Overview to Lagos: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
The charming little fishing port of Lagos is possibly the most attractive part of the Algarve, one of the most visited parts of Portugal. Its fabulous beaches are among the finest in the country, if not in Europe, and draw their fair share of sun-lovers during the summer.
Of these renowned beaches, Meia Praia is a long curve of beautifully white sand and Praia de Dona Ana is one of the most busy spots. Praia do Pinhao, meanwhile, is an enthralling assortment of attractive coves and inlets.
The town itself is a delight: its old quarter, surrounded by imposing walls, is full of striking architecture and charming streets. Down by the shore, a handsome promenade offers great views out to sea, while the mighty fortress of Pau da Bandeira sits alongside the port.
The coastline is dotted with some impressive grottos – caves carved into the cliffs – that make for wonderful exploring. Chartering one of the fishing boats offering tours (sometimes tied in with a spot of dolphin-watching en route), is a fantastic morning trip.
Lagos nightlife might at first seem a little more subdued than elsewhere in Portugal. But scratch away at the surface, and there are more than a fe places that look after the international backpacking crowd who descend on Lagos for sun, sea, sand and cheap living.
Like many other towns along the Portuguese coast, Lagos has that evocative feeling created by being on the edge of what was, once upon a time, the known world. And watching the waves rumble in from the vastness of the Atlantic makes it a truly memorable and atmospheric place.
