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With a friendly atmosphere and plenty to see and do, find out more with our Lagos GuideLagos GuideLagos has a different feel to other resorts and has something to offer everyone. It is a busy town, less manicured than some of the resorts in the central Algarve, but with a friendly and cosmopolitan feel to it. It is rich in history, has some great beaches and plenty of good restaurants and bars. There is plenty to see and do here and it tends to attract a younger crowd and is popular with backpackers and independent travellers.Lagos has livelier nightlife due to the younger crowd it attracts. There are numerous lively bars. Many of these are to be found on the Rua 25 de Abril, which is the main street in Lagos. Here you’ll also find a good selection of restaurants and shops. Town’s history is dominated by Henry the Navigator, who had his headquarters here. There is a statue of him in the Praca Dom Henrique near the waterfront. The main road which runs along riverfront is the Avenida dos Descobrimentos. The town is is on one side of the road and the river on the other. Across the river is the Marina, commercial harbour and the start of Meia Praia beach which starts as the river runs into the sea. Surrounding the town are the remains of the medieval walls. Lagos Guide – BeachesAs the town lies along the river, the Lagos beaches are found a few minutes away from the town to the south-east. Beaches are to be found above and below the river where it enters the sea.Meia Praia beach can be reached by crossing the river over the Marina bridge and it’s only a few minutes walk. It is a very open beach which about 4km long and popular with surfers. The town beach, Praia da Batata is next to the fort on the town side of the river. It is more picturesque than Meia Praia, with some rock stacks and arches. It can get very busy in the height of the season as it quite small and easily accessible. Moving south, the next beach you come to is probably one of the most famous and photographed. This is Praia Dona Ana, with is large sandstone cliffs, rocky outcrops and numerous sheltered coves. It is a 20 minutes walk from the town, but easily accessible by car. There are stairs which take you down to the beach. On top of the cliffs, overlooking the beach is the 3-star Hotel Sol E Praia Neighbouring beach to Praia Dona Ana is Praia do Camilo, which is very pretty, but perhaps more importantly tends to be quieter in the height of season. Porto do Mos is south-east of Lagos on the way to Luz. It is probably the quietist of the beaches in the area and is easy to get on to at the eastern end as there are no cliffs here. Lagos attractions – Lagos GuidePlenty of history and so plenty of Lagos attractions.Forte da Ponte da Bandeira is located at the entrance to the harbour at the end of the Avenida dos Descobrimentos. Inside this 17th Century fort you’ll find a chapel and displays. If it is of interest to you, fine, as there is an admission charge (albeit nominal). It is close for lunch each day and afternoons on Sundays.Across the river is the busy harbour and marina with its fancy boats. Sit outside and enjoy a coffee and dream. For a fun half-day, take a boat trip to visit the grottoes and caves along the coast to the west. Make sure it includes a visit to probably the most visited rock formation, Ponta da Piedade, which is an amazing series of rock stacks, arches and grottoes. Boats can be booked near the Fort da Ponte da Bandeira at the harbour entrance or the Praia Dona Ana beach or at Ponte da Piedad, where you’ll find the boats are brought onto the beach. The Old Slave market, which was the first in Europe, can be found behind the Praca Dom Henrique. Nowadays it is in art gallery, and only a plaque remains as a reminder of what it used to be. Igrejo de Santo Antonio Built in the 18th Century, the church is located on the Rua de Sao Goncalo, although the entrance is via the Municipal museum next door. The interior is gilt covered woodwork, which is incredible to look at and possibly unlike anything else you’ll have seen before. The Municipal Museum, which is free to enter, has a strange selection of exhibits. These include a preserved eight-legged kid goat and other foetal curiosities as well as more normal archaeological artefacts, art and the like. The museum is closed lunchtimes and all day Mondays. Lagos Zoo For an activity to keep all the family entertained, you could try Lagos Zoo. It has over 250 animals from 50 different species from all over the world. Apart from the zoo it is an educational farm with exotic plants and many other activities on offer. It is a 15-minute drive from Lagos in the village of Barao de S.Joao near Bansfrim. Lagos Zoo Quinta das Figueiras, Sitio do Medronhal Barao de S.Joao, Lagos, Algarve Find out more about Lagos Zoo here Lagos Guide to Sporting ActivitiesGolf in Lagos PortugalYou’re quite well placed if you’re looking for golf in Lagos, Portugal. Palmares Golf Course and Boavista Golf Course are local to the town. There are others nearby too. Check our Golf in Lagos Portugal page for more details of golf courses to play in the area and where to get the best deals. Lagos Guide to Tennis Centres There are a few tennis centres in the area, whether you have come to the Algarve to improve your stroke or just to take part in a few friendly sets. These are in addition to tennis courts and facilities provided by hotels, such as the Tivoli Hotel Lagos. Two tennis clubs in Lagos are the Lagos Tennis club and the Paulo Salvador Tennis Centre at the Via Dona Ana Apartments. Nearby at Praia da Luz is the Johnathon Markson Tennis Centre. For contact details take a look at our Algarve Tennis Centres directory Lagos Guide to Horse Riding Horse riding is a popular activity in this part of the Algarve, perhaps because of the more rugged and wild scenery, and there are a number of horse riding centres in the area to choose from. Towards Luz is the Tiffany`s Riding Centre in the Vale Grifo valley. A few kilometres north east at Bensafrim are the Quinta Paraíso Alto Riding Centre and the Herdade do Castanheiro centre, while the Centro Hípico Atalaia can be found in Odiáxere. Contact details can be found in our Algarve Horse riding directory Water Sports Lagos Watersports centre is on Meia Praia. Because of the windier conditions and higher waves in this part of the Algarve, and perhaps because of the younger crowd, surfing is a popular activity here. Lagos Scuba diving With its crystal clear waters and interesting coastline, Lagos is an ideal location for scuba diving, whether you are just a beginner or more experienced. There are a number of Lagos Scuba diving schools in the area. A couple of these, who are PADI affiliated are: Loja 30-31 Marina de Lagos Lagos 8600 315 Contact Tel: 282 792 728 Website Estrada de Porto de Mos Motel Ancora Apartado 789, 8600-909 Lagos Contact Tel: 282 782 718 Website Lagos Accommodation - Lagos GuideThere are a number of hotels in the town, with the Tivoli Hotel Lagos, probably one of the most popular and certainly the biggest. It is a 4-star establishment, a couple of kilometres from the beach, but with its own beach club on the Meia Praia beach. For other hotels in Lagos, click here (opens in a new browser window).At the marina is the Lagos Marina Club. Comprising a 4-star Aparthotel and two apartment blocks, the resort has its own Spa with treatments, gym, sauna and Jacuzzi. If you would rather have a Lagos villa or Lagos apartment, click on the links to see a selection of accommodation for rent. I hope you found this Lagos guide useful. 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