Kayaking through the caves of Ponta da Piedade
2 h 15From age 4 with an adult; no experience neededSpring to autumn, depending on the sea
Kayak · 2 h 15 · Guided · €40 adults, €30 children
From €30
See the activity
Stay3–4 nights
AccessFly to Faro; train or car to Lagos
Getting aroundOn foot around the old town and the coast
Best timeMay – Jun · Sep – Oct
What to do
What to do in Lagos
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Ponta da Piedade boardwalks, from Camilo to Porto de Mós
2 h 30 · 4 kmEveryone; with children, hold hands at the edgeDog-friendlyAll year; in summer, first thing or at dusk
On foot · 2–3 hrs · 4 km one way · Free
Benagil Cave: best from Benagil or Portimão
1 hEveryone; with children, by boatFrom spring to autumn, depending on the sea
A sea cave with a skylight in Lagoa, 35 km from Lagos: seen only from a boat or guided kayak, without going down onto the sand. Boats from €35.
From €35
How to do it
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Getaways from Huelva · 2 h 15
Plan the trip
Lagos, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Lagos
May, June, September and October: the sea is calm on more days, the water is already or still pleasant and the coves have space. In July and August you must book kayaks and accommodation well ahead and start early for Camilo.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Lagos your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Lagos by car, with the west coast close at hand
From Huelva it is about two hours along the A22, which has been toll-free since 2025. In Lagos you do not need the car for the old town, but it opens up Ponta da Piedade first thing in the morning, Praia da Luz and, half an hour further, Sagres and the Costa Vicentina.
70–140 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayLagos Avenida Hotel, facing the…
- Getting aroundA22 to Lagos and N125…
- Where to eatD. Sebastião, in the old…
- ServicesFaro airport, with car hire…
Where to stay
- Lagos Avenida Hotel, facing the marina, with a free electric charger
- Turiscampo, next to the N125, with plenty of room for the car or motorhome
Getting around
- A22 to Lagos and N125 towards Luz and Sagres
- Leave the car outside the walled old town: there is hardly any room inside
- To Ponta da Piedade, go early; the car park fills up in summer
Where to eat
- D. Sebastião, in the old town, for fish and shellfish
- Casinha do Petisco, dinner only, closed on Sunday
Services
- Faro airport, with car hire in the terminal
- Tourist office in Praça Gil Eanes
Lagos without a car, by train and on foot
Lagos is one of the few places in the Algarve that works well without a car: the regional train ends here, the old town is explored on foot, and the boats and kayaks to the caves of Ponta da Piedade leave from the harbour. Sleep in the centre and walk.
60–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayCasa Mãe, inside the wall
- Getting aroundCP regional train from Faro…
- Where to eatCasinha do Petisco and D…
- ServicesLagos station, next to the…
Where to stay
- Casa Mãe, inside the wall
- Lagos Avenida Hotel, facing the marina, a short walk from the station
Getting around
- CP regional train from Faro, Tavira or Vila Real de Santo António
- A Onda municipal buses throughout the municipality
- On foot to Meia Praia and, along the boardwalks, to Ponta da Piedade
Where to eat
- Casinha do Petisco and D. Sebastião, in the old town
- Orta, the restaurant at Casa Mãe, with produce from its own garden
Services
- Lagos station, next to the marina
- Tourist office in Praça Gil Eanes
Lagos for a slower, better-fed trip
For a trip with a bigger budget, Lagos has two very different houses: a restored estate inside the wall and a four-star hotel with a rooftop pool over the marina. The special dinner is at the hotel's restaurant, selected by the Michelin Guide.
From €220per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayCasa Mãe, with suites in…
- Getting aroundOn foot around the old…
- Where to eatAvenida Restaurant, six-course tasting menu
- ServicesFaro airport, under an hour…
Where to stay
- Casa Mãe, with suites in a 19th-century house, cabins with patios and a villa with a pool
- Lagos Avenida Hotel, with rooms with a balcony over the marina
Getting around
- On foot around the old town and the marina
- Guided boat or kayak trips to the caves of Ponta da Piedade
Where to eat
- Avenida Restaurant, six-course tasting menu
- Orta, at Casa Mãe, from garden to table
Services
- Faro airport, under an hour away
Flying to Faro, then train or car to Lagos
The Algarve's airport is Faro; direct routes from Spain change with the season, so check them before deciding between Faro and Lisbon. From there, Lagos is about 90 km along the A22, a little under an hour in a hire car. Without a car, take the bus to central Faro and catch the regional train there, which ends in Lagos.
- Getting thereFaro (FAO), the nearest airport
- Getting aroundHire car at the Faro…
- Where to stayLagos Avenida Hotel, a short…
- ServicesFaro airport, with car hire
Getting there
- Faro (FAO), the nearest airport
- Lisbon (LIS), if you cannot find a flight to Faro: about three hours by car
- Bus from the airport to central Faro and CP regional train to Lagos
Getting around
- Hire car at the Faro terminal, for Sagres and the Costa Vicentina
- On foot and by A Onda municipal bus within Lagos
Where to stay
- Lagos Avenida Hotel, a short walk from the station if you arrive by train
- Casa Mãe, inside the wall
Services
- Faro airport, with car hire
- Lagos station, the end of the Algarve line
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Lagos for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Lagos with children, between the long beach and the caves
Lagos works with children if you alternate: a morning at sea with an activity and an afternoon of calm sand. The pretty coves have long stairs; the big beach has none.
- What works bestMeia Praia, flat and huge…
- Where to sleepIn the old town, to…
- Where to eatGrilled fish in the centre
- Keep in mindCamilo has about 200 steps…
What works best
- Meia Praia, flat and huge, for beach-only days
- The kayak to Ponta da Piedade in a double with an adult, from age 4
- The boardwalks from the lighthouse to Canavial, wide and almost flat
- The Benagil cave by boat from its beach or from Portimão
Where to sleep
- In the old town, to walk to the harbour and the coves
- Next to Meia Praia, if you want a beach without a car
Where to eat
- Grilled fish in the centre
- Ice cream and sandwiches for the beach
Keep in mind
- Camilo has about 200 steps: with small children, Meia Praia or Batata
- On the boardwalks and viewpoints, hold hands: the edge is crumbling
- Book the first-thing kayak, when the sea is stillest
What to do as a family
Lagos for teenagers, paddling, surf and cliffs
Lagos has a young atmosphere and sea activities all year round. Teenagers get hooked on kayaking between arches and learning to surf for a few days; the evenings in town give them a little independence.
- What works bestThe kayak through the caves…
- Where to sleepIn the old town, within…
- Where to eatBars and stalls in the…
- Keep in mindFrom age 12 they pay…
What works best
- The kayak through the caves of Ponta da Piedade
- A three-day surf camp with transfer to whichever beach is best
- The boardwalks at sunset, from Camilo to Porto de Mós
Where to sleep
- In the old town, within walking distance of everything
Where to eat
- Bars and stalls in the centre for snacking between activities
Keep in mind
- From age 12 they pay as adults for the kayak
- For surfing you don't need experience, but you must be able to swim
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a carin styleif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Casa Mãe
Why we like it: A hotel in three buildings inside the Lagos wall, with a pool, vegetable garden and farm-to-table cooking, within walking distance of the old town.
Lagos Avenida Hotel
Why we like it: Four-star hotel facing the Lagos marina, with 47 rooms with balcony or terrace, a rooftop infinity pool and a Michelin Guide restaurant.
Turiscampo Algarve
Why we like it: Year-round campsite 5 km from Lagos and 2.5 km from Praia da Luz, with motorhome pitches, bungalows, a heated pool and a spa.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Lagos
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
D. Sebastião Restaurant
What to order: the pork chop with figs or the grilled fish of the day, and a Dom Rodrigo for dessert.
Casinha do Petisco
What to order: arrive when it opens, at 17:30, or book by phone; after 19:30 you put your name on the waiting list.
Avenida Restaurant
What to order: the Friday and Saturday lunchtime menu, which is better value than dinner; in the evening, the tasting menu.
Nearby
Near Lagos
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Ponta da Piedade twice
One morning from the water, by kayak, and one afternoon from above, along the walkways. They are two different landscapes.
- 2Benagil from its own harbour
Don't take the boat to Benagil from Lagos: it takes a long time to get there. Drive to Benagil beach or to Portimão.
- 3Check the tide
At low tide, passages open between coves, but some caves are left dry for kayaks.
Swimming into the Benagil cave
It has been banned since August 2024, as has landing on its inner beach or hiring a kayak without a guide in the area. Fines are high and the sea there is treacherous.
How do you get there from Spain?
By car from Andalusia: Seville is about three hours away via Huelva, the Guadiana bridge and the Algarve motorway. By air, to Faro, and from there by car (a little under an hour) or on the regional train of the Algarve line, which ends at Lagos station, next to Meia Praia.
How do you get around Lagos?
On foot. The walled old town, the harbour and the beaches of Batata, Pinhão and Dona Ana are a stroll away; Ponta da Piedade is about 3 km from the centre, which you can walk along the cliff edge. The car is for heading out: to Sagres and the west coast, or to Benagil, about 35 km away. In summer, parking near the coves is difficult.
What should you book in advance?
The kayak to Ponta da Piedade and boat trips, especially in July and August: the morning slots fill up, and those have the calmest sea. Accommodation in the old town, weeks ahead. The walkways and the beaches do not need booking, but it is best to arrive early.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Lagos?
Three or four nights: one day for Ponta da Piedade by kayak and on foot, another for the beach, one for Sagres and the west coast and another for Benagil.
What is the best beach with small children?
Meia Praia: more than 4 km of flat sand, with no stairs and the train beside it. Coves such as Camilo have long stairways.
Can you see Ponta da Piedade without paying?
Yes. The wooden walkways from the lighthouse to Canavial and the lighthouse viewpoint are free to enter.
Is there surf in Lagos?
There is atmosphere and schools, but the waves are usually on other beaches. The schools take you each day to whichever is best, on the south or west coast.
Can you go to the Benagil cave from Lagos?
Yes, but it is about 35 km away. It works out better to drive to Benagil beach or to Portimão and set off from there, by boat or by guided kayak.