Lagos Or Albufeira: Which One To Visit In 2025?

Quick Overview of Lagos and Albufeira

Both Lagos and Albufeira are popular holiday destinations in the Algarve. 

Completely understandable, as the South of Portugal is stunning, the beaches are spectacular, the towns are lively, and it makes you feel the “vacation vibes”.

Before we dive into an in-depth comparison, here is a quick overview of what you can expect.

Both cities

• Stunning beaches within walking distance from the city center
• Charming Old Town with many bars and restaurants to choose from
• Excellent public transport connections to the rest of the region
• Many day trip opportunities and activities – kayaking, surfing, sightseeing

Lagos Overview

• A smaller town with a more authentic Portuguese spirit
• It gets very quiet once the summer season is over
• Many hostels for solo backpackers to stay in and private accommodation as a mid-range option

Albufeira Overview

• Iconic lively nightlife, concentrated in the city centre and the Albufeira strip
• The city can feel like a resort town overrun by tourists and not an authentic place where people live
• It’s not the best destination for solo travelers with only 4 hostels and over 50 large hotels aimed at families, couples, and holidaymakers

Getting There: Lagos or Albufeira

Winner: Albufeira, but both are easy to reach

If you are flying to Algarve, you will land at Faro Airport. From Faro airport, you can rent a car or take a bus to Lagos and Albufeira. 

Theoretically, you can also book a private transfer if you are bougie or if you arrive late with a lot of luggage.

If you want to rent a car, use this website to compare offers from all companies available at Faro Airport!

Many companies are operating at Faro Airport, and this is the best way to have an overview of the prices. Also, it is cheaper to rent through them than directly!

Alternatively, you can take a direct Bus 56 from Faro Airport to Albufeira and Lagos.

Albufeira is closer to Faro, and a bus trip takes around an hour. A bus from Faro Airport to Lagos takes about 90 minutes.

You could also take a train from Faro city center to Lagos or Albufeira. However, I don’t recommend traveling by train to Albufeira, as the train station is about 6 km outside of the city.

If you are coming from Lisbon, the best way to travel is by bus. The trip takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. 

There is also a train from Lisbon to Albufeira and Lagos. However, it takes about an hour longer than the bus and tends to be more expensive unless you book well in advance. 

I use this website to compare the prices of different transportation options and book my tickets!

Accommodation: Lagos vs Albufeira

Winner: Both have lots of accommodation options

Both cities are great towns to stay in the Algarve and have many accommodation options for every type of traveler.

The accommodation prices are similar – higher in the summer than in other seasons.

Accommodation in Albufeira

Albufeira has plenty of accommodation options for every type of traveler.

Many hotels also have pools if you visit Algarve when the sea is too cold.

Accommodation in Lagos

Lagos has half as many accommodations on Booking as Albufeira. But there are still plenty of options. 

The most common accommodation in Lagos seems to be rooms in private houses, and I stayed in one during my trip.

• TOP Pick: Belmar Spa & Beach Resort 
• Best Mid-Range Option: Lalitana Townhouse
• Best Hostel: Cloud 9 Hostel

Day Trips From Albufeira or Lagos?

Winner: Albufeira

If you rent a car, it makes almost no difference where you choose to stay, as the distance between Lagos and Albufeira is just about 60km.

As I traveled without a car, I found it better to base myself in both places to go on day trips in the Algarve.

Albufeira is a better base if you want to visit Vilamoura, Carvoeiro, or Benagil Cave, as it is closer to the city.

Lagos is better if you want to explore the western coast of the Algarve and try surfing.

Also, Lagos train station is in the city center, making for a more comfortable journey to other cities on the train network.

Both cities have good public transport connections to Portimao, Silves, Ferragudo, and Benagil cave tours you can join for a visit to this iconic sea cave!

Beaches: Albufeira or Lagos

Winner: Lagos

The Algarve coast is best known for its stunning beaches surrounded by dramatic cliffs.

If you like long sandy beaches, Lagos and Albufeira both have excellent beaches for swimming in the city center. 

Be aware that the beaches in the city center get quite busy in the summer, and they are not relaxing hidden coves you might have seen online. 

Lagos has many smaller coves along the coastline nestled between famous rock formations like Praia do Camilo.

On the other hand, beaches in Albufeira are kilometers long, open beaches.

Best Beaches in Lagos

1. Praia de Dona Ana – the largest beach along the Ponta da Piedade coastline
2. Praia do Camilo – a smaller scenic beach along the Ponta da Piedade coastline
3. Praia dos Estudantes –  a small photogenic cove, with a bridge between the cliffs
4. Praia do Pinhão – a popular “hidden gem” beach because it is harder to reach
5. Meia Praia – long, sandy beach on the eastern coast of Lagos

The picturesque beaches with a stunning view of impressive rock formations in Lagos are within walking distance from the city center. 

A fun activity to try is kayaking in Lagos! The coast is stunning and many hidden beaches can only be accessed by sea.

You can hike on the Lagos boardwalk – the wooden path along the coastline,  all the way to Ponta da Piedade.

Some of the best surf beaches on the western coast of the Algarve that should be on your list are – Arrifana Beach, Castelejo Beach, and Zavial Beach. 

Best Beaches in Albufeira

1. Praia dos Pescadores – the main beach in the Old Town
2. Praia da Oura – beach close to the party area, a place to go to beach bars
3. Praia dos Alemães – the long sandy beach of the New Town

As you can see, the beaches in the city of Albufeira are all long and sandy type. There aren’t quiet hidden coves within the city center if that is what you’re looking for. 

To reach other beaches in the Albufeira area, you will need to use some kind of transportation. 

Nightlife: Albufeira or Lagos

Winner: Albufeira

The answer to this question depends on what kind of nightlife you are looking for. 

Albufeira is well known as the party center of the Algarve, popular with stag and hen parties and young crowds.

Cheap cocktails, karaoke bars, strip clubs, and nightclubs – you can find everything in Albufeira.

Lagos is not a party town – but it gets very lively in summer, with many smaller bars around the city center that get lively with the backpackers on pub crawls and locals gathering for a drink. 

Albufeira Nightlife

Albufeira nightlife is iconic. It is concentrated in two areas – the city center of Albufeira and

in Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro, better known as the Albufeira Strip.

You will be spoilt for choice. As you walk down the Strip, you can choose between all music genres and club types.

There are open-air clubs, traditional nightclubs, karaoke bars and more!

Club and bar promotors will invite you into their bars and try to lure you in with “promos” – free shots or Happy hour prices. 

Lagos Nightlife

Lagos is your regular seaside town when it comes to nightlife. You will find bars, restaurants, open-air concerts, and a lively atmosphere if you visit in summer. 

However, over the past couple of years, Lagos became a backpacker hub of the Algarve.

That makes it a better place for solo backpackers as you can stay in a party hostel or join one of many pub crawls and booze cruises.

Bars in Lagos are relatively small, but they are all within a 5-minute walk from each other. They stay open long into the night, perfect for summer nights out.

Lagos or Albufeira for backpackers?

Winner: Lagos

By now, you hopefully have a pretty good idea of what it is like to visit Lagos and Albufeira. 

As a solo female backpacker, another decisive factor for me is whether the destination is backpacker and solo traveler-friendly. 

I found Lagos to be a better city for backpackers than Albufeira.

Why is Lagos better for solo backpackers than Albufeira? 

• There are more hostels in Lagos 
• Albufeira caters more to resorts, tourists, and families

Despite being the party center of the Algarve, Albufeira only has four hostels. 

If you travel in a group and rent a car, stay around Albufeira and enjoy the Albufeira nightlife. 

As a solo female traveler, I prefer to stay in hostels. For many reasons, but mainly because they are cheaper and are a great place to meet other travelers.

If you want to meet other travelers, and all Albufeira hostels are fully booked, then Lagos is the place to be!

Is Lagos or Albufeira Better for Vegans?

Winner: Albufeira

This question might have a niche audience, but I always check what the vegan scene at my destination is like. 

If I traveled for food (and we know I often do) I would stay in Albufeira. 

Yes, the availability of vegan-friendly restaurants and cute cafes is a decisive factor. I love food!

Portuguese supermarkets have a great variety of vegan options, so you can easily prepare delicious meals in your accommodation if you want to save money while traveling!

Is Lagos or Albufeira Better in Winter?

Winner: Albufeira

This one is an interesting question, and you might be surprised by my answer. Albufeira might be the better choice if you visit Algarve in winter.

Let me explain why. 

I visited Algarve in late October/early November – well after the high season finished, and summer crowds disappeared. 

With crowds of resort tourists and tour holidaymakers gone, Albufeira was a charming place to spend time in.

Since it is still a larger town, it did not feel empty, despite the lack of tourists.

On the other hand, Lagos was very quiet. I walked around the Old Town on Friday night and felt like I was the only person still awake.   

Read next: Backpacking Europe in Winter – Is it a good idea?