Lagos Attractions — Portugal
The best beach in the world is in Lagos, in the Algarve. At least it was the conclusion of the Conde Nast Traveler publication in ranking released before our visit.
Lists are the same: each one has his own. Okay, he talked about lists and rankings, I’m already curious about knowing fate.

But before we knew the best beach in the world, the concern was how to get to it. As we traveled without a car, we did not really know if access to Dona Ana Beach (the famous beach of the ranking) would be easy. After consulting the blog of dear Patricia de Camargo, from Turomaquia, the doubt has dissipated.
Then we left Albufeira (where we were staying, read more about where to stay in the Algarve here on the blog) to Lagos by bus. The trip took longer than we anticipated which ended up disrupting our day in Lagos. There is plenty to do there, and we ended up not checking everything out.
In short, we could not do everything we would like, but at least the best beach in the world is bestowed. Look how it was.
Arrival in Lagos
Our tour in Lagos started at the Bus Terminal, which is very close to the Avandia dos Descobrimentos and the Lagos Marina.
Walking in Lagos
In front of the Marina, you find a boardwalk and following to the right, is the way to the beautiful beaches of Lagos.
If you prefer to go by bus, check the Blue Line 2 times, both on the way and the return, as it is not a frequent line. Sometimes the interval from one bus to the next can reach 2 hours.
In the Avenue of the Discoveries also there are some agencies that make the boat trip until Ponta da Pie Dade. The tour is a must see, but we went to catch a boat right on Dona Ana Beach.
Fort Ponta da Bandeira
The Lagos boardwalk is good for walking and includes some local commerce, but for those who were in a back-up scheme, there was not much time to waste. We continue straight to the first point of our route: the Ponta da Bandeira Fort (also known as Pau da Bandeira Fort).
Built between 1680 and 1690 (read more here), I did not find the construction so interesting (at least for us as we were wishing to go to the beach). But the sea around the fort enchanted us and we “lost” some time with some photos.
As you may have guessed, our travel days alternate between the happiness of knowing incredible places and the suffering of adapting to the time that passes. In every place, at the same time that there was that desire to stay longer, there was also concern. The time for what was yet to come! Tourist life with the days counted, that’s it.
The First Beach: Batata Beach (Praia Formosa)
When we arrived at Praia DA Batata, it was still quiet, but on the way back it was already very busy. It has a structure of straw umbrellas and some wooden walkways on the sand, so people can walk on the soft sand without messing up their feet. Some women did topless, but for them it is super natural.
It is from here that the kayak tours leave until the Ponta da Pie Dade. I felt like doing it.
In the right corner of the beach, we found a crack in the rock that gave access to another beach; the super reserved Beach of Students, practically empty.
The Second Beach: Students Beach
In addition to the beautiful sea, the beach also enchanted me with its very dramatic landscape, including an arch bridge at the top of the beach.
The Third Beach: Pinhao Beach
From there, you have to follow the Avenida dos Descobrimentos for a bit more until you find a sign of the Travessa da Trended. To the left, you will find Pinhao Beach and to the right you will go straight to Dona Ana Beach.
We made our way and ended up passing Pinhao Beach, but then we jumped to a belvedere to check the look of it from above.
The Fourth Beach: Finally Dona Ana
In spite of other quieter beaches along the way, such as Pinhao or Praia do Camilo, it is in Praia da Dona Ana that you arrive and do Wow!!!
Yes, the landscape is a crazy thing, you get really amazed. I had no doubt that the title of the best beach in the world if it was not deserved (because it would unravel our Beach of the Sancho), is almost there and brought notoriety to a really wonderful beach.
We’ve come up with the vision from above. Our entrance was next to a hotel facing the sea. I think we spent about 15 minutes taking pictures of the beach and, umm, I did not like any of the photos that I appear in. But anyway, at least the beach looked beautiful.
Down below, I tried to cheer Cleber into the sea, but neither he nor I had the courage. The tip is: May is still a cold month in the Algarve. Anyway, we went down to the beach. To go down, you have to face a staircase, but I do not remember climbing or descending to be too tiring or problematic.
At least for us, since they (Europeans) are accustomed to the cold and entered the sea anyway.
Ponta da Pie Dade
From below, it was where we finally closed a boat trip to Ponta da Pie Dade, EUR 15.00 per person. But that is already a subject for an upcoming post.
For now, we have these beautiful images in memory, and a desire to have entered the sea, but from the next we come back with more heat. The friends of the Deixa de Frescura were in September and enjoyed the beaches and the sea.