Lagos

June and September hit the sweet spot: warm, sunny seawater and lively without the peak crowds. May and October are quieter shoulder months: the cliffs without the heat. July and August are hot (28-30°C), busy and festival-focused: great if that's what you want, tiring if not. November through March is quiet, mild and lived-in: a real city rather than a beach resort, with fewer open terraces but also lower prices.

For the town itself (the old town, Ponta da Piedade, a boat trip and a few beaches), two to three days is enough. Stay longer if you're using Lagos as a base for the western Algarve: Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente, the Benagil cave near Carvoeiro, Moorish Silves and the surf coast around Aljezur each easily fill an extra day. Four to five nights is then a comfortable pace without spending every day in the car.

The nearest airport is Faro (FAO), ~90 km / ~1hr 10 mins' drive. From Faro you can take the train to Lagos (~1hr 45 mins, ~€8.10): Lagos is the western terminus of the Algarve line, with the station by the marina, ~15 mins' walk from the old town. The bus takes around 1hr 20 mins. By (rental) car you drive via the A22 (Via do Infante) in ~1hr 10 mins, and since January 2025 tolls on the A22 have been abolished, so the old hassle of the toll transponder is a thing of the past.

The old town is entirely walkable and you don't need a car there. Ponta da Piedade is reached on foot or by a short taxi ride; the caves, the Benagil day trip and dolphin spotting all depart by boat or kayak from the marina. A Onda's city buses cost around €1.20. A car is mainly handy for day trips to the west coast: in the city itself it's more hindrance than help.

The cliffs around Lagos are on a rockfall alert list, and you should take it seriously: never sit at the foot of a cliff, and stairs to bay beaches can close without warning. The staircase to Praia do Camilo has been periodically closed due to erosion (2025-26); check access locally before you descend. Access to Praia do Pinhão is forbidden due to rockfall, and fines apply. Respect the barriers: they're there for a reason.

Lagos is an excellent base for exploring the western Algarve. Sagres (~33 km) has the 'end-of-Europe' cliffs and Cabo de São Vicente. Carvoeiro (~40 min away) is home to the iconic Benagil sea cave, viewable by boat only. Silves (~37 km / ~30 min) has a red Moorish castle, and the wilder west coast around Aljezur is prime surfing territory. Further afield lie Albufeira (~70 km, a large resort with nightlife), Faro (~90 km, the gateway and airport), and Tavira, the quiet, authentic alternative to the east.

Honestly, it depends on what you're after. Lagos combines dramatic cliffs, a genuine walled old town and nightlife: the most complete package, though busy in summer. Albufeira is larger and more party-focused, with more resort infrastructure and less character. Tavira is the quiet, authentic alternative: beautiful, relaxed and relatively untouristed, but without the golden bay cliffs or the nightlife scene. Want everything in one place, choose Lagos; want peace and quiet, choose Tavira; want mainly partying, choose Albufeira.

Absolutely, as long as you pick the right beaches. Meia Praia is long, flat and calm, with plenty of space and shallow water, ideal for families. The bay beaches like Dona Ana are beautiful but require steep staircases, so less practical with small children or a pushchair. Boat trips from the marina are a hit with kids. One rule remains sacred: keep children away from the cliff edge and the base of the cliffs.