The 6 Best Beaches in Lagos, Portugal
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If you’re visiting Lagos, then it’s likely you’re looking to spend a lot of time on the beach. Well you came to the right place because Lagos is home to some of the best beaches in the world. There are lots of beaches to choose from, each offering something different. Whether you’re only in Lagos for a short time or you’re staying awhile, it’s nice to know ahead of time which are the best beaches in Lagos and which are right for you.
Don’t miss the absolute best beaches in Lagos!
Praia Dona Ana
Praia Dona Ana is often cited as the best beach in the Algarve, and Condé Nast Traveller magazine went even further to name it the “best beach in the world.” It’s no wonder because the entire beach is surrounded and sheltered by stunning golden cliffs. This dramatic landscape adds more to the area than just beauty as it also offers protection from the wind.
It’s about a 30-minute walk to Praia Dona Ana from central Lagos, but you won’t really need to go anywhere once you’re there. It has amenities like beach chairs and places to buy snacks.
This is without a doubt a top beach in the region. Even if you don’t plan to spend the day here, it’s at least worth checking out for some photo ops.
Praia do Camilo
Praia do Camilo is a small and secluded beach nestled between towering golden cliffs. This is my personal favorite beach in Lagos because the photo ops are endless. Praia do Camilo is picturesque from every angle, whether you see it from the cliffs above, the stairway, the beach, the water, or even under the sea (it’s a great snorkel spot).
It’s about a 40-minute walk from central Lagos, and you’ll have to climb down 225 steps to reach the beach itself. That sounds like a lot of work for someone just trying to relax at the beach, but you will be rewarded with (in my opinion) the most stunning place in Lagos.
Praia da Batata
Praia da Batata is nice because it’s the closest beach to the historic center of Lagos. It has the proximity that the other beaches don’t while still being surrounded by those beautiful golden cliffs to shelter you from powerful waves and winds.
The best thing about this beach is also its only downside – its close proximity to the city means that it will be very busy in the summer.
Because it’s so popular, this beach has excellent amenities such as public bathrooms, showers, restaurants, lifeguards, chairs, umbrellas and rentals for kayaks and paddle boards. It’s also one of only four beaches in Lagos that is wheelchair accessible.
As you can see, Paia da Batata is a great choice for your time in Lagos. In fact, many Lagos visitors don’t feel the need to explore any further than Praia da Batata. It translates to Potato Beach, so it’s the perfect spot to kick back and be a couch potato, or I guess that would make you a beach potato?
Praia dos Estudantes
From Praia da Batata there is a tunnel leading through to the neighboring beach of Praia dos Estudantes. It’s a smaller and less crowded beach with hardly any facilities, but it’s also close to the city center so bars, restaurants, and supermarkets are just a short walk away.
Praia dos Estudantes gets its name (Students’ Beach) from all the young people that frequent this beach. It’s pretty quiet compared to the other beaches in Lagos.
This small sandy beach has tunnels through the cliffs that take you to the Lagos Roman Bridge, which used to be part of Pinhão fortress. The fortress was almost completely destroyed by a tsunami following an earthquake in 1755. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to visit Praia dos Estudantes, but I was able to see the famous bridge during my boat tour.
Praia do Pinhão
Located between Praia dos Estudantes and Dona Ana, Pinhão is yet another gorgeous Lagos beach with crystal-clear turquoise water and amber cliffs towering overhead.
You can get to this little beach by going down a set of steep steps, and it’s also accessible from Praia dos Estudantes at low tide. This beach is less accessible for travelers with mobility issues.
Praia do Pinhão is a small scenic beach. It’s very small, but very pretty, especially because it’s so secluded and untouched by the commercialism found on other Lagos beaches.
Pack towels, umbrellas and a cooler with drinks because there aren’t amenities here. Bring your own stuff, then just soak up the scenery without worry about having to go anywhere.
Meia Praia
Meia Praia literally translates to ‘half beach,’ which is weird because it’s a whole lot of beach! It’s the largest beach within the Lagos region, so it seems like the sand stretches on for miles (probably because it does). If you like long walks on the beach, then this one’s for you!
Unlike the other beaches on this list, Meia Praia doesn’t have the characteristic golden rock formations. Because of that, Meia Praia isn’t as protected from the winds as some of the other beaches, so it can get pretty windy sometimes.
Like I said earlier, Lagos has a TON of little beaches to choose from. I’ve given you my top 6 picks for the best beaches in Lagos, but there are a few others worth mentioning.
Other notable beaches:
- Praia da Luz
- Praia Grande
- Praia da Falésia
- Praia da Balança
- Praia do Canavial
- Praia do São Rafael
- Praia de Porto de Mós
- Praia do Barranco do Martinho
You can rent chairs and umbrellas for about €15 per day at most of the beaches. Sunscreen can be a little pricey in Portugal, so it’s a good idea to bring your favorite brand from home.
I hope my guide of the best beaches in Lagos, Portugal helps you plan the best vacation ever!
Read Next: One Day in Lagos: the Hidden Gem of Portugal
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