If you, like us, thought that the Algarve coast dies out in winter — Lagos is for you. This city was an unexpected exception during our trip: warm, lively, with sea air and rich history. Lagos played a key role in the Age of Great Geographical Discoveries.
It was from here in the 15th century that expeditions under the command of Prince Henry the Navigator set out, exploring the coasts of Africa and establishing sea routes to India. But there’s also a dark side to the history. From the 15th to 19th centuries, Lagos was one of the first and largest centers of European slave trade.
🚗 how We Ended up in Lagos
Initially, Lagos was in our plans for the next day. We left Silves without any special expectations, not knowing how much time we would spend in the ancient capital of the Moorish kingdom. But the sun was still high, and seizing the moment, we diverted from our route to visit Lagos for an afternoon walk.
But first – food! Palacio Da China — a Chinese restaurant with surprisingly good prices (no kidneys sold!), delicious food, and fast service. Recommended.
We left the car in the underground parking, about a 10-minute walk from the fortress. There was street parking too, but everything was packed… after struggling with the free street parking, we decided to pay and go underground :).
🏛 What We Saw in Lagos in 3 Hours
Church of Santo António
One of those cases where a completely unremarkable facade hides a very rich interior. By the way, the church has unique towers: they are of different heights, which makes it easy to distinguish this building from many other similar churches.
Lagos Museum (Museu Municipal Dr. José Formosinho)
Next to the Church of Santo António. An amazing combination: church art, archaeology, and then — a hall with biological anomalies. Somewhat in the spirit of a cabinet of curiosities. Interesting and slightly eerie.
Praça Infante Dom Henrique
The central square of the city with a monument to Prince Henry the Navigator. An atmospheric place with a view of the waterfront.
Those interested can visit the slave trade museum in the building of the old trading office — Mercado de Escravos. We decided to skip it; according to reviews, the exhibition is modest and not very informative if you’re already familiar with the topic.
Walking through the Old Town and along the Fortress
From the square, we walked to the Ponta da Bandeira fortress, then turned onto the new streets of the old town and leisurely returned to the car.
🌆 Impressions of the City
- Lagos is the only coastal city that didn’t seem deserted in winter.
- The city is well-maintained, with developed infrastructure and a sense of life — not just for tourists, but for locals too.
- Outside the historic center, you can see many residential areas, which is rare for resort towns in the Algarve.
- If you’re considering the Portuguese coast for wintering — Lagos looks the most promising: it’s not boring, there are places to live, and everything is convenient.
Useful Tips
- 🅿️ Parking: it’s better to choose underground parking lots near the center — safe and stress-free.
- 🕰 Time for the city: you can fit it in 3-4 hours including lunch, but if you want to check out the beaches and museums, and you’re not here in winter — it’s better to set aside half a day.
- 🍜 Where to eat: Palacio Da China — tasty, quick, and budget-friendly.
What We Took away from the Trip
Lagos turned out to be not only beautiful but also very humane, as strange as that sounds for a former slave trading site. And it’s alive, even in winter.
