If you have surfed all week and still have some time to explore then you have come to the right place. Lagos benefits from being a city despite its population of only 20,000. It is a beautiful charming place that has avoided the massive high rises that feature in many other coastal towns in the Algarve. An ancient maritime town with more than 2,000 years of history, Prince Henry the Navigator set Lagos up as Portugal’s capital in the 15th century and it was from here that Portugal began to explore and discover the rest of the world.
The ancient town walls were begun in Roman times and completed in the 16th Century. They remain largely intact today and it is within these city walls were you will find the town's many charming cafes and restaurants offering excellent Portuguese cuisine. Pedestrian cobblestones streets and squares cover the old town and add to the tradition and charm of the place.
Activities
The many beautiful golden sandy beaches allow for an endless supply of things to do. You can spend an afternoon relaxing in the beach bar on Maia Praia beach, or go snorkelling and diving in one of the main coves and underground caves. Aside from surfing there are many beaches that don’t get waves but are perfect for chilling out on such as the town beach Praia Dona Ana.
There are also 4 terrific golf courses within 18kms of Lagos. Other sports such as kite-surfing, quad biking, skydiving, wakeboarding, rock climbing, off road driving and mountain biking are all catered for.
There are 2 water parks within 30 minutes drive of Lagos.
Surrounding Area
Lagos is a great base to explore the surrounding area – Sagres, a small surf town, is 25 minutes drive west and has many beaches worth discovering. The coastal area stretching 80 kms north from Sagres is protected parklands and so no high rise development will take place along this coast of the Algarve – its beauty will always remain intact and its beaches and surrounding incredible places to explore.
Other close towns include Vila do Bispo, Carrapateira, Arrifana, Portimao and for those who want to do some shopping Albufeira is only 40 minutes away. It's a great place for a surf holiday and to explore.
Restaurants and Bars
Later in the evening Lagos old town
comes alive with many bars, cafes and clubs staying open late full with people enjoying themselves. It has some great restaurants serving delicious seafood and more. Some of our favourite restautrants include the local and traditional
Cozhna do Petisco, the cavernous and cool
Mullens,
O Cantinho Algarvio and
O Galeao.
Lagos’ party scene is legendary – make sure to check out the
Nah Nah Bah (which also serves great food), The Irish Rover, The Three Monkeys and Zanzibar.