6 Amazing not-to-be-missed Beaches around Lagos: Budget Friendly Travel Tips for Portugal

White sand meeting turquoise water that surrounds magnificent rock formations results in a multitude of stunning beaches throughout the Algarve region in Portugal. With beautiful beaches every step you take, the only trouble with exploring beaches around the Lagos area is making the difficult decision of where to set up your beach towel for the day! That's why we've decided to make your decision easier by sharing our six favourite, not-to-be-missed beaches around Lagos!

6 AMAZING NOT-TO-BE-MISSED BEACHES AROUND LAGOS: BUDGET FRIENDLY TRAVEL TIPS FOR PORTUGAL

Praia da Marinha

Located approximately 45 minutes drive east of Lagos (15 minutes from Lagoa), this breathtaking white sand beach features gorgeous rock formations. There is free parking at the end of the road. Once you’ve found a parking spot, you’ll walk by locals selling various items (from beach towels to fruits and jewellery and daily umbrella rentals for 8 Euros) on your way down the road (followed by many stairs) to the beach. Once at the bottom of the stairs, you’ll find a restaurant on your right as you head onto the sand. The beach has gorgeous rock formations and a few different beach areas. This was our favourite Portugal beach!

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Praia de Benagil

A mere 5 minutes kayaking distance from the renowned Benagil Caves, this popular tourist filled beach is located at a 40 minutes drive east of Lagos (10 minutes from Lagoa, and 10 minutes from Praia da Marinha). This smaller beach offers free parking at the top of the hill, and you must walk down a steep hill on the side of the road with vehicles passing while carrying your belongings to reach the beach (so make sure to only bring what you actually need!). Once on the sand, you will quickly realise that this beach is mostly used as a departure spot for caves tours, including the Benagil Cave. As of September 2017, the prices were  20 Euros per person for a 1 hour boat tour visiting 20+ caves; or 30 Euros per person for a 1.5 hour boat tour exploring 20+caves and stopping in the Benagil Caves. If you prefer to avoid big crowded tours you can opt to rent a kayak for 20 Euros for 1h20. We took advantage of this opportunity during our visit here as it allowed us to skip the wait for the already booked boat tours and as a bonus we got to stop inside the Benagil cave beach to explore the caves at our own pace.

Praia de Camilo

Located 10 minutes drive by car or 30 minutes walk from downtown Lagos, this great beach is surrounded by beautiful rock formations. Parking is limited right at the top of the hill to the beach, leaving no choice to visitors but to park their vehicles on the side of the street. There's also a delicious restaurant located at the top of the stairs on the way to the beach.

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Praia Dona Ana

Our favourite beach near Lagos, Praia Dona Ana is located about 10 minutes drive or 25 minutes walk from Lagos' core. This beach was recommended to us by locals and it didn't disappoint! The parking space is limited, leaving many vehicles to park on the side of the road, but it is well worth the struggle! ​

Praia da Batata

Conveniently located less than 5 minutes walk from the downtown Lagos area, this beach makes for an easy beach day. It is next to the Bandeira Fort and is on the smaller side so can quickly get quite crowded. As long as you don't mind possible crowds, it is ideal for a quick beach getaway, especially if you only have a couple hours to dedicate to the sand and sun!

Praia de Sao Roque

These 4 kilometres of golden sand is the largest beach in the area of Lagos. On its western side is Lagos Marina, making this edge busier with tourists and locals who can access the beach by crossing over the marina using the Lagos Harbour Bridge. It is lined with cafes, bars and various accommodations. The ample space available which means even in the busy times space can still be found. There is plenty of parking available (availability tends to increase as you head East and away from Lagos) while the calm water makes this a great escape for the day.  ​

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On a side note, please be aware that from what we witnessed on these beaches it seems that topless sunbathing is accepted along with having dogs off leash at most of these locations. Now, make sure to pack sunscreen and a few bathing suits so you can go explore these 6 not-to-be-missed beaches around Lagos during your budget friendly travels in Portugal!

​J&C