Traveling has to be one of the best things in life, right? The experiences we enjoy, the places we see, the lessons we learn, the foods we try and entice our tastebuds with – it all culminates into this wonderful bundle of goodness and enrichment. Travel is a topic I’ll be writing about frequently on my blog here, reflecting in gratitude on the wonderful experiences I’ve had.

One of those wonderful experiences was when my husband and I enjoyed 5 days in the south of Portugal, in Lagos. We were on an extended holiday in the UK and had a week free, and desired to travel into Europe. Being the often last minute people that we are, we booked the whole trip to Portugal about three days before we left (don’t always recommend this), but in our case it worked out well. To first decide on Lagos, we looked at where the local Leeds Airport had flights departing on Monday to, and then looked at which of those destinations had the best weather expected. Almost everywhere had rain forecast for the entire week, except Lagos in Portugal. Easy decision!

We flew in and out of Faro Airport, about an hour east of Lagos, and hired a car here that we used for the week. I was adamant that Chris drive the whole time because it was on the other side of the road (remember, I grew up in Australia), and we got a bit lost initially, but had some laughs and eventually made our way to gorgeous Lagos. We stayed at the Tivoli Lagos Algarve Resort. I know a lot of people opt for an Airbnb which is great, but I also love a good hotel stay that has breakfast included, especially when it’s just Chris and I traveling together.

The weather was beautiful and sunny during our stay in Lagos, however, was windy at times which limited some activities that we were hoping to partake in, but that’s ok. I feel like we made the most of our time there, and well and truly relaxed. 

My favourite things about Lagos, Portugal:

1. Enjoying the Ponta da Piedade cliffs: Growing up in Australia, we have beautiful beaches! But something that really stood out for me in Lagos was the cliffs and rock formations of the Ponta da Piedade headland. Chris and I enjoyed these from our boat tour up close (those guys have serious skills timing and navigating their boats so close to the rocks), at eye-level on the beach, and from the top at sunset where we meandered along the walking tracks and sang worship songs to God, marveling at His Creation. There’s plenty of walking tracks and hidden gems along this headland, so make sure to allow plenty of time to slow down and enjoy it all. It can get really warm here, so definitely take plenty of water, wear a hat, and apply good sunscreen.
2. Eating copious Portugese tarts: I’m sorry, but the rest of the world does not make Portuguese tarts (or Pastéis de Nata) like the Portuguese do. These perfect little pockets of yummy, custard & pastry goodness are a must! I’m pretty sure one day I ate five, and I don’t regret that at all.
3. Drinking Port Wine at the end of our dinner: Honestly, when I’m not travelling, I don’t drink often, but I do enjoy a good cultural experience, and this stuff is strong but so good! On our first evening in Lagos, the waitress recommended we try it, and I’m so glad we did. If it wasn’t for our carry-on luggage only situation, I would have bought some to bring home.
4. Feeling so safe: I know for seasoned European travelers, the threat of being pick-pocketed looms on your mind. From my experience, Lagos did not have that sense to it, and I’ve heard from many others that they felt the same. Chris and I went for multiple swims in the ocean, leaving our belongings on the beach, and every time, everything was still there as we had left it.
5. Cheap and not nasty holiday: Lagos is beautiful, a real gem of a destination, and usually those kinds of places leave a noticeable gap in your bank account. But food, car hire, accommodation, and activities were all relatively well-priced. For example, Chris and I enjoyed a delicious dinner out together, including two main meals and a wine each, for 25 Euros. I thought that was pretty good, especially considering my mum, sister and I once paid 27 Euros for three small orange juices in Barcelona.

So if you’re considering visiting Lagos, I definitely recommend a trip here to enjoy its beauty, relaxed atmosphere, and the delicious food and friendly people. 

Psalm 136:1 – Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Love, Gracie