Start your first morning in Lagos with a leisurely stroll through Mercado Municipal de Lagos to pick up fresh pastries, local cheeses, and a strong Portuguese coffee; watching fishermen unload their catch gives a true sense of place. After breakfast, wander down to Praia do Canavial for a gentle cliff-top walk and panoramic views, then head to Forte da Ponta da Bandeira to explore the tiny fort and learn about Lagos' maritime history before checking into your accommodation and dropping bags to continue the day's coastal adventures.
After settling in, head to Ponta da Piedade for a late-afternoon boat trip or cliff-top walk to admire the honeycombed cliffs and sea arches as the light softens; guided coastal cruises often launch from Marina de Lagos and give up-close views of hidden grottoes. Finish with a relaxed drink and fresh seafood at Rua 25 de Abril or a terrace bar overlooking Praia do Camilo, letting the sound of the waves set the tone for the rest of your Algarve adventure.
As the sky deepens, wander through the atmospheric lanes to Praça Gil Eanes for people-watching and sunset hues, then head to Mar d'Estórias for a craft cocktail on the rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the old town. Finish the night with a seafood-centered dinner at O Camilo Restaurante (near the cliffs) or sample petiscos and local wines at Casa do Prego while enjoying live fado or acoustic music in a cozy setting.
Begin with a sunrise stroll along the cliff paths to Miradouro da Ponta da Piedade for stunning golden light on the honeycomb rock formations, then meet a local guide at Praia do Pinhão for a hands-on sea-kayak briefing and warm-up. Paddle through sea arches and hidden grottoes with stops to snorkel near kelp beds and photograph the cliffs from sea level, finishing with coffee and pastries at Café Odeon back in Lagos to refuel before the afternoon cruise.
After your kayak morning, take a relaxed coastal transfer to Praia do Camilo for a sun-drenched picnic on the wooden boardwalk and a short swim in the sheltered cove; pick up craft sandwiches and cold drinks at Casa do Prego Beach Kiosk. Later, explore the cliff-top footpaths toward Miradouro do Pinhão for sweeping views, then join a small-group RIB cruise departing from Marina de Lagos to skim the waterline of lesser-known sea caves and watch the cliffs glow as afternoon light softens.
As twilight falls, wander to Praça do Infante to soak in the warm evening light and watch local life unfold, then stroll toward the waterfront for an aperitivo at The Star bar with views over the marina. For dinner, head to Restaurante dos Artistas for a refined plate of grilled fish and Algarve citrus desserts, or choose the lively terrace at Adega da Marina to sample regional wines and share petiscos while star-shaped cliffs silhouette the coast.
Catch an early transfer from Lagos to Benagil and join a small-group boat tour that threads through lesser-known sea caves-look for resident gull colonies and the shaft of light inside Algar de Benagil as the morning sun hits the water. After disembarking, stroll the clifftop path to Miradouro da Benagil for sweeping views, then refuel with fresh pastries and strong coffee at Pastelaria Maré Alta before a short drive to Praia da Marinha to photograph its iconic arches and explore tide pools.
After the morning boat tour, head inland to Carvoeiro Boardwalk (Passadiços do Algar Seco) for a cliffside walk that threads dramatic platforms, natural stairways and the famous viewpoint over the sculpted rock pools; pause at Algar Seco to watch waves pulse through sea-carved tunnels. Later, descend to Praia do Carvalho for a sheltered late-afternoon swim or a sun-drenched rest on the sand, then savor a seafood light bite and a glass of vinho verde at the beachfront A Carta as the cliffs take on warm evening hues.
After a day on the water, wander the clifftop trail toward Miradouro dos Bensafrim to catch the last warm light over hidden coves, then drop into Azenha do Mar for a relaxed seaside aperitivo on a sun-bleached terrace. For dinner, settle into the cozy marine-themed dining room at O Algar Restaurante in Carvoeiro for grilled seafood, regional sides and a bottle of local branco while reminiscing about the caves and the day's sea-spray adventures.
Wake slowly with a beachfront breakfast at Kiss Bar Praia da Rocha, then stroll the wide sands toward Praia dos Três Castelos to explore its sculpted cliffs and hidden sandy coves before the crowds arrive. Mid-morning, join a short guided tidepool walk from Praia da Rocha Interpretive Centre to discover limpets and tiny marine life, finishing with a coffee and pastel de natas at the sun-drenched terrace of Café Riviera before an easy seaside lunch later in the day.
Head to Praia dos Três Irmãos for a lazy afternoon of sunbathing between sculpted cliffs, then take the elevator down to Ilha da Mexilhoeira boardwalk for a peaceful coastal stroll and birdwatching at the tidal pools. Later, wander the riverside to Mercado da Ribeira (Portimão Market) to sample petiscos and grilled sardines from stall vendors, finishing with a cold glass of local rosé at the waterfront terrace of Taberna do Ti Lopes as the light softens.
As the sun softens, take a short riverside stroll to Cais de Portimão for a lazy aperitivo at Bar da Praia with views of boats drifting on the Arade River. Later, wander through the restored warehouses to Museu de Portimão's café terrace for a glass of regional vinho verde, then dine on fresh grilled seafood and arroz de marisco at the popular family-run Restaurante Faina while soaking up low-key live music and the harbor lights.
Set out early along the dramatic coastal road to Praia do Tonel for a bracing shoreline walk and dramatic surf-watching from the headland, then continue to Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse to take in the windswept cliffs and panoramic ocean vistas that mark Europe's southwestern edge. Finish the morning with a visit to the historic Fortaleza de Sagres, where you can wander the fortress ramparts and maritime navigational markers while sipping coffee and reflecting on the cliff-lined routes you explored earlier in the week.
After the windswept morning, take a leisurely coastal drive east toward Beliche Beach for a relaxed cliff-top picnic and short scramble down to the sheltered cove for a quick swim or tidepool exploration; stop at Falesia da Cordoama viewpoint for dramatic surf vistas and photo opportunities. Continue along the coast to the tranquil Praia da Mareta-perfect for a late-afternoon café pause and people-watching-then finish with a golden-hour walk at Miradouro do Tonelinho to watch the light soften on the headlands, carrying the week's cliff-and-cave memories into a peaceful evening.
Wind down the day with a slow coastal drive back toward Sagres, pausing at Praia do Beliche's clifftop bar for a sunset Ginjinha or local beer while watching surfers catch last light waves. Afterward, head to Fortaleza da Mareta for a twilight stroll along the old ramparts, then dine on freshly caught grilled fish and regional sides at A Sagres restaurant, where large windows frame the darkening sea and the day's dramatic coastline comes into soft relief.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mercado Municipal de Lagos | Free |
| Praia do Canavial (cliff-top walk) | Free |
| Forte da Ponta da Bandeira | €3 |
| Ponta da Piedade (cliff-top walk) | Free |
| Ponta da Piedade boat cruise (from Marina de Lagos) | €25 |
| Mar d'Estórias (rooftop cocktail) | €12 |
| O Camilo Restaurante (seafood dinner) | €30 |
| Casa do Prego (petiscos and wine) | €20 |
| Miradouro da Ponta da Piedade (sunrise viewpoint) | Free |
| Praia do Pinhão (kayak meet point) | Free |
| Sea-kayaking tour (guided, per person) | €45 |
| Café Odeon (coffee & pastries) | €6 |
| Praia do Camilo (picnic / swim) | Free |
| Casa do Prego Beach Kiosk (sandwich/drinks) | €8 |
| RIB cruise from Marina de Lagos (small-group) | €40 |
| The Star (bar, aperitivo) | €8 |
| Restaurante dos Artistas (dinner) | €35 |
| Adega da Marina (terrace wines/petiscos) | €20 |
| Miradouro da Benagil | Free |
| Benagil cave small-group boat tour | €30 |
| Pastelaria Maré Alta (pastries & coffee) | €5 |
| Praia da Marinha (photo & tide pools) | Free |
| Carvoeiro Boardwalk (Passadiços do Algar Seco) | Free |
| Algar Seco | Free |
| Praia do Carvalho | Free |
| A Carta (beachfront vinho verde / bite) | €12 |
| Miradouro dos Bensafrim | Free |
| Azenha do Mar (aperitivo) | €8 |
| O Algar Restaurante (Carvoeiro dinner) | €28 |
| Kiss Bar Praia da Rocha (breakfast) | €10 |
| Praia dos Três Castelos | Free |
| Praia da Rocha Interpretive Centre (guided tidepool walk) | €10 |
| Café Riviera (pastel de nata & coffee) | €5 |
| Praia dos Três Irmãos | Free |
| Ilha da Mexilhoeira boardwalk (birdwatching) | Free |
| Mercado da Ribeira (Portimão Market) - tasting petiscos | €12 |
| Taberna do Ti Lopes (rosé at waterfront) | €8 |
| Museu de Portimão (café terrace visit) | €3 |
| Restaurante Faina (dinner) | €25 |
| Praia do Tonel (shoreline walk / surf-watching) | Free |
| Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse (viewpoint) | Free |
| Fortaleza de Sagres | €2 |
| Beliche Beach (cliff-top picnic / scramble) | Free |
| Falesia da Cordoama viewpoint | Free |
| Praia da Mareta | Free |
| Miradouro do Tonelinho | Free |
| Praia do Beliche (clifftop bar) | €6 |
| A Sagres (dinner) | €25 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | €532 |