can select to remain in an condo or villa, and once you aren’t swimming within the outside pool, you possibly can head to the closest seashore – about 2km away.
Luxurious resort: Boavista Golf & Spa
If you would like luxurious, say no extra. Boavista Golf & Spa is a five-star property with all of the indulgent services you may need. Company select between townhouses and villas, so overlook about cramped resort rooms or small condo complexes. There may be additionally a shared rooftop terrace, countless leisure actions, and an indoor heated pool. Whereas for further 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 without doubt one of the finest seashore holidays you may soak up Europe. Between the gorgeous 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 a lot of these items as attainable.
When you’ve visited Lagos, you need to discover the remainder of the Algarve area. There are various wonderful cities in Portugal, plus the Douro Valley and Obidos in case you journey additional up north. Belief us, you’ll want a return journey.
