Marina de Lagos, Algarve: Getting There, Harbour Info and Destinations

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Marina de Lagos lies on the western Algarve in southern Portugal, on the Ribeira de Bensafrim river just before it flows into Lagos Bay, directly opposite the old town. Here you can read how to get to Marina de Lagos, where it is, where to park and shop, what the sailing weather is like, which destinations are nearby and what skippers need to know about the waiting pontoon, the bridge and registration.

Where is Marina de Lagos?

Marina de Lagos is on the east bank of the Ribeira de Bensafrim, north of the rocky coast around Ponta da Piedade. From the sea, you enter the river between two breakwaters and follow it up to the movable footbridge, beyond which the marina's pontoons begin. The old town with the Avenida dos Descobrimentos lies on the other side of the river, and you can reach it in a few minutes across the footbridge.

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Right next to the marina is the fishing harbour with a boatyard. Beyond the east breakwater begins Meia Praia, a sandy beach stretching for more than four kilometres along the bay to the mouth of the Rio Alvor.

Arriving for the start of your sailing trip in Lagos

You can reach Lagos via Faro airport, by train along the Algarve coast or via the A22 motorway.

From Faro airport to Lagos

It is around 90 kilometres from Faro airport to Lagos. By hire car or taxi, you take the A22, the Via do Infante, towards Portimão and Lagos and leave at the Lagos Este/Odiáxere exit. The journey takes just under an hour. The marina reception can arrange a transfer from the airport.

By car, train or bus

From Lisbon it is around 300 kilometres, about two and a half hours by car: take the A2 south, then the A22 towards Portimão/Lagos to the Lagos Este/Odiáxere exit.

By train, regional services run between Faro and Lagos. Intercidades and Alfa Pendular trains connect Lisbon with the Algarve, and you continue to Lagos by regional train. Timetables are available from the Portuguese railway CP. The station is directly behind the marina.

Long-distance and regional coaches stop at Lagos bus station, around 300 metres from the marina on the old town side of the footbridge.

Parking

A public car park with around 500 spaces is located behind the old railway station. In total, there are about 600 public spaces around the marina; they are free of charge and unattended. Further parking areas are on Rua Dom João I, around 350 metres from the marina. Garage spaces are available through the Hotel Marina Club Lagos Resort at the marina.

Showers and sanitary facilities

The marina has showers and toilet facilities in the main building with the shops, for marina guests only and with an access key. There is also a separate family bathroom. At the south-east end of the same building is the laundrette, with self-service washing machines and dryers; you can get the coins for them at reception.

Shopping for the trip

The nearest large supermarket, a Pingo Doce, is at the north end of the marina, around 450 metres from the harbour basin, and is open seven days a week. A smaller GO minimarket is around 400 metres away. On the old town side there is a second Pingo Doce around 500 metres and a Lidl around 700 metres from the marina; both are also suitable for a big shop by car.

Fresh produce is available at the town's markets. The Mercado da Avenida near the Avenida dos Descobrimentos is open Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 2 pm, with fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. On Saturdays from 7 am to 2 pm, local farmers sell their produce at the Mercado de Levante just across the bridge, and on Wednesday afternoons there is a market there with regional and organic products.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest pharmacy, Pharma Neves, is around 200 metres from the marina. The private clinic Luzdoc, which is open around the clock, is around 300 metres away. The public health centre (Centro de Saúde) is on Rua da Pedra Alçada, and the public hospital of Lagos is on Rua do Castelo dos Governadores in the old town. Hospital Terras do Infante is also around 1.5 kilometres away.

• 112: European emergency number for ambulance, fire brigade and police, also for emergencies at sea
• +351 214 401 919: MRCC Lisbon maritime rescue coordination centre
• 808 24 24 24: SNS 24 health helpline for medical advice

There is a defibrillator at the marina. In an emergency, call 112 first, then the marina security service on +351 919 560 743 or via VHF channel 9.

What does Marina de Lagos offer?

Marina de Lagos has 474 berths on floating pontoons for yachts up to 30 metres in length. Every berth has water and electricity, and security staff patrol around the clock. As things stand (November 2026), the marina is being extended with a new basin near Meia Praia, with 100 berths for yachts of 12 to 30 metres, including catamarans.

Marina de Lagos at a glance
Location	East bank of the Ribeira de Bensafrim, opposite the old town of Lagos
Coordinates	37,10988° N, 8,67482° W
Berths	474 on floating pontoons
Boat size	up to 30 m length, 2.7 m draught
Water depth	Basin dredged to 2.80 m, entrance 3.0 m at low water springs
Power	16, 32 and 64 A
VHF channel	9 (marina and bridge)
Waiting pontoon	80 m, to starboard before the pedestrian bridge
Fuel station	Diesel and petrol 95
Operator	Marlagos – Iniciativas Turísticas S.A.
Website	marinadelagos.pt

Marina facilities

At the fuel pontoon you can get diesel, petrol 95 and ice every day; in summer it is staffed continuously during opening hours. Water and electricity are included in the berthing fee.

The pontoons and the sanitary facilities are accessible only with a key, which you can get from reception against a deposit. There is Wi-Fi, there are hand trolleys for luggage, and reception accepts parcel deliveries. Restaurants, bars and shops are dotted around the marina.

In the neighbouring fishing harbour there is a boatyard offering boat services and equipment.

The berthing fee depends on the boat class, based on length and beam, and multihulls pay a surcharge. For a yacht of 12 to 14.99 metres in length and up to 4.30 metres in beam, one day costs €43.60 in the low season (January to mid-June and October to December) and €68.70 from mid-July to the end of August, in each case plus VAT (as of November 2026).

What is the weather like for sailing in Lagos?

From May to August, the wind in the Bay of Lagos is mostly from the north to north-west. The sea state stays low, with waves mostly under one metre. In the afternoon the wind sometimes freshens to 20 to 30 knots, and the nights are mostly calm.

The Portuguese weather service IPMA issues a yellow warning for the Faro district when gusts of 70 kilometres per hour or more are expected. For sea state, the yellow warning threshold on the south coast of the Algarve is already a wave height of two metres with a south-easterly swell, and otherwise four metres. In bad weather, the harbour master can close the harbour entrance at Lagos to all boats.

Where can you sail to from Lagos?

From Lagos you can reach the rocky coast of the western Algarve, Alvor, Portimão and Cape São Vicente in day sails. Lagos is also a departure port for passages to Spain, Gibraltar and out into the Atlantic. The nautical miles are rounded distances over water on the usual course; for precise planning, the nautical chart is what counts.

• Ponta da Piedade and Burgau: The rocky coast with grottos and small coves begins directly south of the harbour entrance, and it is around 1.5 nm to the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade. There are sheltered anchorages between the entrance and Ponta da Piedade and at Burgau further west.
• Alvor: At the other end of the Bay of Lagos, the Rio Alvor flows into the sea, forming a lagoon with dunes and beaches. There is a sheltered anchorage at Alvor, and ashore you will find bars and restaurants.
• Portimão: The town lies around 7 nm east of Lagos.
• Sagres and Cape São Vicente: Cape São Vicente lies around 17 nm to the west. On the way there, the harbour of Baleeira is at Sagres.
• Heading east: Further along the Algarve coast lies Olhão; you can find out more in the profile of the Marina Olhão.
• Lisbon, Cádiz and Gibraltar: It is around 120 nm north around Cape São Vicente to Lisbon. You can find more about the berths there in the profile of the Marinas in Lisbon. Cádiz and Gibraltar lie further east along the Spanish coast.
• Madeira and the Atlantic: In the 15th century, voyages of discovery set out from Lagos, including those to Madeira. Today Lagos is a departure port for passages out into the Atlantic, and offshore regattas also start here or make a stop.

What can you do ashore in Lagos?

For a day in port, the old town on the other side of the river is well worth a visit, as are the rocky coast to the south and the long beach to the east.

• Old town and town wall: Almost the entire landward section of the old town wall has survived. Within it lie the old town centre of Viladentro and the 15th-century Castelo dos Governadores.
• Igreja de Santo António: This Baroque church dating from 1707 was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755. Plain on the outside, it is richly fitted out inside with gilded wood carvings.
• Praia da Batata and Ponta da Piedade: This small town beach lies between the west breakwater and the Ponta da Bandeira fort, barely a hundred metres from the historic centre. Further south, at the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse, a long flight of steps leads down to the water, from where boats run out to the grottoes and rock formations.
• Meia Praia: The sandy beach begins east of the marina at the east breakwater and stretches for more than four kilometres to the Rio Alvor.

For skippers: berthing and marine weather in Lagos

In Lagos, you first moor at the waiting pontoon before the pedestrian bridge and report to the reception. Only then do you pass through the bridge to your assigned berth.

Checking in at the waiting pontoon

The waiting pontoon is 80 metres long and lies to starboard, just before you reach the pedestrian bridge. You moor there and go to the reception with the ship's papers, proof of insurance and the crew's ID. Check-in is completed there, and the reception helps with the formalities with the authorities. At check-in you leave a deposit.

The reception is staffed from late October to late March from 9am to 6pm, in spring and autumn from 9am to 7pm, from early June to early September from 8am to 9pm and from 5 to 15 September from 8am to 7pm (bridge 8.30am to 9pm; as of November 2026). If you arrive outside these hours, you stay at the waiting pontoon until the reception opens. You can reserve a berth online in advance. A deposit of 25 per cent is due for reservations.

The pedestrian bridge

The pedestrian bridge between the marina and the old town is a movable metal bridge. It opens on request during the reception's office hours. To request it, call “Marina de Lagos” on VHF channel 9, give the name of your boat and say whether you want to enter or leave. Do not leave your berth until the marina has confirmed the next opening. Incoming boats have priority. For ten minutes before the departure of each train at the station next to the marina, pedestrians have priority: the bridge then stays down and does not open for boats. Low motorboats can usually pass underneath without the bridge opening.

The bridge does not open at night. If you want to leave before the reception opens, you pay the evening before, check out and move the boat to the waiting pontoon.

berthing

The berths are on floating pontoons. If needed, marina staff will help with the manoeuvre.

Harbour rules

The marina's regulations stipulate, among other things:

• A maximum of 3 knots applies in the approach channel and in the marina, and there is no sailing in the harbour.
• When entering, you fly the Portuguese courtesy flag and the flag of your own country.
• Bathing, swimming, water sports and fishing are prohibited in the harbour basin.
• From sunset until 9am, engine tests, noisy work on board and outdoor music are prohibited.
• Pets are welcome, but on the pontoons only on a lead and never unattended.

Approach

The prominent landmark is the yellow lighthouse of Ponta da Piedade, 1.5 nautical miles south of the harbour entrance, characteristic Fl 7s, height of light 56 metres, range 20 nautical miles. Lagos lies about 17 nautical miles east of Cape São Vicente and about 7 nautical miles west of Portimão. The harbour entrance between two lit breakwaters can be approached around the clock: the west breakwater carries a white tower with red bands, Fl(2) R 6s, and the east breakwater a white tower with green bands, Fl(2) G 6s. A good bearing for the approach is the west pierhead in line with the tower of the Santo António church at 282 degrees.

The entrance is dredged to 3.0 metres at low water springs; current depths are given in the Notices to Mariners of the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute (ANAVNET). When entering and in the harbour, you keep a listening watch on VHF channels 9 and 16 in accordance with the harbour master's regulations. If the harbour entrance is closed, the signal by day is two black cones, one point down and one point up, and by night four red lights in a vertical line.

Which marine weather forecast applies in Lagos?

The official marine weather forecast for Portugal is issued by the IPMA weather service. You can read it on the IPMA shipping page. For passages around Cape São Vicente and along the Algarve coast, the “S. Vicente” and “Cádiz” areas are the important ones. Warnings for the Faro district are shown on the IPMA warning map. The Portuguese Navy reports on its website whether a harbour entrance is closed.

Sailing trips from Lagos on Törnfinder

You'll find sailing trips in the Algarve and along the whole coast at Sailing in Portugal. All sailing areas together can be found under Trips.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Faro airport to Marina de Lagos?

The quickest way is by hire car, taxi or transfer via the A22, which takes just under an hour for around 90 kilometres. By rail, take the regional train from Faro to Lagos; the station is directly behind the marina.

Where can I park at Marina de Lagos?

In the free public car parks around the marina; the largest is behind the old station.

Where can I shop for provisions for my trip at Marina de Lagos?

At the Pingo Doce supermarket at the northern end of the marina, which is open daily. Fresh fish, fruit and vegetables are available in the market hall near Avenida dos Descobrimentos on weekday mornings from Monday to Saturday.

Are there showers at Marina de Lagos?

Yes, in the marina's main building, for guests only and with an access key. There is also a laundry.

When does the bridge at Marina de Lagos open?

On request via VHF channel 9 during reception office hours: from 8 am to 9 pm in high summer and from 9 am to 6 pm in winter. Ten minutes before each train departure it stays down for pedestrians.

Which VHF channel do I use to reach Marina de Lagos?

Channel 9. Use it to check in and request the bridge opening; outside office hours it puts you through to the security staff.