One Day in Lagos, Portugal

Lagos is a small coastal town in the south of Portugal, and one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country! With beautiful cliffside beaches, be sure to include Lagos in your next Portuguese itinerary – and if you’re wondering what to do when you get there, check out our complete one day travel guide below!

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1. Cliffside Kayaking

To start your day in Lagos, we recommend booking a morning kayaking tour through the town’s famous cliffs and seaside caves! Easily one of the coolest things to do in Lagos, starting your day off on the water will allow you to see Lagos from a unique vantage point by actually paddling in to all of the unique rock formations that line the coast’s stunning cliffs.

While several services offer kayaking rentals & tours, we booked ours off of the recommendation of a friend and thought it was the perfect experience. Not only did they guide us through the water by kayak & teach us about each of the beach’s and caves we explored, but they also allowed us time to jump off of their boat and swim in the open ocean!

Lagos Kayaking Tour

2. The Fishermen’s Hiking Trail

Once you get back on land, pack your backpack with some beach supplies & snacks and begin hiking along the clifftop trails in Lagos! Formally titled the Fishermen’s Trail, the well established paths that weave along the tops of each of the town’s coastal cliffs are relatively flat and very well maintained.

These hiking trails are free to the public and suitable for all experience levels. The entire length of this trail stretches from Lagos to Luz (over 8 miles), but it’s common to hike a smaller portion to accommodate your schedule. We recommend at least hiking out to the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse and back.

3. Enjoy the Coved Beaches of Lagos

When you’re ready for a break from hiking, or when you stumble upon a beach you just can’t pass up, descend down into one of Lagos’ many beach coves! These famous shores are riddled throughout the coastline, so you will have many choices of beaches to choose between. Since the trails are located atop the cliffs, you will need to access the beach either through a staircase or winding hiking trail to get down to the sand.

The beaches are completely free for the public to enjoy. Tip: Since these beaches are situated between cliffs, the shores will get very narrow during high tide. Be sure to check the tides before heading down to the beach.

4. Downtown Lagos

After your full day enjoying the beautiful nature in Lagos, head back into town to explore the city. With a busy promenade & marina, there is sure to be a lot of activity during your visit. This could be a great opportunity for a bit of shopping and souvenir-hunting!

5. Dinner at Restaurant Mirandus

To end your day, we recommend making a reservation at Restaurant Mirandus, located at the Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda (which, if you’re looking for a nice place to stay, looks like a dream). Not only does this restaurant offer a delicious menu, but it also offers some of the best views of the coast that Lagos has to offer!

Reservations for dinner can either be booked online or through the following phone number: +351 282 763 222

Let us know what your favorite thing to do in Lagos was in the comments below! We hope you have a great trip!

Where To Stay

Wondering where to stay for your night in Lagos? Check out our recommendations based on your travel style below!

• Budget Hostel: Orange3 Hostel
• Luxury Resort: Boutique Hotel Vivenda Mirenda
• Popular Stay: Hotel Marina Rio

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is one day in Lagos enough? If your goal is to see all of Lagos’ highlights on a bigger tour through Portugal, one day is absolutely enough time to see Lagos. We were able to do all of the activities listed in this itinerary in just one day, and then moved on to Lisbon the following morning feeling like we had seen it all!
2. Is is worth visiting Lagos? This one is easy – Lagos is definitely worth adding to any trip to Portugal. With some of the most beautiful views Portugal has to offer, it is absolutely worth the trip down to the southern coast, and I would even say if you’re between the two it’s better than a trip to Porto!
3. Can you visit Lagos in a day trip from Lisbon? While it may be a long day, a day trip from Lisbon is a common way to see Lagos and the Algarve coast. About a three hour drive from city to city, there are many tour companies in Lisbon that offer services to Lagos and back.

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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.