Things to Do in Lagos, Portugal

Lagos has it all: a lively old town inside medieval walls, some of the Algarve’s most beautiful coves, the golden grottos of Ponta da Piedade, great restaurants and nightlife, and the wild west coast nearby. Here are the best things to do in Lagos.

Quick answer: explore Ponta da Piedade from the clifftop paths and by boat or kayak, swim at Praia Dona Ana and Meia Praia, wander the old town and walls, see the gilded Igreja de Santo António (with the Lagos Museum, €3), take a dolphin trip, and day-trip to Sagres. Note: the Slave Market museum and the Ponta da Bandeira fort are temporarily closed.

Ponta da Piedade

Lagos’s star attraction: golden rock stacks, arches and grottos with a lighthouse on top. Walk the clifftop paths (and the steps down to the water), then see the grottos from below on a small boat or a kayak tour, best in the calm morning. See boat trips · kayak tours.

Beaches

• Praia Dona Ana: the postcard cove, with rock stacks and clear water.
• Praia do Pinhão: a small, pretty cove nearby.
• Praia do Camilo: famous for its wooden staircase, which is closed in 2026, so admire it from the cliffs or a boat.
• Meia Praia: a 4km stretch of flat sand east of town, great for families and watersports.
• Porto de Mós: a long beach below the cliffs, with restaurants.

See the best Algarve beaches.

The old town

• The walls and cobbled lanes full of shops, cafés and bars.
• Igreja de Santo António: a small church covered in gilded baroque carving, visited with the Lagos Museum (€3; closed Mondays).
• Praça do Infante: the main square with the statue of Henry the Navigator.
• The Slave Market museum (on the site of Europe’s first slave market) is temporarily closed, as is the Ponta da Bandeira fort; check before you go.
• The marina: restaurants and boat departures.

On the water

• Dolphin watching: about 1.5–2.5 hours. See dolphin trips.
• Benagil: speedboats take about 25 minutes each way. See Benagil trips.
• Surfing: lessons on Meia Praia and the west coast. See surfing in Portugal.

Day trips

• Sagres and Cape St Vincent: 30 minutes. See Sagres.
• The wild west coast: Arrifana, Amado and Odeceixe. See Costa Vicentina.
• Praia da Luz, Burgau and Salema: relaxed villages to the west. See the best Algarve villages.
• Lagos Zoo: a small zoo inland at Barão de São João, good with young kids.

Eat, drink and stay

See the best restaurants in Lagos, the best hotels in Lagos and Lagos and the western Algarve.

From our sister blog: The 7 most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, with map on Sunset Travellers.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars). If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.