Portugal and particularly the Algarve is known for its many beautiful beaches, and the Lagos beaches are some of the best. Here is a list of the must-see beaches within Lagos including Praia do Camilo, Meia Praia and Praia dos Estudantes.
If you have the luxury of renting a car, you will find it much easier to access the best Lagos beaches. However, if you are not a driver or don’t have the budget, some beaches are accessible by bus or train and also Uber drivers will take you to most of these beaches from Lagos.
Praia do Camilo
Praia do Camilo one of the most beautiful Lagos beaches that is Instagram worthy. You are greeted by a cove-like beach with golden sands. It is a small beach that offers a relaxing atmosphere and the perfect conditions for those who enjoy snorkelling. The rocky cove not only looks stunning and picture perfect, it makes the beach perfect for snorkelling enthusiasts while also making the water calm. To get down to this beach there is a long stairway up the cliff that features 200 steps, so the ascent is not for the faint of heart. However, the descent offers beautiful views that are bound to Make the walk a special one that ends in something even more beautiful. Although the beach is small, it can be extremely busy and so you should also make sure to arrive during low tide and get your towels set up near the back of the beach in order to avoid the changing tide. Watching the sunset at this beach is unmissable and something that is recommended to experience.
Praia do Pinhão
Praia do Pinhão is also a beautiful beach that sits in a cove. It is a hidden gem and is less packed than the famous cove of Praia do Camilo. Again, this beach is accessed by a steep staircase that is not for the faint of heart. The rocks of the cove make this beach great for snorkelling as well. As well as keeping it safe from wind and providing relatively calm waters. The cliffs even provide an area that can be used for cliff diving, as well as having some caves that you can explore. The beach is relatively untouched in terms of facilities, making it authentic and giving it a little bit more beauty due to its natural aesthetic. However, if you’re somebody who enjoys a parasol or a lounger, Praia do Pinhão is probably not the beach for you. The sand on the beach is also harsher than that of Praia do Camilo.
Praia de Porto de Mós
Praia de Porto de Mós is a sandy beach that has some rock formations, but it is not the best for snorkelling in comparison to other beaches. It is a slightly bigger beach and has more waves, the waves make this location a favourite for surfers and provides the biggest waves in comparison to the other beaches in Lagos. The two cliffs on either side provide beautiful scenery, however, there are rocks on the floor during low tide that can be sore on your feet. If you love water-sports such as surfing, then Praia de Porto de Mós is the perfect beach for you. It is also not overly crowded due to the location of the beach being further out from the centre of Lagos, this makes it the perfect beach for those who prefer to relax and enjoy a less hectic visit to the beach.
Praia dos Estudantes
The location of Praia dos Estudantes makes it one of the popular Lagos beaches due to its close proximity to the centre of Lagos. The beach is extremely unique and features a Roman style bridge that connects two cliffs on the beach, suspended high above the beach. It is a relatively small beach and it is surrounded by rocks that make for a very beautiful picture and also provide shelter from wind making the water relatively calm and still. The only thing about this beach is that the sand is quite hard and may hurt your feet, it is likely because of this that the beach is not as popular as other beaches. However, the small size of the beach does mean that it can get fairly crowded in the summer months. The beach also has plenty of tunnels for exploring and the Roman bridge makes for a historical background for your photographs.
Praia da Balança
Praia da Balança is a small, shell-shaped cove that lies within a rocky headland. The access to this beach is slightly more difficult, but the bonus of this is that it keeps the bustle to a minimum. The best way to arrive on the beach is to take a kayak or a boat, other than that there is a narrow but dangerous trail down the cliff. It is a quiet beach with spectacular views that will provide great memories and photos. It is an unspoiled beach where you can take in the beauty of the natural world with the beautiful cliffs, the sandy beach, and the crystal clear water.
Praia do Cais da Solária
This beach is extremely close to the town and is very small in size. Most visitors to this beach take in its beauty as they walk past it, not many venture down to its shores. It is right next to the quay which provides beautiful scenery and gives the beach a slightly more urban feel to it. On one side sits the pier, and on the other sits the Ponta da Bandeira Fort. It is a popular location for sailing and other water-sports such as kayaking and canoeing.
Ponta da Piedade
Ponta da Piedade is a group of rock formations including caves, grottoes, and sea arches that grace the coastline of Lagos. This is a popular spot for tourists to visit and take spectacular photos, but it is not a beach. It does not have sand or a place to lay back sunbathing. So if this is what you’re looking for, then Ponta da Piedade is not for you. However, if you’re looking for spectacular views then look no further. The cliffs of Ponta da Piedade are 20 metres high and made of limestone, they form many beautiful structures that are a sight to withhold. Some of the structures are famous for their unusual shapes, some are shaped like elephants and one is even shaped like a camel as well as many more. To reach the sea level of Ponta da Piedade, there is a stairway of 182 steps, not for the faint of heart, but well worth the views. You can actually go snorkelling in the crystal clear water, the rock formations make the area ideal for water species and will feel magical to all those who enjoy snorkelling. Kayaking in this area is also spectacular and will give you an experience that you will never forget.
Praia da Marinha
This beach is technically not in Lagos, but it is relatively close and well worth a visit. The image of this beach is likely one that you have seen before. It has everything, sandy beaches, cliff-sides, beautiful rock formations, and crystal clear water for you to soak up the sun in or go snorkelling. There are long stairs down to the beach that are well worth the walk that take you to a magical golden beach surrounded by high cliffs. The beach features what is known as ‘the M rock’. It is a formation that is shaped like an M and is one of the reasons why the beach is so popular due to its unique beauty. The beach is relatively calm and doesn’t get too windy because of the high cliffs, the sand is also soft and makes for a beautiful experience. However, the beach can be busy during the summer months, but surprisingly not as busy as some of the other beaches in the area. This may be because the beach can only be reached by car and is further out than the other beaches.
Meia Praia
Meia Praia is one of the longest beaches in the Algarve, promising a quiet and relaxing beach visit due to the vast amount of space, stretching 4 to 5 km. Meia Praia is very accessible as there is actually a train stop at this beach making it accessible by train from Lagos and Faro. The beach itself is also quite wide and has soft, golden sand which makes it comfortable for walking on. The beach is also prized for being incredibly clean, you can even see by looking at the beach that it is spotless. The downfall of Meia Praia is that if you are looking for somewhere to go snorkelling, then this isn’t your beach. It does not have many rocks and so sea-life is not as busy in this area. The lack of rocks also means that the beach can be quite windy, but this means that if you are looking for water sports, it’s the perfect beach.
Praia de São Roque
Praia de São Roque is technically a section of Meia Praia, but it is a notable one. Praia de São Roque and Meia Praia used to be separated by a stream, but over the years this stream has disappeared and connected the two beaches. It is in extremely close proximity to the Lagos town centre and offers a sandy and beautiful beach to relax on. It is also reasonably quiet and has the same conditions as Meia Praia.
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