Hotels in Lagos

Lagos: Atlantic Cliffs and Moorish Old Town

Lagos, on Portugal's southern coast, anchors the western Algarve roughly 80 km from Faro Airport. The town rose to prominence in the 15th century as a staging point for Portuguese Atlantic expeditions — Henry the Navigator organised fleets here, and the town's medieval walls still stand along the Bensafrim riverfront. The old slave market building on Praça Infante Dom Henrique, dating to around 1444, is among the oldest in Europe.

Visitors arrive for the sandstone cliff formations at Praia Dona Ana and Ponta da Piedade, where sea stacks and grottos are accessible by kayak from the marina. The Meia Praia beach extends 4 km east of town — one of the longest continuous strands in the Algarve. The medieval centro histórico holds whitewashed lanes, the 17th-century Igreja de Santo António, and a concentrated restaurant strip along Rua 25 de Abril.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Faro Airport serves Lagos via direct bus (Eva/Rede Expressos, ~1 hr 45 min) or train to Lagos Station with a change at Tunes.
• Best months: May–June and September offer warm weather with smaller crowds than July–August peak.
• Cliff walks: Pack suitable footwear for the Ponta da Piedade coastal path — surfaces are uneven.
• Accommodation: Hotels and guesthouses concentrate around Meia Praia, the marina, and the old town grid.