Praia da Luz is a pleasant and relaxing resort town, which is situated on the western edge of the beautiful Algarve. Luz is ideal for families and couples wanting a low-key but personable holiday destination that offers a fantastic beach, glorious weather and a varied selection of restaurants and bars.

Most visitors consider Luz as a beach holiday destination, but there is surprising amount to do within the region. This guide will detail the most popular sights, activities and things to do within Praia da Luz.

Praia da Luz boasts a magnificent golden sandy beach stretching the entire length of the town. The crystal-clear waters are calm, clean, and exceptionally safe for children, making it ideal for families with young ones.

Despite its family-friendly nature, the beach offers enough wave action for exciting water activities like body boarding and surfing. Equipment rental is available right on the beach.

At the western edge, fascinating rock formations create natural tidal pools teeming with colorful marine life—perfect for young explorers to discover sea urchins, small fish, and crabs.
If you are seeking a family friendly beach resort there is no better destination than Praia de Luz.

Praia da Luz beach is wonderful

Lagos is a charming city where tourism, history and culture have seamlessly blended together. Once an important maritime hub during Portugal's Age of Discoveries, the city now balances its rich heritage with modern appeal. The 16th-century defensive walls encircle much of the old town, providing excellent walking routes with panoramic views of both the historic centre and Atlantic Ocean.

Inside the ancient walls, visitors can wander through narrow cobblestone streets flanked by characteristic whitewashed buildings, ornate baroque churches and quaint local shops. The historic Slave Market (Mercado de Escravos), Europe's first formal slave trading venue, now houses an informative museum examining this sombre chapter of history. The Igreja de Santo António stands nearby, its unassuming exterior concealing an impressive interior adorned with elaborate gold-leaf decoration and stunning blue azulejo tilework.

Just south of Lagos is the Ponta da Piedade, a dramatic headland comprising sea-arches, stone pillars and hidden grottos. While viewable from clifftop walking paths, it's best explored by boat on 75-minute tours. The nearby beaches of Praia do Camilo and Praia Dona Ana offer stunning golden sand framed by limestone cliffs, whilst Meia Praia stretches for 4 km, providing ample space even during busy periods.
Related articles: A day trip to Lagos

The pretty waterfront of Lagos extends along the estuary

The crystal-clear waters of the Ponta da Piedade headland

The spectacular coastal trail from Praia da Luz to Lagos offers hikers an unforgettable 10.5-kilometer journey along the Algarve's dramatic shoreline. Beginning at Praia da Luz's golden beach, the path climbs steeply to Rocha Negra lookout point before continuing along magnificent cliff tops with breathtaking panoramic views. The route passes through several distinct sections, first traversing high cliffs with views back toward Luz, then winding through a quiet residential area before reaching the famous boardwalks at Ponta da Piedade.

This moderate hike takes approximately 2.5-3 hours to complete and can be walked in either direction. Hikers are rewarded with access to some of Lagos' most beautiful beaches including Porto de Mós, Praia do Camilo with its iconic wooden staircase, and the picturesque Dona Ana Beach surrounded by limestone formations. The route concludes in Lagos' Old Town after passing Praia dos Estudantes and Praia da Batata, with convenient public transport options available for the return journey to Praia da Luz.

The view is worth the steep climb

Boat Tours from Praia da Luz Praia da Luz offers visitors exceptional opportunities to explore the stunning Algarve coastline by sea through various boat tours departing directly from the beach. These excursions provide unique perspectives of the dramatic cliffs, hidden caves, and marine wildlife that make this region so special.

The westward coastal tours take visitors on an exhilarating journey along the coast toward Sagres, Europe's most southwesterly point. This expedition allows tourists to witness the magnificent granite cliffs of the Sagres promontory and the historic Cape St. Vincent from a completely different vantage point. Along the route, passengers can discover secluded beaches and coves inaccessible by land.

For those interested in the eastern coastline, tours heading toward Lagos showcase the breathtaking limestone formations and fascinating sea caves of Ponta da Piedade. These natural wonders, carved over centuries by sea and wind, have earned creative names due to their distinctive shapes that resemble various objects and creatures.

Dolphin watching tours are among the most popular excursions from Praia da Luz. The rich coastal waters host several dolphin species including Common, Bottlenose, and Risso's dolphins, as well as the Harbor Porpoise. Visitors frequently spot sea turtles, various shark species, and numerous seabirds in their natural environment during these trips.
For more information see: beachhutwatersports.com

The Luz boat tours along the coastline

Praia da Luz has a varied selection of traditional and family run restaurants, all of which are personable, intimate and welcoming. The wide range of restaurants and cafes cater for all preferences and styles of cuisines but local specialities focus on freshly caught fish. Meal times are important to the Portuguese and the evening meal is a time to socialise and is never rushed.

The beach of Luz has decent waves that roll in from the Atlantic Ocean and are suitable for surfing. There are much better surfing locations in the western Algarve (around Sagres) but the Luz beach is close and convenient.

The seas around Luz are always cold so a wet suit (€5 per day) is needed, even at the height of the summer. Surfing equipment can be hired from the town, with body boards (€10 1-day), surf boards (€15 1-day) and paddle boards (€30 4 hours) available for hire from Luz Surf Village, http://www.luzsurfvillage.com/ (link opens new window)

There are good waves at Luz for surfing

While Praia da Luz offers a peaceful retreat from the bustling central Algarve, thrill-seekers can easily access one of the region's premier water parks. Slide and Splash, located near Lagoa (just 35km from Luz), makes for an excellent day trip for families with older children and adventure-loving adults.

This world-class water park features an impressive array of attractions including heart-racing vertical slides for adrenaline enthusiasts, sprawling wave pools simulating ocean conditions, gravity-defying flumes with unexpected twists and turns, and family-friendly water play areas.

Adult admission costs €33 during high season and €30 during low season and there can be discounts purchasing beforehand: www.slidesplash.com

There are great water parks in the Algarve

Sagres is at the western edge of the Algarve and is situated in a region of dramatic scenery, with massive cliffs, powerful seas and vast beaches. This barren and windswept region is ideal for visitors who appreciate natures raw power.

Sagres town has a remote but hip atmosphere, in part due to the large number of surfers who take up residence to surf some of the best waves in Europe. Along from Sagres is the Cabo de São Vicente the south-western tip of mainland Europe and where 75m high cliff extend from raging seas.

The Cabo de São Vicente

A beach resort wouldn’t be great one with a plethora of inflatable and silly, thrill rides available for hire, and Praia da Luz has a great selection that can be hired from the beach. There are banana boat or Ringos rides (€12 for 15min), jet skis (€50 for 20min) or Kayaks (€10 per hour), ideal for touring the coastline. All of these can be rented from the beach during the tourist season.

It's cold if you fall in....

The roads around Luz are quiet and are perfect for cycling along, one of the most popular routes is to the small village of Burgau (2km) or the tranquil beach of Praia da Ingrina (5km). Bikes can be hired in Luz for €20 per day.