Lagos is a seaside paradise with superb beaches and coves

LAKES

Lagos is a popular city in the Algarve region that is a vivid portrayal of Portugal's long love affair with the ocean. This city of just 25,000 inhabitants has a beautiful natural harbor prized by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans, and was the starting point for many historic voyages of discovery.
The town's traditional buildings, still intact, and its pleasant cobblestone streets make this story increasingly tangible. Recreationally, Lagos is a seaside paradise with superb beaches and coves - the "Central Surf" of southern Portugal.
Lagos, (pronounced la-goosh) on the western side of the Algarve has a long history as a seaport and shipbuilding centre dating back to the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Moors. Henry the Navigator launched many of the ships that set sail during Portugal's golden "Age of Discovery" in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries from Lagos.

The main beaches near Lagos are Meia Praia, a 4 km long stretch of sand east of the city, reached by bus from Avenida dos Descobrimentos. On a promontory south of Lagos there are several small and idyllic cove beaches: Praia do Pinhão, Praia Dona Ana, Praia do Camilo and Ponta da Piedade - all reached on the Tourist Train city centre or by kayak or boat trip from Cais da Solaria.

Back in town, historic sites include remnants of the Lagos slave market (now a new museum) and the old Customs House in Praça do Infante Dom Henrique, adjacent to the waterfront. Lagos was the port where the first African slaves were brought to Portugal in 1444. In the sixteenth century it is estimated that slaves represented about 10% of the population of the Algarve. The Slave Market Museum (Mercado de Escravos) has interesting exhibits on the history of slaves and slavery in the Algarve.

The Wax Museum of the Discoveries of Portugal (Museu de Cera dos Descobrimentos) opened in 2014 and has 22 life-size wax figures presented in 16 historical scenes, including Henry the Navigator – the "father of the Discoveries", Vasco da Gama, Gil Eanes, who was born in Lagos and was one of the first captains to explore the coast of Africa, Bartolomeu Dias, Luís de Camões, author of the classic Os Lusíadas and Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) the Portuguese navigator and explorer who is credited with being the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean.

The Governors' Castle was originally built by the Arabs and reinforced after the Reconquista. It was here from the Manueline Window that Dom Sebastião addressed his troops before leading them to disaster at the Battle of Alcácer-Quibir, in Morocco, in 1578.

Much of the rest of the old town was destroyed in the earthquake of 1755, but the beautiful Church of St. Anthony predates that disaster, although it was heavily damaged and later restored.

Next door is the Municipal Museum (Tel: 282 762 301), through which you can access the Church of Santo António) with a unique variety of exhibits - Mozambican weapons, archaeological objects and ancient cannonballs. Parts of the city walls survive along with the seaside Ponta da Bandeira Fort on Avenida dos Descobrimentos – a small square fort built in the late 17th century to protect the entrance to the port.

Lagos Zoo 8 km northwest of the city off the N120 to Aljezur is worth a visit for its collection of exotic birds and wildlife.

Further north still is the Bravura Dam, a picturesque reservoir set in an enchanting forest.

Other things to do in and around Lagos are boat trips and dolphin watching that can be booked at Marina de Lagos, diving, sea kayaking, and snorkeling. Horse riding and bike tours can also be booked. Lagos is also a good base for exploring the nearby Natural Park - Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina and the usually quieter (especially out of season) resorts of Luz and Burgau (accessible by bus) - to the west of the city towards Sagres.

Praia da Luz, 10 km west of Lagos, is an attractive and quiet resort, centred around the crescent-shaped beach, supported by village complexes, tourist villages, apartments and hotels.

Burgau, 18 km west of Lagos, is a mix of traditional Algarve fishing village and growing resort complete with British-style pubs. To the west of Bergau is the pleasant beach of Cabanas Velha.