# Lagos

A town in the western Algarve with a walled old town and, to the south, Ponta da Piedade: ochre cliffs pierced by caves and arches that you can explore by kayak or along wooden walkways. To the east, Meia Praia, more than 4 km of sand.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/lagos · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## 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.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Costa Vicentina (a 26.3 km), Tavira (a 90.7 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Kayaking through the caves of Ponta da Piedade** (2 h 15 · From age 4 with an adult; no experience needed · Desde 30 € per child; €40 adult): It is the calmest, closest way to see Ponta da Piedade. You paddle right up against the cliff face, the guide takes you through the arches when the sea allows, and you stop at a cove you cannot reach on foot.
What it is and why it is worth it
South of Lagos, the coast breaks up into a labyrinth of ochre rock: free-standing sea stacks, arches that let the water through, caves open to the sea and small coves wedged between cliffs. From above, along the walkways, you see the whole; from the water, you see it from the inside. The kayak fits through passages where motor boats cannot enter, and it goes slowly enough for you to notice the colours of the rock and the green of the water.
The trip is guided and in a group with Lagos Adventure, a company with a tourist-activity licence registered with Turismo de Portugal. The guide knows the coast and decides at each moment which caves can be crossed with that day's tide and swell.
Who it is for
Beginners: you do not need to have paddled before. Children pay their own fare from 4 to 11 years old and go in a double kayak with an adult. It works with teenagers and with active families. You need to be comfortable in the water, because in a kayak you get wet.
How to get to the base
Lagos Adventure is on Rua da Docapesca, in warehouse number 9, beside the fish market and the fishing harbour, a short walk from the old town. By train, the Algarve regional line ends at Lagos station, next to Meia Praia. By car from Andalusia, take the Algarve motorway. In summer, parking near the centre and the coves is hard: if you are staying in Lagos, walk.
When to go
From spring to autumn, depending on the sea. May, June, September and October are the months with the calmest sea on most days and the fewest people. In July and August the morning sessions fill up first, and these usually have the stillest sea: book in good time. The tide changes what is possible: at low tide some caves are almost dry, and at very high tide others cannot be crossed.
How much it costs
€40 for adults and €30 for children aged 4 to 11. A private trip for a group, from €480. If the sea does not allow a departure, the company cancels and offers you another date or refunds your money.
If there is a ground swell
The trip is called off: it is not worth paddling with waves against the cliff. Switch the plan to the Ponta da Piedade walkways, which can be done in any sea and give you the view from above, or to the walled old town of Lagos.
- **Ponta da Piedade boardwalks, from Camilo to Porto de Mós** (2 h 30 · 4 km · Everyone; with children, hold hands at the edge · On your own · free): It is the walk that explains why Ponta da Piedade appears in every photo of the Algarve. The boardwalk avoids the loose earth at the edge and lets you see the arches from above, with green water below.
What it is and why it is worth it
Ponta da Piedade is the headland that closes the bay of Lagos to the south. Its golden rock has been carved by the sea into columns, arches and caves, and the lighthouse marks the tip. So that people do not step on the edge, which is crumbling, there are wooden walkways that follow the cliff from the lighthouse westwards, as far as Canavial beach. If you start a little earlier, at Praia do Camilo, and finish a little later, at Porto de Mós, you have a walk of about 4 km with the sea always on one side.
It is free, needs no booking and can be done at any time of day. Unlike the kayak or the boat, it does not depend on the state of the sea: with a swell, in fact, you can see it breaking against the stacks.
Who it is for
For everyone. The boardwalk is wide and almost flat; the only demanding parts are the stairs down to the beaches, which are optional: about 200 steps at Camilo and a steep descent to Canavial. With children it works very well, always holding hands at the viewpoints. Dogs can come with you, on a lead.
How to get there
The lighthouse is about 3 km from the centre of Lagos. You can walk along the Ponta da Piedade road or along the cliff edge past the beaches of Batata, Pinhão and Dona Ana to Camilo. If you go by car, go early: in summer parking near the coves is difficult. At the end, at Porto de Mós, you can return the same way or take a taxi to Lagos.
When to go
All year. In summer, first thing or at dusk: there is no shade along the whole route and at midday the lighthouse is crowded. In spring and autumn the walk is more pleasant at any hour. In the low light of the afternoon the rock turns orange, and from the walkways that face west you see the sun set over the sea.
How much it costs
Nothing. The boardwalks, the lighthouse viewpoint and the beaches are free to enter. You only pay, if you want to, for a coffee at Porto de Mós or the taxi back.
If it rains or blows hard
In rain the wood is slippery and the edge more dangerous: shorten the walk and stay on the boardwalk. In strong wind, avoid the most exposed viewpoints. A bad day is a good day for Lagos's walled old town and the slave market, which is in the centre.
- **Benagil Cave: best from Benagil or Portimão** (1 h · Everyone; with children, by boat · Desde 35 € per adult, cruise from Portimão): What it is
The Algar de Benagil is a sea cave in the municipality of Lagoa, about 35 km east of Lagos. It has an inner sandy beach beneath a dome open at the top, through which the light comes in: the photo you have seen a thousand times. It can only be reached by sea, and since 2024 the visit has been regulated by the Portimão Harbour Master's Office. You can no longer set foot on the sand: you see it from the boat.
The rules in force
Since 13 August 2024 the Harbour Master's navigation instructions have applied to the 500-metre stretch of coast between Praia do Vale da Lapa and Praia de Albandeira:

Landing and using the sand inside the cave is prohibited, for private individuals and companies alike.
Arriving by swimming or with any floating object is prohibited.
Hiring kayaks without a guide is prohibited. Kayak groups go with one guide for every six kayaks.
The number of boats and the visit time are limited.

Fines range from €300 to €216,000. In addition, the Harbour Master or the Maritime Police may close access to the cave without notice when the sea or the number of boats makes it advisable.
Where to go from
From Lagos it is possible, but the boat takes a long time to get there and you spend most of the time sailing. You have two more practical options:

From Portimão, about 25 minutes by car from Lagos. Santa Bernarda Cruzeiros, the pirate-ship-style sailing boat, leaves from Cais Vasco da Gama on 2 hr 30 cruises that enter the Benagil caves: at 11:30 all year, at 14:30 until 30 November and, in season until 30 September, also at sunrise (8:40) and at sunset (17:30). It costs €35 for adults, €25 for ages 11 to 17, €15 for ages 3 to 10, and babies do not pay. If the authority closes the cave that day, the cruise continues along the coast without entering and there is no refund.
From Benagil beach, by car to the village itself. From the sand small boats leave on short trips, of half an hour to an hour, as well as guided kayak groups. It is the quickest option, but in summer parking near the beach is difficult: arrive early.

If what you want in Lagos is to paddle among caves, the kayak at Ponta da Piedade leaves from the same harbour and is a similar experience, closer.
Seeing it from above
You can also see it without a boat. The Seven Hanging Valleys trail, which follows the cliff edge between Praia da Marinha and Vale de Centeanes, passes above the cave: from up there you see the open dome and the sand at the bottom, behind a fence. It is about 6 km end to end and free; you can do just the Benagil stretch. Do not go near the edge outside the protected area.
When to go
From spring to autumn, with a calm sea. Boats also leave in winter, but with swell entry is often suspended. In summer, the first boat of the morning avoids the jam of boats at the mouth of the cave.
With children
By boat, yes: it is short and exciting. Santa Bernarda lets children under 3 go free. By kayak, check the minimum age with the operator: the open sea and the entrance to the cave require confident paddling. Wear a life jacket at all times, including on the small boats.
- **Surf camp in Lagos with transfers to both coasts** (3 h · Beginners and surfers who want to improve · Desde 256 € per person, three nights with lessons): What it is
Lagos lives a lot on surfing, but its beaches, on the south coast, only get waves in certain storms. The good waves are usually on the west coast, at beaches such as Arrifana, Amado or Bordeira, or in the Sagres area, between 20 and 45 minutes by car. That is why the Lagos schools work as camps: you sleep in the town and every morning a van takes you with board and wetsuit to whichever beach is best that day, on the south or west coast, depending on the wind and sea.
Who runs it
The Surf Experience is a surf school and camp based in Lagos since 1992. Its stays include accommodation, breakfast, a home-made packed lunch for the beach, lessons during the day, a daily transfer to the beach, board and wetsuit. On Thursdays they film a session and analyse it afterwards, and on Mondays there is yoga.
The stays it publishes, with prices from:

3-Day Taster, three nights: from €256 per person.
4-Day Break, four nights: from €323.
5-Day Classic, five nights: from €389.
7-Day Full Week, seven nights: from €514.

The price depends on the season and the room. On the three-night stay, from November to March it costs €256 in a shared room for three or four and €278 in a double; from April to June and in October, €278 and €302; from July to September, €306 and €332. If you bring your own board there is a discount. As well as its surf house, it offers rooms with private bathroom, a traditional guesthouse and a hotel option.
Who it is for
For those who have never surfed and for those who can already stand up and want to improve. When booking you choose your level from seven, from absolute beginner to expert, and they place you in a suitable group. The three-night stay is designed for a long weekend or a first taste. If you are travelling with teenagers, ask beforehand about the minimum age, which the school does not publish on the prices page.
How a day works
You have breakfast at the accommodation, head off by van to the chosen beach, have the lesson in the morning and eat on the beach what they prepared beforehand before returning to Lagos. It is a whole day out: bring water-resistant sun cream, a hat, warm clothes for after the water and a bottle.
When to go
You can surf all year. From November to March there are more waves and it is cheaper, but the water is cold and the day is short. In summer there are more people and the sea is gentler, good for starting. Spring and autumn usually combine waves, warm water and mid-range prices.
How to book
Book on the school's website, which asks for a deposit. According to its terms, the deposit stays valid until you use it and can be transferred to another person; read the terms before paying.
If you prefer a single lesson on the west coast without sleeping in Lagos, see surfing at Arrifana. And if you have a day without waves, the kayak at Ponta da Piedade leaves from the same harbour.
- **Meia Praia, Lagos's long beach** (4 h · Families with small children · Free): What it is
Meia Praia is the big beach of Lagos: a straight stretch of sand more than 4 km long that follows the curve of the bay from the marina to the mouth of the Alvor river. Behind it runs a belt of dunes and then flat land, with no cliffs or stairs. It is the opposite of the coves at Ponta da Piedade: lots of space, fine sand and a gentle entry into the water. It has a Blue Flag, lifeguards in season and accessible entrances.
How to get there
On foot from the centre, cross the Bensafrim ria by the marina footbridge, next to the train station; on the other side the beach begins. It is about fifteen minutes' walk from the old town. Anyone arriving in Lagos by train has the sand practically in front of the station.
By car, head towards Portimão on the N125 and take the signposted turn-offs to Meia Praia. A road runs behind the dunes along almost the whole beach, with car parks and entrances spread along it. The further east, the easier it is to park and the fewer people there are.
Which stretch to choose

The west end, next to the marina and the station, is the closest to the town and the busiest.
The middle stretch, with access from the dune road, spreads people out better in summer.
The east end, towards the Alvor ria, is the quietest: dunes, little building and more space.

Swimming and safety
The slope is gentle and in summer the sea is usually calm, which is why it is the most comfortable beach in Lagos with small children. Swim in the lifeguarded areas and respect the flags, which warn of currents on days with swell.
When to go
For swimming, from June to September, when there are lifeguards. In July and August the part near the harbour fills up from mid-morning, but the beach is so long that there is always free sand if you walk east. From October to May it is a long, flat walk, good for walking or running at low tide.
With children and with a dog
With children, bring a sunshade: there is no natural shade. The sand is wide and there are no stairs, so you can get there with a pushchair by the accessible entrances. If you go with a dog, check the signs at each entrance before going down to the sand in the bathing season.
- **Slave Market, the Rota da Escravatura museum site** (40 min · Teenagers and adults · General entry €3; combined with the Lagos Museum €5): What it is and why it matters
In Praça do Infante in Lagos, next to the wall and facing the harbour, a low arcaded building has been known for centuries as the Mercado de Escravos. In the 15th century Lagos was the first port in Europe where enslaved Africans arrived by sea to be sold, and this square is the place the city associates with that trade. Since 2016 the building has housed the Rota da Escravatura museum site, one of the spaces of the Dr José Formosinho Lagos Museum, dedicated to telling that story.
What you see
It is a small, direct exhibition. It explains how the Atlantic slave trade began from Lagos, who the captured people were, how they were sold and what role the city played. It starts from a specific discovery: in 2009, when digging to build an underground car park at Vale da Gafaria, outside the old wall, archaeologists found a modern-era rubbish dump with more than 150 human skeletons. Studies confirmed they were Africans brought to Lagos as merchandise; many arrived ill or dying and were thrown among the city's rubbish.
It is a hard visit, told without euphemism, and it changes the way you look at the square and the statue of Prince Henry that you have in front of you as you leave.
Opening hours and closures
Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00; last entry is half an hour before each closing. Closed on Mondays and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 25 April, 1 May and 24 and 25 December. The council may close it on particular occasions, for example on weather-alert days: check the museum website if you go in winter.
Price

General entry: €3.
Reduced, €1.50: young people aged 12 to 18, over-65s, students and holders of the Cartão Jovem.
Combined ticket with the Dr José Formosinho Lagos Museum: €5.
Free: children under 12 (always accompanied by an adult), residents of the municipality of Lagos, people with a disability of 60% or more and one companion, and unemployed EU resident citizens, among others.
Free entry for everyone on 18 April, 18 May, 23 August, 27 October and during the European Heritage Days.

Bring the document that proves your discount.
How long and how to get there
Allow between 30 and 45 minutes. It is right in the centre, in Praça do Infante, a short step from the wall and the seafront promenade; you can walk there from anywhere in the old town. If you go by car, leave it in the car parks on the edge of the centre and walk.
With children and teenagers
For teenagers it is a visit that stays with you and gives context to everything else they will see in Lagos. With small children, consider the subject: the content is difficult. Children under 12 enter free and must be accompanied.
Before going, you can take the free virtual tour on the museum's website or with the Mercado de Escravos VR app, for iOS and Android.

## Dónde comer
- **D. Sebastião Restaurant** (Restaurant, Lagos, €€€). Qué pedir: the pork chop with figs or the grilled fish of the day, and a Dom Rodrigo for dessert.
- **Casinha do Petisco** (Restaurant, Lagos, €€). Qué pedir: arrive when it opens, at 17:30, or book by phone; after 19:30 you put your name on the waiting list.
- **Avenida Restaurant** (Restaurant, Lagos, €€€€). Qué pedir: the Friday and Saturday lunchtime menu, which is better value than dinner; in the evening, the tasting menu.

## By car: 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.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–140 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Lagos Avenida Hotel** (Hotel): Facing the marina
The Lagos Avenida Hotel is on Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the road that skirts the river and the marina, in the centre of Lagos. It is a four-star hotel with 47 rooms, all with a balcony or terrace, some with views of the marina and the sea and others of the city. They have air conditioning, a TV and a full bathroom. Meia Praia is about seven minutes' walk away, according to the hotel, and the old town about the same.
The rooftop and the restaurant
Upstairs there is a bar with an infinity-edge pool looking over the marina and the sea: it is the place for late afternoon. Breakfast is à la carte, and on the ground floor is Avenida Restaurant, in the Michelin Guide selection.
Rooms
The Marina View Superior rooms, of 22 m², are on the upper floor and look onto the marina and the sea. The Marina View rooms, of 19 m², double or twin, also have a view and a balcony. The City View rooms, of 19 m², face the city, with a balcony or terrace.
Getting here and parking
If you come by car from Huelva, it is about two hours along the A22, toll-free since 2025. Guests have a free electric car charger. Without a car, Lagos train station is on the other side of the marina footbridge. The hotel does not accept pets.
- **Turiscampo Algarve** (Campsite): A big campsite that never closes
Turiscampo is an 82,000 m² campsite at Espiche, next to the N125, 5 km from Lagos and 2.5 km from Praia da Luz. It is open all year, which makes it useful in winter, when many Algarve campsites close. It appears in the Lagos council's list of campsites, alongside those at Trindade and Valverde.
Pitches and bungalows
The pitches are bordered by shrubs and are gravel, designed for caravans and motorhomes, with or without water and drainage, and some with a private bathroom. There is no communal lawn for tents. Some have shade and some do not: the sunny ones are in demand in winter. Maximum six people per pitch. For sleeping under a roof there are wooden bungalows and mobile homes for three to seven people.
For everyday life
Two pools, one outdoor and one indoor and heated, both with a children's area, plus hot tubs, a spa, a gym, entertainment and a kids' club included in the price. There is a restaurant and bar, free wifi, two laundries, a cash machine in the mid and high season and paid electric car chargers. The bus stop is 50 m away and Lagos train station 7 km. Dogs are accepted for a supplement.
### Servicios
- **Faro Airport (FAO) and car hire**: The Algarve's airport · Car hire in the terminal · Bus to central Faro and its train station

## Car-free: 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.
Presupuesto orientativo: 60–130 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Casa Mãe** (Small hotel): Sleeping inside the wall
Casa Mãe is on Rua do Jogo da Bola, on the western edge of the walled old town of Lagos, on a former estate that had been abandoned. Today it is several buildings around a garden with a pool and a vegetable plot, each with its own style. From the door you walk down to the centre and the Slave Market, and in a few minutes by car you are at the Ponta da Piedade boardwalks.
The rooms
The 19th-century manor house, above the vegetable garden, has six suites of 27 to 53 m² for two people, with antique furniture brought from all over Portugal. The three cabins, of 35 m², and the family suites Padaria (two people) and Baluarte (four, 65 m²) have a private patio, hammock and outdoor shower. The Jogo da Bola building, the newest and with contemporary lines, has rooms of 24 to 30 m² with a terrace or balcony. A few metres away, Villa Paiol is a house for six adults with a rooftop pool.
Eating at home
The Orta restaurant cooks farm to table, with produce from its garden and from Algarve suppliers, and eggs from its two hundred hens. It serves lunch and small plates from 12:00 to 18:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00; booking is advisable for dinner. Brunch, from 7:30 to 11:00, is for guests only from June to October.
Getting there
From Huelva it is about two hours on the A22, which has had no toll since 1 January 2025. Without a car, Lagos has a railway station at the end of the Algarve line, on the other side of the marina. Ask about parking when you book, because inside the wall space is scarce.
- **Lagos Avenida Hotel** (Hotel): Facing the marina
The Lagos Avenida Hotel is on Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the road that skirts the river and the marina, in the centre of Lagos. It is a four-star hotel with 47 rooms, all with a balcony or terrace, some with views of the marina and the sea and others of the city. They have air conditioning, a TV and a full bathroom. Meia Praia is about seven minutes' walk away, according to the hotel, and the old town about the same.
The rooftop and the restaurant
Upstairs there is a bar with an infinity-edge pool looking over the marina and the sea: it is the place for late afternoon. Breakfast is à la carte, and on the ground floor is Avenida Restaurant, in the Michelin Guide selection.
Rooms
The Marina View Superior rooms, of 22 m², are on the upper floor and look onto the marina and the sea. The Marina View rooms, of 19 m², double or twin, also have a view and a balcony. The City View rooms, of 19 m², face the city, with a balcony or terrace.
Getting here and parking
If you come by car from Huelva, it is about two hours along the A22, toll-free since 2025. Guests have a free electric car charger. Without a car, Lagos train station is on the other side of the marina footbridge. The hotel does not accept pets.
### Servicios
- **Lagos train station**: End of the CP Algarve regional line, with trains to Faro, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António

## Luxury: 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.
Presupuesto orientativo: From €220 por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir in style
- **Casa Mãe** (Small hotel): Sleeping inside the wall
Casa Mãe is on Rua do Jogo da Bola, on the western edge of the walled old town of Lagos, on a former estate that had been abandoned. Today it is several buildings around a garden with a pool and a vegetable plot, each with its own style. From the door you walk down to the centre and the Slave Market, and in a few minutes by car you are at the Ponta da Piedade boardwalks.
The rooms
The 19th-century manor house, above the vegetable garden, has six suites of 27 to 53 m² for two people, with antique furniture brought from all over Portugal. The three cabins, of 35 m², and the family suites Padaria (two people) and Baluarte (four, 65 m²) have a private patio, hammock and outdoor shower. The Jogo da Bola building, the newest and with contemporary lines, has rooms of 24 to 30 m² with a terrace or balcony. A few metres away, Villa Paiol is a house for six adults with a rooftop pool.
Eating at home
The Orta restaurant cooks farm to table, with produce from its garden and from Algarve suppliers, and eggs from its two hundred hens. It serves lunch and small plates from 12:00 to 18:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00; booking is advisable for dinner. Brunch, from 7:30 to 11:00, is for guests only from June to October.
Getting there
From Huelva it is about two hours on the A22, which has had no toll since 1 January 2025. Without a car, Lagos has a railway station at the end of the Algarve line, on the other side of the marina. Ask about parking when you book, because inside the wall space is scarce.
- **Lagos Avenida Hotel** (Hotel): Facing the marina
The Lagos Avenida Hotel is on Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the road that skirts the river and the marina, in the centre of Lagos. It is a four-star hotel with 47 rooms, all with a balcony or terrace, some with views of the marina and the sea and others of the city. They have air conditioning, a TV and a full bathroom. Meia Praia is about seven minutes' walk away, according to the hotel, and the old town about the same.
The rooftop and the restaurant
Upstairs there is a bar with an infinity-edge pool looking over the marina and the sea: it is the place for late afternoon. Breakfast is à la carte, and on the ground floor is Avenida Restaurant, in the Michelin Guide selection.
Rooms
The Marina View Superior rooms, of 22 m², are on the upper floor and look onto the marina and the sea. The Marina View rooms, of 19 m², double or twin, also have a view and a balcony. The City View rooms, of 19 m², face the city, with a balcony or terrace.
Getting here and parking
If you come by car from Huelva, it is about two hours along the A22, toll-free since 2025. Guests have a free electric car charger. Without a car, Lagos train station is on the other side of the marina footbridge. The hotel does not accept pets.

## By plane: 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.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Casa Mãe** (Small hotel): Sleeping inside the wall
Casa Mãe is on Rua do Jogo da Bola, on the western edge of the walled old town of Lagos, on a former estate that had been abandoned. Today it is several buildings around a garden with a pool and a vegetable plot, each with its own style. From the door you walk down to the centre and the Slave Market, and in a few minutes by car you are at the Ponta da Piedade boardwalks.
The rooms
The 19th-century manor house, above the vegetable garden, has six suites of 27 to 53 m² for two people, with antique furniture brought from all over Portugal. The three cabins, of 35 m², and the family suites Padaria (two people) and Baluarte (four, 65 m²) have a private patio, hammock and outdoor shower. The Jogo da Bola building, the newest and with contemporary lines, has rooms of 24 to 30 m² with a terrace or balcony. A few metres away, Villa Paiol is a house for six adults with a rooftop pool.
Eating at home
The Orta restaurant cooks farm to table, with produce from its garden and from Algarve suppliers, and eggs from its two hundred hens. It serves lunch and small plates from 12:00 to 18:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00; booking is advisable for dinner. Brunch, from 7:30 to 11:00, is for guests only from June to October.
Getting there
From Huelva it is about two hours on the A22, which has had no toll since 1 January 2025. Without a car, Lagos has a railway station at the end of the Algarve line, on the other side of the marina. Ask about parking when you book, because inside the wall space is scarce.
- **Lagos Avenida Hotel** (Hotel): Facing the marina
The Lagos Avenida Hotel is on Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the road that skirts the river and the marina, in the centre of Lagos. It is a four-star hotel with 47 rooms, all with a balcony or terrace, some with views of the marina and the sea and others of the city. They have air conditioning, a TV and a full bathroom. Meia Praia is about seven minutes' walk away, according to the hotel, and the old town about the same.
The rooftop and the restaurant
Upstairs there is a bar with an infinity-edge pool looking over the marina and the sea: it is the place for late afternoon. Breakfast is à la carte, and on the ground floor is Avenida Restaurant, in the Michelin Guide selection.
Rooms
The Marina View Superior rooms, of 22 m², are on the upper floor and look onto the marina and the sea. The Marina View rooms, of 19 m², double or twin, also have a view and a balcony. The City View rooms, of 19 m², face the city, with a balcony or terrace.
Getting here and parking
If you come by car from Huelva, it is about two hours along the A22, toll-free since 2025. Guests have a free electric car charger. Without a car, Lagos train station is on the other side of the marina footbridge. The hotel does not accept pets.
### Servicios
- **Lagos train station**: End of the CP Algarve regional line, with trains to Faro, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António
- **Faro Airport (FAO) and car hire**: The Algarve's airport · Car hire in the terminal · Bus to central Faro and its train station

## As a family: 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 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

### Qué hacer as a family
- Kayaking through the caves of Ponta da Piedade
- Ponta da Piedade boardwalks, from Camilo to Porto de Mós
- Benagil Cave: best from Benagil or Portimão
- Meia Praia, Lagos's long beach

## With teenagers: 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 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

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Kayaking through the caves of Ponta da Piedade
- Ponta da Piedade boardwalks, from Camilo to Porto de Mós
- Surf camp in Lagos with transfers to both coasts
- Slave Market, the Rota da Escravatura museum site

## Consejos

### Ponta da Piedade twice
One morning from the water, by kayak, and one afternoon from above, along the walkways. They are two different landscapes.

### Benagil 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.

### Check the tide
At low tide, passages open between coves, but some caves are left dry for kayaks.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### 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.