I visited Lagos for 2 days to discover the best beaches in this cute Portuguese seaside town!
This is my kind of place! Lagos is a small beach town in the Algarve region. The coastline in Lagos is dramatically stunning. I love the beach, so I’ve summed up the best beaches in Lagos.
Beautiful cliff formations form secluded bays with beautiful clear blue water along the coast. The water is crystal clear but being the Atlantic ocean it was a bit cold!
Guide to getting to the beaches
The best part about Lagos is that you can walk to all these beaches from the main town. Starting from Praia da Batata you walk along the coast towards the lighthouse at Farol da Ponta da Piedade.
The coastal path is a mixture of foot trails and streets. The walk is honestly amazing and you will pass all the beaches on this list! You can visit all the beaches in one day and end with an ice cold beer at the lighthouse.
Here are my top picks for the best beaches in Lagos!
Beach 1: Pinhao Beach
Pinhao is the closest main beach to the town of Lagos. There is a long stretch of sand where you can perch yourself for the day. My favourite spot is to the far left next to the cliff so you can enjoy the view of the stunning rock formations!
Beach 2: Praia Dona Ana
Praia Dona Ana is a short walk along the cliff from Pinhao beach. This stretch of the walk has the postcard picture perfect views!
There are some resorts just above this beach as well as loungers and umbrellas so it tends to get a bit busy! But it is a bigger beach so there is more space!
Again going to the end of the beach next to the rocks is the best spot away from all the loungers and close to the views!
Beach 3: Praia do Camilo
Praia do Camilo is one of my favourites! Its a tiny beach down some steep stairs. There are little caves and amazing rock formations to explore on this beach.
It is sheltered and the water here is beautiful. There are no facilities down on the beach except for some drink and ice cream sellers.
Since this beach is so small it can get really crowded! But all the umbrellas and bronzed people adds to the charm. If you aren’t a fan of the crowds visit early or plan your trip during shoulder season.
To get to this beach you have to walk back onto the main road as the walkway around the cliff is private property.
Beach 4: Praia da Balança
Praia da Balanca is the furthest beach from Lagos and is the most secluded and hard to reach! To get here you have to climb down a challenging steep walkway. But it is definitely worth it! The views from the top are breathtaking.
You will most likely have this small cove all to yourself. The views of the rocks coming out of the ocean here is incredible.
There are many more secluded coves which are totally private if you’re brave enough to scale the cliffs. So get some good shoes and get exploring to find your own piece of paradise is Lagos!
Sunrise in Lagos
I just have to mention sunrise in Lagos. Lagos is facing east so the sun rises over the horizon where the sky meets the sea.
If you are in Lagos you must either stay up for sunrise or get up early for sunrise! Trust me! The sun rising over the ocean and painting the sky and cliffs in beautiful colours is unforgettable.
A bit about Lagos
Lagos isn’t victim to package holiday tourism like much of the Algarve region and is mostly reserved for young Australians and New Zealanders travelling or visiting from the UK.
The town itself is small and really beautiful with narrow cobblestone streets and quaint colourful buildings. It’s really cheap and full of great hostels, restaurants and bars. This is one of my favourite spots in Western Europe!
Nightlife in Lagos
The nightlife is wild! Thanks to all the young Australian and New Zealand travellers flooding Lagos there is a pumping bar scene. My pro tip is to go bar hopping and dance the night away until the sun comes up!
The sunrise in Lagos is spectacular. You can spend the whole next day recovering on the beautiful beaches. Since Lagos is so small it feels really safe to get a bit loose.
Where To Stay in Lagos
I recommend staying at an Airbnb if you want to have a more relaxing experience with your partner or a group of friends. However, if you are down to party and make some new friends stay at a hostel!
There are heaps of hostels in Lagos. You can decide which hostel to stay in depending on how much of a party scene you are after.
I stayed at Cloud 9 Hostel which I can definitely recommend! It was cheap and they had a 4 bed dorm, perfect for a group of 4 girls! There was a kitchen, indoor common area and a rooftop which we socialised with the other people at the hostel. We had a great time with everyone we met here!
Rising Cock Party Hostel is probably the most famous party hostel in Lagos if that is what you are after.
How To Get To Lagos
If you are flying in you will land at Faro Airport. If your flight gets in late at night you can prebook a shuttle to Lagos before you arrive or get a taxi, otherwise you can get a public bus during the day.
You can get a bus to Lagos from Lisbon or from Spain if you are already in Europe!
There you have it! The best beaches in Lagos!
Lagos is one of my absolute favourite places in Europe! It ticks all my boxes. It’s small and cute with an amazing social scene, it’s cheap, it’s easy to get to and it has some of the best beaches in Europe!
What are you waiting for! Book a trip to Lagos this summer.
To find about more of my favourite beaches in Europe read my posts on Milos, Karpathos and Albania!
