What to do in the beautiful city of Lagos, Portugal
I absolutely loved my time spent in Lagos. One thing about the city I found was it doesn’t need a whole lot of time, maybe 2 or 3 days allocated would be perfect for a low-budget low maintenance vacation. The only transportation involved while in the area was the 3-hour bus ride that cost about 15 euros each way to get to there from Lisbon.
The city itself is beautiful. Spending an afternoon walking through the shops and getting meals or souvenirs from locals is such a fun way to spend an afternoon. There are quite a few tourists but it really depends on where you’re staying and everyone in the area is so kind. I fell in love with a rather Americanized coffee shop (I’ll admit I love an iced coffee and found it hard to find in Europe) called Black and White. They often have lines but if you’re willing to do take out you can usually get your food or drinks more quickly. They’ve also got milk alternatives which I loved and their breakfast is awesome and super customizable.
Praia da Batata
After you’ve toured around the city hitting the beach Praia da Batata is a must. There are many layers of depth to their beaches and so much to explore. The beach is surrounded by cliff edges and you’re able to walk through to get deeper and deeper into the various little beaches themselves. I also found each layer you went into was less and less populated which was an added bonus. Either way exploring through was super cool as I’d never seen a beach carved out like that. Remember your SPF though as that was the only time I think I’ve ever ended up getting blisters from a sunburn!
Right on the opening of the beach, there’s an adorable bar that’s built into the cliff edge. The drinks are rather expensive but for the experience, I would totally recommend one. Not only that but they have some tables with some shade so whenever you’re ready for a quick sun break it’s a great place to grab a drink and play some games away the sand.
Praia da Batata cliffside walk
A journey for another day is the hiking you’ll see above the beach. By no means is it a long journey maybe a couple of hours or so but it’s home to some of the most gorgeous views I’ve seen in Portugal. You’re hiking along the top of the same beach sides. There’s greenery and lookouts and even a cool lighthouse at the top you can see. Unfortunately, when I went the lighthouse was under construction but I still thought it was a super cool experience. You can also go a lot further this way than you could from the beach as the beach eventually just turns into water. These views are a 360 of nature, rocky cliff edges, greenery, and wildlife. They also do have some bathrooms along the way you’ll need 50 cents for but it was definitely appreciated and noted.
EZ Ride Ocean Kayak tour
The one expense besides food and stay I encountered which was so worth it was a kayak tour along the coast. It was around 35 euros and there are tons of companies that run the same excursion. I went with EZ Ride where they take you through the caves and under rock tunnels with a group for a couple of hours. I chose the first slot in the morning since the sun isn’t as strong as say the 1 pm tour. I also made a point of asking which tours had smaller groups so it could be a bit more personalized. They have a photographer as well for you which is a nice added bonus. If you get tired at the end you’re able to have your kayak tied to everyone else’s and have a nice calm tow back to shore. Otherwise, you’re able to take your kayak solo and explore the caves and rocks for as long as you’d like. No one in my group chose that option but in hindsight would have been a fun opportunity.
All in all, I loved the scenes of Lagos. The nature, people, towns, beaches. There didn’t seem to be a whole lot of nightlife if that’s what you’re looking for but, there’s so much else the town has to offer. I would totally recommend Lagos for even a weekend getaway while in Portugal.