Is Lagos better than Benagil? We found out!

If you’ve seen photos of the Algarve online, chances are they were taken right here in Lagos. Today is Day 3 of our Algarve Road Trip and we’ve driven almost an hour west from Albufeira to visit Ponta da Piedade, the coastline that defines this region and to see whether Lagos really offers something different from the busier towns. Golden rock stacks, turquoise water, dramatic cliffs… it looks almost too perfect!

Let’s see if it lives up to the hype?

We left Albufeira at 10:30 this morning under surprisingly calm skies. No rain, just heavy cloud and that feeling in the air that something was building.

Heading for Ponta da Piedade, Lagos

The drive west along the A22 is straightforward, just under an hour, not a lot of traffic and as we moved closer to Lagos, the landscape began to open up. Wider horizons. Stronger wind. Darker Atlantic tones. By the time we reached Ponta da Piedade, the mood had completely changed. The sea was alive.

Huge waves were rolling in, crashing against the golden limestone stacks, sending spray high into the air. The turquoise water we’d seen earlier in the week had turned deep Atlantic blue; powerful, restless, dramatic.

And honestly? It made the place feel even more impressive.

There’s something about seeing the Algarve slightly wild that changes your perspective. It’s not just pretty cliffs and postcard beaches; it’s a real coastline, shaped by wind and water.

The wind was strong enough to lean into, but visibility was excellent. No rain, just movement everywhere. Boats were staying cautious. The sound of the waves dominated everything.

The Ponta da Piedade was way more than we thought it would be. There was lots of parking & public washrooms, and there are beautifully built boardwalks all throughout the area. The views from one to the next just got better & better.

From the cliff tops, the scale is extraordinary. You realise how small you are compared to the Atlantic. The peekaboo archways with the crashing sea water coming through were a favourite.

We stopped in a little cafe on the way out of the site to have a hot drink as it was pretty chilly. There were seats outside and also under cover, gorgeous displays of gelato, and our hot chocolate & cappuccino were hot & delicious. We noticed they do serve alcoholic drinks as well.

Old Town Lagos is a perfect place to enjoy cafes, restaurants and retails therapy

After a short drive, we arrived in the Old Town of Lagos, and the contrast was noticeable. The narrow streets offered shelter from the wind, cafés were open, and the atmosphere felt calmer, more refined than Albufeira, quieter, slightly more polished.

But out on the cliffs, Lagos was dramatic. The area known as Praia Batata – Estudantes Beach had stormy March waves that gave us a completely different version of the Algarve and in many ways, a more memorable one.

We wandered further along as we could see something interesting, it turned out to be a National Monument. This military architecture from the 14th century, as part of the Cerca Velha, the main entrance is flanked by two barbican towers; in keeping with Islamic fortresses.

This was the main access to the quay of the late medieval town in the 15th and 16th centuries. There ended the main East-West axis of the town (nowadays Rua Miguel Bombarda), which connected the port to the upper district where the Parish Church of Santa Maria da Graça was located.

We also spotted the Forte da Ponta da Bandeira (also known as the Bandeira Fort) right on the beach. We always love finding really old architecture & marvel every time how they could have gotten it so perfectly built with the rudimentary tools they would have had at the time.

We had spotted a seaside restaurant as we were parking & decided to go there for lunch. It was called Mar Restaurant Bar & had glass walls that looked out on the turbulent sea. It was cozy inside (they do have an outdoor patio but it was just too windy to sit out) & we couldn’t believe their wine selection.

Andrew ordered a chicken Caesar salad, the likes of which you’ve never seen – beautifully smoked chicken breast arranged in a teepee-like shape with the crisp lettuce, mini croutons & shavings of Parmesan. I decided you can’t come to Portugal & not have seafood at least once, so ordered the Sautéed Prawns with Asian aromas, sesame oil, fresh lime & a fresh bun. Both meals were excellent.

We did take a little detour on the way back to our apartment… we learned from fellow travel writers who frequented Albufeira, Tina & Norm (RIP Norm 😞) of This is Our Retirement, that a good place to get groceries is a store called Pingo Doce. They were right – great selection & excellent pricing. We noted the store’s cafe they’d mentioned & the ready meals.

We arrived back at our base, groceries in hand, ready to put our feet up & try to capture all we’d seen of today’s roadtrip in words that we hope give it justice.

My closing reflection – Day 3 Lagos

Days like this remind you that the Algarve isn’t just sunshine and calm seas. Seeing Lagos in stormy conditions changed the experience completely. The cliffs at Ponta da Piedade felt raw and powerful; shaped by centuries of wind and water, not just filtered through social media.

Yes, it’s beautiful on a perfect blue-sky day. But there’s something far more memorable about watching the Atlantic in full motion, waves crashing, wind pushing, the coastline alive.

And then, just minutes away, Lagos Old Town offers shelter. Calm streets. Warm cafés. A softer side to balance the drama. However still has a rugged and sandy coastline.

That contrast is what makes this part of the Algarve so special.

It’s not one-dimensional. It’s layered.

And on a windy March day, it might just be even better.

Verdict: Is Lagos better than Benagil Cave?

As far as Benagil Cave is concerned we believe they both have their own unique merits. Benagil Cave is no doubt a unique experience, but it really is about the cave. However, Lagos and Ponta da Piedade has an extraordinary rugged coastline that is absolutely awe-inspiring.