LOCAL INFORMATION

Climate:

From June to September the climate in the Algarve is generally dry, sunny and hot (often reaching 35ºC in July and August);  May and October can be very warm, reaching up to 26ºC, although some rain is not uncommon.   The rest of the year, temperatures average some ten degrees warmer than UK, with less rain.


Language: 

English is widely spoken in the Algarve and many Portuguese also speak German and French.  Spanish is understood. 

About Lagos

With its castle walls, narrow, cobbled streets, pottery shops and numerous pavement cafes from which to watch the world go by, Lagos has a relaxed atmosphere and quiet charm, making  it one of the most appealing locations in the Algarve.   

The ancient castle walls , built in the 16th century, used to completely surround the city, but most of Lagos and its walls were destroyed in the great earthquake of 1755.  At the entrance to the harbour,  the recently restored 17th Century fortress is worth a visit.  Heading west from the fortress, a scenic cliff top path stretches for several miles along a string of  tiny beaches and rock formations offering beautiful views of the coastline along the way.  To the East, across the river, is 4km long Meia Praia beach.  Long ago, many naval battles were fought in its bay. 

In the main square in Lagos there is a statue of D. Sebastião, which, although the subject of many a rude remark, is by the highly-respected Portuguese sculptor João Cutileiro.  D. Sebastião was  a 16th Century Portuguese ruler who became king in 1568 at the age of 14.  In 1578 he set sail from Lagos with more than 400 ships to fight the Muslims in Morocco.   More than 7,000 of his army never returned, himself among them.  Back in Lagos, the Portuguese refused to believe that he was dead, and so the legend grew that D. Sebastião was still alive and that, one foggy day, he and his ghostly armada  would sail back into the harbour.  

Close to the Fortress, in front of the police station, is the ´'Golden' church of Santo António which now forms part of Lagos' somewhat eccentric museum. 

An excellent selection of restaurants is concentrated in the pedestrian-only Rua 25 de Abril.   It is also worth a short walk to the footbridge which crosses the Marina entrance to explore the bars and restaurants in the relatively new Marina arcade. 

BEACHES (PRAIAS) 

Alvor:  Follow beach signs as you enter the village of Alvor.  The large beach in front of the village is good for watersports.  The eastern end gives way to golden cliffs and sheltered coves with a selection of recently refurbished beach bars and cafes.  Trés Irmãos (Three Brothers), so called because of the rock formations, is a popular spot.  The western side of the estuary is a short distance from Quinta Bavaria (and an easy cycle ride or modest, fairly level walk).  Very quiet, rich in wildlife and ideal for fishing and less experienced windsurfers. 

Praia Dona Ana: The most popular beach in the vicinity of Lagos, backed and flanked by steep cliffs, sheltered from the westerly winds. Accessed by steep steps, with a bar and restaurant at the top with fabulous views along the rocky coastline.  There is a selection of similar small, picturesque coves between Dona Ana and Ponta Piedade. 

Porto de Mós: A small bay between Luz and Lagos flanked by cliffs with a a beach bar and public facilities. Easy access from a car park right behind the sand.

Meia Praia :  The closest beach to Quinta Bavaria.  A long, wide stretch of sand which can be seen across the bay from the Fortress in Lagos. No natural shade or shelter but one or two excellent and recently refurbished beach bars towards the Lagos end offering sunbeds and shades for hire.   It can become windy in the afternoons.       Excellent for water sports - waterskiing, sailing and windsurfing rentals are available in summer. 

Praia da Luz: A long curve of sand starts right in front of the town of Luz, to the west of Lagos. Sand gives way to rocks at the eastern end. A recently improved promenade and a number of beachside cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops make it ideal for young families. 

Burgau: Small beach right in front of the picturesque fishing village, flanked by cliffs at either end. Parking near the beach is in short supply, so leave your car at the top of the village and walk down. 

 Praia da Rocha,  Portimão.  Portimão's seaside suburb. A huge expanse of golden sand, backed by restaurants, bars and high rise apartments, sheltered by cliffs in the west. 

Carvoeiro: A quaint village and picturesque beach with a selection of bars and restaurants on the sand. There is a small daily market in the centre of the village and a selection of souvenir shops. 

Benagil and Marinha: There is a string of delightful secluded coves between Carvoeiro and Benagil. Turn right at the International School from the N125 and follow the signposts. Some have beach bars, most have parking and steep steps down to the sand.  Excellent for swimming and snorkelling. 

SPORTS FACILITIES

Burgau Sports and Leisure Centre  282 697 350
A popular club with tennis and squash courts, gymnasium, aerobics classes, restaurant and outdoor heated pool, all open to the public for a reasonable price. 

Horse riding 
Vale de Ferro, Arao. Follow Hipico signs from N125
Tiffanies, near Espiche 282 697 395

Diving: 
Blue Ocean Divers, Motel Ancora, 8600 Lagos 282 782 341
Pinguim Sub Sda 282 485 784, Portimao

Microlight Flying
Aero Club of Lagos  282 762 906
Short flights, lessons and courses

Sailing and motorboating:
General information about yachting in Portugal.
The marinas at Lagos and Vilamoura have charter offices. A UK sailing school does week-long RYA tidal courses from Competent Crew to Coastal Skipper (practical) out of Lagos.

Dolphin Watching:
Trips out of Lagos marina aboard a high-speed rigid inflatable boat, to watch dolphins or simply get a dose of speed, may be booked at Quinta Bavaria.

ROUGH GUIDE TO SOME LOCAL RESTAURANTS 

Odeáxere
Cacto - Very good international dishes owned by friendly English/Dutch couple. Romantic candlelit atmosphere on the covered terrace. Medium price range. Booking essential. 

Rapo Tacho: Portuguese family run restaurant, recently opened. Traditional home made dishes at reasonable prices. Their 'steak on a hot slab' is highly recommended. On the N125 in the centre of the town.

Pizzeria Bella-Pizza: Another recently opened, family run restaurant. Huge menu of pizzas, Italian and international dishes to eat in or take away. Also on the N125.

Lagos
San Sebastião - Busy restaurant in the centre of Lagos. Tables on the pavement, exceedingly popular and touristy but good value with an extensive menu. Lagos's 'famous' restaurant. 

Adega da Marina - An excellent good value, no frills fish restaurant ('though their chicken also comes highly recommended) on Avenida dos Descobrimentos (the main marina road)  in Lagos, not far from the fish market. 

Cantinho do Mar- Just off the main pedestrian walkway in the centre of Lagos, a tiny restaurant (booking essential) serving an excellent selection of seafood such as prawns & garlic, mixed fish platter plus a good selection of meat dishes. Reasonably priced.

Maharaja- Rua Dr Jose Formozinho, 8600 Lagos (in front of the Firestation) Tel 282 761 507. Very good Indian cuisine, not usually too busy.   Take aways available. 

Espiche
Fontenario - At the crossroads in the village. Very popular - pretty terrace, attentive staff and good international food. Mid-price range. 

Papagaio - Genuine old wine cellar , choose from 7 different meats all charcoaled on a hot stone. Eat as much as you like for a fixed price. Fado on Tuesday and Saturday night. 5km from Lagos in direction of Sagres. Open every day. 282 789 423. 

Barão São João
Florestal Tel 282 687 204. Set in the middle of the National Forest in a tranquil setting with beautiful views and excellent international menu. A fair drive, (20 minutes from the N125 at Espiche on a bumpy road), but worth it. Advisable to make a reservation. Mid-upper price range.  
Open lunch 12.00 - 14.30pm Snacks 14.30-18.00pm
Dinner 19.00-22.00 Sunday 12.00-15.00. 

Salema - Several good restaurants for lunch or dinner right on the beach. 



SOME LOCAL WINES

You can buy some very good Portuguese red wines for quite a bit less than you would pay in UK. Following are one or two tried and tested recommendations, which will cost in the region of 3.50-4.50 Euros (£2.50-£3.50). In restaurants, house wine is often very cheap and quite acceptable. Occasionally red house wine will appear chilled in a jug - the second jug is usually better than the first! A lot of good wines come from the Douro and Alentejo regions, but avoid Algarve produced wine. If anyone finds a bottle of Cliff Richard's Vida Nova we'd be interested to sample one!! 

Everyday Reds of consistent value: 

Esteva (Douro) (any year)
Vinha do Monte (Alentejo) (any year)
Casa de Santar (Dao) (any year)
Serras de Azeitão (Terras do Sado) Red or White

White: 
Portuguese white wines can be ropey - as a general guide, best to avoid white wine for less than 5 Euros in the supermarket. 
However, Catarina (Setubal area) is agreeable (about 4 Euros). 
Esporão Reserva branco (Alentejo) at around 6 Euros is delicious and has been very consistent from 1997 to 2000.
João Pires, at around 4.50 Euros is one of our favourite cheapies.
An alternative is Vinho Verde ("Green" Wine from the north of Portugal) which is a refreshing local white, semi-sparkling, served well-chilled. 

BRANDY 

Adega Velha is a world-class brandy for savouring, at about £23 a bottle. 
For volume consumption, try Antiqua - a fair bit cheaper. 

Aguardente is the generic term for local spirits made from different types of fruit. Some can be quite interesting. The cheaper end of the market ("bagaco" - distilled spirit from the fermented skins of grapes used for winemakeing) is worth a try if you are brave and have already lost your driving licence.

WATER

The tapwater is generally safe and to European standards. Bottled waters come flat ("sem gas") or sparkling ("com gas"). The natural, slightly sparkling water "Pedras Salgados" (literally: "Salty Rocks") is a world-class mineral water.

PORT WINE

There is no such thing as a good cheap classic port. The good ones are just about as expensive here as anywhere else. As for the cheap ones....... But white port is inexpensive and, drunk chilled, is good value as an aperitif.


SUPERMARKETS

Note that Quinta Bavaria provides a complimentary welcome pack for guests which means they may enjoy a relaxing swim and snack on arrival without having to  shop immediately after their journey.

Pingo Doce, Lagos - large supermarket open Monday to Saturday.   Sunday opening depends on season.  On the left of main road (N125) east of Lagos.

There is a small supermarket on Avenida dos Descobrimentos in Lagos which is one of the few to open on a  Sunday afternoon.   Along from the fish market. 


BANKS

Banks are open Monday to Friday 8.30 to 11.45am and 1.00pm to 3.00pm. Closed weekends and public holidays. Exchange rates for traveller's cheques are slightly higher than for cash notes. Cash advances are available on most credit cards. 

There are numerous Multibanco cash machines in Lagos. Machines accept direct debit or visa card. The nearest to Quinta Bavaria is situated in Odeáxere opposite the corner shop (follow signs from centre of village). 
Most restaurants and shops in the main tourist areas will accept major credit cards, but smaller, off the beaten track restaurants may only accept cash. 

POST OFFICE

There is a small post office in Odeáxere (behind the chemist - Farmácia) on the left of the main road. Open 8.30am to 12.30pm and 2.00pm to 6.00pm. Closed weekends and public holidays. 

The main post office is in the square in Lagos, open 8.30am to 6.00pm. 

Stamps (selos) can be bought in most shops selling postcards. Postcards and letters under 20g to UK cost 30 cents. 

TELEPHONES

Local and international calls can be made from coin or card operated boxes or metered phones in Post Offices, hotels and some bars. Cards can be bought from Post Offices and shops displaying 'Credifone' sign. 

Algarve calls: there are three phone areas with separate prefixes: 281 east, 289 central, 282 west. Dial the prefix if calling from either inside or outside that area.

UK calls: Dial 0044 for anywhere in the UK followed by area and local number, leaving out the '0' area prefix. For Ireland, dial 00353. Reverse charge and international info: dial the operator on 099. 

BRITISH CONSULATE
Largo Francisco A Mauricio No 7,
1st Floor, Apt 609, 8500 Portimao, Phone: 282 417 800

TOURIST OFFICES
Lagos: Rua Vasco da Gama (S Joao) 8600-722 Lagos
Phone 282 763 031 Open weekdays. 
Portimao: Avenida Zeca Afonso 8500-512 Portimao
Phone 282 419 131

DRIVING
Some basic rules: 
Always carry your driving licence with you in the car. 
Seat belts must be worn in front and back seats. 
Under 13 year olds are not allowed to sit in the front . 
At intersection of roads of equal importance, without a priority (Yield or Stop) sign, give way to the right. 
At roundabouts, give way to the vehicle already on the roundabout.
The alcohol limit is lower than in UK.
Speed limits: 60kph in built-up area; 90kph on open roads; 120kph on motorways. 
Never leave anything of value in your parked car

 
CYBERCAFES/INTERNET ACCESS
The nearest internet access is a shop behind the main bus garage on Avenida dos Descobrimentos in Lagos (the main road along the harbour): - as you walk across the bus garage from the main road, it is in the far right hand corner. 
Mail Boxes Etc, Praca da Republica 12, Portimao
282 418 109, Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am to 7.00pm. 
Municipal Library, Portimao, opposite Police Station/Courthouse
Open Tues-Fri, 1030am - 7.00pm and Sat 3.00pm-6.30pm.


AIRPORT/AIRLINES
Faro Airport General Information 289 80 80 80
Arrival and Departure Information 289 80 08 01
British Airways Desk, Faro Airport 289 818476
EasyJet 808 204 204

TRANSPORT
Renex national line buses (to Lisbon) 089 586 023 
Lagos Railway station 282 762 987

LOCAL TAXIS 
Alcina Silva, Lagos 282 762 766 Mobile: 91 574 623
Gil Eanes, Lagos 282 763 587
Lagos Central Taxis, Avenida dos Descobrimentos 282 762 469 Jose France Marrieros 282 764 942

MEDICAL/EMERGENCY
Emergency Fire/Police/Ambulance 112
Lagos District Hospital 282 76 30 34
Portimao Hospital 282 41 51 15
Local police, Lagos 282 76 28 09
MediLagos 24 hour clinic with English speaking doctors, pay as you go: 282 760 181

Note: In Portugal, you are officially required to carry identification (passport or identity card) at all times. 



DISCLAIMER: The above information is based on our own personal experience and personal opinion, and is intended for the information of guests and potential guests only. The opinion of others may vary. You should make your own judgements. We are not liable for the consequences of any action taken on the basis of this information.