If you want to find the best beaches in Portugal you need to visit Lagos. Between all the cliffs and inlets you’ll find some of the most beautiful, small, and hidden beaches in all of Portugal. You will also find some of the most famous beaches in Lagos like Praia de Dona Ana which is huge and just breathtaking.
The combination of different beaches that you can find around Lagos Portugal is what really makes it special. You can walk along the area of Mirador del Faro and do the coastal walk around Lagos and you’ll be able to find most of the beaches mentioned in this post. Some of the beaches are easier to get to than others but all are worth a visit!
Below we’ve listed 8 beautiful beaches in Lagos we think are absolutely beautiful to check out and relax at for an afternoon.
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8 best beaches in Lagos you need to check out
Almost all the beaches around Lagos have that perfect golden sand that feels so nice on your bare feet, crystal clear water, and crazy cool cliffs all along the coast.
You’ll end up wanting to spend all day exploring the different beaches around the city, so make sure to come prepared. Bring a beach towel, some sunscreen, your favourite book, and your camera – and you’re good to go!
Let’s dive in!
#1 Praia dos Estudantes
Praia dos Estudantes is one of the closest beaches to downtown Lagos. If you’re looking to just get out of the city quickly and straight to the beach then Praia dos Estudantes is a nice one nearby.
It’s not the best beach to swim at but a cool thing about Praia dos Estudantes is that you walk through a rock tunnel to enter the cave. In a way, it seems a little hidden but in reality, it’s very easy to access. That also meant that it does get quite busy since it’s so close to the city.
One of the best parts about hanging out at Praia dos Estudantes is the fact that you have this amazing view of an arch (Lagos Roman Bridge) and the sun usually sits behind it in the afternoon. Bring some relaxing clothes, a beach towel, some games or a book and enjoy this beach right next to town.
#2 Praia do Pinhão
Praia do Pinhão is another beach not far from downtown Lagos which is easily accessible by foot. There’s a staircase that leads you down to this beautiful golden sand beach. We didn’t get a chance to go down to this one but we did see it from above while walking the coastal trail around Lagos. From above, Praia do Pinhão looks spectacular.
There are a few caves and inlets that you can explore while you’re at Praia do Pinhão but make sure to watch the tide. You don’t want to get stuck in a cave or on a part of the beach when high tide comes in. You can see the tide times for Praia do Pinhão here to plan when the best time to visit this beach is.
One thing we recommend for this beach is wearing some proper shoes to the beach because the staircase down to Praia do Pinhão is quite steep. Worst case if you don’t feel like going down the stairs you can go to one of the many other beaches around Lagos!
#3 Praia de Dona Ana
One of the most famous and beautiful beaches in Lagos is the Praia de Dona Ana beach. It’s a bit of a walk to get to Praia de Dona Ana but if you take the coastal walk from downtown Lagos you’ll eventually end up at Dona Ana and it’s absolutely incredible.
Praia de Dona Ana is one of the bigger beaches in Lagos and is usually quite busy because it’s a good place to relax and swim at. So if you want to go for a bit of a swim the water is really nice at this beach. There are also lots of cafes and restaurants up above the beach that you can go to if you need a refreshing drink or some food, so you can easily spend all day at Dona Ana.
Similar to a lot of the other beaches near Lagos, you’ll find these little inlets and caves with tide pools that you can explore. You can thank the cliffs for all the caves and hidden beaches and if you do walk the coastal trail you’ll have a birds-eye view of lots of these trails that lead to caves and connect to other beaches. Dona Ana offers a bunch of exploring!
#4 Praia do Camilo
Praia do Camilo is probably our favourite beach in Lagos. Tucked away between some cliffs and a long 200-step staircase to get down to the beach it definitely keeps some people away so it’s less touristy than it otherwise could’ve been. You also either need to drive out or walk along the coast to get here, but it is really worth checking out!
You can’t really see the beach from the viewpoint above but you can see the big rocks, the sea, and the cliffs all around. Slowly, as you descend down the stairs, the beach comes into view and you’ll see why this is a very popular Instagram spot.
As soon as you get down you’ll see this man-made cave that leads to another small little beach. Again, be careful because when high tide comes in you don’t want to get stuck in the small hidden beach but Praia do Camilo really is beautiful. The walk down is totally worth it!
You can see when high tide for Praia do Camilo is and plan accordingly. Personally, we think it’s better to go check out and explore the small hidden beach but Camilo Beach itself offers an amazing view of the cliffs so that’s the better spot to relax at.
#5 Praia dos Pinheiros
If you’re looking to visit, suntan, and swim at a nudist beach then Praia dos Pinheiros is the one. Just a fair warning: the people there will be naked so if you aren’t prepared for that, then all other beaches in Lagos are probably better for you. Praia dos Pinheiros is the one beach where people can go and be naked without any problems!
The hike down to the beach takes you through this narrow canyon so make sure to wear proper footwear. Because it’s a bit of a hike up and down to get there it will hopefully be less busy when you visit but then again it’s the only nudist beach in Lagos so it will attract people.
The views of the cliffs and ocean from Praia dos Pinheiros are amazing and if you’re a nudist beachgoer you will love this beach. It really is a little paradise right next to civilization.
#6 Praia de Balança
By foot, Praia de Balança is considered off the beaten path. If you’re on a kayak trip or boat tour from Lagos that stops at some of the beaches then that’s a different story. And if you’re willing to hike a bit and go early enough in the morning there’s a good chance you’ll have Praia de Balança to yourself.
Most tourists or locals in Lagos go to some of the closer beaches mentioned above but Praia da Balança is a beautiful secluded beach not too far from Lagos. The towering cliffs cover the beach and you almost wouldn’t see it unless you’re on the water or know that it’s there.
So if you’re up for the challenge, you can hike down the gully to Praia da Balança and enjoy this beautiful golden sand beach not too far from Lagos. Balança is a really picturesque beach and you can get some beautiful pictures of the cliffs, the ocean, and the rock formations surrounding it. Enjoy this hidden beach!
#7 Praia de Barranco do Martinho
Praia de Barranco isn’t easy to get to but if you do like a bit of an adventure and a good rush then it’s worth the climb down. We only recommend this beach if you’re good with heights and tight spaces.
Barranco is a small beach that’s also hidden away like the majority of the other caves and is just past the famous Ponta da Piedade lookout. Grab the right gear and get ready for a fun adventure down to another amazing beach in Lagos!
#8 Praia do Porto Mós
Praia do Porto Mós beach is perfect if you’re looking for a long and spacious golden sand beach. It is easiest accessible if you have a car or take a Bolt or an Uber to the beach since it’s a little out of the city.
Praia do Porto Mós is located on the southwest side of Lagos and is an extremely vast beach that feels like it stretches for miles.
There are plenty of parking spots and restaurants near Praia do Porto Mós so you can easily spend a full day in the area.
If you want to explore a little bit you can walk along the coast from Praia do Porto Mos and explore some of the hidden beaches and caves nearby. There are also other great lesser-known beaches only a short walk away.
List of things you can bring to the beach
- It’s Portugal so sunscreen is a must! We’ve been using Sun Bum for a while now and absolutely love it + it’s ocean-friendly (unlike the majority of sunscreens) which is a huge plus.
- A Kindle has been one of our favourite gifts we’ve ever got. It takes up almost no space and it’s easy to bring and read on. We love hard copy books but for travelling you can’t beat a Kindle!
- A surf poncho! The first time we’ve ever seen one was right here in Portugal and we’ve wanted them ever since. If you’re surfing or just going for a swim it’s so nice to have a surf poncho!
- A deck of cards or some game that you can play at the beach!
- If there are not too many people around we love to play some music from a little portable speaker. Of course, at the busier beaches, we don’t use it but when we’re just by ourselves it’s nice to have some music playing!
- You can never go wrong with a comfy pair of sandals.
Check out our Portugal packing list for a full + downloadable packing list!
Frequently asked questions about the beaches in Lagos, Portugal
How many beaches are there in Lagos Portugal?
There are over 10 beaches in Lagos Portugal! There are 4 main beaches which are mentioned in this post and then there are a handful of smaller and more hidden beaches in and around the city. Some are easily accessible by walking along the coast and some you need to take a boat or kayak to get to.
All in all, there are at least 10 beaches in Lagos and then even more along the coast in both directions. There’s an endless amount of sand and beach to relax at in Lagos!
Which is the famous beach in Lagos?
Praia de Dona Ana (beach #3) is one of the most famous beaches in Lagos. It is such a long and beautiful beach that it attracts a lot of tourists and locals. Also the view from Praia de Dona Ana is absolutely stunning and the sand is soft and gold.
You can also easily walk to Praia de Dona Ana from Lagos along the coastal trail or you can drive to the parking lot in front of the beach. There are also a few restaurants and shops near Praia de Dona Ana which is another reason it’s one of the most famous beaches in Lagos.
Does Lagos have nice beaches?
In our opinion, Lagos has some of the nicest beaches along the Algarve Coast. In all honesty, the whole Algarve has amazing beaches but Lagos has an awesome variety of big, small, hidden, and even nudist beaches.
Most of them are also walking distance from town and are quite clean. So all in all the beaches in Lagos are really nice!
Are there beaches in Lagos Portugal?
You have 8 awesome beaches that are basically within walking distance from Lagos right here!
As we mentioned, there are even more beaches in Lagos but some are quite challenging to get to or not even manageable on foot. But yes there are plenty of beaches in Lagos.
Portugal is known for its beaches and Lagos is one of the reasons why!
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Recap of beaches in Lagos we love
If you love beaches and especially golden sand ones then you’re going to love Lagos. The whole coastline along Lagos is filled with beaches and the ones we’ve mentioned are only a fraction of them.
Besides all the other fun things to do in Lagos, the beaches are definitely one of the favourite things to explore around the city. The fact that there are a ton of hidden and small beaches makes it extra fun!
Most of these beaches are within walking distance from Lagos and are easily accessible. If you end up doing the coastal walk around Lagos you’ll walk past most of these beaches and you’ll even see the little canyons that you have to climb through to get to some of the more hidden beaches.
If you’re just passing by Lagos or planning a road trip around the Algarve we can highly recommend spending some time in the area. Lagos is a fun and energetic city filled with expats and locals. It’s one of our favourite spots in the Algarve and after a few days there you’ll understand why,
Have the best time exploring Lagos and its beaches and let us know which one you find to be your favourite!
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