A day trip to Sagres and the Lighthouse at Cabo de Sao Vicente from Lagos is an absolute must.
- Duration: 10 hours
- Difficulty: Easy (moderate if you choose to walk or miss the bus)
- Cost: 7.80 Eur for a return bus from Lagos <–> Sagres
How To Do A Day Trip to Sagres
Bus: Lagos to Cabo de Sao Vicente
The buses in Portugal are reliable and regular between Lagos and Sagres, but infrequent to the very end of the route at Cabo de Sao Vicente.
Buses are run by Eva. Full Timetable Here
Plan carefully to avoid walking over 10km in the heat down a fairly dull road from Sagres to Cabo de Sao Vicente (learn from my mistakes!)
Note: If you have a car, ignore everything bus / walking related and enjoy the following landmarks at your leisure!
Depart Lagos on the 10:30am bus (at time of writing there are 2 buses per day headed to the lighthouse).
Arrive at Cabo de Sao Vicente 11:30am. Take a moment to revel in the fact that you are standing at the most South Westernly point of Continental Europe.
There is cute lighthouse here, but to get inside there was a line so I skipped that and opted to sit with ice cream and watch the water instead.
Walk: Cabo de Sao Vicente to Praia Beliche
From here, you could choose to wait on the 2nd bus of the day travelling back to Sagres/ Lagos, but I would recommend walking the 40 minutes to Praia Beliche.
This beach is the quietest by far that I found in it around Lagos (probably due to its location and steep stair access).
Spend some hours cooling off in the pretty waters or admiring the stunning landscapes. There is also a small café by the beach to pick up food if you wish. There is also a rental place on the sand to hire water sports equipment if that floats your bloat (pun intended).
Bus or Walk: Praia Beliche to Sagres
When you’re ready to leave, either catch the bus around 3pm back to Sagres, or travel by foot (about an hour). The walk to Sagres is hot, but allows you to stop along the road on the way to admire the cliff formations.
Exploring Sagres
With your remaining time on your day trip to Sagres, explore the cute surfing town. Window shop [or actual shop!] in the quaint stores or grab a bite to eat and enjoy the ocean views. Be sure not to miss the last bus back to Lagos (around 7:30pm at time of writing).
Is a day trip to Sagres worth it?
Overall, while having a car would make exploring the area easier, it is possible (and worth it) to take a day trip to Sagres no matter how you travel. Just pack sunscreen, water and decent shoes in case you miss any buses and end up walking!
