THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE TO LAGOS, PORTUGAL

The historic town of Lagos lies on the Algarve. Once a famous seaport, nowadays most visitors visit Lagos to indulge in its fantastic range of restaurants (with excellent seafood dishes), beaches, and wild nightlife.

During the summertime, this city becomes the center of partying for backpackers in Portugal with endless bar crawls, booze cruises, and fun in the sun. The city also makes a great base of operations to explore neighboring towns, coves, and beaches!

This travel guide to Lagos will give you everything you need to plan the perfect trip to the city.

1. Go scuba diving

With around 850 km (528 mi) of coastline, Lagos and Sagres is the site of numerous underwater caves and shipwrecks. This is one of the best diving spots in Europe. Pedra de Ancora is home to a fabulous reef filled with lobsters and drum fish and swarms of fish can be found in Porto de Mos. Arriefes and The Cave are perfect spots for beginners. One dive with equipment will cost you €70-100 ($76-108.50 USD).

2. Visit the fish market

Mercado Municipal is a three-story market known for its freshly caught fish. Get here early (6-7am is best) to see local fisherman unload their catch and locals vie for the freshest fish. While the fish vendors can be found on the ground floor, you’ll also find fresh local produce, cheese, butcher shops, herbs, nuts, and oils spread through the market’s three floors. This is a cool place to spend a morning and buy some fresh food for the day.

3. See the Old Slave Market

In one corner of the Praca da Republica, under the arches of the old customs house, is what was Europe’s first slave market. The market opened in 1444 and it is said that, within a century, up to 10,000 slaves were being shipped annually from Africa. Today, this area is a museum. Exhibits include panel displays that detail the lives of slaves as well as those taken to Brazil after from the 1500s onward. On the second floor you’ll find manacles, weapons, maps, and the history of the port and slave market in Lagos. It’s open daily except for Mondays from 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm. Admission is €4 ($4.50 USD).

4. Walk along the town walls

The town ramparts and fortification walls originally date as far back as the Roman era and expanded to accommodate the town’s growth during the period of Arab rule and again during Christian occupation. The walls as seen today date back to the 16th-century when Barbary pirate raids were common and Spain was threatening invasion. Today, the fortification walls still circle the entire city, so walking them may be more exercise than you want. Visit the Porta de São Gonçalo, which is flanked by Albarran towers, and the fort of Ponte de Banderia. These are the best preserved sections of the wall.

5. Check out the Municipal Museum

Located in a Baroque church annex, the Municipal Museum is next to St. Anthony’s church and houses a collection of archaeological artifacts and religious art. The museum was founded by Dr. José dos Santos Pimenta Formosinho in 1932. Here you can learn about the history of Lagos and the surrounding region. It’s a good way to spend a few hours when you tire of the beach. The entrance fee is €3 ($3.25 USD). The museum is open daily except for Mondays from 9:30am-12:30pm and 2pm-5pm.

6. Go on a trail ride

Horseback riding is one of the most popular activities in the region. In spring and autumn, riding along the beaches is ideal as there are very few tourists (this is not possible in summer when the beaches are crowded with people). In summer, opt to explore some of the lagoons or forested trails. A couple of companies offer trail rides around the Lagos area top. In summer, riding early in the morning or in the late afternoon is best as the days can be quite hot. A two-hour ride costs around €45 ($49 USD).

7. Visit the Science Center

If you need some time out of the sun, the Ciencia Viva Science Center is a neat way to kill some time with hands-on, interactive exhibits. Ancient Portuguese seafarers are the focus on the center’s three themed areas: orientation and navigation, life on board the ships they used, and distance communication. Learn about the sea route to India, old world navigation techniques, Morse code, and more. Entrance for adults is €3 ($3.25 USD). The museum is open daily except for Mondays, from 10am-6pm.

8. Go on a walking tour

Spend 2 hours learning about some of the history and culture of Lagos with a local guide. Ligio is a local historian, full of passion and charm. His tour can be found on TripAdvisor or Viator and include the sculpture of Dom Sebastiao, statue of Infante Dom Henrique, and the Governor’s castle. A good way to kick off your stay. Tickets cost €16 ($17.50 USD).

9. Take a food tour

Food Tours Algarve offers a food and wine tour that visits 5 restaurants in Lagos and includes around 10 traditional dishes. The tour is 3 hours and guides you through local neighborhoods, offering interesting histories, architecture, and cultural insights. Tours are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 6pm. Tickets cost €75 ($81.25 USD).

Lagos Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Prices start around €24 ($26 USD) per night for a 4-6 bed dorm in a centrally-located hostel. Private rooms that sleep 2 (twin beds) start around €70 ($76 USD) per night. Hostels here offer free linens and free wifi. Most offer free breakfast.

Budget hotel prices – Mid-range budget hotels start from around €40 ($43.50 USD). These generally include free breakfast and wifi. Most three-star hotels can cost about €115 ($124.50 USD) a night (they often include a free airport transfer as well).

Airbnbs are also widespread in the region too. Entire apartments start at €46 ($50 USD) a night while private rooms and shared common spaces (bathroom, kitchen, living room) start at around €20 ($22 USD).

Average cost of food – You can find snacks in bakeries for around €2 ($2.25 USD) while light meals and sandwiches costs around €7 ($8 USD). Try a bifana, sautéed pork seasoned with garlic, spices, and white wine, served on a roll. Dried octopus (polvo seco) is good, Bolas de Berlim (doughnuts filled with doce de ovos) is good too.

If you want a sit-down meal with table service and drinks, you’re looking at spending closer to €15-20 ($16.50-22 USD). Traditional Portuguese dishes worth trying are grilled sardines, Caldo verde (a collard greens soup), Carne de porco à alentejana (a dish with pork, clams, potatoes, and coriander) and, of course, Portuguese egg tarts!

For a week’s worth of groceries, expect to pay €35 ($38 USD). That includes basic staples like pasta, vegetables, and some meat.

Backpacking Lagos Suggested Budgets On a backpacker budget, you can visit Lagos for C50($55 USD) per day. On this budget, you’ll be staying in a dorm room, cooking your meals, drinking during happy hour (or buying your alcohol in stores), doing free activities (such as enjoying the beaches and exploring the town), and walking or using public transportation to get around. If you’re on a tighter budget, you can lower this by Couchsurfing, visiting during the off-season and cutting down on drinking. On a mid-range budget of €115 ($125 USD) per day, you’ll stay in a budget hotel or private hostel room, eat at cheap local restaurants, use public transportation, go on a tour, take the occasional taxi, and enjoy some drinks at the bar. In short, you’re not going to live large but you’ll be able to get by without worrying too much about your daily spending. On a luxury budget of €275 ($305 USD) or more a day, you can stay in a 4-star hotel, eat out for every meal at mid-range restaurants, drink what you want, visit museums and attractions, go on a walking tour, and go scuba diving. The sky is the limit! You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). I just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget.:)

Lagos Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

If you find cheap accommodation, cook some of your meals, and stick to mostly free activities, you’re going to be able to keep your budget intact fairly easily here. Prices skyrocket in the summer though so it’s a little harder to find deals then. Here are some quick tips to help you save money in Lagos:

1. Get an Airbnb – Because this is such a popular tourist destination, many hotels raise prices substantially during the summer months. However, many locals rent out apartments or run small guest houses on sites like Airbnb. These can be significantly cheaper or will at least offer you better value for your money.

2. Say “no” to bread – When eating out, a selection of bread and olives will be brought to your table before your meal. These aren’t free so just say no!

3. Couchsurf – If you plan ahead, you can usually find really nice Couchsurfing hosts all throughout the country. This way, you not only have a place to stay, but you’ll have a local host that can tell you the best places to go and things to see.

4. Cook your own meals – Restaurants are cheap here but eating out all the time can still be costly. If you’re on a tight budget, save yourself some by cooking your own meals.

Where To Stay in Lagos

Lagos has some incredible places to stay. Book early if you plan to visit in high season (Jul-Aug) as the good hostels fill quickly. Here are my suggested and recommended places to stay in Lagos:

• Top City Hostel & Suites

• Rising Cock Party Hostel

• Boutique Taghostel

• Olive Hostel Lagos

• Sol A Sol Hostel

• Cloud 9 Hostel

• The Stumble Inn

How to Get Around Lagos

Lagos is a small city and very walkable, and there is limited public transportation in the city.

Bus – Onda bus is the local company. Bus #1 circumnavigates the city in an anticlockwise direction. Tickets cost €1.20 ($1.35 USD) or you can buy a day pass for €3.60 ($4 USD).

Bicycle – Bike rentals start at €10 ($11 USD) for four hours, start at €13 ($14.50 USD) for a day. Rent from Coast Supply Co. or Lagos Bike Tours, they are the best options in the city.

Taxi – Taxis in Lagos start at around €3.30 ($3.75 USD) and increase €1.50 ($1.75 USD) for every kilometer traveled. Most drivers speak English but showing them the address on your smartphone will help. If you’re on a budget, skip the taxis. They get expensive fast.

Car rental – If you plan to go on a day trip, you could rent a car to have more flexibility. It will be more expensive than taking the bus or train but will give you more freedom. Expect to pay around €100 ($110 USD) per week for a small car.

When to Go to Lagos

Peak season in Lagos is during the summer months of June-August. Temperatures during that time are around 25-28ºC (77-82ºF). This is also the busiest time to visit the city so expect prices to increase as well (by a lot). The overall atmosphere during this time is lively and there are lots of places to swim or relax on the beach so it’s still worth visiting during peak season.

If you’re on a budget, the best time to visit Lagos is during the shoulder season. March to May and September to October are still warm so you can enjoy the outdoors without as many crowds. Prices are cheaper too. It may be a bit rainy, but you can still enjoy the city without much inconvenience. Winter is from November to February. It gets cold and most everything has closed up shop so you won’t find much going on if you visit during the winter. Temperatures vary but overall temperature hovers around 15 °C (59 °F).

How to Stay Safe in Lagos

Violent attacks here are uncommon and petty crime is rare. Pickpocketing is the most common crime so just be aware of your surroundings when you’re in busy markets or when using the public transportation. Additionally, young backpackers here may be approached and offered drugs as Portugal has decriminalized drug use (that doesn’t mean they are legal, just not criminal. You could still face hefty charges or jail time if you’re caught with illegal drugs). Always decline the offer politely but firmly and continue on your way. As this is a party town, always watch for drunk people, pickpockets, and people spiking your drinks. It’s always important to be safe. The emergency number in Lagos is 112. The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you: