Things to do in Lagos Portugal

If you are considering a trip to the Algarve, or already have one planned, you must visit Lagos during your stay. If you are still unsure of which part of the Algarve to base yourself, have a read of our blog on Where to stay in the Algarve.

Lagos perfectly mixes history, culture, and gorgeous beaches making it a great place to visit.  The old town is charming, with its cobblestone streets and historic sites like the Ponta da Bandeira Fort. The beaches are absolutely stunning, with golden cliffs and turquoise sea. Whether you’re into exploring, hiking, lounging in the sun, or enjoying some exciting nightlife, Lagos has a bit of everything that makes the Algarve special.

Things to do in Lagos, Portugal

If you are visiting the Algarve but aren’t staying in Lagos this is a great itinerary to work through to ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights during your day. If your accommodation is in Lagos, you can spend more time at each of these beaches and enjoy Lagos at a more leisurely pace. Highlights you definitely shouldn’t miss:

• Lagos old town
• Bandeira Fort
• Castle walls
• Batata Beach
• Praia Dos Estudantes
• Dona Ana Beach
• Camilo Beach
• Ponta Da Piedade

For a more relaxed day you might want to pick just one of the beaches rather than trying to see them all.

Where to park in Lagos?

If you want to see everything, from the old town to Ponta da Piedade, ideally I would recommend exploring with a car, especially if you have children who aren’t keen on walking. The hiking trail (which I will discuss further down) is a beautiful 6km walk. Walking there and back in the heat, with small children, might not be your idea of fun! There is a car park near the Bandeira Fort (pictured above) which I will tag here. This is a pay and display car park which can get full. If you can’t find a space here you can try this multi story carpark a short distance away. Park your car at the start of the day and head towards Lagos old town.

Lagos Old Town

The old town is beautifully cobbled with traditional tiled buildings. Enjoy mooching around, stop for a drink or an ice cream and make sure not to miss the church of Santa Maria de Lagos and the church of Santo António. The interior of the Santo António church is said to be one of the most spectacular of all of Portugal’s churches.

Praia dos Estudantes

Once you have explored the town, walk by the Bandeira Fort, Batata beach and go down to Praia Dos Estudantes. There is a little tunnel cut out of the cliff which takes you to the beach pictured below. If you have time I would recommend doing a kayak tour around the stunning coastline. It is definitely the best way to appreciate the natural beauty of Lagos. This tour is great and is easy to book online.

Dona Ana Beach

If you are driving, now is the time to get back in the car to head towards Dona Ana Beach. There is a carpark by the beach there which is free and has around 70 spaces.

If you fancy a coastal walk with stunning views you can walk from Praia do Pinhao towards Dona Ana Beach (around a 20-30 minute walk). Head towards the start of the trail which you can find tagged here. Wear comfortable shoes, SPF and take lots of water.

Alternatively you can use public transport. The line 2 bus from Portas de Portugal – Mercado to Praia Dona Ana takes 7 minutes and departs hourly.

Dona Ana is usually a relaxing beach which is great for families. Its positioning means it is sheltered from wind by the cliffs. Note that there are a fair few stairs to get down there, so not ideal for prams, wheelchair users or people with limited mobility. Batata beach mentioned earlier is wheelchair accessible.

Praia do Camilo

If you have a car you can drive from Dona ana beach to Praia do Camilo (there is another free car park by here).

You can continue the coastal path and walk between Dona ana and Praia do Camilo.

There is a steep staircase to get down to Camilo beach. There is a restaurant at the top if you need refreshments.

Ponta da Piedade

There is a free car park by the cliffs if you wish to drive. Alternatively you can continue on the coastal path

There is a small tourist train that runs in the summer and connects Ponta da Piedade to other Lagos highlights, you can check out the stops and schedules here.

There is a shop and a cafe by the car park plus a toilet block. After this you will find a dirt track taking you towards the cliff edge. Explore around the tops of the cliffs enjoying the spectacular views. If you have the energy you can walk down some steps to a boat launching point where some boat tours depart.

Overall

I hope this post has given you a few ideas when it comes to things to do in Lagos. Check out our Algarve page for more information on this beautiful part of the world.