Lagos

Lagos is a historic town with narrow cobbled streets, where the fort and part of the old town walls still remain. It has a relaxing and comfortable feel for visitors, with many restaurants, cafes, bars and interesting shops to choose from. Still a working fishing harbour and now with a large modern marina, the town provides many places of interest to visitors. There are several good beaches in and around Lagos: Meia Praia to the east side of Lagos is the largest beach. It has a long wide expanse of golden sand and there are a good selection of beach bars and water sport facilities to choose from. The beach is approached by crossing the bridge over the River Bensafrim at the east end of Lagos. The beaches on the west side of the town are said to be more spectacular but smaller. Batata beach, near the town centre, is next to the small fort at the entrance to the harbour. Making your way further round to Ponta da Piedade, the coast is punctuated with picturesque coves, tunnels and grottoes. It is best to visit this area by small boat and view this extraordinary coastline from the sea.

Burgau

The blue flag beach at Burgau is sheltered by steep cliffs; the golden soft sand being on the right with a cliff-hugging walkway taking you halfway along.

Located on the beach, Burgau Beach Bar is a very convenient place to eat with a wide range of refreshments. Friendly, helpful staff serve good food at very reasonable prices.

The location is difficult to better, both during the day and of an evening.

Salema

Driving west towards Sagres, the next recommend bay after Burgau is Salema, a picturesque fishing village situated in a broad cove with a walk-on blue flag beach.

Salema has an easy going atmosphere with an assortment of shops, bars restaurants, most notably the Atlantico and the Boia Bar restaurant. People come here because it remains a working village with fishing boats going out every day.

The local residents and restaurateurs buy their fish direct from the local boats and good fish dishes are often the specialty in the local eating places.

White terraced houses line the narrow streets and are split by alleys which lead to the rocky beach on the east side of the village. The beach on the western side is sandy and sheltered by cliffs - in winter the sea can come crashing right up to the edge of the village.

Sagres, Cape St Vincent and the west coast beaches

Sagres is a large port and traditional boat building centre, and is famous for the site of Henry the Navigator’s fort and navigation school. Cape St Vincent is the most south westerly point of Europe, with a lighthouse and spectacular cliffs, is definitely worth a visit. Heading north, there are numerous beaches and coves to be discovered along the west coast. Among the most breathtaking are the ones on either side of a track which runs along the cliff tops adjacent to the old village of Carrapateira, 14km north of Vila do Bispo. Apart from the occasional beach bar, the coastline here is total natural and highly recommended. In this more remote western end of the Algarve a car is essential. This will also give you the opportunity to explore with freedom, and enjoy the full spectacular of this rugged, wild coastline