Beaches to Lagos

Praia do Salema
Near Salema

This beach is in the centre of the fishing village of Salema and accessible from the costal road. The west side is used for bathing while the local fisherman fish on the east side and is suitable for quiet walks. Salema is a typical Portugese place even if some failed investments are visible. It has some tourist amenities such as kiosks with beach wear, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. The shallow water makes it suitable for children who can be easily watched from the beach side restaurants. While we of course don't recommend you to leave your children to swim on their own it is possible for parents to rest while children play with other youngsters. The boats and nets also offer them attraction. As Salema has little parking space we recommend you come early in the morning and make a day trip out of it.

Praia da Boca da Rio
Near Budens

Boca da rio means mouth of a river and is a very small uncommercialised beach, attractive to romantic and nature lovers. Boca da Rio itself is a bay - suitable for walks and swimming. You get there via the costal road about 200 m before the turning to Budens. An undeveloped track leads to the beach which is also accessible via the beach of Cabanas Velhas.

Praia da Cabanas Velhas
Near Budens/Burgau

This is another uncommercialised, natural beach ? enchanting for nature lovers. It is signposted and actually has a car park. The sandy beach is very spacious and clean and the water is crystal clear.

Praia do Burgau
Near Burgau

Praia do Burgau is a small bay 300 meters in length. You get there via Burgau but it is advisable to park at the Cabanhas Velhas beach. It has no amenities but it is perfectly fine for those who are staying at Burgau.

Praia da Luz
Near Montinhos da Luz

Praia da Luz is one of the big tourist centres of the area and perhaps due to its mass of visitors too small. One wonders why so many people meet at one place: There are many restaurants and bars, sailing club with waterskiing, windsurfing, kite surfing and banana boat rides. The beach is sandy and clean and child orientated and rents out loungers. There is plenty of security and parking space.

Praia do Porto de Mos
Near Lagos

This beach in Lagos is the ideal family beach and lacks nothing with fine sand and crystal clear water. It is easy to reach and has plenty of space. Children enjoy playing in the puddles and ponds which the tide leaves behind. The car park is next to the beach and there are toys, restaurants and loungers to rent.

Praia do Canavial
Near Lagos

This beach, visible from the Ponte da Piade looking west, is a long strip of protected sand. As there is no road and it is only accessible by some precarious paths it is not so busy. It is often empty but very clean and frequented by naturalists.

Praia do Camillo
Near Lagos

This small rocky bay is on the way to Ponta da Piedade, from where a road turns off towards it. There is a car park and two pubs, one of which is directly at the beach. Concrete steps lead down to the beach making for a tiring walk back. It consists of two smaller bays, is used for diving and is less suitable for children.

Praia da Dona Ana
Near Lagos

Praia do Ana is a beautifully located beach. It is surrounded by the rock formations which you find on many of the postcards from Algarve. Unfortunately it is also a typically tourist beach. If you like this the beach provides for everything that you need to enjoy a good day at the beach: the original visitors fo the beach, nice aquaintancies, a surrounding of apartments and hotels, some shops, restaurant, bar, rental loungers and free showers. For a moderate price you can take boat tours to the grottos. During the summer season it may be quite crowded. This beach is worth to be seen - maybe you just don't want to stay for the whole day.

Praia da Batata - the potato beach of Lagos
Near Lagos

"Batata" is the Portuguese word for "potato". The potatoe beach is located directly at the Fort of Lagos and got its name from the rocks around it which have the shape of potatoes. It can be reached easily by foot from the center of Lagos. Unfortunately there are only few parking spots. The water is very clear and the sea is shallow. This beach is not guarded. Due to the vicinity to the port especially during the summer months the water quality fulfills only minimum standards.

Praia dos Estudantes
Near Lagos

The Portugese call this place the beach of students or pupils and it is in fact visited by many European students. It is next to the potato beach and has various rocky paths which lead to neighbouring beaches. You can reach it by a long and narrow stairway directly from the main road in Lagos - nothing for a lot of beach toys of smaller children - maybe because of this the name "student beach".

Meia Praia
Near Lagos

This means half beach and is seven kilometres long with a very wide crescent shaped sandy strip and a back drop of sand dunes. It stretches eastwards from Lagos towards the mouth of the Alvor River. The many car parks and restaurants prevent it from getting too crowded at every time of the year so you can always find a quiet spot. The north westerly winds makes it suitable for surfers. You can also go for a walk towards the harbour at the end of the bay which connects with some inland lakes und rivers. You find yourself surrounded by water on three sides. It is a paradise for shell collecting, water skiing, surfing, windsurfing, paragliding

Praia do Alvor
Near Alvor

Alvor beach is a seven kilometre long sandy beach surrounded by low sand dunes and is known as one of the most beautiful beaches of the Algarve. It has commercial areas with restaurants offering freshly caught fish as well as dunes and salty lagunes. It is easy to reach by car. The water is clean and shallow making it suitable for children.