Asking yourself, “Is Lagos, Portugal worth visiting?” Then you’re in the right place! I’ve traveled to the Algarve more times than I can count, and spent a lot os time in Lagos, as it’s one of my absolute favorite towns there.
The beaches are beyond beautiful, and the old town has a vibrant glow to it even when it gets busy in the summer.
While I love Lagos and will tell you that “YES! Lagos is worth visiting!”, it might just not be your cup of tea.
So I’ll briefly go through the pros and cons of visiting Lagos before listing the reasons to visit and reasons why you might not want to visit.
This way, you can make a sound decision whether it’s the right vacation destination for you or no.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
PIN IT FOR LATER!
👉JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PORTUGAL AND SPAIN TRAVEL TIPS!
Is Lagos, Portugal, worth visiting?
Pros
- Quaint old town
- Laidback vibe
- Spectacular beaches
- Beautiful coastline with rock formations
- Plenty of restaurants and bars
- Great nightlife
- Plenty of activities
- Prime surf destination
- Easy to explore the rest of the Algarve by tour or car
Cons
- Gets very crowded in the summer
- Many of the best beaches are only reached by long flights of stairs, making them poorly accessible for people with mobility impairments
- It can be challenging to explore smaller places in the Algarve by public transport
Reasons to visit Lagos
Spectacular beaches
The beaches in Lagos are nothing but spectacular and easily some of the prettiest beaches in the Algarve, with coves and tunnels through the rock taking you from beach to beach, and not to mention the picturesque bridge at Los Estudantes Beach.
Other favorites are Dona Ana Beach and Camilo Beach, which are both on the way to Ponta da Piedade and easily reached by walking the boardwalk.
If you’re looking for a long beach without steps or rocks, don’t worry, Meia Praia is the perfect spot for a long day relaxing in the sun.
With such a variety of beaches, Lagos is among the most sought-after beach towns in Portugal.
Beautiful coastline
When mentioning the beaches, it’s only fair to talk about the insanely beautiful coastline of Lagos.
Besides all the coves, hidden beaches, and tunnels taking you further along, Lagos is home to one of the most epic rock formations in the Algarve. Ponta da Piedade.
With rock formations jutting 20 meters above the water’s surface, it’s the perfect place to go for a kayaking tour or a boat tour to see the famous coast.
However, if you prefer to keep your feet dry, there’s a newly built boardwalk taking you all the way out to Ponta da Piedade.
It’s a beautiful 30-minute hike one way, though I do recommend stopping by the beaches of Dona Ana and Camilo, as they’re just breathtaking. Visiting these spots is definitely one of the best things to do in Lagos.
Lively old town
Lagos Old Town is lovely with plenty of restaurants and bars and even a whole lot of vegan (-friendly) cafés and eateries, which I always welcome.
I love that the town center has pedestrian streets, and even in the streets where there are cars, it’s mostly just locals driving to and from their homes.
There’s always something going on, and besides, you can explore some of Lagos’ attractions, like the churches and the old city walls. Lagos is easily one of the most beautiful towns in Algarve.
Great shopping
Lagos is also great for shopping. There are plenty of boutique shops in the old town where you can find unique handicrafts, clothes, and local goods.
I love browsing the small shops as I always find something special. But there are also markets in Lagos. I like the stalls along the seaside towards the marina. They’re usually there during late spring and summer.
Plenty of water activities and great surf
Lagos is a haven for water activities! I love that you can go kayaking or paddleboarding straight from town, and there are many cool boat trips too.
If you’re in the Algarve to surf, Lagos will not disappoint. It’s a great hub for exploring the western Algarve surf spots, and it’s even easy to reach sites further up the west coast like Aljezur.
Great nightlife
Lagos is also great if you’re looking for good nightlife. While it has been a few years since I was chasing Lagos’ nightclubs, I still enjoy a good bar with live music.
And there are plenty. I assure you that with so many places to choose from, you’ll find something that caters to your taste.
Sunny weather all year round
With its fantastic location in southern Portugal, one of the main reasons to visit Lagos is the weather. With over 300 days of sun a year, it’s a great destination year-round, and it’s one of the most popular destinations in Europe for winter sun.
I’ve been to Lagos at different times of year, even in the rain, because, let’s be honest. Even Lagos needs some rainwater. But altogether, it’s a very sunny place in Europe!
History
There is a lot of history in Lagos, too, especially at the Slave Market Museum, where you can learn more about the slave trade between Africa and Europe that took place there.
Lagos was also an important maritime town with 2000 years of history. You can learn a lot by exploring the historic Lagos fortress, which was used to protect Lagos from pirates from the 17th century.
But I also recommend visiting Museu Municipal, which exhibits items from Neolithic, Islamic, and Roman times.
Reasons not to visit Lagos
It gets very crowded in summer
Ok, so crowded is synonymous with the Algarve in the summer, but Lagos is one of the busiest and most popular summer destinations in Portugal.
Needless to say, there are less crowded places in the Algarve. Personally, I try to visit Lagos between October and May, which is when I think it’s the most pleasant to be there.
Travel safety
Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world to travel to, and so is the Algarve. But if you look at the crime rates over the last 3 years, it has increased, even though it’s still fairly low in the big picture.
This matches my feelings when I’ve visited Lagos the last few years, too. There are more drug addicts and alcoholics on the streets who have made me feel uncomfortable than before, and definitely more than I’ve experienced in other places in the Algarve.
That said, assault is rare in Lagos. But you should be careful with your belongings as petty crime might occur as in any other crowded tourist hub. Besides, it’s one of the places in the Algarve where there are quite a lot of cars being broken into.
To prevent this, make sure you don’t leave any valuables visible in your rental car. Even a couple of Euros can be enough for someone to break the glass, so better to be safe than sorry.
Altogether, I’ve never felt unsafe in Lagos, but considering I’ve noticed a change over the last few years, I think it’s worth mentioning.
If this is a dealbreaker for you, I’d consider nearby Alvor or Tavira in the eastern Algarve.
Summing up: Is it worth visiting Lagos in Portugal?
Summing up, Lagos is a fantastic destination. The only downsides I can think of are how it gets insanely crowded in the summer and how I’ve noticed more dodgy people frequenting the streets over the last few years.
For me, this isn’t a dealbreaker. I love Lagos, and the town has so much to offer that it more than balances the minuses for me.
Is it right for you, though? Whether you decide to set Lagos as your travel destination or any other town on the Algarve, happy travels!