The Village

    Praia da Luz is a beach destination in the Algarve, at just under one hours easy drive from Faro airport.

    The development of the town is mostly low rise apartments and villas of all sizes, and the facilities are aimed at family holidays. There is a great variety of family friendly restaurants and bars, good supermarkets and all the amenities for a complete holiday.

    There is a beautiful sandy beach perfect for sun bathing and water sports, and Luz beach sports the European blue flag indicating clean sand and clean water.

    For golfers there are 4 golf courses within 5 - 20 minutes drive, and there are daytrip coaches from Luz to the water parks and dolphin park. 

    Luz is just 8 minutes west of the larger historic town of Lagos which provides great sightseeing, plenty of shopping, good night life, and a large established marina. 

    Luz is also within easy reach of Portimao with a fantastic monthly market and great shopping. 

    Directions

    Start > Faro Airport 

     

    • Exit Faro airport onto the main road alongside the airport roundabout (with statues looking skywards)where you will follow the signs for Faro & A22
    • Continue along this road for approximately 2,5km and take the second exit on the right, signposted A22 Lisbon & Portimão to join a dual carriageway
    • After approximately 4km move to the left hand land and take the left fork on the dual carriageway following the sign A22 Lisbon/Portimão/Albufeira
    • After a further 3km take the right hand exit off the dual carriageway following the sign for A22 Lisbon/Portimão/ Albufeira
    • Continue westwards along the A22 motorway for approximately 65kms and leave at Junction 1 for Lagos. ( Note: Do not take the first Lagos exit, signposted Lagos Este but the following one)
    • Continue straight ahead over the 1st roundabout
    • Turn right at the roundabout to Praia da Luz. (Note: signposted to Sagres /Vila do Bispo)
    • Continue on the main road (EN125), past Boavista golf and through the first set of traffic lights
    • After approx 2km go through another set of traffic lights (Bungalow Park Campsite on your right)
    • Go straight through another set of traffic lights with Espiche village on your right
    • Continue to the third set of traffic lights and turn left here signposted Luz
    • Continue down this road and over the roundabout. Take the next turning left and continue until you come to a left hand turning onto a stone track with post boxes and bins at the bottom. Travel up this track until you come to Quinta Mimosa on the right. 

     

    Lagos

    Lagos is the most historically interesting coastal town in the Algarve with a maze of criss-crossed streets, fine restaurants, boutiques, night clubs and good beaches.

    Henry the Navigator used Lagos as a base for the African trade, and his explorers brought back slaves to auction in the slave market (now an art gallery), his statue and the slave market both being situated in the Praça da República.

    Gil Eanes (Lagos most famous son) was the first European Captain to accomplish the sea passage, in 1495, to the Orient via Cape Bojador, known for its treacherous winds and currents. His statue is in front of the town walls a little further to the west.

    The town's third statue is of the 21 year old boy-king, Sebastião, who precipitated the demise of the Aviz dynasty in the 16th century by sailing from Lagos to a disastrous defeat in Morrocco.

    From then Lagos went into decline and was greatly reduced in strategic importance. In 1755 there was a great earthquake that destroyed most of the other buildings. Among the ones that were rebuilt and have since undergone renovation are the Church of Santa Maria, the 17th Century Regimental Storehouse next to it and the "Golden" Church of Santo António which forms part of Lagos rather eccentric museum which offers a diverse range of typically Algarvian memorabilia. 

    Sagres and Cape St Vincent

    Sagres is where Prince Henry established his school of navigation. Visit the 17th Century fortress. Sagres is also the centre of lobster fishing industry in the Algarve.

    Cape St Vincent, on a beautiful rugged coastline, is the most south-westerly point of Europe. It is an important reference point for shipping since the 15th Century and the Cape off which Nelson defeated the Spanish fleet in 1797. The headland has many fascinating botanical species, is a nesting ground for white stork and heron among numerous other birds, and there is also a colony of sea otters.

    Portimão

    Is now the Algarve's biggest city and second most important fishing port after Olhão. Excellent shops and restaurants in the port serve freshly caught sardines. Boats can be taken across the harbour to Ferragudo, a beautifully unspoilt fishing village with pretty beaches