If you’re ready to explore and walk on one of the most beautiful coastal trails in Portugal then you need to try out the trail from Lagos towards the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse.
You’ll have an aerial view of some of the best beaches in Lagos while walking along the coast. You may even spot a hidden beach or two.
The whole Ponta da Piedade trail goes along the coast next to Lagos. You’ll end up passing some of the famous beaches like Praia de Dona Ana and Praia dos Pinheiros.
On top of that, you’ll end up at a few viewpoints like the famous Mirador Del Faro where you get a really great view of the cliffs surrounding all these beaches around Lagos.
As you walk along the coast you’ll be met with some beautiful coastal views in the area. The best part is that the trail starts right from Lagos and goes towards the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse.
It’s hands down one of our favourite free activities to do in Lagos on a nice sunny day.
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What to expect when walking to Ponta da Piedade
As we mentioned, the trail actually starts right in Lagos. So if you forgot any food or want a snack for the trail you can grab one right before you start the walk to Ponta da Piedade.
The trail itself is in good condition and you really don’t need hiking shoes for this trail but some good walking/running shoes are definitely a bonus.
You’ll be walking on a combination of sidewalk, road, and then natural earth. There are areas where you do see a bit of erosion, especially really close to the coast but again regular walking/running shoes should be fine.
Along the walk, you’ll be greeted by plenty of side trails that lead to popular and also hidden beaches around Lagos.
If you’re planning to spend all day exploring you can definitely hit up a few of these beaches. One of our favourites is Praia do Camilo.
You’ll also be rewarded with some cool viewpoints like the one at Mirador Del Faro.
At the end, you’ll make it to the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse where you can find a bunch of small trails that lead to other great viewpoints of Lagos and the sea!
Practical information about hiking to Ponta da Piedade
Distance: 5.3 km return / 3.29 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 181 m / 593ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out trail
Length: 2.5 hours return (depending on how many photos you take)
Difficulty: 3/5
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Ponta da Piedade trail.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the Ponta da Piedade trail
Starting the hike from downtown Lagos
One of the best parts of this hike is that it starts basically right in Lagos. If you wake up one morning and feel like exploring and going to the coast then you can walk out your front door and head straight to the trail.
Well… Almost straight to the trail! Maybe stop for a coffee (we can highly recommend Black and White Coffee Shop), smoothie, or a bagel downtown before that! 😉
After that, just walk through a few of the cute and narrow streets in Lagos towards the coast where the hike starts at one of the first beaches, Praia dos Estudantes!
After Praia dos Estudantes you follow the road up a bit and turn left. You should then see the sign in the picture above.
Walking along the coastline towards Ponta da Piedade lighthouse
This part gets a little bit tricky to explain the trail fully because of erosion and safety; certain parts of the trail may or may not be blocked off by the city.
The best thing to do is follow the trail, green and blue signs, and coast when you can and if you have to go back to the sidewalk for a little portion then do that.
One of our favourite parts of this hiking trail along the Lagos coast is seeing all the beaches and hidden beaches along the way.
There are so many cliffs along this coast it creates some epic inlets where small beaches have been formed. Since you’ll be hiking above all this you’ll see it all and it’s insanely beautiful!
There are a few great beaches like Praia de Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo that are worth checking out on your way to Ponta da Piedade.
There’s a lot more but the two beaches mentioned are easy to access and personally our favourites.
Final stretch to the Ponta da Piedade Viewpoint
This last stretch, again, has just as pretty views as earlier in the hike. There are still some beaches along the way and the Mirador del Faro viewpoint is incredible.
You’ll be able to walk past the Ponta da Piedade where you’ll see a bunch of small trails leading to the edge of the cliffs where everyone goes.
At this point, you can find a nice spot to hang out or find a cool place to take some pictures. The view of the cliffs, lighthouse, and coast are absolutely magical and if you look back you can see all of Lagos!
This is the turning point of the hike but if you feel like walking even a little further you can continue on the walking trail where you can get to some other viewpoints and beaches such as Praia do Canavial and even all the way to Praia de Porto Mós.
Once you’re ready you can just return the same way and it will most likely be quicker walking back since you’ll already know the trail and the areas that are fine to hike and stay away from those that aren’t.
What to bring on the Ponta Da Piedade coastal trail
Since the Ponta da Piedade Trail is relatively short and close to the city, stores, and restaurants you don’t have to bring too much stuff.
However, if you do plan to spend some time at some of the beaches and do some exploring you might want to pack a little bit!
Summer days can get absolutely roasting in Lagos, especially if you’re out in the sun all afternoon. Even Lagos in December can get quite hot when it’s not windy and the UV index can still be fairly high.
We always recommend bringing water, sunscreen, and a hat for protection from the sun! You can even bring a cute beach hat like this one so you look super cute in the photos you take!
If you get hungry or forget something, you can also go off the trail into town or to one of the restaurants near the trail but it’s nice to come prepared and just have the full day hanging out.
The trail is easy to follow and easy to walk on so just bring some shoes you’re comfortable walking in for at least a few hours and you should be completely fine.
Packing list for the coastal trail around Lagos:
- Water! There is nowhere on this hike to refill your bottle so bring plenty (unless you go into a restaurant). We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before starting a hike.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Portugal. Even if you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
- It’s always nice to have some snacks for the hike. Nuts, granola bars, PB & J sandwiches, you name it.. We love snacking while hiking! 😉
- A camera. You’re definitely going to be taking a lot of photos on this walk. We always bring our Sony A6000 with us wherever we go.
You can check out this Portugal Packing List to get some more inspiration for your entire trip!
The best affordable camera for beginners
If you’re looking for the best and most affordable camera for beginners, check out the Sony Alpha a6000 Camera.
This is the camera we’ve been using for years and still use to this day.
It’s perfect for travelling and super easy to use – even if you’re a beginner.
Before you hike the Ponta da Piedade trail
Check the weather in Lagos
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go.
This is the best way to prepare for the hike ahead of you. Even if this is just a simple trail along the coast, there is still a lot of erosion going on and we wouldn’t recommend doing it if it’s raining as it can get muddy and slippery.
You can check the weather for Lagos, Portugal here.
Plan to visit some beaches along the way
If you want to explore some of the beaches, we have a list of awesome beaches in Lagos right here.
The only thing to look into is when the tide is high and low to make sure you’ll actually have time to hang out and relax at the different beaches.
If you’re interested there is also a nudist beach in Lagos along the way towards Ponta da Piedade. So you can stop by there if you want. It ‘s called Praia dos Pinheiros!
If you have time and have the full day to do this walk/hike then stopping at one of the beaches along the way is a nice way to make this a full-day activity out exploring and away from all the crowds in the city.
Other related questions to the Ponta Da Piedade Coastal trail
What’s the best tour to see Ponta da Piedade?
There are plenty of awesome boat tours in Lagos and a few that actually take you to Ponta da Piedade.
We can recommend this Ponta da Piedade boat tour as it’s run by a local family and we had a great experience with them seeing all the caves, beaches, and dolphins if you’re lucky!
Can you swim in Ponta da Piedade?
It is not recommended to swim in Ponta Da Piedade. There are multiple wonderful beaches in Lagos that you can swim at so it’s better to swim at one of those instead.
There are usually many boat tours in Lagos going on during the day so the water can be very dangerous for swimmers.
Thankfully the beaches in Lagos offer some great spots for swimming and if you do want to see the Ponta Da Piedade you can either do the coastal walk or go on one of the boat tours that depart from the marina in Lagos.
How to see Ponta da Piedade?
The best way to see Ponta da Piedade is to walk along the coast where you can find the Ponta Da Piedade coastal trail.
This coastal trail starts in Lagos and takes you all the way to Ponta Da Piedade. Walking next to the beaches, cliffs, and coastline this is the most scenic walk in Lagos.
Another option is to take a taxi from Lagos to Ponta Da Piedade which should cost you max $5-7. If you do like walking though the coastal trail is beautiful and recommend that!
You may also like…
- 20 Fun Things to Do in Lagos, Portugal
- The Ultimate Packing List for Portugal in 2022
- 5 Awesome Boat Tours to Do in Lagos, Portugal
- 8 Beautiful Beaches in Lagos You Need to Visit
- How to Explore the Ponta Da Piedade Boat Tour in Lagos
Recap of the coastal walk to Ponta Da Piedade
Whether you’re staying in Lagos or just driving by on a road trip we hope you have the best time exploring this part of Portugal.
Lagos is beautiful and getting out on a boat tour around Ponta da Piedade, relaxing by the beaches around Lagos, and checking out the viewpoints around Lagos is awesome.
One of the things we love about the Ponta da Piedade trail is that you get a bit of all three (caves, beaches, and viewpoints) in one hike.
It’s not a long and hard coastal walk but you’re rewarded with amazing views the whole way.
The coastal walk is amazing and it’s probably our second favourite coastal trail in Portugal right behind the Praia da Ursa Trail up on the Silver Coast of Portugal.
Enjoy the coast, the (hopefully) amazing weather, and epic views. Have the best time hiking to Ponta da Piedade near Lagos!
You can also reach out to us on instagram @redwhiteadventures if you have any questions about the coastal walk or about Lagos.
Have an amazing time in this sunny city and take some time to explore this beautiful coast!
Love it? Share it!
Hi! I am planning a trip to the Algarve region this December with my husband & 4 kids. If we walk to Ponta da Piedade, is it possible to take a cab back to our car in Lagos so as to save time? Any idea how this walk compares to the Seven Hanging Valleys walk between Praia da Marinha & Praia do Carvalho? Should we do both? Thanks for your advice!
Hey Alexia,
Yes lots of people do either take a taxi/uber from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade and then hike back to the city or hike from the city and take a taxi/uber like you mentioned. To be honest they are both similar trails. I think the Ponta da Piedade is going to be a little bit better if you have 4 kids. You’re closer to the city and have a few restaurants and beaches along the way you can rest at if anyone in the family gets tired!
-Dom
Hi, We are vacationing in the Algarve in December and are considering visiting Cape of St. Vincent and Ponta da Piedade on Christmas Day. I assume all restaurants and building are closed, but will we be able to access the parking areas so we can do a self-guided tour and hike?
Thank you!
Steve
Hi Steve, What a lovely place to spend Christmas Day! We left shortly before Christmas when we went so I am not 100% sure but I can’t see why you shouldn’t be able to. When we went, the parking areas weren’t managed but even if they are now, you should be able to just park and pay. I definitely think you will be fine to do that 🙂
– Josefine