Travel Log: Lagos Portugal

We spent four nights in Lagos, Portugal at the end of 2023. We discovered Lagos to be a delightful place to enjoy in late December. Amazing scenery, good food, exciting activities, friendly people, awesome street art, and a charming atmosphere made our trip to Lagos a perfect way to end the year. Lagos was easily accessible from Lisbon via an affordable bus ride on the Flixbus.

The Algarve Region

Lagos is in the Algarve region of Portugal. The Algarve is known for its beautiful scenery along the south coast. It has amazing beaches, dramatic natural wonders, stunning cliffsides descending into the sea, medieval castles, Roman ruins, internationally known golf courses, quaint fishing villages, and bustling resort cities. While the weather can be blistering hot in the summer, it can also be mild and pleasant in the winter. Explore more about the Algarve region at Visit Portugal.

What to do in Lagos

A trip to Lagos would be incomplete without a boat tour to the famous Benagil Cave. We booked an amazing two hour afternoon trip with Days of Adventure and loved every minute of it. Like the the namesake of the speedboat it was truly a crazy ride. The motorcycle type seats in the front made for a hysterical, wild up and down adventure on the way to the cave. I honestly can’t remember Dragon ever laughing as uncontrollably as she did on that trip. Beyond the exciting ride out, the scenery is simply breathtaking. You’ll be surprised to know it isn’t just a visit to Benagil Cave, but several other sea caves in the area. While the trip out is a high speed joyride, the return journey is much more relaxed and calm. The excursion to Benagil Cave was one of the most exciting, joy inducing outings we’ve ever done. If you do nothing else in Lagos do this trip!

The hike to Ponta da Piedade is an easy daytime experience, most of which is along a gentle boardwalk. Along the hike you will experience multiple overlooks from atop the cliffs looking down towards the sea. Your hiking option can really be as long or as short as you want it to be. Our hike started in Lagos and took us by many of the iconic beaches from above. There was even a bar along the way for tasty beverages and a diversion down to Camilo beach to cool down. This hike eventually leads to the lighthouse above Ponta da Piedade, with the option to hike down to the water where boat rides among the rocks and caves are offered on the spot. We were surprised to discover that the hiking trails continue on past Ponta da Piedade to areas further west as well.

Of course the Algarve and Lagos are known for the incredible beaches. They are the main reason the region is such a tourist hot spot. Many of the beaches found in Lagos are sandy beaches surrounded by jaw dropping cliffs and rock formations. While you are there you can visit beaches like Praia dos Estudantes, Praia do Pinhao, Praia do Camilo, Praia Dona Ana, or Praia do Barranco do Martinho. If you want less majestic scenery and more long sandy beach, take a long stroll along the stretch from Praia de São Roque to Meia Praia.

Where to Eat in Lagos

If you are looking for an upscale option Lagos is home to several Michelin star restaurants. Those are a little outside the Dog and Dragon budget and style. Our favorite places in Lagos were Delhi Darbar, Artesao, the Dumpling House, and the Green Room. Delhi Darbar serves outstanding Indian food with actual spiciness in a comfortable atmosphere with amazing service. If I could only eat at one restaurant in Lagos it would be Delhi Darbar. Artesao is a nice breakfast option on the marina with indoor / outdoor seating. The Dumpling House is a small, unassuming Asian restaurant serving a delicious selection of hand crafted dishes from chili chicken to momos of course. If you find yourself craving a margarita and burrito, look no further than The Green Room for a tasty Portuguese take on Mexican.

Is winter a good time to visit Lagos?

We loved our short stay in Lagos. It is a great jumping off point for visiting other parts of the Algarve region like Sagres, Portimao, Albufeira, and Faro. The weather was fantastic, the food was terrific, the people were friendly, and the sightseeing was just mind blowing. While some shops were closed for the season, most of Lagos was still active and bustling. It made for a relaxing, low-key destination for a few days while still offering exciting outdoor activities. We absolutely recommend Lagos in winter. From there you can plan a trip up to the north of Portugal. Check out more by reading our recap of our trip to Porto. Until next time, cheers.