Nearby Attractions
Some of the Algarve's most celebrated beaches are located in the Lagos vicinity, with two easily reached on foot.
Two kilometers southwest of the town center, Praia do Camilo is the postcard favorite.The vast Meia Praia starts its run behind the marina and stretches four kilometers to the east.
Ponta da Piedade
One of the most recognized natural landmarks in Portugal, the mournfully named "Point of Pity" is a scenic headland that juts out into the sea on the western edge of Lagos Bay. The dramatic sandstone cliffs appear burnished with gold, such is the vivid brilliance of their burnt ochre hue.
Rising out of the transparent waters below are huge rock formations, some arched and contorted as if melted by the sun. Out of sight, tucked under the cliff face, is a series of caves and grottoes, their bellies carved out by restless Atlantic swells. These hidden caverns can be explored by boat on a fun-packed Ponta da Piedade grotto sightseeing cruise from Lagos, or an equally rewarding kayak tour.
For a romantic end of day finale, gather by the lighthouse that crowns the promontory and wait for the sun to set over the western Algarve coast.
Igreja de Santo António /
Museu Municipal
One of the Algarve's most inspiring cultural combinations is the coupling of Lagos' church of St. Anthony with the town's municipal museum. Together they represent one of the most rewarding sightseeing experiences in the region.
Visitors first enter the museum - an ethnographic miscellany of oddities, rarities, and curios. Artifacts on permanent display include a beautiful mini altarpiece, whittled from cork, and a collection of priest's vestments, one dating from 1578. A magnificent near-complete Roman mosaic is startling in its centuries-old detail.
The adjacent 18th-century church has one of the most dazzling interiors of any religious site in the Algarve. The Baroque rhapsody of ornate gilded wood carvings and decorative tiles is impressive and a suitably ebullient way to end the tour.
Marina de Lagos
Yachts and motorboats of all shapes and sizes tie up at this first-class mooring facility, but Lagos Marina provides far more than just a safe haven for visiting watercraft. Anchored along the boardwalk are several very good eateries where customers can relax and soak in the seaside atmosphere. At night, some of these cafés host live music performances.
Numerous coastal cruise companies are based here, offering anything from exhilarating sightseeing excursions to the rock stacks, sea caves, and grottoes around Ponta da Piedade to fantastic dolphin "seafaris" that head out into the bay.
A swing bridge connects the marina with Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the town's main avenue. The 462-berth yacht basin is also within walking distance of the sweeping Meia Praia beach.
Parque Zoológico de Lagos
Rubber-limbed gibbons, marble-eyed lemurs, and fur ball marmosets are just some of the animals waiting to greet visitors at Lagos Zoo. Joining the primates in this semitropical park, approximately eight kilometers north of Lagos, are other residents, like the sleek bobcat, and rare species such as Indian muntjac deer. Heading up the entertainment is a troupe of cheeky meerkats.
The variety of birdlife is impressive, and the colorful and exotic flocks include channel-billed toucans, rainbow lorikeets, and the wonderfully named chattering lory. Owls and assorted waterfowl can also be admired.
In addition, the zoo's countryside setting is an ideal showcase for its farm stock: animals like sheep, goats, and horses.
Near the "monkey lake" is a picnic area, where visitors can observe the primates' antics while enjoying an alfresco lunch. There's also a rustically-styled on-site restaurant. A playground for toddlers makes sure the entire family remains amused at this cheerful and engaging facility.
Forte Ponta da Bandeira
Built in the 17th century to defend the approaches to Lagos harbor, this square-shaped, pocket-sized fortress remains in remarkably good condition considering its age.
Situated over a wedge of sand overlooking a shallow bay, four turrets shaped like spinning tops set at each corner help distinguish the fort's squat profile. A narrow moat lends the stronghold an impregnable quality, and sightseers have to cross a drawbridge to reach the inner courtyard.
The visitor experience is limited to a small 18th-century chapel lined with pretty azulejos tiles, and exhibition space dedicated to Portugal's era of discoveries. From the ramparts however, visitors can enjoy uninterrupted views over the water and back across the avenue towards the castle walls and fortifications that uphold the medieval character of the vicinity.