Day trip to Sagres from Lagos

How to go to Sagres from Lagos and what to visit on a day trip


Sagres, Algarve, Portugal

The end of the world,” as Europeans once thought Sagres to be, is an experience you won’t want to miss when visiting Lagos. It’s the westernmost town in Algarve and also the southwesternmost tip of Europe, with a dramatic scenery. It’s home to Prince Henry the Navigator’s fortress, wild beaches, and the legendary Cape St. Vincent. It’s best reached by car (in less than 40 minutes), but there’s also a bus that takes about one hour (there are no trains to Sagres).

Ideally, a visit should last the entire day, as here you can see what’s arguably the most beautiful sunset in Portugal. However, if you’re traveling by bus, you have to leave some time before it.

The beaches mostly attract surfers, but are also among the favorites for naturists. If you enjoy nude sunbathing, head to Praia do Beliche, the beach by Cape St. Vincent, while closer to town (just below the fortress) is Praia do Tonel, a beach surrounded by cliffs and with a remote feel. In the center, choose the beach of Mareta.

A visit to the cape usually lasts about 30 minutes, to the fortress about 45 minutes, and the rest of the day is usually spent at the beach. Note that it requires some walking to the fortress and to the less central beaches from the bus stop and the center of Sagres. The cape is almost 7km (4 miles) away, so it’s not within reasonable walking distance. Technically you can walk straight there, following the coastal road, but it takes over one hour. So if you don’t have a car, make sure you check the times of the infrequent buses to the cape and back to central Sagres.

You should also know that it’s usually windy in Sagres, so temperatures are usually much cooler there than in Lagos and elsewhere in Algarve.

Bus from Lagos to Sagres

The bus to Sagres from Lagos is number 47, operated by the Vamus company. It has eight or nine departures on weekdays and four or five on weekends and public holidays, depending on the season. It might be a good idea to plan your trip for a weekday. The last stop is the center of Sagres (by the tourist office), except for about three times a day, when it continues up the coast for another 10 minutes, to Cape St. Vincent (check the times on the Vamus website, linked above). In Lagos, you must buy the tickets at the ticket office at the bus station, while in Sagres you buy them from the driver. The bus station in Lagos is in a central location, by Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the avenue on the waterfront that leads to the Old Town.

Tours from Lagos to Sagres

Don’t want to rent a car or take public transportation? No problem! Join one of the tours to Sagres. Here are your options: Sagres Tours