Lagos, Portugal: What to See and Do in the Algarve's Jewel

Things to do in Lagos Portugal (YouTube link)

Things to Do near Logos

1. Praia Dona Ana Beach
2. Boat Cruise
3. Praia Do Pinhão
4. Praia Do Camilo
5. Ponta Da Piedada

In video 1, it recommends the below top 5 things to do near Logos:

1. Praia Dona Ana Beach
2. Boat Cruise
3. Praia Do Pinhão
4. Praia Do Camilo^[1]
• Situated 2km (1.2mi) south of the town center, it’s accessed by a wooden staircase and a man-made tunnel through ochre limestone rocks. 
• Visit during spring, when the cliffs are carpeted in brightly colored Mediterranean saltbush and saltwort, and sea birds such as great cormorants, herring gulls and black-headed gulls flock to the rocky ledges.
5. Ponta Da Piedade^[1]
• Just a 10-minute drive south of Lagos are the rust-colored limestone cliffs of the Ponta da Piedade (Piety Point), one of the Algarve’s most striking natural attractions. 
• The craggy headland of caves, grottos, sea pillars and rock arches has been carved out by winter storms over the ages and is best explored by kayak. 
• Head to one of a handful of cliff-top stores for gear rental and/or to book a place on a guided excursion. You can also walk the area via a series of boardwalks, descending to the coves on stone staircases.

Other recommendations include:^[2]

• Visit the Lagos Zoo

Figure 1.  Cataplana dish

Things to Do at Lagos

As recommended by [1,2], here are things to do at Lagos:

• Shop at Mar d’Estórias
• A multifunctional space featuring a Portuguese eatery, a gift shop and a rooftop bar with sea views.
• Enjoy local seafood
• Those who like seafood and don’t mind paying a bit more should try the cataplana dish, a traditional recipe from the Algarve.
• Learn to surf
• Surfing is perhaps the most popular water sport in Portugal, and the entire 1,800 kilometers (1,118.5 miles) of coastline offers plenty of opportunities to get in the water.
• Listen to live jazz at local bars
• Visit Castle of Lagos
• Peek inside Igreja de Santo António
• Lagos’s Saint Anthony Church, built in the early 18th century, is listed today as a National Monument. 
• From the painted, vaulted ceiling to the ornate walls with intricate woodwork details and traditional azulejo tiles, this church is no doubt a feast for the eyes.
• Visit the Lagos fish market

Hike from Praia da Luz to Lagos train station (11 km; approximate duration: 4 h)

References

1. The Best Things to Do in Lagos, Portugal
• Hike from Praia da Luz to Ponta da Piedade
2. The Top 10 Things to See and Do in Lagos, Algarve
3. Ponta da Piedade tours
4. Lagos Boat Tours
5. Discover Tours Lagos - Catamaran Cruises, Dolphin Watching, Kayak & Cave Tours
6. Boatrips-Boat Trips and Tours
7. BlueFleet
8. Lagos Grotto Trips
9. Actual Boat Trips
10. Sealife Dolphin Watching
11. Fishermen's Trail (Luz-Lagos)
• Take the bus to Igreja Sra. da Luz (near Praia da Luz or Luz beach) and walk backwards toward Lagos
12. The Best Restaurants in Lagos, Portugal
• O Camilo
• Quintal do Peixe
• Bar Quim
• Jukebox Tapas & Meals
• Arribale
• Avenida
• Real Portugese Cuisine
• Tasca Jota
• Empanadas & Co
• Mimar
13. Kayak Adventures Lagos

Portugal Travel—Visiting Faro

Video 1.  10 Best Things to Do in Faro (YouTube link)

Best things to Do in Faro

As shown in video 1, here are the 10 best things do do in Faro: 

1. Arco da Vila
• Monumental neo-classical archway leading to the old town, with remains of original Moorish wall.
2. Old City (Portuguese: Cidade Velha)
3. Faro Cathedral (Portuguese: Igreja de Santa Maria)
4. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo and its Bone Chapel (aka Capela dos Ossos de Faro)
5. Faro Municipal Museum
6. Castelo Bar 
7. Estói Palace 
8. Ria Formosa Natural Park
9. Ilha Deserta 
10. Nightlife

References

1. The 50 most beautiful places in the world
2. 10 Free things to do in Algarve Portugal
3. Algarve (region)
4. "Algarve com 4,2 milhões de turistas e 20 milhões de dormidas oficiais em 2017 – AHETA". No. Economy. Diário de notícias. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
5. "Algarve ganha 5.545 "novos cidadãos" num ano". Jornal do Algarve. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
6. The 46 best winter-sun destinations
• The Maldives /  Cyprus /  Seychelles /  Mauritius /  Canary Islands /  Bermuda /  Cuba /  Bahamas /  Dubai /  Taghazout, Morocco /  Bora Bora, Tahiti & French Polynesia /  Tel Aviv, Israel /  Jordan /  Oman /  South Africa /  Kerala, India /  Rajasthan, India /  Western Australia /  Thai islands /  Belize /  Lamu, Kenya /  Zihuatanejo, Mexico /  Panama /  São Tomé and Príncipe /  Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico /  Bali /  Mozambique /  The Philippines /  California /  Bahia, Brazil /  Senegal /  Guatemala /  Hawaii /  Burma /  Siwa Oasis, Egypt /  Laos /  Namibia /  Cambodia /  Sri Lanka /  Ecuador /  The Andaman Islands /  Karnataka, India /  Vietnam /  Beirut, Lebanon /  Ghana /  Tangier, Marrakech
7. THE SECRET SPANISH COAST: TOP THINGS TO DO IN HUELVA SPAIN
8. The Best Destinations for a Winter Break in Portugal
• Tavira, Lagos, Lisbon, Madeira, Alentejo, Albufeira, Serra da Estrela, Porto, Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura, Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos
9. Average Weather in Tavira Portugal Year Round
10. Portuguese Dictionary
11. Trains in the Algarve - a summary of operations
12. Kayaking & Canoeing in Benagil
• Benagil Caves Kayaking Experience
13. Algarve Itinerary: the best itinerary for 3-10 days
14. Travel Guide To Algarve
15. Hotel Faro
16. Lemon Tree Stay
17. 3HB Faro
18. Learning Portuguese
19. How to visit the Ria Formosa, Algarve? ( the complete guide for 2022)

Chasing Sintra's Charm: A Day Trip Through Palaces and Fairytale Hills

When you only have a day in Sintra, you don’t want to waste precious time stuck in the traffic.  Sintra, Portugal offers a variety of transportation options to get you around its charming streets and historical sites. Here are some of the most popular choices to get around Sintra:

• Tuk-tuks:These motorized rickshaws are a fun and unique way to explore Sintra, especially for small groups. Be sure to negotiate the fare before getting in.
• Scotturb: This public bus company operates several routes within Sintra and to surrounding areas like Cabo da Roca and Cascais. Buses are affordable and convenient, but can get crowded during peak season.
• Walking: The historic center of Sintra is relatively compact and pedestrian-friendly, making it a great option for exploring at your own pace. However, keep in mind that some of the attractions, like the Pena National Palace, are located uphill and require a bit of a climb.

Video 1.  Sintra: Lovely day trip from Lisbon (YouTube link)

One-Day Itinerary 

Based on [1], here are Chelsea's recommendation for a day trip from either Lisbon or Cascais:

1. 9:15am: Arrive at Pena Palace (Portuguese: Nacional Palácio da Pena)
2. 9:30-11:15am: Explore Pena Palace
3. 11:15am: Walk to Castle of the Moors  (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros)
4. 11:30am-12:30pm: Explore the Castle of the Moors
5. 12:30-2pm: Travel to Sintra town center and eat lunch
6. 2:15-3:45pm: Visit the National Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional de Sintra)
7. 3:45-4pm: Walk to Quinta da Regaleira
8. 4-5pm: Explore Quinta da Regaleira

Click here for an interactive Sintra map on Google MyMaps.

 

Figure 1.  One-day walking tour in Sintra (credit: [1])

How to Access Sintra

LISBON > SINTRA: Train (Comboios de Portugal railway company) – Sintra Line

• The main stations in Lisbon, all with departures every 10 minutes on weekdays, 30 on weekends & holidays, and Metro connections are: Oriente (45 minutes journey), Rossio (40 minutes), Rome-Areeiro (38 minutes), Entrecampos (36 minutes) and Sete Rios (33 minutes).
• Additional information can be found at How to get to Sintra from Lisbon website.

Bus 434 ( Pena Circuit; additional info: here)

SINTRA (railway station) > PENA: Bus n.º 434 (Scotturb)

• From Vila de Sintra, bus n.º 434 makes the connection between the train station and Palácio da Pena
• Due to the narrow roads of Sintra, the bus only operates in one direction:
• Sintra Station> Historic Center, Tourism, National Palace of Sintra > Castle of the Moors > Pena Palace > Historic Center, National Palace of Sintra > Sintra Station

Figure 2.  Pena Palace (Portuguese: Nacional Palácio da Pena)

Pena National Park and Palace

Palacio da Pena is the most famous of all the castles in Sintra, and the one you’ll see on all the Portugal guide book photos. The brightly colored red and yellow towers are visible from all around Sintra, as this castle is high on the hillside and the gardens include the highest point in Sintra.  Pena Park is huge, and a maze of footpaths.  Make sure you pick up a map, you will need it to find your way around! 

Entrance to the Palace by appointment only (buy the ticket online here).

Figure 3.  Castle of the Moors  (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros)

Castle of the Moors

Castle of the Moors is a UNESCO world heritage site for its architecture and the surrounding landscape. The castle was built at the top of the Sintra hills, on extremely uneven terrain, by the Moors in the 8th or 9th century. It was conquered by King Afonso Henriques at the time the country was founded in 1147.

Figure 4.  National Palace of Sintra (Palácio Nacional de Sintra)

National Palace

The Palácio Nacional de Sintra, located in the historic town center, was inhabited for nearly eight centuries by the Portuguese monarchy and its court. It was much used, particularly during the Middle Ages, as a hunting retreat and summer resort, as well as a refuge from outbreaks of disease in the capital.

Figure 5.  Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira

The owner of the Quinta da Regaleira was a wealthy Brazilian mining owner, who was fascinated by the secretive religious orders of the Knights Templar and Freemasons, and allowed his mind to run wild in the construction of his wonderous villa (Portuguese: Quinta).

Video 2.  Sintra's mysterious 'inverted tower' - BBC REEL (YouTube link)

References

1. 1 Day Sintra Itinerary: A Super Efficient Guide
2. The Best Views of Pena Palace & Gardens in Sintra, Portugal
3. Lisbon in Three Days - A Suggested Itinerary and Tour
4. Where to Eat in Lagos Portugal: Take a Lagos Food Tour
5. The Best Benagil Cave Tour to visit the Benagil Caves Portugal
6. 45 THINGS TO DO IN FUNCHAL, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
7. Magical Fairytale Castles in Europe You Can Actually Visit
8. Your New Mountain Getaway In Portugal: Casas Da Lapa
9. Why Visit Lisbon in Winter?
   
10. What not to do in Lisbon Portugal?
11. When temperatures drop across Europe, head south for some winter sun in Portugal
• Lisbon, Cascais, Lagos, Faro
12. Visit These Picturesque Places In Portugal In December To Have A Fun 2022 Winter Vacay
13. Where to take the best photographs in Lisbon
14. The 19 best things to do in Lisbon
15. Learning Portuguese
16. Bus n.º 434
17. Public Transport in Sintra

Porto's Allure: Unveiling the Best Things to Do

Video 1.  10 Things to do in Porto, Portugal Travel Guide (YouTube link)

In video 1, it shows us 10 top things to do in Porto:

1. Visit the Blue Tiled Church “Chapel of Souls” (Igreja do Carmo -Capela das Almas) - 00:31
2. Shop for books inside Lello Bookstore (Livraria Lello) - 01:00
3. Set foot inside São Bento Train Station (Estação Ferroviária de São Bento) - 03:02 + Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) - 03:35
4. Explore the Riverside Quarter of Ribeira - 04:10
5. Sample local dishes from Porto at Terreirinho restaurant - 04:24
6. Visit the Church of Saint Francis (Igreja de São Francisco) - 05:54
7. Visit the Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão) - 07:09
8. Walk across Dom Luís I Bridge for the best views of Porto (Ponte D. Luís I) - 08:33
9. Drink Port wine at Croft (vinho do Porto) - 10:25
10. Take a boat tour, cable car, funicular or walk down the Douro River - 10:04 & 12:16

3 Days in Porto: Unveiling the Best Things to Do (Click here for an interactive Porto map on Google MyMaps)

Recommendations from Lonely Planet

Here are the 16 top things to do in Porto (read [1] for more details):

1. Climb the Clérigos Tower
2. Admire the splendor of Igreja de São Francisco
3. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge art in Serralves
4. Soak up the seaside atmosphere in Foz do Douro
5. See the sights of Sé cathedral
6. Browse for one-of-a-kind gift ideas at the Mercado do Porto Belo
7. Explore the bustling Ribeira district
8. Snap Insta-worthy azulejos
9. Follow Porto's street art trail
10. Find the perfect spot to watch the sunset
11. Enjoy a port tasting while discovering the lore of Porto’s favorite drink
12. Cross the Ponte de Dom Luís I
13. Experience the world-class acoustics at a concert inside the Casa da Música
14. Have a Porto picnic
15. Join the party people in Baixa

Video 2.  Guimarães: The Birthplace of Portugal (YouTube link)

Guimarães

If you have more time, try a day trip to Guimarães.  Guimarães is a city located 26.3 miles away from Porto.^[2] Its historic town center is listed as UNESCO.

Northeast of Porto, this small, beautiful city was the cradle of Portugal—the country’s first king, Afonso I, was born here in the early-12th century. Today there’s an unspoiled old town, an 11th-century castle, and gilded churches aplenty.

Figure 1.  Livraria Lello with a Harry Potter fame

Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello is internationally renowned as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.  That, and its Harry Potter fame, means it is extremely popular.^[16]

Because of this, queues to get in can be very long. A great way to get priority entrance and skip the queue is to join an organized tour!

References

1. The 15 best things to do in Porto: art, architecture, and tasty treats
2. How to get from Porto to Guimarães
3. Lisbon in Three Days - A Suggested Itinerary and Tour
4. The Best Views of Pena Palace & Gardens in Sintra, Portugal
5. Where to Eat in Lagos Portugal: Take a Lagos Food Tour
6. The Best Benagil Cave Tour to visit the Benagil Caves Portugal
7. 45 THINGS TO DO IN FUNCHAL, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
8. Magical Fairytale Castles in Europe You Can Actually Visit
9. Your New Mountain Getaway In Portugal: Casas Da Lapa
10. Why Visit Lisbon in Winter?
    
11. What not to do in Lisbon Portugal?
12. When temperatures drop across Europe, head south for some winter sun in Portugal
• Lisbon, Cascais, Lagos, Faro
13. Visit These Picturesque Places In Portugal In December To Have A Fun 2022 Winter Vacay
14. Where to take the best photographs in Lisbon
15. The 19 best things to do in Lisbon
16. Livraria Lello, Porto: The Famous ‘Harry Potter’ Bookstore

Italy Travel—Visiting Florence

Video 1.  Florentine Delights and Tuscan Side-Trips to Pisa and Lucca (YouTube link)

In Video 1, Rick Steves' Europe shows us some Florentine delights and two Tuscan side-trips to Pisa and Lucca.  In this article, we list the top things to do in these three attractions.

Florence

Florence is famous for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics.

Read this companion article for the top things to do in Florence.

Pisa

The Tuscan city of Pisa has been one of the most important and well known sites of the Renaissance. The birth place of Galileo Galilei, Leonardo Fibonacci and Pisanello, it is a city full of art, history and culture.

Here are the 15 top things to do in Pisa (read [2] for more details):

1. Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
2. Leaning Tower of Pisa
3. The Baptistery
4. Campo Santo
5. Museo Nazionale
6. Santa Maria della Spina
7. Palazzo dei Cavalieri
8. Take a walk along the River Arno
9. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
10. Borgo Stretto
11. Guelph Tower
12. Keith Haring Mural
13. University of Pisa Botanical Gardens
14. Ponte di Mezzo
15. Gelateria De’ Coltelli

Lucca

Lucca is a historical city located in Tuscany on the western coast of Italy – this city lies in close proximity to Pisa and is known as the city of a hundred churches due to its large amount of historical religious structures. Lucca is also known for its medieval city walls that still encircle most of the historic old town.

Here are the 15 top things to do in Lucca (read [3] for more details):

1. Lucca Cathedral
2. Piazza dell Anfiteatro
3. Take a walk on the historic city walls
4. San Michele in Foro
5. Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca
6. Torre delle Ore
7. Acquedotto del Nottolini
8. Guinigi Tower
9. Piazza Napoleone
10. Museum of Villa Mansi
11. Basilica of San Frediano
12. Enjoy a fine meal at Da Pasquale
13. Sample some fine wine at Vinni Liquori Vanni
14. Take a day trip to Pisa
15. Parco Alpi Apuane

References

1. 9 Fantastic Things To Do In Gorgeous Florence, Italy
2. 15 Best Things to Do in Pisa (Italy) - The Crazy Tourist
3. 15 Best Things to Do in Lucca (Italy)
4. This city has the best food in the world – according to our readers

Algarve Travel—How to Get Around and Beyond

Accessing the Algarve Region, is easy via land transport from the rest of Portugal or from Spain.^[1]

Its main hub is the city of Faro, the regional capital, which has its own international airport. There is another small airport in the Algarve, in Portimão, though it receives far fewer flights.

Video 1.  Best of the Algarve! Benagil & Prata da Marinha (YouTube link)

Ways to Get around the Algarve without a Car

If you’re planning on exploring Algarve without a car, you’ll be able to do so by:^[2]

• Train
• The train is one of the easiest ways to get around the Algarve.  But, not every town has a train station which means you'll have to take a bus to visit some towns. 
• The main towns that have a train station are Lagos, Portimão, Faro, Olhão, Tavira, and Monte Gordo.
• Faro to Lagos by train one-way is €7,50 (retrieved on 07/04/2022) for a journey of around 1 hour 40 minutes.
• Bus
• The main bus company in the Algarve is Vamus Algarve. 
• Frota Azul also covers some routes in and around Portimão.
• According to AlgarveBus.info, a day ticket will cost €10 per person.
• Taxi (or Uber)
• Day trips
• Renting a car for the day
• Boat

Figure 1.  Main departure train stations to Algarve

How to Travel from Lisbon to Lagos by Train

You can use CP - Comboios de Portugal web site to book online tickets.  Here are some important notes (read [4] for more details):

• Two main departure stations in Lisbon (or Lisboa; See Figure 2)
• Lisboa - Entrecampos—arrives Lagos 3h 50m avg.
• Lisboa - Oriente (or Estação do Oriente)—arrives Lagos 3h 50m avg.
• The four lines of the Algarve train network are 
• Alfa Pendular (AP)
• Intercidades (IC; or Intercity)
• Regional (R)
• InterRegional (IR)
• Book on line at the official website here
• Either credit cards or PayPal are accepted
• Download Smartphone app (Google or Apple)
• For long-distance trips
• You CANNOT buy long distance tickets from the conductor when starting your trip on a regional train. Read [4] for more details.
• For short regional trips
• Regional tickets are NOT VALID for use on Intercity (IC) or Alfa Pendular (AP) trains except at Messines - Alte for journeys to and from Algarve stations. 
• When boarding at a staffed station, buy from the ticket office if it's open. 
• If boarding at an unstaffed station or when the ticket office is closed, you buy your ticket from the train conductor and it's CASH ONLY. 
• Most stations in the Algarve are unstaffed.

Figure 2.  Credit: [4]

How to Fly to Algarve

It's possible to fly into the Algarve from various European cities. Direct flights arrive in Faro Airport from cities such as London, Dublin, Paris, and Frankfurt, among many others.^[1]

References

1. How to Get to the Algarve
2. Visiting The Algarve Without A Car
3. CP - Comboios de Portugal 
• CP E.P.E. is a state-owned business entity owned 100% by the Portuguese government.
4. TRAIN SERVICE IN THE ALGARVE also ALGARVE to and from LISBON
5. Faro international airport
6. Taruga Bengil Tours
7. Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Sete vales trekking)
8. The Best Benagil Cave Tour to visit the Benagil Caves Portugal [2022]
9. 17 Best Places to Visit in Portugal
1. Lisbon
2. Algarve
3. Sintra
4. Madeira
5. Porto
6. Obidos
7. Evora
8. Aveiro
9. Azores
10. Coimbra
11. Guimaraes
12. Tomar
13. Braga
14. Peneda-Geres
15. Nazare
16. Monsaraz
17. Viana
10. Linguee (Portuguese dictionary)