Your Complete Guide to Ponta da Piedade in Lagos

Keep reading to know how to make the best visit to Ponta da Piedade in Lagos : how to get there, what to do and some key tips on how to find the best views!

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Located 3km from the center of Lagos, Ponta da Piedade is one of the most stunning places in Portugal! No joke!

Ponta de Piedade, which means Piety Point in English, is a mesmerizing collection of rock formations perched majestically above the Atlantic Ocean. Reaching heights of up to 20 meters, these dramatic cliffs harbor secret grottoes and sea caves, embraced by pristine, translucent waters!

But what are the best ways to enjoy Ponta da Piedade? On foot from above? On boat from below? The answer here is : both! No trip to Lagos is complete without seeing Ponta da Piedade at least twice.

Keep Reading // 9 amazing things to do in Lagos

In this short guide, I share tips to get the best views and the top activities to do in and around Ponta da Piedade.

How to make the best visit to Ponta da Piedade

How to get there?

Getting to Ponta da Piedade on foot

Walking to Ponta da Piedade will take around 40 minutes. There are two possible options :

1. Use the Ponta da Piedade Trail. The trail starts in Lagos city center and is made of a mix of paved road, dirt trail and boardwalks. In total the trail covers 5.6-km (out-and-back ) and will give you an aerial view of some of the best beaches in Lagos. And you may even spot a hidden beach or two. Apart from some small section with erosion, the trail is fairly easily. You can find a map of the trail here.
2. Walk along Estr. da Ponta da Piedade (the main road that leads to the point). You will walk slightly uphill until you reach Praia Dona Ana; from there you join the same boardwalk as the trail. You can find a map of the walk here.

Getting to Ponta da Piedade by car

It is possible to drive to Ponta da Piedade, but finding a parking spot might be a problem (especially during the high season). There is a parking at Praia Dona Ana, right next to the beginning of the boardwalk. You’ll still have to walk about 20 minutes to reach the point.

Instead, I recommend taking a Uber or a Taxi: it will cost you around 5-6€ from the center of Lagos.

During the summer months, there is also a hop-on-hop-off train that connects Lagos to Ponta da Piedade. The day pass will cost you 5€ and children under the age of 4 travel for free. This is a great way not only to reach Ponta da Piedade, but also other key sites and beaches in Lagos. Find all the information you need about the hop-on-hop-off train here.

Getting to Ponta da Piedade by boat

There are many boat tours and kayak tours that will take you to Ponta da Piedade (I will cover them in more details later in this post). These tours usually leave from Lagos’ Marina.

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How and Where to see the best of Ponta da Piedade?

Hike the Ponta da Piedade trail & check out the views from the boardwalk

The Ponta da Piedade Trail is definitely the best trail in Lagos, and probably one of the most stunning in the Algarves.

The trail starts in Lagos city center and is made of a mix of paved road, dirt trail and boardwalks. In total the trail covers 5.6-km (out-and-back ) and will give you an aerial view of some of the best beaches in Lagos. And you may even spot a hidden beach or two. Apart from some small section with erosion, the trail is fairly easily.

Although the hike itself won’t take you very long – it take around 40 minutes to reach the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade – I recommend you reserve at least half a day to explore the many beach you’ll see along the way.

Though the lighthouse itself remains inaccessible to the public, the vistas from its vicinity are absolutely incredible!

Recently, Ponta da Piedade underwent a significant transformation, featuring a revamped car park and a network of interconnected boardwalks. From there you’ll be able to enjoy different view platforms in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Warning // Some areas have no guardrails. It is therefore crucial to exercise caution. The natural cliffs can be unstable, emphasizing the need for extra care, especially when taking photographs. Some areas pose a risk of falling directly off the cliff if one slips. So, while exploring, it’s essential to stay safe and mindful of your surroundings.Although Lagos has plenty of beautiful beaches, this is not one of them due to the absence of sand. You visit Ponta de Piedade for the views! And don’t forget to climb down the 190 steps to see the grottos (caves) of Ponta da Piedade. 

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Head down to the Grotto viewpoint

One of the best viewpoint of Ponta da Piedade is by heading down to the grotto. Now to get there you’ll have to go down (and then back up…) 202 stone steps, Prepare for a descent via 202 stone steps. This will bring you right to the water’s edge where you’ll be able to admire the majestic sea arches and intricate formations that adorn the coastline.

So how to you find this staircase?

Once you pass the lighthouse, take a left and you’ll see a stone pathway. Follow it to the steep staircase.

Travel Tip // In my opinion, the best view is from the midway point of the staircase itself. Prepare your camera!

At the bottom of the stairs you’ll find a tiny port. During peak seasons, opportunistic boat operators may wait at the staircase’s base, offering impromptu coastal tours. While tempting, reliability and availability fluctuate unpredictably. I recommend booking a tour ahead of time rather than jumping on one of these tours.

This viewpoint gets extremely crowded in the Summer months so I suggest you head there bright and early!

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Catch a sunset

I think that everyone will agree that the best sunset in Lagos is over Ponta da Piedade. And yes, by the end of your stay in Lagos you’ll have seen Ponta da Piedade from all angles! But trust me, you’ll never get tired of seeing this place.

If you are lucky enough to visit around sunset, prepare to see the cliffs bathed in a warm orange glow, offering a gorgeous backdrop for this spectacle unfolding in before your eyes

 Travel Tip // If you want to enjoy some of the best views of Ponta da Piedade, follow the boardwalks westwards!

 Tour // If you want to see the sunset from the water, why not join this small guided boat tour of Ponta da Piedade at sunset.

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Take a Kayak Tour

Kayaking at Ponta da Piedade is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the area.

As you paddle along the coast, you’ll navigate under the graceful arches formed by nature and delve into the depths of mesmerizing sea caves. The crystalline waters provide a window into the underwater world, offering glimpses of fish darting beneath your kayak. Additionally, the area is perfect for bird watching with numerous birds nesting amidst the coastal cliffs.

The majority of Ponta da Piedade kayak tours leave from Lagos Marina, where several companies operate kayak excursions. Others leave from Lagos Fortress which is slightly closer to Ponta da Piedade.

Throughout the tour, an accompanying boat remains with the group, providing a secure place to store belongings and offering a convenient option for those who may opt out of kayaking at any point (or if like me you start feeling seasick on the way back!)

Tours usually last around 2 hours to 2 hours and a half, weather permitting.

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Or a Boat Tour…

If a kayak tour sounds a bit too intense for your taste, then why not join a boat tour?

The Ponta da Piedade boat tour is one of the shortest yet most captivating excursions you can do fromLagos. The tours usually last between 60 to 75 minutes in total. This condensed timeframe encompasses a journey through a breathtaking array of caves, beaches, and grottoes nestled between Lagos and Ponta da Piedade.

Much like for the kayak tours, most of the options available to you are similar in price (you can see the full selection here).

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What if I want to go for a swim?

Although Lagos has plenty of beautiful beaches, Ponta da Piedade is not one of them due to the absence of sand. You visit Ponta de Piedade for the views!

However, if you want to go for a swim, Praia do Camilo, which happens to be my favorite beach in Lagos, is the closest.

Located between Praia de Dona Ana and Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Camilo is one of the smallest beaches in Lagos. It can fit no more than a 100 beach umbrellas so be sure to get there early if you visit in the summer.

Nestled amidst ochre-colored cliffs, rock pillars, dramatic cutouts, and hidden caves, Praia do Camilo emerges as a photographer’s paradise. With its unique features including a tunnel through the rock, a long set of stairs, and two small beaches connected by a charming cave, this beach offers a dreamlike setting for capturing stunning photos.

 Travel Tip // At the top of the staircase that leads to Praia do Camilo, you’ll find the restaurant O Camilo. This is the best food option near Ponta da Piedade. There is another restaurant called Sol Nascente near the lighthouse but I would skip it unless you only want a quick drink (or if, like me, you are trying to hide from a sudden rain storm!).

READ THESE POSTS BEFORE VISITING PONTA DA PIEDADE!

LAGOS GUIDES | 9 amazing things to do in Lagos; How to get from Lagos to Sagres by bus?; Where to stay in Lagos?

LISBON GUIDES | 14 Things to Know Before Visiting Lisbon; How to make the best of your visit to Belém; 1 day, 3 castles: How to make the best of your day in Sintra; 5 tips for riding Tram 28 in Lisbon; Where to Stay in Lisbon?

THE REST OF PORTUGAL | 11 amazing things to do in Porto

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