Algarve adventures — a mini road trip: Lagos to Sagres for sunset

For me, this is the ultimate day trip in the Algarve — Lagos to Sagres…

I've been saying I would write this for a while. Plus people always ask where I would recommend as a day trip in the Algarve - bora lá!

Yep, this is the day trip that I always drag people on without fail… if you've visited me in the Algarve, we've done this. If you're going to come and visit me in the Algarve, we will do this, whether you like it or not. (Sorry not sorry. 😆)

But wheeeen? Can I go in winter?

SIM, PODES. You can do this mini road trip from Lagos to Sagres any time of the year—even on a winter’s day, I think the west coast is still magical. For me, when the weather is wild, there’s something savage and dramatic and head-clearingly cathartic about it.

… Whereas obviously, summer means you can make the most of the beaches. That said, I think I actually prefer it in the shoulder seasons, when it isn’t insanely hot, but you can still get in for a swim if you feel like it! And you don’t automatically combust every time you get in and out of the car ahahaha.

Aim to start early in the morning to really make a full day of it…. Ideally timing your trip to catch the sunset at Sagres.

Start: Ponta de Piedade, Lagos

Kick off your adventure at Ponta de Piedade if you haven’t been already (although I’d suggest you do this on another day). The walk along the boardwalks on top of the cliffs has incredible views. While there are boat trips that provide a different perspective, seeing it from above is still pretty special, and the new boardwalks have made it even better. You can even walk all the way up here from the centre of Lagos now. If you go at sunset in winter you often see the starling murmurations and I’ve even spotted dolphins from up here.

First stop(s):

Praia de Luz and Burgau

Moving on, your next stop/s are Praia de Luz and Burgau.

Praia de Luz is great for a coffee stop on the promenade. Park outside both towns to avoid the narrow streets/chaotic parking and walk down to the beautiful beaches.

Luz has a really lovely promenade and you can hike (on another day, we ain’t got time for that - calma - from Porto de Mos in Lagos over to Luz).

Burgau is a super cute fishing village, and it's perfect for a stroll and even a dunk if you fancy it. The waters here are often quite sheltered and shallow-ish (in summer anyway - in winter you might see surfers) and the water can be crystal clear on good days. It’s nicknamed the Santorini of the Algarve… which is maybe going a bit far… but it is one of my fave stops and very instagrammable.

Onward to Salema

From Burgau, continue along the coast road to Salema. Make sure to check out the ruined Fortaleza de Almadena along the way—there's some real history here and it used to serve as a lookout point against pirates. The signs will explain it better than me, lol. My uncle was amazed by the orchids growing wild here in spring.

If you’re looking for a dog beach, Boca de Rio is great for this (between the fort and Salema).

Salema itself is a great spot for a leisurely lunch with several good restaurants along the seafront serving seafood and tasty tapas. But also nice salads etc for the veggies among us 😅

AAAND at the western end of the beach, you can even hunt for dinosaur footprints…

Through Vila do Bispo

After lunch or a swim in Salema, head towards Vila do Bispo. Don't miss Cerámica Paraiso on the N125 for souvenirs. Head through Vila do Bispo — often I stock up in the Lidl here for a beach picnic.

Then carry on to Castelejo viewpoint… this never fails to impress!!

Honestly, for me, it doesn’t matter how often I go, it’s always incredible. You can drive down to either of the beaches (Cordoama or Castelejo) but they’re a bit wilder, being on the west coast, so it’s not sooooo safe to swim, more splash about. Don’t underestimate the power of the Atlantic!!! But they’re great beaches for beachcombing and I always feel like I clear my head when I come here to these big wide open spaces 🤩😍

Ending in Sagres

Finish your day in Sagres, where the fort is only €3 to enter and offers a lot of history with extensive walking paths. I like to go right to the end to the kind of “art installation” to listen to the waves crashing/the wind blowing up from the power of the waves.

I also love this boardwalk and, if lucky, you might spot dolphins from above. Then, everyone flocks to the lighthouse at Cabo de Sao Vicente for sunset. I recommend hanging around till dark so you can see the lighthouse being turned on.

BRING LAYERS!!! It’s ALWAYS colder on the west coast, sometimes 10c colder than Lagos or Portimao.

Best places to eat in Sagres

If you wanna get your munch on after all that exploring, Sagres has some excellent dining options.

Try:

Arte Bianca for amazing sourdough pizza
Three Little Birds for hipster/burger/nice salads vibes (w/ vegan options)
Laundry Lounge for nice brunches
Agua Salgada for kind of fusion Portuguese/Spanish tapas
I’m sure there’s good seafood places but that’s out of my field of expertise :D

And that's basically it - you can easily fill a whole day! The distances aren’t super far, maybe 45 mins driving or so one way from Lagos, but take your time and enjoy the stops along the way :)))

Extra tip

If you have more time, consider a drive up through Monchique, or explore the wilder, remote west coast beaches near Aljezur. More on that soon ;)