Lagos Or Albufeira: Which One To Visit In 2024?

Are you planning a trip to Portugal and wondering which is better, Lagos or Albufeira? You came to the right place!

While backpacking Portugal, I spent time in both cities and enjoyed my time in both.

But, if you don’t have time to visit both, this is the article for you!

In this article, I will cover which city is better for beaches, accommodation options, nightlife, day trip opportunities, and more!

Keep reading to find out which city is better for you, Albufeira or Lagos!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I hope you find the information here helpful!

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
• There are only 4 hostels for solo backpackers and over 50 large hotels aimed at families, couples, and holidaymakers

Is it easier to get to Lagos or Albufeira?

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, I 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 in Lagos vs Albufeira: Where to stay? 

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

When it comes to accommodation, Albufeira is prepared for many tourists. The coast is lined with large hotels and resorts, with over 50 different ones you could stay in. 

There are only 4 hostels, which is unfortunate for solo backpackers. For a popular party town like Albufeira, I would expect more options!

Orange Terrace Hostel is the best option in the city center! Highly rated social hostel, great for solo travelers!

I stayed in Luna Solaqua Hotel, and I can highly recommend it. It is a mid-range hotel, ideally located within walking distance of the city, beaches, and the Albufeira Strip. If it is available on your dates, book it!

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. They can be a bit of a hit-and-miss but provide an authentic Portuguese coastal home experience.

If you want to stay in private accommodation, Lalitana Townhouse is a colourful oasis, right in the city centre!

Lagos is the best place to stay in the Algarve for backpackers in Portugal, as there are over 10 different hostels to choose from.

• Cloud 9 Hostel: The best party hostel in Lagos for solo backpackers. It is known for its pub crawls and social vibes. 
• Olive Hostel: If you want to stay in a calmer, but still social hostel, this one is for you!

Is Albufeira or Lagos better for day trips?

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

Both cities have great Benagil cave tours you can join for a visit to this iconic sea cave!

Is Albufeira or Lagos Better for Beaches?

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. 

However, you can also opt for a kayak tour in Albufeira, most include a boat transfer to a more quiet area!

Are you planning a trip to the Algarve? You will want to read this next!

• The Best Algarve Itinerary: 7 days without a car!
• Backpacking Algarve, Portugal: The Ultimate Algarve Travel Guide

Is Lagos or Albufeira better for Nightlife?

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.

What to expect from Albufeira nightlife? 

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. 

The prices are generally the same in most bars, so you should go with your instincts and pick a place with the best atmosphere.

The great thing with that many options is that you can move on to the next one if you don’t like the club you picked. 

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. 

The city center of Lagos is bustling with tourists and locals during the summer months enjoying a drink on the terraces of bars. 

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?

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. 

Both cities are great backpacking destinations.

However, 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!

Read next: How to make friends in a hostel?

Is Lagos or Albufeira Better for Vegans?

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!

Vegan Options in Albufeira

Albufeira was surprisingly vegan-friendly, with a couple of fully vegan restaurants and many restaurants with vegan options – some are not even on the Happy Cow app!

Vegan Options in Lagos

There is only one fully vegan restaurant in Lagos, and I did not try it, as it is slightly outside the city center.

But don’t worry that you will stay hungry in Lagos! Almost every restaurant in Lagos has vegan options, with Indian restaurants being popular spots for vegans!

Read more: The Ultimate Vegan Algarve Travel Guide

Is Lagos or Albufeira Better in Winter?

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?

Final thoughts: which is better Lagos or Albufeira

And there you have it, an in-depth analysis of the most popular towns in the Algarve – Albufeira and Lagos.

Both are great destinations, and you will enjoy your time in the Algarve regardless of where you choose to stay. 

Albufeira is better if you’re looking for a resort holiday experience – beach during the day and party during the night.

Lagos is better if you want a more traditional Portuguese holiday, backpacker vibes, and stunning landscapes close to the city.

Faro is another popular place to stay in the Algarve, so how about comparing is Faro or Lagos better choice for you?