From Lagos you can reach the south-western tip of Europe, the surf beaches of the Costa Vicentina and the highest point of the Algarve, each in under an hour. This guide describes six drives, from the seven-minute hop to Ponta da Piedade to a full-day loop through Sagres and Aljezur, with distances, driving times and where to park. None of them involves a toll: the A22 motorway has been free since January 2025.
Lagos sits near the western end of the Algarve, which puts three very different landscapes within an hour: the sandstone coast towards Carvoeiro, the wild Atlantic coast of the Costa Vicentina, and the cork-oak hills of Monchique. Distances are one way from the centre of Lagos; times are without traffic.
| Drive | Distance (one way) | Driving time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponta da Piedade | about 3 km | 7 minutes | Cliffs and sea stacks, sunset |
| Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente | about 40 km | 40 minutes | Fortress, lighthouse, the end of Europe |
| Aljezur and Praia da Arrifana | about 40 km | 45 minutes | Surf beaches of the Costa Vicentina |
| Praia da Marinha and Benagil | about 42 km | 40 minutes | The classic Algarve coastline |
| Monchique and Fóia | about 54 km | 55 minutes | Mountain views, cooler air |
| Silves | about 40 km | 35 minutes | Moorish castle, orange groves |
The headland just south of the town is the shortest drive on this list and the one nobody should skip: ochre cliffs, arches and sea stacks, with a boardwalk along the cliff top and steps down to the water. There is a car park by the lighthouse, which fills in the middle of the day in summer – come early or for the sunset. See our guide to parking in Lagos for the town itself.
Take the N125 west through Vila do Bispo to Sagres, where the Fortaleza de Sagres stands on a bare headland associated with Henry the Navigator; the entrance ticket costs €10. Six kilometres further, the lighthouse of Cabo de São Vicente marks the south-western tip of mainland Europe, with a large free car park beside it. The cape is famous for its sunsets – and for its wind, so bring a jacket even in August. More in our Sagres parking guide.
The N120 leaves Lagos to the north and crosses the hills to Aljezur, a whitewashed town below the ruins of a Moorish castle. From there, side roads lead down to the beaches of the Costa Vicentina natural park: Arrifana, in a horseshoe bay below high cliffs, Monte Clérigo and Amoreira. The Atlantic is colder and rougher here than on the south coast, which is exactly why surfers come.
Head east on the A22 or the N125 to Lagoa and follow the signs to Praia da Marinha, whose double rock arch is one of the most photographed views in Portugal. The cliff-top path of the Seven Hanging Valleys trail starts here and leads west to Benagil, known for its sea cave. The car park at Marinha is small and the access road is often closed once it is full in July and August, so arrive before 10:00. Carvoeiro, a few minutes further, is a good lunch stop – see parking in Carvoeiro.
Drive to Portimão and turn inland on the N266, which climbs through eucalyptus and cork oak to the spa village of Caldas de Monchique and on to Monchique town. A further eight kilometres of bends bring you to Fóia, at 902 m the highest point of the Algarve, with free parking at the summit and a view over the whole south coast on a clear day. It is usually several degrees cooler than on the beach.
The former Moorish capital of the Algarve lies inland on the Arade river, beneath a red sandstone castle and a Gothic cathedral. It combines well with Monchique: go up through Silves and come back down through Portimão, or the other way round.
The A22, the Algarve motorway, has been toll-free since 1 January 2025, so none of the drives on this page involves a toll. Tolls only matter if you leave the Algarve, for example on the A2 to Lisbon, where the rental company’s electronic device is the simplest way to pay. Petrol stations are frequent along the N125 and in every town on these routes, but scarce on the west coast between Vila do Bispo and Aljezur – fill up before you set off.
You can pick up a car in Lagos itself: Europcar and Keddy have an office on the EN120, and Yes Car Hire, Masterkings and the local company Luzcar also rent in town. The selection is much larger at Faro airport, about 90 km and a little over an hour away on the A22. According to DiscoverCars’ price data for Lagos, January is the cheapest month, at about €13 per day on average, and July the most expensive, at about €46 per day.
A small car is all you need: every destination on this page is reached on paved roads. Most rental cars in Portugal are manual; book an automatic early if you need one. Our page on Europcar in Lagos has the office details, and if you are landing at the airport, see car rental in Faro.
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Compare live car rental prices →Enter the daily rate you are quoted; prices in Lagos range from about €13 per day in January to about €46 in July (DiscoverCars averages).
Ponta da Piedade (7 minutes), Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente (about 40 minutes west), Aljezur and the Costa Vicentina (about 45 minutes north-west), Praia da Marinha and Benagil (about 40 minutes east), and Monchique with the Fóia summit (about 55 minutes north).
About 34 km, or 35 to 40 minutes by car on the N125. Cabo de São Vicente is roughly 6 km beyond Sagres.
No. The A22 Algarve motorway has been toll-free since 1 January 2025, and the N125 and N120 never had tolls. Tolls apply only on motorways outside the Algarve, such as the A2 to Lisbon.
No. All the destinations on this page are reached on paved roads, and a small car is easier to park at the beaches and in the old towns.
Several companies have pick-up points in Lagos, among them Europcar, Keddy, Yes Car Hire and Luzcar. Faro airport, about 90 km away, has the widest choice.
Spring and autumn: the roads and car parks are quiet and the light is at its best. According to DiscoverCars, car rental in Lagos is cheapest in January and most expensive in July.
The standard ticket for the Fortaleza de Sagres costs €10. Parking at Cabo de São Vicente, nearby, is free.
