Lagos Holidays

Lagos is a popular town in the Barlavento region of the Algarve. Good surfing and relaxed beaches attract laid-back outdoor types, but the old town’s 16th-century walls and Arab-built castle keep architecture-lovers happy, too. There’s also a large marina with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants.

The beaches at Lagos are some of the best in the Algarve. The most famous is Meia Praia, 4 kilometres of golden sand stretching east of the marina. It’s a lively beach where children paddle in the shallow waters and paragliders cut up the waves. There’s also the sheltered Batata Beach, with its view of the fortress, and Dona Ana Beach, which comes with spectacular rock formations.

Lagos comes alive when the sun goes down. The main strip, Rua 25 de Abril, is in the old town and it’s a hub of pubs, bars and cafés. It’s about 2 minutes’ walk from the beachfront, home to nightclubs that usually spill out onto the sand with after-dark beach parties. Clubs suited to a younger crowd get going around 1am, but there are laid-back bars and karaoke pubs, too.

You can explore the beautiful, rugged scenery around Lagos in many ways. Mountain bikers ride along deserted trails, while other visitors saddle up for horseback tours, spotting wildflowers and rare birds, and stopping for lunch in a local tasca. Meanwhile, boat trips take to the ocean in search of dolphins, whales, sharks and orcas.