This tropical area of Portugal gives the best of beach town energy! With quaint architecture featuring little shops and restaurants plus stunning cliff covered beaches, Lagos is definitely on our recommended list of places to visit! It's also great for partying and meeting other travelers. All of the best nightlife bars are in walking distance so bar hopping here is a blast. This article and video will show you the best beach (Praia do Camilo) to tan at and the best party hostel (Top City Hostel) to stay at in Lagos, Portugal!
Praia do Camilo
This is one of the most raved about beaches in the Algarve and once we got there we could see why. The sand is soft, the waters are blue and the cliffs are dazzling! This beach has free entry, but is somewhat of a hike to get to. There are 200 steps down to the sunny shore which seems fine when you arrive, but is super tiring when it's time to leave, and that staircase is the only way out after a long day of soaking up the sun. Even though the parking is free near the main restaurant (Restaurant O Camilo), it's limited, so taking an Uber there or arriving early is recommended. Also, that unfortunately means the beach is not wheelchair accessible since the stairs are the only way to enter.
One thing you wouldn't expect (other than the hiking surprise) is that the water is cold! Brrr! BUT this is normal for most beaches in Portugal. Any sandy shore you want to lounge in in Portugal will have icy sensations in their waters even though temps are high out of water. I bet if Ariel lived here she'd really wanna be where the people are! 🤣
What really makes this beach special are the rock formations surrounding the sands. The rock formations of Ponta da Piedade protect Camilo beach against waves from the southwest, making the water calm and the beach wind-free! In one of these formations is a famous natural arch that is tall enough to go under. There is also a man-built tunnel that takes you from the main beach to a quieter beach. We loved exploring all of these formations!
Top City Hostel
My husband and I haven't stayed in a hostel in a long time. We were a little nervous about being out-of-practice for bunk beds with randos and all-nighter bed times. Plus, we aren't in our 20's anymore - would we be accepted? Spoiler alert: we were! The travelers we met at this hostel from Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and more were super nice and friendly! The staff was also very welcoming, kind and brought all the party vibes, especially Ivo, one of the most full-of-life event organizers and hosts ever! (In my video above you and see him and Cedric belting Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" at karaoke!)
Top City Hostel itself was built smartly to reflect the needs of guests. Showers, sinks and lights have automatic sensor switches in common areas. Bunks had individual shelving trays, outlets and lamps. Each dorm was situated close to bathrooms for midnight visits - no walking a mile down mysterious hallways in the dark. Also there is laundry and a rooftop lounge with a pool. What more could you want?
This hostel gets awarded best party hostel because they have daily activities AND nightly pub crawls. Yes, they host pub crawls every night! We only participated a few nights out of the five we stayed but we had a blast every time! Every night around 30 - 40 guests take over the streets of Lagos and bar hop to karaoke, glow light bars and more! Other travelers we met on different days seemed envious of our hostel's fun times! Did I mention that they have free breakfast too? Much needed after a night out!
Overall, if you are headed to Portugal and are making your way to the iconic city of Lisbon then you gotta go to Lagos, which is only a four-hour train ride away. If you go to Lagos you must see Praia do Camilo and Top City Hostel! I'll be sharing more of our Lagos favorites in blogs & videos to come, plus other European travel tips. Stay tuned on YouTube and subscribe to this blog!
