Lagoa

Lagoa is a hill town of whitewashed houses that used to rise above a lagoon (Lagoa). Now only the name remains, as well as its top-quality wine. Lagoa consists of a mix of new houses and old (18th century) houses. Just walking around the town gives you an idea of the traditional Algarve. The town is closely located to some of the best beaches of the Algarve: Albandeira, Benagil, Carvoeiro and Marinha. These magical beaches are famous for their brightly colored cliffs and crystal clear waters. In addition, Lagoa is only a short distance from the popular waterpark Slide & Splash, which is every kid’s ultimate holiday experience. After reading this article you will be the tour guide when visiting Lagoa.

Lagoa is a small municipality in the Algarve, with only 23.000 inhabitants. On the east of Lagoa you find the municipality of Silves and to the west of Lagoa is Portimão. The small town of Lagoa is the centre of a famous wine-producing region. The region produces a couple of million litres of wine each year. It is mostly red wine, but also white wine, rosé, a liqueur and dry aperitive wine. With many beautiful beaches surrounding the town, tourism is becoming more important to the local economy.

In the municipality of Lagoa you can find some of the most beautiful beaches of the Algarve. All these beaches are protected by rock cliffs, providing shade. These beaches also have excellent facilities. On some of them, you can enjoy different kinds of water sports. You will find companies offering grotto tours and dolphin watching excursions.

Slide and Splash

Near Lagoa you can also find the water park Slide and Splash. It is one of the best water parks in the Algarve. If you are looking for a nice day out, this is the place to go. There is a great variety of slides, which guarantees fun for young and old. The only downside is the high entrance fee. Entrance costs € 27. If you go, don’t visit Slide & Splash on the weekends, because it will be too busy. A whole day of waiting for attractions in a queue will degrade your experience. It is better to visit the park during the week. Another tip we can give is to bring your own food to the park, because the food in the park can be quite expensive.

You can actually already book a ticket for Slide and Splash online. This will save you time, since you can skip the queue once you are there.

Parque Municipal das Fontes

Near the town Estômbar, in the municipality of Lagoa, you can find a park called the Municipal Park of the Springs (in Portuguese: Parque Municipal das Fontes). This park surrounds a spring of the Arade rivier. The park is a popular picnic area for Portuguese people. You can spot a variety of flora and fauna here. You will also come across a restored watermill, an amphitheatre, and a traditional house of the Algarve. It is a great place to relax in the countryside and enjoy some peace and quiet. It is also a great place to swim. If you like walking in nature, this park is definitely worth a visit.

Quinta dos Vales Wine Estate

Near Lagoa you can find the wine estate of Quinta dos Vales. Here you can enjoy a wine tour, where they will tell you all about the process of producing wine. You will also have the chance to taste the wine, which is the best part of the tour of course. If you like the wine, you will have the chance to buy it as well. In the garden you will see some colourful sculptures, which gives the place a unique character. Well worth a visit.

Lady in Red Galeria Arte Algarve (art gallery)

In Lagoa you can find a nice art gallery called Lady in Red Galeria Arte Algarve. It is located in an unused industrial space of a big wine producer. You will smell the scent of wine all around you. The exhibition mostly displays modern art. If you like the art you see, you can buy it as well. It is quite expensive though. Located right on the main road EN125. Open from Monday to Saturday. There is a cafe inside as well. Entrance is free, although they accept voluntary donations.