Originally published on July 26, 2025 | Last updated on July 27, 2025
I recently spent a week in Lagos, a lovely town situated along Portugal’s Algarve coast. With its sunny climate, breathtaking views, and plenty to see and do, Lagos proved to be the perfect escape.
Lagos offers beautiful natural scenery. You’ll see stunning cliffs, golden beaches, and winding cobbled streets. The town has a long history connected to the sea, as an important port where fishermen, traders, and explorers set sail. It’s a place where visitors can enjoy peaceful walks, vibrant local culture, and plenty of opportunities to unwind by the sea.
Dona Ana beach was quite near to my hotel, and is a truly stunning beach– scenic cliffs, turquoise water, and just the right amount of breeze. It is easy to spend the whole day at the beach, book in hand on a sunbed, or taking a swim in the sea. Another nearby beach is Praia da Batata. The Statue of São Gonçalo de Lagos overlooks Praia da Batata, which is also a charming beach tucked between cliffs and near the town centre.
My hotel was around an hour and a half from Faro airport, and not too far from the main town of Lagos. The town featured colourful buildings, cobbled streets, cosy cafés and a great choice of restaurants to choose from. Every evening, we ate well and stumbled across delicious food, including their Piri-Piri chicken, a local favourite that never disappoints. There were also a bunch of local shops offering souvenirs, clothing, accessories and more, which I enjoyed browsing through.
Lagos does offer a lot of attractions to suit everyone’s taste. One afternoon we visited Lagos Zoo, home to around 150 animal species from five continents, including monkeys, apes, penguins, pygmy hippos, lemurs, and a variety of birds and reptiles. Lagos also offers plenty of boating and water activities, water and adventure parks, and historic sites to visit (such as Forte da Ponta da Bandeira and ancient Roman city walls). If you’re interested in visiting somewhere with a night scene, Lagos won’t disappoint. It has a lively nightlife scene, with plenty of bars and vibrant spots to enjoy music and drinks late into the evening.
For those looking for a European beach break, I would definitely recommend Lagos. Whether you want culture, nature, or just good food and atmosphere, this charming coastal town has it all.
