Praia da Luz holidays

Holidays to Praia da Luz take you to one of the most family friendly destinations in Portugal. This sheltered spot on the Algarve’s western coast gives you white-sand bays, luxury accommodation options and plenty of traditional Atlantic charm.

The ‘Beach of Light’

Praia da Luz translates to ‘Beach of Light’. This compact town in Portugal’s Algarve region, about 10 minutes’ drive from Lagos, is laid out behind a sheltered bay with an ancient-fortress-turned-restaurant on one side and black-rock cliffs on the other. Stroll along the patterned beachfront promenade, check out Roman remains and ruins, hike through the nearby Monchique Mountains, or get your culture fix with a visit to Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Luz – a 16th-century church.

Blue Flag shores and volcanic rock pools

Luz Bay’s Blue Flag beach sits just steps away from the town. It’s a big scoop of fine white sand backed by beach bars and cocktail lounges, and is flanked by volcanic rock pools at one end. For a change of scenery, hop in a taxi or walk 20 minutes to Praia Dona Ana in Lagos, which is famed for its 16-million-year-old sandstone formations. Then, spend a few hours at Praia de Porto de Mós, which is just next door. This stretch is popular with surfers and watersports fanatics.

Historic Lagos and Algarve culture

There’s more to this part of Portugal than just top-notch beaches. Nearby Lagos’ old town is a maze of cobbled streets penned in by 16th-century city walls. Inside it, you can eye up exhibits from Neolithic and Roman times in the Museu Municipal. Just outside it, you’ll find Ponta da Bandeira fort, complete with a chapel and a drawbridge, not to mention front-row sea views. And if you fancy exploring slightly further afield, you can take a daytrip to the pine-carpeted Sao Joao National Park, visit the Moorish Silves Castle, or splash about at a waterpark.