2 Days in Lagos, Portugal: An Itinerary to the Algarve + The Best Beaches and Cliff Walk!
When I first approached the beaches and cliffs on my 2 days in Lagos, Portugal I was speechless. I’ve seen a lot of pretty places, but there was something special about these sandy cliffs spreading over the coastline.
Lagos is a charming coastal town located in the Algarve region of Portugal. The town is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re a beach bum or a history buff, Lagos has something to offer everyone.
I went to the Algarve with my best friend in May of 2019. Being in the shoulder season, we never felt like it was overly crowded. It was always pretty easy to find a section of beach to yourself to make it feel like you were shipwrecked on a stunning, deserted island!
In this article, we’ll explore how to make the most out of 2 days in Lagos and experience all that this beautiful town has to offer.
From soaking up the sun on pristine beaches to exploring historic landmarks, here’s your ultimate guide to spending 48 hours in Lagos!
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Planning your trip? Use my favorite resources!
Accommodation – I recommend Booking.com for the best hotel deals.
Flights – I recommend Skyscanner to look for the best prices and deals on flights
Rental cars – I recommend DiscoverCars to find the best deals on rentals.
Travel insurance – I recommend Safety Wing to protect your trips.
Tours/experiences – I recommend Viator and Get Your Guide
How to get to Lagos Portugal
Faro international airport is the closest airport to Lagos. To get from the Faro airport to Lagos you have a few options including hiring a private transfer or public transportation.
👉 By private transfer
The easiest, shortest, and lowest stress option is to book a private driver/transfer beforehand. These one hour rides will cost anywhere from 75-100 euro one way depending on how far in advance you book the transfer and if it is peak busy season. Some reliable companies are: Yellow Fish Transfers, Sunline transfers, and Algarserra.
👉 By train
To take the train you must first get a taxi or bus from the Faro airport into the city of Faro to get to the train station. An Uber will cost about 15 euro, while the bus is 2.35 euro. You must take the #16 bus, which departs every 30-50 minutes, from the airport to the train station. A one way train ticket is 7.50 euro and the journey takes an hour and 15 minutes. Check out the train’s timetable here. Though cheap, you can see this can be a lengthy journey since there are a few different steps and can take a few hours.
👉 By bus
The Aerobus that can take you to Lagos from Faro airport only runs May- October. There are 6 departures Monday- Friday and 5 departures on weekends. A one way bus ticket costs 12.50 euro and takes about 2 hours. Check out their timetable here.
How to get from Lisbon to Lagos
Lisbon is Portugal’s largest city and capital so you may be combining both places for an epic trip. Over 150 miles separates the destinations so there are a few options to get from one place to the other.
I personally went by the public bus since it was the cheapest option. The trip is lengthy since the buses stop at many other places in the Algarve. The journey takes just over 4 hours. Check out this website to book a bus from Lisbon to Lagos. There are a few different times the bus runs each day and fares run from 20-35 euro depending on the time of day.
For a shorter ride and to ride a bit more comfortably book a private transfer from Lisbon to Lagos. The journey typically lasts about 3 hours. However, it is costly as prices start around 300 euro one way for up to 3 people. If you’re traveling with a few people this may be a good option since you can split the cost a few ways.
Best things to do in Lagos
Go on a boat tour
On your 2 days in Lagos be sure to get out on the water to see the coast from a different perspective and explore some of the hard to reach caves and grottoes.
We went on a speedboat tour from Lagos to the infamous Benagil Cave. The tour is about 45$ per person for two hours.
You get to see a few different caves around Benagil, including the large open ceiling cave, and learn about the history of the coast. But be prepared since it is a speed boat and is quite the bumpy, fast ride!
You can also take a boat cruise to Ponta de Piedade to explore the numerous towering arches in the ocean.
Heads up! If you want to go into the Benagil cave and stand on its’ shores you can take this tour from Lagos. The guide will take you by bus to the beach where you will then swim into the cave! This tour takes about 5 hours so you’ll need to set aside half a day for it.
Cruise along the coast on a catamaran
Kickback on a catamaran cruise tour of the Algarve! This 3 hour tour sails from Lagos and to a town called Praia da Luz further down the coast. When you dock in Praia da Luz you can go swimming, paddle boarding, or snorkeling.
Go on a kayaking or SUP tour
If you want to get out on the water in a more interactive way- go on a kayaking or standup paddle boarding tour!
By going on a smaller vessel like a kayak or paddle board it’s easy to get into smaller caves and grottoes that boats may not be able to reach.
Hike the Lagos Coastal Cliff Walk
One of the best things to do in Lagos is to hike the coastal cliff walk. Explore the many beaches in Lagos and enjoy all the sights in between.
The cliff walk begins at Estudantes beach and ends at Porto de Mos. The roundtrip mileage for the entire walk is about 4 miles.
You can easily make this a half day activity depending on how many beaches you stop at.
We just walked from the Estudantes beach and ended at Ponta de Piedade (2.2 miles roundtrip) due to time constraints but I would have loved to completed the whole coastal trail.
A few things to get you prepared and keep in mind for the walk:
- It is a dirt trail and not difficult but do use caution, there are plenty of trails that go off the main trail to the very edge of the cliffs and stairs down to beaches. Watch your footing and turn back if you don’t feel safe!
- Wear good shoes that you can easily walk a few miles in.
- Bring plenty of water and a snack or two. There is also a restaurant at Ponta de Piedade where we enjoyed lunch before walking back into town.
- There is no shade on the trail so be sure to wear SPF, a hat, and sunglasses.
- Bring a windbreaker or light jacket, even if its warm out I found on the cliffs it got very windy and wearing a short sleeved shirt I got quite chilly.
Explore the city center and Old Town
The old town of Lagos is very charming and historical. You can spend a lovely few hours wandering around and exploring here. The streets and old buildings are white washed with colorful tiles and plenty of character.
There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and stores to grab some souvenirs while you’re walking around. Walk down to the waterfront in Lagos’s old town where there are many street vendors and restaurants.
Explore Lagos’s historical places such as the town’s fortress– Forte da Ponta da Bandeira. Or see the tall walls around the historical center that used to make up the castle centuries ago.
Go to the Lagos museum which also grants you access to visit the inside of Igreja de Santo Antonio- a beautiful and ornately decorated church. You only need half an hour to explore the museum and it costs just a few euros to enter. The museum is open daily except for Mondays.
Visit the Slavery Route Museum to learn more about Lagos’s dark history in the slave trade in the 1500s. The museum is small and open daily except for Mondays.
Also consider joining this highly rated walking tour of Lagos to learn about the town’s history from a local.
Enjoy Lagos’s nightlife
If Lagos is known for one thing other than beaches it has to be its lively nightlife scene. Lagos attracts backpackers and bars are open very late. Drinks are cheap and you can also join bar crawls to hit multiple places in one night.
Go surfing
Enjoy the water and the coast doing this unique water experience. Even beginner’s can enjoy surfing lessons in Lagos!
Relax on the scenic beaches
Even for someone like me that likes active vacations and wants to always be doing something- I really enjoyed just relaxing on many of Lagos’ stunning beaches.
Go during sunrise or sunset for the best golden hours to watch the cliffs and sandstone arches light up.
Best beaches in Lagos Portugal
- Praia de Dona Ana
- Praia dos Estudantes
- Praia do Camilo
- Praia de Porto de Mos
- Meia Praia
- Praia dos Pinheiros
- Praia da Balança
- Ponta de Piedade
2 Days in Lagos: Itinerary
Day One: Go on a boat tour in the morning to the Benagil cave or up to Praia da Luz. Explore the city’s old town afterwards and have lunch. Visit a museum or go on a walking tour to learn more about the town’s history. Relax at one of the beaches in the afternoon and watch the sunset. Have dinner and then enjoy Lagos’ nightlife.
Day Two: Hike the Lagos Coastal Cliff Walk as far down as you’d like and make a half day out of it. Have lunch and then go on a kayaking or SUP tour to go into the caves. Enjoy another sunset on the beach on your last day.
How long should you spend in Lagos Portugal?
2 days in Lagos is enough time to see the historical town center, appreciate the coast & golden cliffs, and relax on the beach for a while.
But you could easily spend a week basing yourself in Lagos to spend more time seeing more of the stunning Algarve coast.
Overall I’d say if you have 3-4 days to budget that would be the perfect amount of time to spend here.
Best Places to Stay in Lagos, Portugal
- Budget: Ocean View Bed & Breakfast is a great option that is just a 15 minute walk to Porto de Mos beach. Safari Beach House is closer to the city center and features a beautiful balcony area.
- Mid Range: Tivoli Lagos has a luxury feel at an affordable price point. Breakfast is included and it is in the old town of Lagos really close to the beach. Or rent this highly rated apartment with an incredible ocean view and balcony. This apartment in the city center also an ocean view.
- Luxury: Cascade Wellness Resort is a hotel with an attached spa; splurge even more to get the luxurious sea view room with a hydro massage tub! On site is a sauna, hot tub, and an outdoor heated pool. Casa Mãe is a great luxury option in a great location with a beautiful setting. The property also features a pool, gardens, and a daily breakfast is included.
How to get around Lagos
If you’re only spending 2 days in Lagos, renting a car isn’t necessary. The town is small and there are many beautiful beaches within walking distance. The city is very walkable, though it is hilly and going down to some of the best beaches can involve many stairs.
If you want to explore a different part of the Algarve while you’re there you can catch a boat tour or use the public bus system.
Renting a moped or scooter is a great option to be able to get around to some more towns easily while still being cheap. But- learn from my mistakes and make sure you actually can ride one before renting! I rented one here but just couldn’t get the hang of driving it, specifically taking left hand turns haha. I wiped out a few times and returned it less than 24 hours after receiving it. 😂 *facepalm*
Best Places to Eat in Lagos
- Twin Fin: Great breakfast and coffee spot. We actually ate here on each of the mornings during our 2 days in Lagos because it was so good!
- Restaurante Fernando: Highly rated steakhouse.
- Tasca do Kiko: For great tapas and wine selections.
- Luca’s Rooftop: A highly rated restaurant with a fantastic view of the ocean.
- Camilo Restaurant: An upscale restaurant with great views of the ocean and fresh seafood.
- Qwazi: Highly rated burger shop.
- Jukebox Tapas: Affordable tapas restaurant with great wine selection.
- Beats and Burritos: Great Mexican food at cheap prices, we ate here for a quick and affordable lunch one day.
Best Day Trips from Lagos or have more time in Portugal?
Take a half day trip to the Western Algarve to visit Sagres- the most Southwestern point in continental Europe. Or if you have more time consider this full day trip to the Western Algarve.
Visit the countryside of the Algarve and go wine tasting. Or get back out on the water again to go dolphin watching!
If you are heading to Portugal be sure to check out my posts on spending 2 days in Lisbon & a 10 day itinerary for Portugal & Spain if heading to neighboring Spain!
Wrap up: 2 days in Lagos Portugal
In conclusion, spending 2 days in Lagos, Portugal is a perfect way to experience the beauty and charm of this coastal town.
With its stunning beaches, rich history, delicious food and warm hospitality, Lagos has something to offer for everyone.
From exploring the old town and admiring historic landmarks to enjoying water sports and soaking up the sun on picturesque beaches; there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy during your stay.
Whether you’re traveling alone or with friends and family, Lagos will leave you with unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
