The Praia da Luz to Lagos hike is a fantastic 10-kilometers route that offers stunning scenery and diverse landscape. The route takes hikers past some of the main attractions including Ponta da Piedade and some of the most beautiful beaches in Lagos. If you like hiking, enjoy nature and coastal scenery walking this trail is one of the not-to-miss things to do in Lagos. In this post you can find detailed information on the Praia da Luz to Lagos walk.
Table of Contents
Praia da Luz to Lagos route overview
- Total distance – 10,5 km
- Time – 2,5-3 hours
- Total ascent – 251 m
- Total descent – 254 m
- Difficulty – easy/moderate
- Starting point – Praia da Luz/Lagos Old Town
- Finishing point – Lagos Old Town/Praia da Luz
- Walking route – Praia da Luz – Porto de Mos Beach – Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse – Camilo Beach – Dona Ana Beach – Batata Beach – Lagos Old Town
You can do a boat cruise from Lagos to Praia da Luz and Burgau following the rugged coastline. The view of the cliffs and the beaches from the sea is very different.
Where does the Praia da Luz to Lagos walk start?
The Praia da Luz to Lagos trail is the last walking stage of a multi-day hiking route called the Fishermen’s Trail that starts in the small town of Porto Covo on the West Coast. So technically the trail goes on for hundreds of kilometres. The Fishermen’s Trail is a part of the Rota Vicentina network that includes two multi-day trails and multiple day hikes.
Starting the walk from the beach in Luz is probably the most convenient option. The Praia da Luz to Lagos trail goes along the beach following Avenida dos Pescadores. In the street next to Paraiso Restaurant, you can find a big information board about the trail.
You can combine this route with the Salema to Praia da Luz walk. It’s a 12-kilometers walk along the coast. In this case your total distance will be 22 km. You can complete the longer route in one or two days. If you have time you can start even further along the coast and do the Sagres to Salema walk first.
Where does the hike finish?
The official end of the Praia da Luz to Lagos hike and the end of the Fishermen’s Trail is at Lagos train station. Once in Lagos you can finish the walk anywhere you want there is no need to go all the way across the town to the train station unless you want to catch a train. I finished my walk in the Old Town of Lagos.
How long is the walk from Praia da Luz to Lagos?
The complete route from Praia da Luz to Lagos train station is 11 km/6,8 mi. As I mentioned above you don’t have to walk all the way to the train station and can finish the route at one of the beaches, at Ponta de Piedade, at the Old Town of Lagos, or simply at your hotel.
Distances from Praia da Luz
- Praia da Luz – Porto de Mos Beach (Lagos) – 4 km/2,4 mi
- Praia da Luz – boardwalks at Ponta da Piedade – 5,5 km/3,4 mi
- Praia da Luz – Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse – 7 km/4,3 mi
- Praia da Luz – Praia do Camilo – 8 km/5 mi
- Praia da Luz – Praia Dona Ana – 9 km/5,5 mi
- Praia da Luz – Lagos Old Town – 10,5 km/6,5 mi
Can the trail be walked in either direction?
Yes, you can walk from Praia da Luz to Lagos or from Lagos to Praia da Luz. If you decide to start in Lagos and don’t want to walk as far as 10 km I’d recommend starting at Ponta da Piedade or Porto de Mos Beach. If you start at Praia da Luz you can decide how far you want to go once you reach Porto de Mos Beach which is 4 km away.
If you walk in the morning in the Praia da Luz to Lagos direction you’ll be facing the sun. Walking in the opposite direction (Lagos to Praia da Luz) the sun will be in your back.
Is the trail well-marked?
Yes, the route is well-marked with green and blue stripes painted every 40-50 m on rocks, wooden poles, trees, etc. The route is marked in both directions. The route is marked all the way from Praia da Luz to the train station in Lagos.
How difficult is the Praia da Luz to Lagos walk?
It’s a moderate walk that doesn’t require special preparation or experience. The most challenging part of the walk is a steep 900-meters ascent from Praia da Luz to the top of the cliffs. The fact that you don’t have to walk the entire 10-kilometers route and can finish walking at any place you want makes it even easier.
It’s possible to do the walk with a child but the steep ascent from Praia da Luz might be a bit challenging for younger children. If you hike with a toddles I can suggest a hiking carrier. We always you it when go hiking with out 1 year old daughter. If you’re looking for a walk accessible with a stroller then I can recommend boardwalks at Ponta da Piedade or Alvor boardwalks.
What are the highlights of the trail?
Walking from Praia da Luz to Lagos you get to see some of the main attractions in the area.
- Praia da Luz
- Rocha Negra, a cliff with a lookout point (the top of the cliffs after the long ascent from Praia da Luz).
- Porto de Mos Beach, a long and wide sandy beach surrounded by the cliffs. Porto de Mos is a popular spot for surfing in Lagos.
- Praia do Canavial, a small beach next to Porto de Mos. The best views of both beaches are from Mirador Praia da Canavial at Ponta da Piedade.
- Ponta da Piedade, a spectacular cape with breathtaking views.
- Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse. The best views of the lighthouse you get from a boat or a kayak tour around Ponta da Piedade.
- Mirador Ponta da Piedade, a lookout point with a view over the cliffs and a long rocky stairs leading down to the sea.
- Camilo Beach, a secluded beach with a long wooden staircase
- Dona Ana Beach, a picturesque beach surrounded by limestone cliffs and pinnacles
How to get to Praia da Luz?
It’s easy to get from Lagos to Praia da Luz. You can take a public bus #4 from the bus station in Lagos and get off the bus at Igreja Sra. da Luz (a church near the beach in Luz). A bus ride takes around 30 minutes. Buses leave every 30 minutes. The ticket is paid on the bus by car or in cash. It’s 1,5 Euros.
You can use Uber as well. It works great for getting around Lagos. We often use it in the Algarve. You’ll need an Uber App on your phone to be able to use it. A ride between Lagos and Praia da Luz will cost between 5 and 7 Euros depending on the season. It’s a 15-minutes drive.
When is the best time for walking?
In summer months between June and September early morning is the best time to walk from Praia da Luz to Lagos. In July and August by 9 am it gets very hot. Outside the summer season you can walk the trail any time of the day. You can walk the route in the evening as well though on hot summer days it doesn’t get that much cooler.
The light for taking photos around Ponta da Piedade is very nice in the evenings just before the sunset. Praia da Luz looks beautiful in the morning light.
If you’re looking for another coastal route with stunning views I can recommend the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
Praia da Luz to Lagos route map
Praia da Luz to Lagos route description
Part 1. Praia da Luz to Porto de Mos Beach, 4 km/2,4 mi
The first part is a 4-kilometers walk with a steep 900-meters ascent right at the beginning from Praia da Luz to Rocha Negra lookout point on the top of the cliffs. From there it’s an easy walking along the cliffs with breathtaking views. Don’t forget to look back from time to time. At Porto de Most you descend back to the beach. Here you can rest, eat, go for a swim, etc. before continuing the walk. If you don’t feel like walking anymore you can catch a busor take an Uber back to your hotel.
Part 2. Porto de Mos Beach to Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse, 3 km/1,8 mi
The beginning of this part of the walk, around 1,5 km is through a quiet neighbhourhood of Lagos with beautiful villas. After 1,5 km you reach the boardwalks at Ponta da Piedade. There are several look out points that offer stunning views of the coast and the cliffs. The viewpoint facing Porto de Mos Beach is the one not-to-miss here. You can loop around or head straight towards the lighthouse. It’s another 1-1,5 km (depending on how you walk) to the lighthouse. This is the busiest part of the route once you approach the lighthouse you’ll see many tourists especially during peak season.
Part 3. Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse to Lagos Old Town, 3,5 km/2,1 mi
Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse – Praia do Camilo – Praia Dona Ana – Praia dos Estudantes – Praia da Batata – Lagos Old Town
This part of the Praia da Luz to Lagos walk has some of the most beautiful beaches in Lagos. Don’t miss the Ponta da Piedade viewpoint on the right side (facing the lighthouse). You’ll see a long staircase leading down to a small rocky pier. In the old time the pier was used by local fishermen to launch their boats. Nowadays a couple of fishermen families do boat tours around Ponta da Piedade from the pier. In my opinion this part of the trail has some of the best views.
The shortest way of getting from the Lighthouse to Dona Ana Beach is to follow the road. It’s the original route. It’s not the most scenic part of the trail. New boardwalks on the right side of the road are being built it’s possible that the route will be changed and hikers will be able to walk all the way from the Lighthouse to Dona Ana Beach along the cliffs. For now you can walk on boardwalks to Camilo Beach (1 km) and from there get back to the road.
From Dona Ana Beach to Pinhão Beach the route continues along the cliffs for a little bit. You get the best views of Dona Ana Beach and the coastline from the trail. From Pinhão Beach the trail returns to the town following Avenida dos Descobrmentos past Estudantes Beach and Praia da Batata.
What to pack for the hike?
It’s a day walk you don’t need to pack a lot of stuff. There are several restaurants along the route where you can stop for food or drinks. Bring only essentials and enough water.
Here is my packing list
- 10L backpack
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Cap
- Sunglasses
- Towel (if you’re planning to stop at the beach and swim)
- Camera for taking photos/videos. I used our GoPro HERO 10 for taking videos and photos. Some photos in this post were taken with our old Canon 70D camera.
Where to stay in Lagos?
There are many hostels, hotels, guesthouses and rental apartments in Lagos. Outside the peak season it’s quite easy to fine a place to stay. Between June and September it’s highly recommended to book your accommodation in advance.
Budget | JJs Yard 2 | Boutique Taghostel | Cloud 9 Hostel |
Middle price | Old School Guest House | Palm Villa Estudios | Dream Lagos B&B |
High-end | Villas D. Dinis – Charming Residence (adults only) | Marina Club Lagos Resort |
See our guide to the best hotels in Lagos.