Hi all… long time, no post! It’s been over two months (i.e. embarrassingly long) since my last post, and all I can say is… you know when you set all these grand goals for yourself, then life decides it has its own plans? The last couple of months have been crazy busy to say the least, and I feel like I’ve barely been home, let alone had time to sit at my computer and write a new post. But today I finally got some time to myself (honestly love a lazy Sunday) and thought there’d be no better time to mentally transport myself back to the beautiful Algarve coast.
The Algarve is Portugal’s southern coast, spanning over 200 kilometres from the Spanish border in the east to Cape St. Vincent in the west. Famous for its towering cliffs, beautiful beaches and sunny skies (it gets over 300 days of sunshine a year!) it’s no wonder the Algarve is one of Portugal’s most popular tourist destinations. It was the third stop on our honeymoon and our last stop in Portugal before moving onto Spain, and we couldn’t have picked a sweeter goodbye! Tania and I both fell totally in love with it, and honestly, it was probably my favourite destination on our entire honeymoon. If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, a visit to the Algarve is an absolute must!
In This Post
- Where To Stay In The Algarve
- Getting To Lagos
- Where To Stay In Lagos
- Getting Around Lagos
- The Best Things To See & Do In Lagos
- Where To Eat In Lagos
Where To Stay In The Algarve
The Algarve encompasses several small cities, towns and villages. Some of the more popular tourist destinations include…
- Albufeira – the Algarve’s largest tourist hub, known for its beach resorts and nightlife
- Lagos – a charming town with a historic centre and easy access to some of the Algarve’s prettiest beaches
- Portimão/Praia da Rocha – home to several beach resorts, this is where you’ll find boat excursions to the world-famous Benagil Sea Cave
- Vilamoura – a smaller, upscale resort destination known for its golf courses, luxury hotels and beach clubs
- Faro – the capital of the Algarve region and home to its airport, Faro is more city than beach vibes, but still a popular (and convenient) destination
We stayed in Lagos and absolutely loved it! I’d highly recommend it for any first-time Algarve visitors like ourselves. We stayed right in its historic town centre, which was so charming and super walkable. Restaurants, shops, cafés, bars – everything was right there. It was only a half-hour walk to reach the stunning Ponta da Piedade trail and surrounding beaches. Visiting the famous Benagil Sea Cave off the shores of Portimão was a big bucket list item, so Lagos’ proximity to Portimão – only half an hour by car – was also super convenient.
Getting To Lagos
The only international airport in the Algarve is located in its capital city of Faro. If you’re flying, you’ll need to fly into Faro Airport and travel the remaining 90 kilometres to Lagos via car, bus or train.
We were traveling to Lagos from Lisbon, so we went solely by train. I always use Omio for train bookings: their easy-to-use platform lets you compare schedules, stops, and prices from multiple rail operators in one place. Our Lisbon-Lagos train ride on Comboios De Portugal cost $42 CAD per person, and took about four hours total. Reaching Lagos by train requires a connection at Tunes Station, where you’ll get off and transfer to a smaller regional train. From there, it’s about another hour to Lagos Station.
We only had a 10-minute buffer between connections, so as usual, I was stressing! Luckily, I didn’t have to. The connecting train usually arrives on the opposite side of the very same platform, so you just need to walk a few steps across. Moreover, they’ll usually (not always, but usually) hold the connecting train to account for slight delays.
Where I was more confused was at Lisbon’s Entrecampos Station, waiting for our first train to Tunes. I’m not going to lie, this was stressful! Several different trains arrived on the same track within a few minutes of each other – all with Comboios De Portugal branding – and it was hard to figure out which one was ours. We just tried to find other English-speaking tourists – all just as confused as we were – and hoped for the best. Luckily it all worked out!
Where To Stay In Lagos
We stayed at the Água Hotel Lagos Bay, and I truly can’t recommend it enough. It’s a small boutique hotel – there’s only 20 rooms – and it just opened in June 2025, so everything feels fresh and super clean. The rooms are beautifully decorated – I loved the vibrant blue paint, leafy wallpaper and graphic bathroom tiles. Their little touches of hospitality – like the locally made cookies in our room upon arrival – made us feel right at home. The hotel is located right in the heart of old town Lagos, which was perfect. We had considered staying somewhere closer to the beach, but I’m really glad we didn’t! The convenience and freedom of staying right in the town centre is unmatched. We could pop back into our room anytime we wanted to grab something or drop off a shopping bag, and we could enjoy late dinners without worrying about walking back home. We felt super safe! And it was only a short walk to the beach, so we really got the best of both worlds (cue Hannah Montana.)
The Água Hotel has a charming rooftop pool where you can swim and enjoy a daily breakfast, either indoors or out. (“Rooftop” in this case is only two storeys, but with Lagos’ low-rise landscape, you’ll still get great views.) And because there’s only 20 rooms, the entire hotel feels quiet and intimate – you won’t be fighting with people for pool space.
The breakfast here was one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had! They have an extensive menu and you can order as many items as you want. Breakfast runs from 7:30 to 10:30, but if you’re leaving early for a day trip or excursion, they’ll assemble a bag with pastries, fruit and other on-the-go snacks. We took our breakfast to-go for our sea cave excursion, and it was so convenient.
The only thing I didn’t absolutely love at the Água Hotel: it’s only two storeys tall, and we had a ground floor room. Because it’s right in the town centre, that means it can get a little loud at night, and you can’t ever really open the curtains unless you want passersby staring into your bedroom (I mean, no judgment if that’s your thing…) So next time, I’d just request a second floor room. But we honestly had the best experience at this hotel and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone!
Getting Around Lagos
Lagos is small and super walkable, so if you’re staying right in the town centre (which I highly recommend) you won’t need a car. If you’re planning a beach day, Praia do Camilo and Praia Dona Ana – two of Lagos’ most popular beaches – are only a half-hour walk or five-minute Uber from old town. Ride-share services are widely accessible here, so if you’re looking to explore beyond Lagos, you can use Uber or Bolt. Our half-hour Uber ride from Lagos to Portimão cost around $30 CAD each way. Alternatively, Lagos Station has trains running to various other Algarve destinations, which you can book via Omio.
The Best Things To See & Do In Lagos
Hike the Ponta da Piedade trail. Calling this a hike is a bit of a misnomer, because it’s really just a leisurely stroll. This flat and easy boardwalk trail takes you all the way from Praia Dona Ana to the famous Ponta da Piedade cliffs in an hour or less. There are various lookout points throughout, but really, the entire trail is just one amazing viewpoint in itself. The Ponta da Piedade cliffs are definitely the showstopper – they’re breathtakingly beautiful. Highly recommend going at golden hour or sunset for the most spectacular views!
Hit the beaches. Lagos is known for its beautiful beaches, and if you want to beach-hop, the Ponta da Piedade trail gives you access to several of them. Praia do Camilo – located around the trail’s halfway point – was my absolute favourite. Its Insta-famous staircase is a bit of a trek – 200 steps to be exact – but so worth it. Its golden cliffs are stunning and the waters are so clear. There’s a cave-like tunnel connecting both sections of the beach that’s so fun to walk through. Honestly, once we got here, we didn’t want to leave (and not just because we were dreading the walk back up!)
Explore old town. Lagos’ historic town centre is so charming and picturesque: think narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, bustling sidewalk cafés, colourful ceramic shops, and a lively atmosphere that permeates every corner. The town centre is quite compact – only about 1 kilometre across – so it’s very walkable and you’ll only need 2-3 hours to explore the entire area. Of course, budget more time if you’re like me and want to explore absolutely every shop, wander down every alley and take a million photos just because.
Shop for local souvenirs. From handpainted ceramics to artisan jewelry, woven straw bags to unique decorative pieces, Lagos’ souvenir scene goes way beyond the standard postcard and magnet shops. Here, you’ll find handmade, one-of-a-kind mementos that are both beautiful and functional. (In particular, so much kitchenware!) Whether it’s at one of downtown Lagos’ many gift shops or a pop-up artisan stall by the beach, you’re sure to find something perfect for a loved one – or yourself.
See an eerily beautiful chapel. Have you ever seen those “you married the spooky girl…” memes on Instagram? That’s basically Tania’s reality every time we go on vacation. It’s why I’ve dragged her to cemeteries, abandoned buildings, haunted saloons and literal bone pits. Lagos’ Church of St. Sebastian was built in the 14th century and is still an active church today. The church itself is beautiful, though small and unassuming, but what makes it truly unique is its bone chapel. Tucked away on the south side and accessed from the exterior, this tiny room is a “blink and you’ll miss it” type of place – but don’t (miss it!) The chapel contains over 1,500 skulls and bones belonging to local townspeople, and is eerily beautiful. Tania was a good sport and went with me, but chose to wait outside (sorry honey!)
Soak up the views from a rooftop bar. Located right in the town centre, Mar d’Estórias is a gift shop, art gallery, restaurant and bar all in one. Their small, intimate terrace bar has absolutely beautiful views of the surrounding buildings, particularly the landmark Igreja de Santo António. I loved their signature Caipirinha Algarvia cocktail! This local twist on the caipirinha combines Medronho (strawberry brandy) with Algarve oranges, limes and orange blossom honey. Totally farm to table (glass?) Don’t leave without browsing their beautiful gift shop filled with hand-painted ceramics.
Take a day trip to Portimão. Our trip to this charming port city – just half an hour from Lagos by car – was one of the top highlights of our honeymoon. We went dolphin watching, toured Portugal’s famous sea caves by boat, had a delicious lunch overlooking the ocean, and spent the afternoon at one of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen. More details to come in my next post!
Check out Get Your Guide or Viator for even more unique experiences in Lagos and the rest of the Algarve.
Where To Eat In Lagos
Restaurante Lacus – We had the best late night tapas dinner at this charming sidewalk restaurant that specializes in fresh seafood. The prawns and smoked salmon toasts were my faves! Eating right in the middle of the street with the moon overhead made for such a pretty atmosphere.
Casa Do Mar – Another picturesque sidewalk restaurant in the heart of old town Lagos. We stopped here for a late lunch after checking into our hotel, and everything was delicious. Tania got the piri piri chicken and I tried the octopus salad – a popular local dish that quickly became my new favourite – and it was so fresh and tasty.
Padaria Central – Established in 1926, this family-run business is Lagos’ most popular bakery. I was immediately drawn to the striking exterior, with its dramatic arched doorways and graphic Art Nouveau lettering. Inside, you’ll find freshly baked bread, savoury snacks like croquettes and cod fritters, and sweets galore – from cakes to custard tarts to marzipan candies and everything in between. I loved their bolo de arroz, a traditional Portuguese muffin made with rice flour. They also have great coffee!
Black & White – Just a few steps down the street from Padaria, this café serves gourmet croissants and pastries, and also offers a sit-down brunch menu of universal favourites like pancakes, eggs and avocado toast. Its sleek, modern interior is unique amid all the traditional historic storefronts in Lagos, and is a truly stunning space.
The Garden – I’m including this restaurant on the list even though we couldn’t actually eat here! Famous for its tree-lined outdoor patio – hence “The Garden” – and its barbecue menu, this restaurant is one of the most popular in Lagos… so popular that we couldn’t get a table! One of the things we love most about visiting Europe is that, unlike back home, you almost never need to make a reservation. But take note: The Garden does use a reservation system, and chances are, you may not get in without one. Reservations can be made by phone and, while I’m disappointed we didn’t get to eat here, we’ll just have to use it as an excuse to go back to Lagos someday!
I hope the above recommendations were helpful for anyone planning their own trip to Lagos. If you have any questions about our hotel or itinerary, please feel free to contact me. In my next post, I’ll recap our day trip to Portimão and Alvor, including our sea cave tour – which was seriously the bucket list highlight of a lifetime! I’m hoping that post will come in a more reasonable timeframe, but I’m trying not to make promises I can’t keep… at the least, I can promise it’ll be less than two months. In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend and has a great week ahead!
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