If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, you’ll want to put all five of the best beaches in Lagos on your itinerary. After a weekend in Lagos, you’ll be adding at least one word to your Portuguese vocabulary: praia. To call the praias of Lagos beaches feels like a disservice to the emerald grottos and mesozoic limestone cliffs, dramatically carved from eons of erosion. It’s one of the many reasons to put Portugal on your travel bucket list.

Lagos is a seaside town in the Algarve, the southernmost coastal region of Portugal. Its proximity to some of the best beaches in the region make Lagos a perfect home base for your Portuguese beach vacation. Whether you’re looking for a surf spot, a family-friendly beach, or a sweeping view to watch the sun set against, you’ll find everything you need at these five best beaches in Lagos. 

Here you’ll find my top five picks for the most unique and picturesque, and frankly the best beaches in Lagos. Each beach is in order starting with Praia Dos Estudantes, which is closest to Lagos town, following in distance order until you reach the crescendo at Ponta da Piedade. Plan for a full afternoon for a leisurely coastal walk, with time to stop at a few for a swim. 

Tips for Your Coastal Walk

Come Prepared

Majority of the beaches don’t have vendors to buy water, snacks, sunscreen, or umbrellas from. Come prepared with all of the essentials. 

Wear Comfortable Walking Shoes

Although you are headed to the beach, each of these five can only be accessed by steep stairs and rugged paths.   

Walk or Catch a Ride

If you’re an avid walker, you can make it to any of these beaches within 45 minutes. During peak season, there is also a tourist train that allows you to hop on and off at various stops, including Dona Ana and Ponta da PIedade. Purchase a one day pass for 5,50€, or a one-way ticket for 4,00€. My recommendation is to make the walk down to Ponta da Piedade, stopping at a few beaches along the way. Then catch the train from Ponta da Piedade for an easy ride back to Lagos town center. 

The Five Best Beaches in Lagos, Portugal 

1. Praia Dos Estudantes 

On the first stop of this five-beach venture towards Ponta da Piedade you’ll find one of the most recognizable beaches thanks to its highly photographed arch. What Estudantes lacks in size, it makes up for in proximity and character. It’s a short walk from Lagos, so appealing if you only have a few hours to spare. Make your way down the stairs, and once you hit sand, you’ll pass through man-made beach caves to get to the iconic Roman arch, the last remnants of the long gone fortress. This beach draws a crowd, so you may have to wait your turn to get that iconic snapshot. 

2. Praia do Pinhão

Just down the road you’ll find Praia do Pinhão, a secluded cove accessed by a steep wall of stairs. Even if you don’t make it down, Pinhão is worth a view from the top. 

3. Praia Dona Ana

Praia Dona Ana is one you will want to plop down on for a while. It is the most classic beach you’ll find on this route with wide stretches of sand and a small beach side restaurant perfect to get a cold drink to enjoy on the sand. In the traditional sense, Praia Dona Ana might just be the best beach in Lagos.

4. Praia do Camilo

Praia do Camilo is one of the most picturesque beaches in Lagos, if not the world. It’s a small stretch of sand surrounded by stunning rock formations you have to see to believe. After venturing down the hundreds of wooden stairs, we were disappointedly met with swaths of seaweed that washed ashore with the tide. Even the seaweed couldn’t detract from the stunning natural beauty, making Praia do Camilo easily one of the best beaches in Lagos.

5. Ponta da Piedade

Ponta da Piedade is the most famous spot in the Algarve, and a must-see on every Lagos travel guide. Although this is a list of the best beaches in Lagos, don’t go expecting to lay a towel out, or even sand. Zig zag your way down the hundred steps until you reach the viewing platform. Here you can take in the dramatic beauty of the emerald grotto and natural limestone arches.

Near the access to Ponta da Piedade, you’ll find a clifftop boardwalk. Take a short stroll to find a quiet spot to watch the sunset on a perfect Algarve afternoon.

As one of the most famous spots in the Algarve, Ponta da Piedade is a very popular destination. To see its natural beauty without the crowds, time your visit to watch the sunrise. You’ll be sure to have a peaceful experience and one-of-a-kind start to your day in Lagos.

What did we miss? Comment below with your top picks for the best beaches in Lagos.