Lagos in Portugal >> Content >> Travel Tips - Faro to Lagos >> General Travel Tips

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Our tips are divided into four page areas, we hope you find this information usefull & if you would like to contribute to our community we invite you to join up, membership is absoluty free & we are a community built information website. Many thanks to our community moderator "MarinaMad" for his "Travel Tips" contribution.

(1.) Planning and packing
(2.) Getting to Lagos
(3.) Surviving and Enjoying Lagos itself
(4.) Getting out and about

Planning and packing.

Planning your trip to Lagos is much the same as planning a trip to anywhere else in the EU. If you’re from the EU yourself, you won’t need any jabs, no visas, just a passport. Oh, and some Euros might come in handy, too.

If you want someone else to take care of everything, you can pick a package holiday out of a glossy brochure full of lovely pictures which could have been taken anywhere, otherwise you need to make some decisions and do a little planning. These decisions will include: how to get there, where to stay, and whether you’ll need a hire car. If you don’t want a car, you will need to give a little thought as to how you’re going to travel the last few miles to Lagos, as there is no direct public transport from the airport.

The obvious entry point to the Algarve is the international airport at Faro, located about 80km east of Lagos and served by scheduled and charter flights from many European cities throughout the year, and even more in summer. Several low cost airlines fly in from the UK and other European countries. From the UK, the main providers include easyJet, Monarch, flyglobespan.com, GB airways, BMI and even good old British Airways, and flights are easily arranged online. You can also come in via Lisbon, perhaps spending a few days there before catching a domestic flight, train or bus to the Algarve. If you have all the time in the world, travelling by road or rail from northern Europe are by no means ridiculous options – Lagos is popular with students and hippy types who have arrived by train, bus or camper van.

There’s a wide range of options for accommodation in and around town. The biggest hotel is the Tivoli Lagos, although the Marina Club is probably not much smaller since its latest extension was finished. The only other big hotel, the Golfinho, has been closed for a few years, but last time I wandered by it was being refurbished, so may be open again by the time you read this, probably with a new name. There are some smaller hotels, including a couple in the old centre, and a wide range of apartments in town and over the river by the marina or along Meia Praia. There are several agents in the UK, and booking through these can prove cheaper than booking directly with the accommodation provider.

Driving is Portugal is nowhere near as scary as it once was. Legend has it that the EN125, which runs the length of the Algarve, is or was the most dangerous road in Europe, but a new, very civilised motorway has been opened and has relieved it of most of its traffic. Several day trips are possible from Lagos by bus or train, but if you intend to travel around a lot during your stay, especially with a family, a car is a must. Even if you don’t want to travel about, it may still be worth a one-way hire from Faro airport to your apartment, dump your bags, do a supermarket run to stock up with beer, water and nappies, then hand the car back in Lagos. All the usual international companies are represented, and have websites with deals from time to time. As always, read the small print before committing, and remember to pack your driving licence.

If you don’t fancy the expense and responsibility of a hire car, you can arrange a private or shared transfer from Faro to your accommodation in Lagos. This isn’t essential, but if you want the reassurance of knowing that it’s all sorted, and just want to get there ASAP, it’s a good option. Just Google “airport transfer Algarve” and check out the options. For the latest recommendations from those who know – ask the question in the forums on this site. The cars are usually of a good standard, although their drivers can hug the car in front a little more closely than you might be used to. Your author has used several firms, and never been let down yet (although we were once a little surprised when a 52-seater coach was sent just for the five of us).

The weather, rather than any local customs or dress codes will determine what clothes to pack. You can usually rely on the Algarve being anything up to 10-15 degC warmer than at home (assuming you’re a northern European). Even in high season, it is rarely uncomfortably hot by the coast, and there is usually a bit of a breeze off the sea by day, which reverses in the evening. Some evenings, even in summer can actually be quite cool and windy (a recently increasing phenomenon) – you’ll certainly still want to eat outside, and may need long sleeves. The odd cloudy day, even rain, can happen anytime, but is very rare in July and August. Winters are generally wet, rather than cold, and many days, even in December and January, will be sunny and pleasant. You’ll certainly need a fleece or similar in the evenings.

Most restaurants are pretty casual, and you won’t be refused entry anywhere on grounds of dress (or lack of it). Wear what you are comfortable in. You might want to go for “smart casual” in the more up-market places, but otherwise anything goes. Unless your attending a hatch, match or dispatch, don’t even think about packing a tie. You may need to adapt your packing slightly if you plan to visit loads of churches, go running, hiking, or whatever other daft activities take your fancy, otherwise pretty much anything goes.

One warning: the sand and walkways around the beach can get very hot in summer, so flip-flops or something equally stylish are a must. On windy days, the sand can blow around a bit at ground level, and a wind-break might be handy, and some Tupperware to keep the sand off your fish paste sandwiches.

Finally, driving licence, money, ticket, passport – and you are hot to trot.