Lagos, Portugal is home to some of the best beaches in the whole of Europe (and maybe even the world).
When I saw them for the first time in real-life I was absolutely mesmerized and I’m sure you will be too.
This beach guide lists the top 10 best beaches in Lagos and includes what to expect, when to visit, how to get there and more.
Best Beaches In Lagos
Visiting the many scenic beaches is by far one of the most fun activities in Lagos and it really was the highlight of my trip, that’s for sure.
Before we get stuck in, there’s a few things you need to know about Lagos’s beaches…
Water Temperature
The water in the ocean is really cold in the Algarve due to it being located along the Atlantic Ocean.
This means that even during the summer, if you take a dip into the ocean it will be icy cold.
I was super shocked the first time I got in as it’s way colder than I expected. You get used to it after a while but it kinda feels like you’re getting into an ice bath.
Rocks
Many of the beaches in the Algarve are surrounded by cliffs, meaning rockfall does occur from time to time and it can be dangerous.
You’ll see many signs around the beaches warning you about it.
To keep yourself safe, avoid sitting too close to the cliffs and keep a safe distance. Just do what the signs say and you’ll be fine.
Ok so with those insider tips out of the way, let’s find out what are the top 10 best beaches in Lagos, Portugal…
1. Meia Praia
What To Know:
- Longest beach in Lagos
- Plenty of room and never overcrowded
- Very windy
- Great for families
- Great for people who like water sports
Meia Praia is actually the longest beach in the whole of the Algarve at just over 4km.
On Meia Praia, you’ll find soft golden sand that just seems to stretch on forever and ever.
My favorite thing about this beach is that it never gets crowded due to its size. It actually kinda felt like I was the only one there.
It’s a great place to go sunbathing, do water sports or just relax with a book.
One thing that I will say is that Meia Praia gets very windy, like extremely windy! When I visited I actually had trouble keeping hold of all my things as they kept blowing away.
It’s mainly due to the fact that the beach is so flat and there’s no rocks or cliffs surrounding it like at the other beaches.
The wind does have an upside though as it means that this beach is great for surfing, paragliding and windsurfing.
Meia Praia is super flat and easy to access from the road (no climbing down any stairs or cliffs) so it’s perfect for anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues.
How To Get To Meia Praia
Meia Praia beach is easy to get to by foot.
If you’re staying in the center of Lagos (in the old town) then you can simply walk to the western part of the beach. This should only take around 20 to 25 minutes.
You just need to cross the bridge at the marina and head onwards towards the beach.
Alternatively you can get into a taxi/uber for just a few euros or catch the bus.
There is a bus service operated by Onda. You’ll want to use Line 2 (the blue line) that connects some of Lagos’s beaches including Meia Praia.
You can check the bus schedule here. The buses only depart once an hour and cost €1.20 per journey or €3.60 for a day pass.
Facilities at Meia Praia
Meia Praia is one of Lagos’s best beaches when it comes to amenities as it has pretty much everything you could need.
- Beach bars, restaurants and refreshments available
- Toilets and showers
- Sun-beds are available to rent
- Lifeguards on duty
- Plenty of parking spaces if you’re traveling by car
2. Praia da Batata
What To Know:
- Closest beach to Lagos town center (within close walking distance)
- Great for swimming due to calm seas
- Great for families
- Close to many amenities
Praia da Batata is the closest beach to the old town of Lagos, where most of the hotels are located, meaning it is pretty easy to get to.
It’s also a really beautiful beach that is surrounded by golden cliffs and has inviting smooth sand and turquoise waters.
Due to both its beauty and how close it is to Lagos old town, it tends to get very busy and it’s not the biggest of beaches so it can feel crowded.
I visited this beach a few times and realized that the only way to get a spot is to come really early.
As it is surrounded by cliffs, the beach is protected from strong winds so it has really calm waters which are great for swimming.
I noticed that this seems to be a favorite beach for families as there were lots of kids playing in the water when I visited.
A lot of water activities also begin at this beach including boat tours, kayak tours and stand up paddleboarding tours.
I did this kayaking tour and we headed out into the sea at this beach. The tour took us all around the coastline up to Ponta da Piedade to explore the hidden coves and grottos.
If you head to the right hand side of this beach, you’ll find some small tunnels that lead through to the neighboring beaches.
How To Get To Praia da Batata
As I said, Praia da Batata is located right by the old town so it’s really easy to get to.
You can literally walk there in just a few minutes.
You’ll easily be able to spot the beach as it sits just opposite the main road (Avenida dos Descobrimentos). It’s located just up from the Castle of Lagos and the Fort.
Facilities at Praia da Batata
- Plenty of restaurants close to the beach
- Toilet and shower facilities
- Sun-beds to rent
- Lifeguard on duty
- Parking space at the top of the beach
3. Praia dos Estudantes
What To Know:
- Very quiet and relatively unknown
- Does get covered with water at high tide
- Great for photos
- Features an old arch that used to be part of a fortress
This beach is one of Lagos’s lesser known beaches that not many people know about. (Shhh, I’d like to keep it that way!)
This means that it’s usually pretty empty. I visited it twice and on the first time, there were only two other people there and the second time, I had it to myself!
Praia dos Estudantes (literally ‘Student Beach’ in English) is a very unique looking beach which makes it one of Lagos’s best photo spots.
If you’re looking for somewhere to snap some fun Instagram photos then this is the place to be (don’t forget your best Lagos Instagram captions!).
On the beach, you’ll find an ancient looking arch wedged between two enormous cliff tops.
I heard that it used to form part of an old fortress but it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1700s and this is all that remains.
The best time to visit the beach is during low tide as if you go during high tide, this whole area will be covered in water! I made this mistake once.
I’d recommend checking the current tide times on tide-forecast.com to plan your visit.
How To Get To Praia dos Estudantes
You can reach this beach via a rock tunnel that leads from the neighboring beach, Praia da Batata.
As I said earlier, Praia da Batata is right by the old town. If you walk along to the end of this beach, you’ll notice a tunnel in the rock.
Walk through the tunnel and you’ll come out onto Praia dos Estudantes. Currently there’s no other way to access the beach other than through this tunnel.
To be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way because its hidden entrance is the main reason why it’s always so quiet.
The tunnel is so easy to miss so not many people make it to the beach.
Facilities at Praia dos Estudantes
There are virtually no facilities at Praia dos Estudantes but the neighboring beach, Praia da Batata, is just a few minutes walk away so you can easily use the amenities there.
4. Praia do Pinhão
What To Know:
- Unspoilt, non-commercialized beach
- Peaceful and quiet
- Great for sunset
- No amenities
This hidden gem is a little cove tucked away behind Lagos’s famous golden cliffs.
You would only really come across this hidden beach if you knew it was there or if you luckily stumbled across it like I did.
Praia do Pinhão is the perfect beach for anyone looking for an untouched, unspoiled beach.
You definitely won’t find any restaurants, shops, parasols, sun-beds or anything at all down here. The beach is just completely empty which means that it feels really natural.
If you’re looking for a sun-bed or a beachside restaurant, then this isn’t the beach for you. However it does offer immense, unspoilt beauty.
My favorite time of day to visit this beach is at sunset. The place is virtually deserted at that time.
One of my favorite memories from my Lagos trip was walking along Praia do Pinhão at sunset, admiring the views. There was nobody else there so it just felt like my own private beach.
It’s a great alternative to Praia Dona Ana or Praia do Camilo as you’ll experience the same beauty but without the crowds.
This beach is just as stunning as the other beaches in the area (but much quieter) and it really showcases the beauty of the Algarve.
How To Get To Praia do Pinhão
You can easily walk to Praia do Pinhão from the old town of Lagos and it will take you around 15 minutes.
You could also take a taxi/uber for a few euros. Unfortunately, there is no bus route to this beach.
To access the actual beach itself, you’ll need to descend down a steep stone staircase that weaves its way down the cliff face.
This may be difficult for people with mobility issues and unfortunately it isn’t set up well for wheelchairs.
Facilities at Praia do Pinhão
There are virtually no facilities at Praia do Pinhão so you’ll have to bring your own snacks/refreshments.
5. Praia da Dona Ana
What To Know:
- One of the Algarve’s most famous beaches
- Incredibly beautiful
- Gets very busy & crowded
- Fairly small
Praia da Dona Ana beach is another one of Lagos’s best beaches with lots of unique rock formations surrounding it.
It’s absolutely stunning with its golden sand and crystal clear turquoise water.
In fact, this beach is often regarded as one of the best beaches in the whole of the Algarve and is often the beach you’ll see on all the postcards.
Praia da Dona Ana is a great place to relax and is ideal for sunbathing, relaxing or taking a dip in the ocean. It’s pretty close to the old town of Lagos too making it easy to get to.
It is one of the beaches that’s nestled within the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade. In fact, it’s actually the largest beach that dots this rocky coastline but it’s still only 160 meters wide.
Due to its fame and its beauty, Praia da Dona Ana does get very busy especially during the summer months of July, August and September.
I made the mistake of visiting around midday but the beach was already full by then and there was no room left at all so you need to get there early to get a spot.
Even though it gets really crowded, this beach still feels really calm and peaceful. The surrounding cliffs protect it from the wind so the water is always really calm.
How To Get To Praia da Dona Ana
You can reach the beach easily by walking from Lagos old town. The walk would take around 20 minutes.
Alternatively, you can jump in a taxi/uber for a few euros or you can use the bus.
As I said earlier, there’s a bus operated by Onda which connects some of Lagos’ beaches including Praia da Dona Ana.
Use Line 2 (the blue line) to get to the beach. This line actually connects Meia Praia, Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Porto de Mos.
It’s great for if you’re wanting to explore the beaches of Lagos as you can visit several in one day.
One-way tickets cost €1.20 each or €3.60 for a day pass and the buses depart once an hour. You can view the schedule here.
When you get to the beach, you can access it by walking down the long wooden staircase that leads to the beach (not suitable for wheelchair users, sorry!).
You’ll get impressive views from the top of the staircase as you can see all of the Algarve coastline from up here.
Facilities at Praia da Dona Ana
- Lifeguard on duty
- Parking spaces at the top but spaces are limited
- Sun-beds available to rent
- Toilets and showers
6. Praia do Camilo
What To Know:
- One of the Algarve’s most famous beaches
- Incredibly beautiful and secluded
- Can get very busy
- Calm waters which are great for swimming
Praia do Camilo is one of my favorite beaches in Lagos because it’s super secluded and very beautiful with soft golden sand and crystal clear waters.
I was actually surprised when I first got to this beach at just how small it was though! It’s really tiny, meaning that it does get very crowded.
You’ll want to arrive as early as possible to get a good spot.
Praia do Camilo is actually divided into two smaller beaches by a huge rock formation that lies in the middle. There is a small tunnel that runs through it so you can easily get to each side.
There are huge cliffs on either side of the beach which do protect it from the wind making it super calm and tranquil on the beach. It’s a great place for swimming and snorkeling.
How To Get To Praia do Camilo
You can easily walk to the beach from Lagos old town. By foot, it takes around 30 minutes.
I did this when I visited and enjoyed the walk as it’s really scenic and you’ll pass by lots of Lagos’s most beautiful beaches on the way. It does get really hot so bring along plenty of water.
If that sounds a bit long for you then you can get a taxi/uber. It should only cost between €3 and €5.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a bus service that connects to Praia do Camilo.
You can take the bus to Praia da Dona Ana (detailed above) but you’ll still need to walk another 15 minutes from there to get to Praia do Camilo.
Once you arrive at the beach, you’ll need to walk down a long wooden staircase of around 200 steps that winds its way down from the cliff tops.
The staircase is actually a sight in itself as you get a panoramic view of the coastline and beach below so stop to take a few photos.
Facilities at Praia do Camilo
- There is just one small restaurant located at the top of the staircase. It has some limited parking.
- There are limited facilities at the beach so it is best to bring your own drinks and snacks.
- There is a lifeguard on duty during the peak summer period.
7. Praia dos Pinheiros
What To Know:
- Secluded, tranquil beach
- Calm water with various caves & grottos to explore
- Often frequented by nudists
- Difficult to access
Praia dos Pinheiros is another beach that is nestled within the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade. This is one of Lagos’s most secluded beaches.
It’s quite difficult to reach the beach and not many people bother meaning that the beach is generally pretty quiet.
If you make the effort though you will be rewarded as this peaceful beach is really stunning and it’s a great place to find some peace and quiet away from the crowds on the other beaches.
It’s almost completely surrounded by colossal golden cliffs that provide a lot of shelter from the wind so the beach and water is always really calm.
You’ll find lots of rocks protruding out from the sea and there are lots of little caves and grottos close to the shore that you can explore as well which I really liked.
One thing that you really need to know is that this beach is sometimes visited by nudists who like it due to the seclusion so it may not be ideal for kids.
But if that’s your thing then go for it! (no judgment here)
How To Get To Praia dos Pinheiros
It is possible to walk to Praia dos Pinheiros from Lagos old town but it does take a while as the walk is around 30 minutes.
If that’s too long for you then you’ll need to jump in a taxi or uber as there’s no bus route either.
This beach is a bit harder to access than others. When you get to the beach, you’ll find a very steep rocky path that leads down the cliff face towards the beach.
It’s very steep and possibly a bit dangerous if you’re not careful.
Facilities at Praia dos Pinheiros
There are absolutely no facilities or amenities at Praia dos Pinheiros so bring your own snacks and drinks.
8. Praia da Balança
What To Know:
- Super secluded beach
- Almost impossible to access by land
- Easy to visit by kayak
- Very quiet
Praia da Balança is actually my favorite beach that I visited during my Lagos trip and I’ll tell you why.
This stunning beach also lies within the rock formations of Ponta da Piedade so it’s really beautiful.
It is very secluded and difficult to get to which means that it tends to be very quiet. When I visited, our group was actually the only people on the whole beach.
It’s almost impossible to visit by land unless you fancy climbing down a steep rock face (which I actually saw a few people attempting to do).
I visited the beach during this kayaking tour so I didn’t have to risk my life climbing down the cliffs.
How To Get To Praia da Balança
You can walk to the beach from Lagos old town but it will take 30 minutes. Alternatively you’d have to get a taxi/uber as there is no bus route.
As I mentioned, I actually visited this beach as part of a kayaking tour which is actually the best and easiest way to visit.
The beach is basically inaccessible by land so if you really want to see it then book onto a kayaking tour like this one.
You’ll also get to explore the hidden caves and grottoes of Ponta da Piedade too which is super fun.
Facilities at Praia da Balança
There are absolutely no facilities at Praia da Balança so you’ll need to bring your own food and drinks.
9. Praia do Canavial
What To Know:
- Very spacious beach
- Far from Lagos old town
- Few amenities
- Great for surfing as it is very windy
Praia do Canavial is located just to the west of the rock formations of Ponta da Piedade which means that it’s a little further away from the old town of Lagos.
This beach is lined by colossal sandstone cliffs but doesn’t have any rock formations or coves like many of the other Algarve beaches.
The beach itself is very long so there is plenty of room for everyone and the sand is super smooth.
One thing I will say is that it does get very windy on the beach as there’s virtually no shelter from the wind. This does make it ideal for surfing though.
The best time to visit this beach is during low tide. The strip of sand on this beach is fairly narrow so during high tide you would be sat right under the cliffs which can be dangerous.
How To Get To Praia do Canavial
It is possible to walk from Lagos old town to Praia do Canavial but the walk is fairly long at around 35 to 40 minutes.
If it’s too far for you to walk then you can get into a taxi/uber. It should only cost around €6 (that’s how much I paid when I visited).
There is also a bus route. The Onda bus (blue line) connects several beaches including Meia Praia and Praia da Dona Ana to this area.
The bus actually stops at Praia do Porto de Mos which is right next to Praia do Canavial so you can get off here and just walk across.
Facilities at Praia do Canavial
- Amenities are limited
- A few vendors selling drinks and snacks
- There are plenty of facilities on the neighboring beach of Praia do Porto de Mos
10. Praia do Porto de Mos
What To Know:
- Second longest beach in Lagos
- Plenty of room & never overcrowded
- Can get very windy which is good for surfing
Praia do Porto de Mos is Lagos’s second longest beach after Meia Praia at just over 1 km in length. This means it’s great for long beach walks.
It is located a little further away from the old town of Lagos compared to the other beaches. You’ll find it just to the west of the Ponta da Piedade cliffs.
The area around it is really lovely as it’s located amongst several luxury villas and resorts.
It’s a really nice sandy beach that’s free from rocks (apart from on the far right side).
You’ll also find a couple of nice little restaurants which are the perfect place to grab a midday snack or a refreshing drink in the middle of a long day of sunbathing.
As the beach isn’t very sheltered, it can get very windy here so keep a hold of your belongings.
This does make it a popular beach for surfing though due to the powerful waves.
The thing I love most about this beach is that it tends to be a lot quieter than the other beaches. This is likely due to the fact that you have to travel a bit to get here.
You’ll be rewarded though I promise as Praia do Porto de Mos features long stretches of soft sand and pristine waters but without all the crowds of Praia da Dona Ana or Praia do Camilo.
How To Get To Praia do Porto de Mos
It is possible to walk from Lagos old town to Praia do Porto de Mos but the walk is fairly long and will take you around 40 minutes (which can be tough in the heat).
Alternatively you can take a taxi/uber which should cost around €6 or you can use the bus.
The Onda bus connects several of Lagos’s beaches including this one. The buses come once an hour and you can check the schedule here.
Facilities at Praia do Porto de Mos
- A few beachfront restaurants
- Parking spaces available
- Toilets and showers
- Sun-beds to rent
- Lifeguards are on duty during the peak summer months
And that’s it!
Thanks for reading this ultimate guide on the best beaches in Lagos. I wished I’d had a guide like this when I visited so I thought I’d just put one together myself.
Lagos is one of the most popular towns in the Algarve but many people also choose to visit Albufeira instead.
I actually wrote a complete guide on if you should visit Albufeira or Lagos which compares them too. I think you’ll enjoy it.
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