Lagos is a good choice for sampling both Algarvian food (despite some rumors…) and coastal landscapes. Even in combination, as walks are of the easier and shorter type and a nice fish lunch makes a good addition to the actual walking.

Favorite restaurants in Lagos: Dom Sebastião and Reis. But see also the walks below for lunch suggestions.

Super-duper hotel: Rio Marina. Very convenient also, the bus station is behind it and the train station just on the other side of the river (using a pedestrian bridge).

Selected walks: For walks in the Algarve take a look in Landscapes of Algarve by Brian and Eileen Anderson, referred to below as “/Anderson/”. I have an older AAA Spiral Guides – Algrave by Paul Murphy and Susie Boulton (see picture above) that describe some walks, referred to below as “/Murphy & Boulton/”. There is also a Cicerone Guides – Walking in the Algarve by Julie Statham and Rother Walking Guides – Algrave by Ulrich Enzel which I have not used myself. Ken and Marie MacDonald has some Walking Tours in Lagos on their website, referred to below as “/MacDonald/”.

•1 LAGOS TOWN WALK (my total time 2h17, includes time for photography; 167a 162d; net walking time 1h43): A stroll to get to know both the surroundings and the interior of the town a bit. Do the “Town Waterfront” walk from /MacDonald/ in reverse, starting at the fishing docks, then after Vilabrancha e.g curve back by Dona Ana and use the “Back Entrance” to the old town and continue straight down to Praça da República, the starting point of the Lagos old town walk in /Murphy & Boulton/. No time for visiting museums is included above.

At the end of the walk you can have a nice fish lunch in town. I tried the ever popular “Restaurante Caravela” thinking it had to be a reason for its obvious popularity. But no. Good wine though.

•2 LUZ – LAGOS (my total time 3h54, includes time for photography and a fish lunch; 379a 387d; net walking time 2h19): This is Walk 1 in /Anderson/. Transportation: A Onda (see below for timetables) bus line 4 to Luz with hourly departures. For a perfect day of “Walking & Eating” I would suggest a departure time at 09:20, as you can see here.

An easy stroll.

You can feast on fresh sardines at Restaurante Marisol at the beautiful Dona Ana beach. Top wine: Planalto.

•3 LUZ – BURGAU – LUZ (my total time 3h15, includes time for photography and a beer in Burgau; 322a 311d; net walking time 2h01): This is Walk 2 in /Anderson/. Transportation: A Onda (see below for timetables) bus line 4 to/from Luz with hourly departures both ways. For a perfect day I would suggest a departure time at 09:20, as you can see here.

Another easy stroll.

After your walk do not despise the extremely simple snack-bar Praia a Vista behind the beach. Good wine at almost no cost.

•4 BURGAU – SALEMA – BURGAU (my total time 4h32, includes time for photography and a fish lunch; 654a 644d; net walking time 2h41): This is Walk 3 in /Anderson/. Transportation: A Onda (see below for timetables) bus line 4 to/from Burgau with hourly departures both ways. For a perfect day I would suggest a departure time at 09:20, as you can see here.

No problems en route except that on my visit I could not actually enter Salema itself as the narrow street into town was dug up into a big hole and completely blocked by machinery. To enter town you would have to take the road AWAY from it (and not go left as you normally would from the path you came, but RIGHT) and in a HUGE curve get yourself back to town somehow. I turned back here.

On the way back I had my fish lunch at the restaurant on the Cabanas Velhas beach. Not exactly great service, but ok. No half bottles of wine, only glass available. Had another beer in Burgau after my walk, I mean who can resist a sign like “HOT BEER – LOUSY FOOD – BAD SERVICE – WELCOME”. Actually, I thought of complaining, my beer was not even half hot…

•5 FIGUEIRA – PRAIA DA INGRINA – PRAIA DAS FURNAS – FIGUEIRA (my total time 3h47, includes time for photography and tiny rests for refreshments; 447a 446d; net walking time 3h00): This is Walk 4 in /Anderson/. Transportation: The EVA (see below for timetables) Sagres bus to/from Figueira. At the time of writing the most useful departure time is 09:15, as you can see here.

Careful navigation and a modicum of scrambling needed, but no big problems. Be sure you take the PATH just after the campsite, there is another entrance (to something called Peaceville) just after. Your route is on the right of this, through a small wood and via some beehives to connect with a track again on the other side.

• Good starting points: • Staying close to the bus station is perfect

• How to get there: • By train or bus (from e.g Faro)

• More info: • CP has timetables for trains • A Onda has timetables for Lagos town buses • EVA Transportes has timetables for other buses • LagosUncovered.com is a nice tourist guide • Simply Lagos is a “non-touristy” guide to Lagos, including some walking tours and maps