Lagos, Portugal, the Algarve May 24-July 1, 2023

Lagos, pronounced “lah’ goesh” is located in the western part of the Algarve on the Atlantic Ocean. We have been planning on coming here for years as Covid derailed our initial target of July 2020. With a population of 30,000 year round residents, tourists flock here by the thousands in July and August. Most of the tourists are from Europe, although we have met a few from the US.

It’s all about the beaches here. We can walk to most of the Lagos beaches. There is a long sandy beach called Meia Praia which has a great wooden boardwalk, excellent for long walks. Praia do Camilo is quite scenic with over 200 steps down to the bottom and a short cave to walk through. Praia Dona Ana is also beautiful with ample sand, lounge chairs and swimming.

View from the top of Praia do Camilo stairs

Lagos marina

Our neighborhood is just north of the walled city. Right around the corner is a bakery, called Delicias, with wifi access and delicious ham and cheese toasted sandwiches for 3.20€. Next to it is Happy Sumo, a Japanese/Chinese restaurant with wonderful food, friendly staff and decent prices. There are 2 Chinese stores across the street from each other, selling clothes, electronics, craft supplies and any household supplies you need.

Our complex and our view from the hill

Sunset from our balcony and we have a baby seagull on the next roof.

Our favorite convert consisting of bread, olives, crostini and paté, cheese, and butter, at Borsalino.

Old Town Lagos

It is short walk to old Town inside the walled city. Many shops and restaurants as well as historical sites.

The slave market (left) is the oldest known in Europe, dating back to 1444. Entrance to the walled city, central Lagos (right).

Lagos Zoo

Catamaran Ride

We took a 3 hour catamaran ride with our fellow Senior Nomad friends, Jeanne and Phil. Amazing view of the coastal beaches and formations.

Beaches!!!

Dona Ana is a nice swimming beach with minimal stairs to reach the sand. Rooftop restaurants are popular at the top of the stairs.

Praia do Camilo is a very scenic beach. Excessive seaweed makes it not so pleasant for swimming. There is a cave tunnel to a separate section of the beach.

Praia da Luz is a great swimming beach, easy to get to from the parking lot. The community is notorious as the location where Madeleine McCann disappeared from in 2007. We took a lovely morning day trip with Jeanne and Phil.

Sagres

Another fun day trip with Jeanne and Phil, courtesy of their rental car. We drove to Sagres, the SW corner of Portugal and Europe, known as the end of the world.

Albufeira

Robin and I took a day trip, a bus ride to a neighboring town. Then an Uber took us to old town. Different vibe than Lagos, yet lively and scenic.

We were dropped off on a narrow street and wandered through the upper older portion of Albufeira.

Overall, Lagos was awesome. Our Airbnb was probably the nicest, largest, best equipped and most centrally located on our travels. We experienced wonderful weather with a few very hot days. Culinary delights including grilled sardines, swordfish and salmon. Next stop Almada, just across the river from Lisbon, so a 4 hour train ride.