Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

The historic city of Lagos (population 14,675) is delightful small city, at one time, the district capital situated at the end of the railway line (80kms from Faro) in the western Algarve, Portugal. It is aproximately 35kms from Sagres and the south western tip of continental Europe. The name meaning "lakes" is also the name of the municipality (population 27,041) encompassing the coastal resorts of Praia da Luz to the west and Meia Praia to the east where Tourism is the main industry. Inland at the north of the region is a scenic reservoir at Barragem da Bravura and in the north west the national forest of Barão de S.João. The interior being an agricultural region with several villages. Contrary to many other places in Southern Europe Lagos still derives some of its income from Agriculture and Fisheries and has a buoyant market economy though building has in recent years been a growth industry. Lagos has had a long association with the building industry. In the 1775 earthquake it was completely destroyed and the city had to be rebuilt. Its planning department then and now has successfully guided moderate development to a city plan despite the external pressures.

Lagos has lots of restaurants, cafés, discos, shopping, markets, churches, a yatching marina, a live fishing fleet, and an auction fish market serves the city well. The old town surrounded by castle walls is pedestrianised and most of the cities interest is within this small area.

A few metres from the place where the trawlers unload their catches, on the left bank of the Bensafrim stream, you will find the marina. Inaugurated in 1993, and awarded the Euromarina Anchor Award and the European Blue Flag, with in excess of 400 moorings, and a customs office. Protecting the bay of Lagos is the Ponta da Piedade headland, a series of rock formations, cliffs and beaches, like Praia donna Ana with its fabulous cliffs and surrounding secluded cove beaches.

Lagos Old Town

Lagos, historically linked to the sea, once inhabited by the Romans (Lacobriga) and the base for Portuguese exploration of the African coast in the 15th century, has a significant collection of monuments and religious buildings, making it a compelling place to visit. The Church of Santa Maria da Misericordia, with its renaissance doorway; the magnificent jewel of the Algarve, the Church of Santo Antonio, with its lower walls covered in tiles - contrasting with the golden baroque carved sculpture and the Church of São Sebastião are more than sufficient reasons to sacrifice an afternoon on the beach. A visit to the municipal museum (in the Church of Santo António) or a look at the local exhibition dedicated to the Portuguese Discoveries, housed inside the Forte da Ponta da Bandeira, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the sea, are also interesting options. Spreading from the centre, where the statue of King Dom Sebastião stands (a work of art by Jose Cutileiro, a contemporary Portuguese sculptor), various restaurants, shops and bars give life to this part of town. A stroll through the centre can be an invitation to shop, to meet people or to have a drink and a snack. Lovers of the night life will not be disappointed, as Lagos is famous for its energetic partying.

Beaches in Lagos Region

To the west of the old town there are literally dozens of small beaches and coves between the cliffs and rocks stretching to the Ponta da Piedade (Mercy Point). The first of these, Praia da Batata (Potato beach) is on the edge of the old town near the mouth of the Bensafrim stream. A lovely beach by day but watch out at night as this beach is notoriousely dangerous after dark. Walkiing along the cliff path one can reach Praia da Estudantes (students beach), Praia da Homens (mens beach), Pinhao, praia donna Ana and Camilo. At low tide one can reach many more beaches by walking thru caves carved out of the headlands that divide them or better still hire a boat or peddalow to explore the grottoes.

After the Ponta da Piedade the coast stretches west and there are three larger beaches at Praia do Carnavial, Porto Mos and Praia da Luz before Burgau and the municipality of Vila do Bispo.

East of Lagos is a huge beach backed by sand dunes known as Meia Praia (half beach) since the beach is divided from the other half (Praia dos Três Irmãos) that stretches as far as Portimao by the mouth of a river and lagoons. Meia Praia can be reached on foot across the draw bridge by the marina or in summer a little boat can take you across the river closer to centre of Lagos.

Transport

Lagos is easily and economically accessable by train from Faro where you can take a taxi from the international airport to the train station. Trains stop at all the main stops along the Algarve and there are also conections from Lisbon. The new train station is behind the Marina and it is a short walk to the marina and across a draw bridge and along the river into the centre of town. The bus station is across the road from the Marina where one can take buses too Seville in Andalucia, Spain and Lisbon to the north. Alternatively hire a car at Faro airport and take the A22 west for approximately 1 and a half hours.

From lagos the EN125 will take you to the coastal resorts of Praia da Luz, Burgau and Salema and further toward the municipality of Vila do Bispo where you can visit Sagres and the west coast beaches within the national park. Buses depart from Lagos bus station and along the river too Praia da Luz, Burgau and on towards Sagres.