Latest update: 10 July 2024
The coastal town of Lagos is a nice mix of beaches, water activities and restaurants – and a vibrant nightlife for those coming to party. The city appears to be very popular among Australians for surfing. Because of its location in the west of the Algarve, you can also do all kinds of trips from Lagos. But first, let’s see what there is to do in Lagos itself!
Fan of Lagos?
Maybe you’re like me and you look for travel blogs about your destination in advance – probably yes, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. ALL the blogs I read about Lagos are lyrical. It’s so much fun there. Many people even recommend it as a base to discover the Algarve. But that means my expectations are sky high and… I find Lagos a bit disappointing.
Please explain yourself, I hear you thinking. Well, I expected some more impressive sights in the city. And I certainly didn’t expect a long touristy street full of dime-a-dozen restaurants, bars where people try to talk you in with free shots, cheap kebab shops, and souvenir shops. During the day, this Rua 25 de Abril is not too bad, but in the evening… Get me out of here!
But don’t let that scare you off completely, please. I just mean to say that experiences vary. The other side of Lagos is the easy-going surfer vibe and vibrant coffee and restaurant scene. So Lagos is definitely still a good option, you just might want to adjust your expectations – and check out my coffee and food tips for Lagos.
Discover the center of Lagos
I had reserved a walking tour through Lagos well in advance, but it was canceled at the last minute. Meh. However, I always recommend a guided city walk if you are new to a city. If you are interested, you can try GuruWalk or FreeTour.
So I simply wandered through the streets with my best friend, through the shopping area, and around and along the harbor. The city has various spots with street art, like posters or murals. On the Praça Luís de Camões square (Google Maps location), you will find the green tiled house seen in many Lagos photos.
There is a beautiful square in front of the Santa Maria church (Google Maps location), and just behind the church is the Lagos castle. Unfortunately, you cannot go inside; you can only view parts of the wall from the outside and walk through the old city gate. Across the street is the Forte do Pau da Bandeira (Google Maps location), a fortress that should also be visitable, but I have only seen closed doors.
Also, pop into the Mercado Municipal de Lagos (Google Maps location). Downstairs, there is mainly fish for sale, while upstairs, it is more aimed at tourists.
Along the river, there are endless souvenir stalls and tour sellers. If you cross the bridge, you will arrive at the harbor. Many boat tours depart here, and there are several bars and restaurants.
Dolphin watching from Lagos
If you are in the Algarve, you must go dolphin spotting at least once. I tried my dolphin luck in Lagos. There are a ridiculous number of providers of this tour—so many that I don’t really know how to choose. Ultimately, I chose this tour because it has a lot of departure options.
At the meeting point, we are offered a jacket. I actually think it’s nice and warm outside, but they offer it for a reason, probably? Yes. It is a good choice to wear one because we are sailing fast—very fast. The wind is strong, and at first, I thought the seats where you sit with your legs spread were a bit strange, but now I am happy with the firm grip these seats allow.
After 45 minutes of searching, we finally spotted ‘our’ dolphins. First a duo, later a slightly larger group. Taking pictures is almost impossible, but believe me, it was beautiful.
Like I said, there are many providers of boat trips to see dolphins in Lagos. I was happy with my choice. If you want the same one as me, you can book here:
Kayak tour in Lagos
Even more fun on the water: a kayak tour along the cliffs and caves towards Ponta da Piedade. Everyone offers the exact same tours along the boulevard and in the harbor. I choose this tour because the time is convenient for me and because I would like to start the kayak tour at Batata beach.
At the starting point, there are lockers for our belongings, and we are given a large dry bag to put our phones in. We then kayak along the coastline with the guide. Sometimes, we sail into a cave or between rocks. It’s really beautiful. The sun gives the stone a golden glow, and the water is clear and blue. This is exactly how you imagine the Algarve. And not unimportantly, the kayaking is not too hard.
In the end, we kayak a bit back for a stop on a beach. For me, it feels like an unnecessary stop. I would have rather just gone back immediately. And guess what? You don’t have to kayak back! You are towed back by a boat – very easy tour.
As I said, there are many options for kayak tours in Lagos. Don’t feel like figuring it all out? Then go with the same one I went with. Friendly guides, well organized. A safe bet.
Walking at Ponta da Piedade
Once you’ve done the kayak tour to Ponta da Piedade, it’s time to see the cliffs from a different angle. You can do some easy hiking here. Until recently, this was actually free roaming over the rocks. But in September 2023, they have come a long way with constructing wooden walking paths and viewpoints. That makes it less adventurous but safer.
I didn’t realize how popular a walk at Ponta da Piedade would be. The parking lot is absolutely swamped. Many people also enjoy a day at the beach in this area. There are some spots where you can descend to the bays. But please be warned: come early, especially in high season!
Because work is still ongoing on the walking paths (2023), they might construct parking spaces at a later stage, too. During my visit, I parked in a vacant lot: Google Maps location. By the way, Ponta da Piedade is only 3 kilometers from the center of Lagos, so you can also walk there.
Tip! Are you hungry? I have listed my favorite coffee bars, drinks spots, and restaurants in Lagos.
Beaches of Lagos
The Algarve is, of course, known for its beautiful beaches. From Lagos, you can enjoy a day of beach hopping in the area. Or you can try a beach close to the city. Praia de São Roque (Google Maps location) is the long stretch of beach on the side of the harbor. You can walk there or be dropped off by a water taxi for €1.
Praia da Batata (Google Maps location) is next to the fortress and the starting point of several kayaking tours. It is not the most beautiful beach, but it is the closest to the old town. You can follow the coastline from this beach to Praia dos Estudantes (Google Maps location). That’s really fun because you walk through natural tunnels through the rocks from beach to beach. The disadvantage is that the sun sets behind the rocks quite early – you can’t have it all, right?
Free parking in Lagos
Try to avoid driving in Lagos’ center. Too much one-way traffic and narrow streets. So park in Lagos’ large free car park. You can find it here.
If you still need to rent a car, I recommend comparing your prices at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
Where to sleep in Lagos? Hotel tip!
The Indigo Guest House is a nice place to stay in Lagos. It is close to the center, so it can be a bit noisy on the streets at night. The guest house has a very relaxed atmosphere with nice communal seating areas. And it smells good! There is also a very neat kitchen that you can use.
Be careful when booking because the descriptions and photos are somewhat misleading. For example, we chose the deluxe double room with a balcony and private bathroom. The bathroom turned out to be on the other side of the hallway (and was clogged, but they fixed that in no time), and the photos show a nice sitting area with a couch, but that is not in the room. So that was a bit of a disappointment. Fortunately, the balcony was great!
More Portugal inspiration?
Useful links for your Portugal trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Try WithLocals for experiences with Portuguese locals. Book your ‘free’ walking tours with Freetour.com or GuruWalks, and try bike tours with Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. Interested in a 5% discount on museums and other attractions? Use this discount code at Tiqets: KIMOPREIS22
- Car rental. If you want to compare prices, check out Discover Cars or Rental Cars.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guidebooks. I love paper guidebooks to flip through. Buy them at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Maybe Expedia or CheapOair has a good option.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Train and Bus Travel to Portugal with Busbud. And reserve buses and trains on the go with 12Go or Omio.
- Yoga retreat. Or maybe treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Portugal.
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