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🇵🇹 Lagos was day 8–10 of our 2 Weeks in Portugal — we arrived by train from Lisbon and left by bus/train to Albufeira. Three nights was perfect.
Lagos surprised us. We expected a busy resort town. What we found was one of the most dramatic coastlines we have ever seen — golden sandstone cliffs sculpted into arches, grottoes, and sea stacks, set against water so clear it looks Caribbean — combined with a genuinely charming old town that still feels like a real Portuguese community.
If you are planning the Algarve section of your Portugal trip, base yourself in Lagos. Here is exactly how to spend two to three days.
Where to Stay in Lagos
We booked through Booking.com and found an excellent self-catering apartment in the old town — walkable to everything, with a rooftop terrace and pool. GuestReady also has managed properties in the Lagos area with the kind of quality and service we experienced across Portugal on this trip.
Neighbourhood tips:
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- Old Town (Centro Histórico): Best for walking to beaches and restaurants — our choice
- Marina area: Good for nightlife and boat tour access
- Meia Praia side: Quieter, better for families with cars
Day 1 in Lagos: The Cliffs and the Caves
Morning
Check in, drop your bags, and immediately head southwest through the old town towards the coast. The cliff walk from Praia Dona Ana to Ponta da Piedade is the first thing you should do in Lagos — do it before anything else.
Praia Dona Ana (15-minute walk from town) is one of Portugal's most beautiful beaches — a sheltered golden cove below ochre cliffs. Swim here if the tide and conditions are right, or just descend to the sand to look up at the cliffs from below.
Continue west along the clifftop path to Praia do Camilo — accessed via a long wooden staircase. Another extraordinary cove. Take the stairs down, explore the sea caves at the base of the cliffs at low tide, then climb back up.
Continue to Ponta da Piedade (about 3km from Dona Ana) — the headland of carved sandstone arches and sea stacks that is the most iconic image of the Algarve. Walk to the lighthouse at the tip of the headland for views in both directions along the coast.
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Afternoon
Book the afternoon boat tour of the sea caves and grottoes from the Lagos marina. This is the single best activity in Lagos and sees the caves from a perspective the clifftop walk cannot offer.
Also on Tiqets: Lagos Caves Boat Trip
Tours typically last 45–75 minutes and depart from the marina at Avenida dos Descobrimentos.
Evening
Return to the old town for the evening. Explore Praça Infante Dom Henrique — the main square with the statue of Henry the Navigator — and wander the pedestrian lanes around it. Have dinner at one of the old town restaurants. We ate at Casinha do Petisco — a small, excellent traditional restaurant with great cataplana and local wines.
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Sunset drink: walk back to Ponta da Piedade at sunset (around 8–9pm in summer) for the golden hour light on the rock formations. Worth doing twice.
Day 2 in Lagos: Beaches and Old Town
Morning
Start with Praia do Pinhão — a tiny, hidden beach accessible via a rocky path between Dona Ana and Camilo. Almost nobody goes here. The rock formations and turquoise water are stunning.
If the sea is calm, hire a kayak and paddle along the base of the cliffs from the marina — some operators let you take kayaks all the way to the Ponta da Piedade grottoes independently.
Book: Lagos Kayak Sea Caves Tour
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Afternoon
Head to Meia Praia for the afternoon — Lagos's longest beach (4km), which takes about 20 minutes to walk to from the centre (or take the ferry across the river from near the marina for just €1). The beach is wide, the water calm, and there are good beach bars serving cold beer and grilled fish.
If you have children or want a more active afternoon, try stand-up paddleboarding at Meia Praia — boards available to hire from the beach kiosks.
Evening
Spend a couple of hours properly exploring the Lagos Old Town:
- Igreja de Santo António — a 18th-century baroque church with a spectacular gilded interior (free entry)
- Museu Municipal de Lagos — housed in an old convent attached to Santo António, with artefacts from Lagos's Moorish and Age of Discovery history
- Mercado de Escravos — the first purpose-built slave market in Europe (1444), now a small but powerful museum on Praça Infante Dom Henrique
Dinner: try A Forja for excellent grilled meat and fish in an unpretentious setting, or head to the marina area for seafood.
Day 3 in Lagos: Day Trip to Sagres or Active Morning
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Option A: Day Trip to Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente
The most popular day trip from Lagos is to Sagres (30km west) and Cabo de São Vicente — the southwestern tip of mainland Europe. This is not hyperbole: standing at the lighthouse on the cape, you are looking at the Atlantic with nothing between you and North America.
The Fortaleza de Sagres — Henry the Navigator's legendary maritime school and fortress — is 2km along the coast. The coastline between Sagres and the Cape is one of the most dramatic in Portugal.
Drive or join a tour — public transport to Sagres runs but is infrequent.
Option B: Surf Lesson at Praia do Luz
Praia do Luz (5km west) is a consistent surf beach. Beginners' surf lessons run year-round; mornings have the best conditions and quietest beaches.
Evening: Departure or Onward Journey
If Lagos → Albufeira is next (as it was for us), the easiest connection is by Renex express bus from Lagos bus station — direct service to Albufeira takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. See our Algarve travel guide for full transport options.
Lagos Itinerary: Quick Reference
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cliff walk: Dona Ana → Camilo → Ponta da Piedade | Sea caves boat tour | Old town, Casinha do Petisco dinner |
| 2 | Praia do Pinhão, kayaking | Meia Praia beach | Old town churches & museums, A Forja dinner |
| 3 | Surf lesson OR Sagres day trip | Cabo de São Vicente | Return or depart for Albufeira |
Getting to Lagos from Lisbon
The best option is the Alfa Pendular or InterCidades train from Lisbon Oriente to Lagos — takes 3 hours 30 minutes with a change at Tunes. Book on the CP (Comboios de Portugal) website. Read our Lisbon to Lagos guide for full transport options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days should I spend in Lagos? Two days is the minimum. Three days (as we had) is ideal — it allows you to see the cliffs, do a boat tour, explore the beaches properly, and do a day trip to Sagres.
Is Lagos better than Albufeira? They are different. Lagos has more dramatic natural scenery and a more relaxed vibe. Albufeira has more beaches, livelier nightlife, and is closer to Faro Airport. Many travellers (including us) do both — read our things to do in Albufeira guide to compare.
Is Lagos Portugal safe? Lagos is one of the safest places in Portugal. Petty theft is rare. It is an excellent destination for solo travellers, couples, and families.
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