When I was planning my trip to Portugal, I did some research to find out where is the best place to stay in the Algarve. The answer was not straight forward, and everywhere I checked I was given a list of 10+ places to choose from.
I will make the decision simple for you, and say immediately, my recommendation for the best place to stay in the Algarve is Lagos. If this is your first time to the Algarve region, Lagos is without doubt the best place to stay.
reasons why lagos is the best place to stay in the algarve region:
The beaches in the algarve
Let’s be honest, if you’re coming to Southern Portugal, you probably want to enjoy some beach time. The Algarve has some of the best beaches in Europe, and quite a few of those are in
the Lagos area.
The Algarve region is famous for those beaches surrounded by jagged karst limestone cliffs and rocks protruding through the water. Lagos has these in abundance, all with crystal clear blue turquoise waters.
Praia de Dona Ana is the nearest such beach to the centre of town, about 20 minutes’ walk. The waters here are very calm, perfect for swimming. There is a beach bar for refreshments, toilets, and deck chairs and parasols are available to rent if you prefer.
Praia do Camilo is a little south of Praia de Dona Ana and is as equally as impressive. It’s a
little smaller, and there aren’t any facilities here. At low tide, you can walk past the cliffs to
explore the beach a little further to find some hidden coves.
Praia do Canavial is really hidden away, making it a little more exciting once you find it. To access, you will need to navigate quite a few steep steps down to the beach. Once you make it, you’ll be rewarded with equally stunning scenery.
There are no facilities here, so bring everything you need with you. The western side of the beach is also a naturist friendly beach for those who don’t want tan marks!
To find the beach, follow directions to Rua do Canavial, and then start walking along a boardwalk. After about 30 yards, you should see a chicken wire fence to your right. Once you see the wire fence, leave the boardwalk and head towards the cliff edge. You should then see the steps down to the beach to your right.
Exploring Lagos Old Town
The old city walls of Lagos still exist on the western side of town. To the east is the Marina, just across the river which has a lovely promenade going all the way down to the coastline.
The centre of Lagos is enchanting, with typical Portuguese cobbled streets in white, black, and red stone; white-washed buildings, and a good mix of restaurants and bars.
Although plenty of tourists visit every year, Lagos doesn’t feel overrun like nearby Albufeira, it has a more authentic feel and vibe. You can get any type of cuisine you want here, there is plenty of choice. I really enjoyed the Argentinian food served at Empanadas and Co. on Rua Infante de Sagres, I highly recommend you check this place out for great food.
The old town isn’t so big and is easily walkable. I advise walking around during the day and again night for a different kind of vibe. The locals come out more at night to eat and drink and the atmosphere is really great.
kayaking tours in the algarve
If you want to add a bit of adventure to your trip, Lagos is the perfect place to start a kayak tour of those amazing limestone cliffs, and numerous hidden caves and grottos that hog the coastline.
Kayak tours last about 2.5 hours and take you past the famous Ponta da Piedade headland and many hidden caves and grottos only accessible from the water. In my opinion it’s the best way to see the coastline. I paid €35, and you are provided lockers to put your valuables and a waterproof bag for your camera or phone to take with you.
If you don’t feel like kayaking, there are numerous boat tours available. Walk along the promenade and you will see 20-30 stalls set up selling various tours.
lagos is centrally located
When I visited the Algarve, I didn’t want to restrict myself to just one town. Lagos is quite central across the Algarve region, so its easy to visit all the other areas by car, nearly everywhere is within an hour drive.
You can drive to the West coast in 30 minutes to see a magical sunset across the Atlantic, or head in the other direction and its about 1 hour to Faro and Tavira, or just 30 minutes to Albufeira.
Clifftop Walks in the algarve
One of my favourite activities in Lagos was to walk along the coastal cliff paths. As the kayaks take you around the coast in the water, a lot of the coastline is accessible to walk along the top for a different perspective.
You can take some seriously good pictures as the cliffs jut out into the Atlantic. I went in May, and there was a light breeze that kept me cool enough from the sun. You can start the cliff walk at Praia de Dona Ana and keep on walking until you get tired, it seems to go on forever!
best place to stay in the algarve - lagos
I hope I have provided many reasons that you should choose Lagos as the best place to stay in the Algarve.
There are of course other options available so here are some alternatives. They are all great places to visit, and even spend a night or two, but none beat Lagos for me.
faro
Faro is the capital of the Algarve region, and where a lot of the locals live and work. The town is pretty, and there are a few sites to see. The main drawcard for me was its proximity to the Airport in the region – Faro International Airport, where you’ll likely fly into.
If you have a late arrival, or early departure, it would be best to stay here for the night. I don’t think it’s the best place to stay as there is no beaches in Faro, and its not as atmospheric as Lagos or Tavira.
albufeira
Albufeira is probably the next best place to stay in the Algarve after Lagos. It’s a little bigger than Lagos, so will have more accommodation options. Albufeira has its famous ‘strip’. This is 2km from the old town, and is literally a strip of bars, pubs and nightclubs.
If you’re going on holiday with friends, and want to party all night, maybe consider staying here. It reminded me a bit of somewhere like Benidorm, full of loud brits partying all night. This is fine if this is what you want, it wasn’t for me though.
The nearest beaches to Albufeira are not the same as in Lagos, they don’t have the jagged limestone cliffs, but they are perfectly fine for topping up your tan and swimming. There are beach bars, and facilities available.
tavira
Tavira is the furthest town east in the Algarve region. I really loved visiting this town. It has a certain charm to it, it reminded me a little of Paris.
The town is so colourful and vibrant, with flowers planted everywhere, providing a wonderful feeling. The town is divided by the Gilao River running through the middle. The one negative for Tavira is the lack of an accessible beach. Praia do Barril is in Tavira but accessible via boat, or a lengthy 20-minute walk from the nearest car park.
Once there, you will find some great beach bars if you’re want to take a break from the sand and water. There is also a little train you can catch to take you to the beach. It costs €1.80 and is very slow. I decided to walk 20 minutes, and I was quicker than the train, so maybe only take it if you have young children, or lots of beach stuff with you.
summary - the best place to stay in the algarve
I hope you found this article helpful, and you can make an informed decision about where you want to stay in the Algarve.