While living in Germany, I took a trip with a group of friends, rented a car, and sought to explore three regions of Portugal. These are:

Lagos, Lisbon, and Porto, all coastal cities.

Lagos, Portugal

As I mentioned before, Europe is a great place to learn, learn, learn. Especially with languages. Above is a photo of a sign that says "Guarded Beach" in four different languages. Being a native Spanish speaker, I quickly noticed that "Vigiada" in Portuguese was similar to "Vigilada" in Spanish which translates to "Guarded" in English.

Safety First!

Before planning a beach day, make sure you have all the proper gear. Which includes sunscreen, water, snacks, and most importantly swimming gear such as a life vest. Make sure you are confident enough with your swimming skills before entering a beach with no Lifeguard duty!

Portugal is situated on the western side of Europe. It hugs the Atlantic coast and borders Spain. It is the first country greeted by you when flying from the United States and is most known for its great summertime weather and Cristiano Ronaldo.

I now know it as a country with beautiful beaches. Most of which I explored in Lagos which is situated in the Algarve region filled with cliffs, sunny coastlines, hidden coves, and vibrant nightlife.

(Praia Dona Ana)

Throughout Algarve, there are many small beaches, each with unique features. For example, I swam out to a grotto formation that I noticed from the shoreline. As I arrived I was greeted with a small reef filled with fish. I was astonished! I rested on one of the rocks big enough to rest on. As minutes passed a tourist boat sightseeing at different beaches swiftly passed by, making me realize how far, yet how close I was from the shoreline.

Top 5 Praias (Beaches)

1) Praia do Camilo, Lagos

To get to Praia do Camilo you first must descend some two hundred steps! The most fascinating scenery during the descent is the carved-out grottos created by the sea.

Around the stunning beach are caves and other small beaches around the carved-out grottos. Accessing this might be difficult. Nonetheless, there are excursion trips that show you different beaches from a local perspective!

Praia do Camilo is number one on my list. The hidden coves around the carved-out grottos create a sandy adventure. It is also a bit scary. Regardless, the beach is hidden by the cliffs. Before descending two hundred stairs, all one can see is just a straight line with an ocean view. Unaware of the hidden gem below.

(image from tripadvisor.com, Praia do Camilo)

2) Praia da Dona Ana. Lagos

I remember Praia da Dona Ana, one of the beaches with enough space to play soccer on. Most beaches in this region are small and tucked away, hidden by the above cliffs. Nonetheless, this beach offers enough space for seating! This is because Praia da Dona Ana is known as one of the best beaches in Portugal. The beach itself is surrounded by sandstone cliffs, restaurants, and gleaming blue water.

(image from tripadvisor.com, Praia do Camilo)

Boat tours in Lagos also give you a different perspective of all the beaches, many hard to reach. In contrast, Praia da Dona Ana is accessible via stairs from accessible roads and 160 meters from the road. Making it one of the longest beaches that I visited during my time in Lagos. Most facilities if not all are available on this beach, including parking.

3) Praia da Marinha, Lagoa

Situated in the Lagoa area, Praia da Marinha is often viewed as the iconic beach in Algarve. I discovered it on Lonely Planet's page while looking for beaches in Lagos and went!

I ranked it third because it was REALLY crowded during my visit. The limestone surrounding the beach creates a great family day! That being said I saw multiple families from all regions of the world hoping to snatch their spot on the beach. A great thing nonetheless, was the restaurant near the beach.

(image from Lonely Planet, Praia da Marinha)

Another cool thing about Praia da Marinha is the "M Rock" formation. I wish I could have seen it myself, however, I was unaware of such a spectacle. Below is an image from Lonely Planet. Some say it looks like a cathedral.

4) Praia da Falesia, Albufeira

The longest beach I visited during my time in Southern Portugal. Praia da Falesia has a long sand strip. The strip is about 3 km long meaning there is parking along the coast, unlike other beaches which are inaccessible via car.

(image from Tripadvisor, Praia da Falesia)

Praia da Falesia has accessible car routes. When I was on the beach the tide was quite low, which allowed me to go further into the sea without having to swim. Good for a romantic stroll along the beach. I, however, was accompanied by four grown male university students. Breathtaking.

5) Praia dos Olhos de Agua, Albufeira

Located RIGHT NEXT to Praia da Falesia, Praia dos Olhos translates to "eyes of water." Cool right? That is because the gleam of sunlight that bounces off the waves at sunset or sundown makes you marvel at the warm rays the distant sun brings.

Praia dos Olhos used to be a fisherman's town. It is now a small village composed of restaurants, hotels, locals, and beaches on end. Unlike most of the beaches in Lagos which are somewhat hidden, this beach is great for those who prefer the beach closeby,

(image from algarvetips.com)

Southern Portugal has a TON of beaches to offer! The list can go on and on. However, I briefly visited a handful of beaches to create a top 5 before I continued my Portugal trip. Lagos is defintley. a place you want to go if you love beaches. The array of limestone, sandstone, cliffs, grottos and hidden caves creates for a sunny day out, literally.