Sights

Top Sights in Lagos: History, Heritage and Views

For a small town, Lagos carries an outsized slice of Portuguese history — this was a launch point for the Age of Discoveries, and the old town still wears that past in its walls, churches and forts. Add a spectacular natural landmark or two and you have a place that rewards looking up as much as looking out to sea. Here's how to make sense of what to see.

The historic old town

The heart of Lagos is its walled old town, best explored slowly on foot. Within and around it you'll find the Castle of the Governors, the 17th-century Ponta da Bandeira Fort by the water, and the sobering Slave Market — the first of its kind in Europe, now a museum that confronts a dark chapter of the city's history. The Museum of Lagos ties the threads together, from archaeology to sacred art.

Churches and religious heritage

Lagos's churches reward a visit: the gilded Baroque interior of Santo António, the Gothic São Sebastião, and Santa Maria in the historic centre among them. Several were rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake that reshaped so much of the Algarve.

Natural landmarks

Not every sight is built. Ponta da Piedade — the headland of golden cliffs, arches and grottos just south of town — is arguably the most spectacular sight of all, and there are three ways to experience it. Our complete Ponta da Piedade guide covers seeing it by boat, by kayak and on foot.

Making the most of it

Most of the built sights cluster in and around the walkable old town, so you can string several together in a morning, with coffee in a square between them. Pair that with a clifftop walk to Ponta da Piedade and you've seen the best of Lagos in a day. If you're planning your time, our guide to how many days to spend in Lagos helps you fit it together.

Browse all the sights below for locations, details and what to expect at each.