Excellence Luxury Villas · Lagos
Luxury Villa Rentals in Lagos
Villas and sea-view apartments around a walled old town, golden coves and the sea stacks of Ponta da Piedade
As featured in
A real town on the wilder side of the Algarve
Lagos is where the Algarve's long sandy shore turns into cliffs, sea stacks and coves. Unlike the purpose-built resorts further east, it is a proper working town, with sixteenth-century walls, a busy marina and a long history. Henry the Navigator lived here as governor of the Algarve and sent ships south from its harbour, and Lagos was the region's capital until the earthquake of 1755.
Our Lagos collection runs to 45 properties. It ranges from large family villas with private pools in Praia da Luz to sea-view apartments above Porto de Mós and quintas in the quiet countryside around Bensafrim and Espiche.
Below is a guide to the town, its beaches and the coast to the west.
Lagos at a glance
- Villas
- 45 villas and apartments, with up to 10 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,200 to £6,600 a week, from around £1,500
- Best areas
- The old town, Porto de Mós and Ponta da Piedade, Praia da Luz, and the hills around Bensafrim and Espiche
- Highlights
- The sea caves of Ponta da Piedade, Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo, and the walled old town
- Getting there
- Faro airport is around 80 to 90 km away, usually about an hour by the A22
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Safira Zavial Lagos: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Golf Access – Lagos6 bedrooms
Quinta Barlavento Lagos: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Tennis Court – Algarve4 bedrooms
Quinta Rocha Lagos: Exquisite 4-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Lagos4 bedrooms
Quinta Serra Lagos: Opulent 5-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool – Lagos5 bedroomsWhere to stay in Lagos
The old town and Porto de Mós for restaurants and the coves, Praia da Luz for a family beach, the inland hills for peace and views, and Sagres and the Vila do Bispo coast for wilder country.
Navigators, gilded chapels and a hard history
The old town sits inside its walls, a grid of cobbled lanes, tiled façades and small squares where lunch can easily turn into the afternoon. Praça do Infante D. Henrique has a statue of Henry the Navigator, and on the same square is the museum on the site of what is believed to be Europe's first slave market, where enslaved Africans were sold from 1444. It is a sobering visit, and an important one.
Nearby, the Igreja de Santo António has a gilded baroque interior, and the little Ponta da Bandeira fort guards the mouth of the harbour. The municipal market on the waterfront is the place to see what came off the boats that morning.
Search villas in Lagos
Sea stacks, grottoes and steep wooden steps
South of town the coast breaks into golden cliffs, arches and rock pillars. Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo are small coves reached by steps, and the cliff path out to the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade, about 2.5 km from the old town, makes a fine morning walk.
The best views of the grottoes are from the water. Small boats and kayaks leave from the marina and slip in among the caves. Porto de Mós, just beyond, has a wider beach and a couple of good restaurants. To the east, Meia Praia runs for several kilometres of open sand, with the Palmares golf course behind it.
Search sea-view villas
A family bay, then the end of Europe
Praia da Luz, a few miles west, is a former fishing village set on a sheltered bay beneath the dark headland of Rocha Negra. It is a relaxed place with a good beach and an easy promenade, and our larger family villas are here.
Further west lies Burgau, a small fishing village on a hillside, and beyond it the coast becomes protected and much wilder. A drive of under an hour reaches Sagres and Cape St Vincent, at the south-western tip of Europe, where the Atlantic arrives with full force and sunsets draw a crowd.
Browse villas in Praia da Luz
Grilled fish, cataplana and an Atlantic sea
Lagos eats from the sea: grilled sardines in summer, octopus, clams and cataplana, a copper-pot stew of fish and shellfish made to share. Inland, the villages around Bensafrim and Barão de São João are quieter and more rural.
The beach season runs from May to October. The sea here is the Atlantic, noticeably fresher than the Mediterranean, so July to September is warmest for swimming. Spring and autumn bring wild flowers, quiet coves and good walking, and the mild winters suit longer stays. Our concierge can book boat trips to the grottoes, tee times, tables and transfers from Faro.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Lagos
Villa Sunshine Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,569 a week
Villa Federica | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Lagos6 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,402 a week
Villa Chantelle Portugal10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £6,321 a week
Villa Bruna Portugal10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £6,192 a week
Villa Tavares Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,972 a week
Quinta Ponta da Piedade: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Seaviews & Pool – Lagos4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £4,949 a week
Villa Carrola Portugal8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £4,945 a week
Quinta Medronheiro Lagos: Exquisite 2-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Lagos Algarve2 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £4,746 a weekWhy book your Lagos villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Lagos villas are spread from the old town walls to Praia da Luz and the inland hills, and we know which ones let you walk to a cove and which need a car. With 45 properties in Lagos, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat and kayak trips to the Ponta da Piedade grottoes, tee times at Palmares, a private chef, restaurant reservations, car hire and transfers from Faro. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Lagos?
The old town and Porto de Mós put you close to restaurants and the coves around Ponta da Piedade. Praia da Luz suits families who want a sheltered beach, and the hills around Bensafrim and Espiche offer quiet countryside and sea views.
How do I get to Lagos from the UK?
Fly to Faro, which has direct flights from many UK airports. Lagos is around 80 to 90 km west, usually about an hour's drive on the A22 motorway. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
What is the best way to see Ponta da Piedade?
You can walk the cliff path from the old town to the lighthouse, but the grottoes are best seen from the water. Small boats and kayak tours leave from Lagos marina and can go right inside the caves.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Lagos?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Lagos cost?
Across our 45 villas in Lagos, weekly rates typically range from £2,200 to £6,600, with the most affordable from around £1,500 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
When is the best time to visit Lagos?
May to October is best for the beach, with the warmest sea from July to September. Spring and autumn are quieter and ideal for walking the clifftops and visiting the coves.
Are there villas in Lagos for large groups?
Yes. Our Lagos collection includes properties with up to 10 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
Explore More Destinations
Find your villa in Lagos
45 villas and apartments in Lagos, booked direct with our concierge on hand