Our Portugal roadtrip starts from south, from the amazing region of Algarve, on a taxi that derives us from Faro airport to the small train station, from which we take the train to Lagos.
And there we are, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape, with a golden light on the windows.
Lagos is really fascinating : white houses, narrow steep streets, a wonderful small city centre and the historical marina. In fact, in the past the city was the starting point of several expeditions, mainly to Africa.
Mytip: food
For our fist dinner in Portugal, we’ve chosen Barbosa Bar & Kitchen, a beautiful restaurant and bar in the historic centre.
The tapas are highly recommended because they allow you to taste different Mediterranean flavours.
A must-try is the chouriço, typical sausage that is served on alcohol-fuelled terracotta braziers. The waiter flames it at the table, and you’ll to “grill” your own chouriço.
Address: Rua António Barbosa Viana, 17 – Lagos|Portugal
Website: https://barbosa-bar-kitchen.business.site/
Praia de Dona Ana
Our first day in Algarve is at Praia de Dona Ana, less than 2km Lagos city centre, and therefore reachable with a little walk.
Compared to the majority of beaches in Algarve, that are quite small, Praia de Dona Ana is a medium dimension one and has also a small equipped section, unlike the other beaches that are usually totally “free”.
The access to beach is by wooden stairs, that climb the cliff. The view from the top is breathtaking and going down the stairs, step after step, the beach starts to reveal itself, with its incredible colors.
Golden sand, light blue sky and deep blue ocean, clean, transparent water, orange stones.
Being Praia de Dona Ana a “free” beach, it’s highly recommended to arrive there in the morning, as it gets more crowded every hour, and you may not be able to find a spot anymore.
Another suggestion, mainly for the ones who suffer being in the sun all day, is to bring a small sun umbrella, as in the hottest hours of the day, you won’t find any shadow, if not the one you get sitting at the bar, that is always full.
On the southern side of the beach there’s also a little cave, easily accessible by feet, with good shoes. The small “tunnel” leads to a small hidden beach, often nearly desert.
The most spectacular time of the day is for sure the golden hour, that emphasises the colors of the landscape, making it even more magical.
Praia do Camilo
On our second day in Algarve we reach Praia do Camilo, that is smaller with respect to Praia de Dona Ana, but just as much fascinating.
Also in this case we reach the beach by a wooden stair that climbs the cliff. Unlike Praia de Dona Ana, Praia do Camilo is totally free, without any type of service on the beach. The restaurant and bars are, in fact, located before the stairs.
This makes the atmosphere even more magical, almost wild: once you go downstairs, you’re completely in the nature, surrounded by the cliff. with the ocean in front of you.
Mytip: food
Camilo is the perfect restaurant for an unforgettable lunch. It’s located exactly above the stairs, directly on the cliff overlooking the ocean, with a breathtaking view.
Their philosophy is to privilege fresh and local products, in fact in addition to the menu there’s always a great variety of fresh fish.
Hightly reccomended the traditional Camarão frito and the fresh fish.
Address: Estrada da Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Camilo |Lagos, Portugal
Website: https://camilorestaurante.com/en/
Mytip: curiosity
A particular thing that you’ll find in the majority of Portuguese restaurants is the couvert. It consists in different small “dishes”, like bread, olives, cheeses, that are served on request at the start of the lunch or dinner, and are paid with the total check.
In some ways, it’s similar to the Italian “coperto”, but it’s not already “included”, so it has to be ordered like the other dishes.
Very often, once you are seated the waiter will ask you if you want to start with a mixed couvert: in that case be aware the total price of the combination of small dishes will cost like a proper starter.
After this amazing lunch, we get once again to the beach and fortunately we find a little space for our sun umbrella.
We spend the whole afternoon at Praia do Camilo, until the sunset, with the sun that starts to go down and the shadow of the cliff that extends on the beach.
The majority of people starts to go home, and the beach gets quieter and quieter, there are only groups of friends enjoying the aperitif and some photographers, that can finally shoot with an empty beach.
Now the shadow is nearly touching the water, it remains only the sound of the waves and the laughs: for sure one of the most unforgettable moments of these two days in Algarve.
“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”
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