DAY TRIPS FROM LAGOS
Sagres
Sagres is located at the extreme western tip of the Algarve. Its vast beaches offer some of the best surfing in Portugal, so it’s primarily a surfing destination that has an unpretentious cool vibe. Unless you’re a surfer, there isn’t much to do in Sagres, but it’s a remote part of the Algarve that should not be missed!
The main tourist attraction is the Fortaleza de Sagres, which is a unique fort because it only has one defensive wall. The other three sides are guarded by the immense sheer cliffs of the headland.
Before the 15th century, Cabo de São Vicente in Sagres was believed to be the end of the known world. The Atlantic Ocean constantly rages against the massive 200-foot cliffs around this bleak headland. Many will agree that this place is filled with intrigue and mystery. Its red lantern lighthouse has a 95-km range, making it the most powerful lighthouse in Europe. The area draws adventurous visitors for its natural beauty and, arguably, the best sunsets in the Algarve. Despite the constant wind gusts, groups gather along the top of the cliffs to watch the sun go down every evening. Praia do Beliche, in Sagres, was another place that we loved to visit at the end of the day to watch the surfers and the sunset.
Aljezur
From Sagres, we drove through the deserted Parque Natural Costa Vicentina and explored the wild western coast. After driving through the valley and down long narrow roads, we discovered some of the area’s pristine beaches; Praia Castelejo, Praia Cordoama and Praia da Arrifana. This is Portugal’s least developed region and is vastly different from the Algarve’s south coast. The best view of the old town of Aljezur can be seen from the hilltop at Aljezur Castle, which is actually the remains of a 10th-century Moorish castle. Getting there from the town below, our GPS sent us on the most direct route, straight up a very steep cobblestone laneway. Halfway up the narrow street, the Punto protested so Douglas maneuvered us back down while I just kept my eyes closed. We parked and walked up the hill instead. Once we arrived at the top, on the other side of the hill, we found a parking lot and a proper road that led to the castle.
Monchique
Located in the lush rolling mountains of the Algarve, Monchique is a peaceful and charming village with cobbled streets and colourful houses. In the area, there are nature trails, an assortment of hotels, and spas that focus on wellness. We found the studio of Leonel Telo, a talented ceramist who lives in Monchique, where we checked out his unique work and lovely courtyard garden that was filled with plants in pots that he had crafted onsite.
The highest point in the Algarve is Mount Fóia in Monchique. It offers panoramic views of the Algarve’s south and west coast as far as Cabo de São Vicente. Tucked away from the road at the top of the mountain, we discovered a lovely little food truck that sold freshly baked goods and beer and offered up a spectacular view all the way to the coast.
Tavira
Tavira is possibly the most charming town in the Algarve, set on either side of the meandering Rio Gilão. It’s about an hour's drive from Lagos and, regrettably, we only spent half a day there. There’s a unique mix of traditional architecture with Moorish influences. It was once the Algarve’s main port, but that changed after the earthquake of 1722 when the river silted up, although fishing and salt extraction are still important. It's located about 3 km from the coast where you can access the sprawling beaches of Ilha de Tavira by ferry or water taxi. During our visit, we walked through ruins of a hilltop castle, strolled along a bridge dating back to the 12th Century known as the Roman Bridge, and toured a 17th-century church. Of course, we also enjoyed coffee and dessert at a café along the river.
Before heading home, we drove through Santa Luzia, a nearby traditional fishing village that is known as the octopus capital of the Algarve.
Porches
A trip to the Algarve wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the many ceramic shops. One of the most well-known is Porches Pottery which has been in operation since 1968. It’s a beautiful place where you can shop and watch artisans at work. There is also a café that has a cozy indoor seating area with a wood-burning fireplace and an outdoor patio with walls and tables covered in decorative ceramic tiles. If you stop by, be sure to check out the frog pond. It’s adorable!
Silves
We loved the desserts in Portugal, and finding new places to relax and enjoy a cappuccino and pastel de nata became the goal for us. Silves didn’t disappoint. In the middle of a square with a charming fountain, we stumbled upon DaRosa, a gorgeous café with an outdoor patio. It was a lovely Saturday morning and the square was buzzing with locals and tourists. Silves was originally the ancient capital of the Algarve. It's historic and charming with cobbled streets and interesting architecture. As we walked around, we noticed storks in huge nests perched on top of buildings. We spotted nests everywhere throughout the Algarve, but this was our first time seeing them in a town. It was pretty remarkable. They’re believed to bring good luck and fertility to the homes over which they build their nest.
The outdoor Saturday market in Silves was busy with local families buying fresh fruits and vegetables. Also happening that weekend was the annual orange festival, and there was a big party that night to celebrate the harvest. We were told that Silves grows the best oranges in the region, although the orange trees around the town are the more bitter type used for making marmalade.
Loulé
From Silves, we drove to Loulé, part of the largest municipality in the Algarve in terms of size. This area is known for the originality and simplicity of its architecture and its traditions. Unlike the coastal regions, the hinterland of the Algarve has generally remained unchanged. Decorative chimneys are an architectural feature seen throughout the Algarve, especially in this region. These iconic symbols have an interesting history.
Our visit to Loulé was pretty short, but you could easily spend a whole day there. We walked around the town and through some of the colourful, narrow streets. Loulé is known for its many festivals and we were lucky enough to be there during Chocolate Week! Outside the market, there were over 20 exhibitors, including some of the most prestigious chocolatiers in Portugal. The spicy ginger chocolate was my favourite!
At the time of our visit, Loulé was preparing for Carnival, a three-day annual event that is held in the centre of the city. Just like the carnival in Brazil, their carnival has parades, costumes, music, and dancing. In August, they have an end-of-summer party called Noite Branca (White Night) when everyone wears white.
Along with the many churches and the medieval castle in Loulé, the municipal market, Mercado de Loulé, is an interesting place to visit. It has oriental architecture and dates back to 1908. It’s also where locals buy their groceries. The best time to visit is Saturday morning. There’s a Gypsy market every Saturday in Loulé as well, where you can buy purses, clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other handmade products.
In this region, there are a wide variety of accommodations including luxury golf resorts (Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo), countryside villages (Alte, Salir and Querenca), and a shopping mall with an outdoor designer outlet.
Algarve International Circuit | Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
This world-class 4.692 km race track, also known as the Portimão Circuit, has a seating capacity of 100,000 and cost €195 million to build. The design of the track allows for excellent views from any grandstand. It includes one of Europe’s largest karting tracks, a driving school, a five-star hotel, sports complex, and apartments.
It was a global project created as a test facility for racing teams and companies. Also, the Grand Tour, a British TV series produced by Amazon, was shot there.
A series of annual races are held at the track, and they offer different packages for open track days that start at €130.00. We were there on the last day of the Rotax Trophy, Portugal’s main karting competition, and caught part of the trophy presentation. Instead of bottles of champagne, the young kids were given large bottles of water with their trophies. In proper Formula 1 style, they shook the bottles and sprayed each other on the podium, although these junior Lewis Hamiltons took it a step further and chased each other around the paddock. It was pretty cute.
Senhora da Rocha Chapel
This small white chapel is located on a narrow promontory overlooking Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha (Beach of Our Lady of the Rock) on one side and Praia Nova on the other. It is one of the iconic images of the Algarve, and the panoramic views from the top are stunning.
The current building has survived two earthquakes (in 1755 and 1969). Inside, there is an image of the Virgin Mary and Christ. The chapel is only open on certain days, but you can still see the altar through the windows. This location served as a small fort throughout much of its history. It was called the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha. The location was perfect to defend against pirates. The exact origins of the chapel are unknown, although it is believed to have been built in the 14th century, and sources suggest that a building existed there since the 8th century.
Senhora da Rocha has become a popular location for weddings. However, you must first obtain public liability insurance, a license from the maritime police, and a license from the town hall. Prices for these vary according to the number of guests.