Lagos in Portugal >> Content >> Guides >> The Avenida and Marina

Lagos lies at the mouth of the river Bensafrim and the riverfront road is named the Avenida dos Descobrimentos (or Avenue of the Discoveries), a reference to the town’s close connections with and involvement in Portugal’s legendary explorations of the New World.
At the western end of the Avenida, opposite the Fort, stands a statue of Henry the Navigator, set on a cobbled square laid to resemble waves, and gazing wistfully out to sea as if looking for the return of his Caravels ; just behind this square, you’ll find the Old Slave Market which is now an art gallery.
Alongside the Fort, you may well be approached and offered a boat trip to the Grottos. Now, there are grottos in most coastal resorts throughout the world, but Lagos’ grottos are truly spectacular and a boat trip to them is well worth the very reasonable price asked by the local fishermen. We would respectfully offer you two tips at this juncture :1. Ensure that you have your video camera or still camera with you when you undertake the trip, and, 2.Check out the height of the tide on the sea wall opposite and take the trip at low tide; the grottos are such that many of them fill up at high tide and are therefore inaccessible to the boats so, the lower the tide level, the more of the grottos your guide will be able to show you !!
Proceeding along the attractively laid out promenade ( note the intricate patterns in the cobbled surface), you will pass Lagos’ Courthouse and Telecoms buildings on the opposite side of the Avenida, near to the taxi rank and, shortly afterwards, the recently restored Fish Market, a short diversion into which will amaze you with it’s huge range of seafood and fresh garden produce.
Back along the promenade, a short distance ahead you may be lucky enough to see a regular visitor to Lagos, the Boa Esperança, a full size replica of a 15th century Caravel, the type of vessel mainly used on the voyages of Discovery. The Boa Esperança is used as a training vessel and as an ambassador for the Portuguese tourist industry; as in olden times, she bears the cross of Christ on her mainsail and the coat of arms of Prince Henry (The Navigator) on her main mast - truly a breathtaking sight when moored on the river.
Various excursions will be on offer from brightly coloured kiosks and desks along the promenade and friendly vendors will happily explain what the various cruises entail - book here if you wish, or leave it until later, they won’t be offended !
Crossing the pedestrian footbridge, which can be raised to permit larger vessels to enter and leave the Marina, brings us to the old and new Lagos, co-existing quite comfortably in close proximity - The Doca Pesca, or old Fishing Dock , on our right, and the beautiful modern Marina to the left. Explore them both to your heart’s content; if your timing is good you’ll see the old, traditional fishing fleet unloading its catch from the brightly coloured boats, whilst, just a short stroll away, sleek, modern vessels line the pontoons of the Marina. Sit and relax at one of the bars that overlook the Marina-from time to time you’ll maybe see a face that you recognise, a t.v. personality or a sports personality perhaps,- or browse the selection of harbour side shops and check out the menus of the restaurants for an evening meal with a view.
From the Marina, trips to sea for game fishing, dolphin watching, sunset and barbecue cruises and other water based activities, can be booked.
Immediately behind the Marina can be found yet another example of old and new Lagos in close proximity. The old railway station, with its ornate coloured tiles, or Azulejos, stands alongside Lagos’ new, modern station, from where you can reach the Eastern Algarve as far as Faro and beyond.

It will pay to bear in mind that the Algarve railway network travels for much of its distance five or six kilometres inland of the coast, and many other resorts can only be reached by means of a taxi or bus connection, where available, even though the railway station bears the name of the resort.
Resorts that have a railway station in or close to them are : Lagos (of course - there’s very little that Lagos doesn’t have !), Portimao, Silves ( a ten minute walk away), Almancil, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de St. Antonio.