Top-rated beaches in Lagos, Portugal - Best of Algarve

Cuprins:

A while ago I was sharing with you some useful tips for a 4 days itinerary in Lisbon, as part of a 8 days trip to Portugal. Now it’s time to share my thoughts on Algarve, which was the most exciting part of the trip.

This surreal place is located in the southern part of Portugal, and it’s also know as being the most expensive part of the country, when it comes to holidays. Especially during summer season. Well, it’s surely not the cheapest place on Earth, but it can definitely be adapted to every budget.

We decided to drop the idea of going to Algarve in the summer, not only because of the prices, but because of the crowd too. So we went there at the beginning of September, and we had the perfect time.

How’s weather like in Algarve in September

Portugal has a nice weather throughout the year, but in the first part of September it’s just perfect for swimming and sunbathing. We had plenty of sun everyday, with temperatures around 30°C. Maybe even higher in some of the days. It tends to get a bit chilly during the night, but it’s still very pleasant.

Where should you stay in Algarve: Lagos or Albufeira

Truth is I did have a hard time deciding between Lagos and Albufeira, cuz both of them seemed pretty good options. However, after a long research on the topic, I finally decided that Lagos will be the place. What made me finally decide between those two, were the gorgeous beaches near Lagos. But not only. Lagos is a truly amazing town, that I’ve completely fallen in love with. You should know that it’s less crowded than Albufeira, which makes it even better. Many tourists choose Lagos for accommodation in Algarve, especially for its authentic Portuguese vibes. Still, you’ll get the vacation vibes all over the place as well. And not to mention about the food, which is absolutely delicious.

How do you get from Lisbon to Lagos

The nearest airport to Algarve is Faro Airport. The second option would be Lisbon Airport, where we landed. From Lisbon, you can go to Lagos by bus, which will take around 3-4 hrs, depending on the operator. We paid 36€ for a return ticket.

Accommodation in Lagos

Aș usually I did my research on Booking.com, and found a cool hotel called Bowen, Luxury Suites, just in the heart of Lagos. It’s clean and well maintained, and you have everything you want near you. For 3 nights we paid 243€, for a double room. There are also cheaper options that you can find at a decent distance from the old town, but closer to the ocean.

Do you need to rent a car in Lagos?

We didn’t have a car and we mostly walked to every beach we wanted to see. Some of the distances are not the shortest ones, so if you’re not a fan of walking, then renting a car would be great. Still, if a car is not the best option for you, you can use Uber.

There is also a train station which has great connection to Portimao and Albufeira.

Can you eat cheap in Algarve?

If you’re wondering about food prices, you’re not the only one. I was concerned about this topic too. And as ready as I was to spend a lot on food, that wasn’t the case at all. There are a lot of local restaurants with great food for decent prices, especially sea food. And you should try their sangria as well, cuz it’s super tasty.

At Goji Cafe and Barbosa we had the greatest breakfast ever, so I totally recommend you to try them.

Best beaches in Algarve

Lagos is well known for its absolutely stunning beaches, which many “best beaches in Europe” or “best beach destination in Europe” travel guides will include them. That makes Algarve one of the best beach destination in the world.

Praia de São Roque

Praia de Sao Roque is located close to the port of Lagos, and it’s suitable especially for families with kids, as there are a lot of facilities. If you’re more of a virgin beaches fan, then Praia de Sao Roque is not the one for you. Still, it’s a beautiful long beach with clear water.

Praia da Batata

Praia da Batata is the closest beach to Lagos old town. It’s around 10 min walking distance and it’s a beautiful virgin beach, with cristal clear water and golden sand. It’s perfect for swimming, as the ocean is quiet there most of the times. It has around 150m and it’s located in a cove between the town of Lagos and Ponta da Piedade, a very popular beach in Algarve.

Praia dos Estudantes

Praia dos Estudantes is for sure a popular attraction in Algarve and you’ll recognise it in every photo. It’s located right next to Praia da Batata, which makes it easily accessible from Lagos old town. It’s a great Instagram picture spot in Algarve, thanks to its famous Roman style bridge right on the beach. There is also a tunnel, connecting the southern and the northern parts of Dos Estudantes beach.

Praia do Pinhão

Praia do Pinhao is a small hidden beach, located down the cliff, a bit further than Praia dos Estudantes. There are no restaurants nor bars around it, so you should bring your own drinks and snacks with you.

Unfortunately, when we wanted to visit it, it was full of seaweed and there was no way to stay on the beach.

Praia de Dona Ana

Another famous beach in Algarve, Praia de Dona Ana is 20min walking distance from Lagos old town. The scenery is gorgeous there, especially if you go for sunrise. The sand is very soft and the water is cristal clear, with very little waves, which makes it perfect for families as well. Be aware that it’s a very popular beach, so you should go there early in the morning if you want to get a free spot on the sand.

Praia do Camillo

This is my favorite beach în Algarve. Praia do Camillo is a small sandy beach, that gets pretty crowded durig the day. So just like Praia de Dona Ana, you should get there early in the morning. You can access the beach by going down the stairs, which make the perfect landscape, together with the ocean view. I totally recommend you to go there at sunrise, cuz you won’t regret it. In terms of facilities, there’s a small bar on the beach and a restaurant just above it, up on the cliff.