Ponta da Piedade is the headland just south of Lagos where the Algarve’s golden cliffs break up into sea stacks, arches and grottoes, with a lighthouse on top and clear green water below. It is free and open at all times. Walk the clifftop boardwalks to the viewpoints, take the long stairway down to the water, and see the grottoes from a small boat or a guided kayak. It’s about 40 minutes on foot from the centre of Lagos along the coast path, or a few minutes by car.
Right now in Ponta da Piedade
- Thu16–26°C61–79°FClear
- Fri19–26°C66–79°FClear
- Sat16–25°C60–76°FMostly clear
Tickets and tours for Ponta da Piedade
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What it is
Here the sea has carved the soft, honey-coloured rock into a maze of pillars, natural bridges and caves, some of the cliffs rising about 20 metres from the water. From above, you look down on narrow channels where small boats and kayaks thread between the rocks. From the water, you see the grottoes from inside, with light bouncing off the green and turquoise sea.
The lighthouse at the tip began working in 1913. Lagos City Council has turned the clifftop into a walking area: the first phase of wooden boardwalks and viewpoints, from Canavial to the lighthouse, was finished in 2018, and the council counted more than 1.8 million people using it in its first years. A second phase, begun in 2023, extends the boardwalks from the lighthouse towards Praia do Pinhão, with new viewpoints, wooden steps down to that beach and new car parks.
Ways to see it
From the clifftop
The free option, and lovely at any time of day. The boardwalks are wide and flat, with railings at the viewpoints, so they work for families with strollers too. The best views are around the lighthouse and on the paths towards Camilo beach, where you look down onto the arches.
Down the stairs to the water
A stairway of about 180 steps zigzags down the cliff to a small jetty in a sheltered cove. Even if you don’t take a boat, the view up at the rock walls from sea level is worth the climb back up. The steps can be steep and slippery, so wear proper shoes.
By boat or kayak
Small boats run short trips of around 45 minutes from the jetty at the bottom of the stairs, while longer trips leave from Lagos marina and along the riverfront. The Lagos harbour master (Capitania do Porto de Lagos) organises this traffic, with a limited number of licensed boats working in rotation. Guided kayak tours of two to three hours paddle through the arches and into caves the bigger boats can’t reach; they usually go out in the morning, when the sea is calmest. All trips depend on the weather and the swell.
How to visit
- Entry: free, open 24 hours. No ticket is needed for the boardwalks, viewpoints or stairs.
- Boat and kayak trips: book through a licensed operator in Lagos or at the jetty. Prices vary by operator and season, so compare before you pay, and check that life jackets are provided.
- Bring: water, a hat and sun cream; the clifftop is open and exposed.
- Parking: there is a car park near the lighthouse, but it fills in the middle of the day in summer. Walking or cycling from town is easier.
How long to allow and when to go
An hour is enough for the boardwalks and the stairs; make it half a day if you walk from Lagos and add a boat trip and a swim. Morning is best on the water, when it’s usually calmer and the light is soft on the cliffs. Sunset from the lighthouse, looking west towards Sagres, is the classic end to a day in Lagos. Spring and autumn are pleasant and quieter; in July and August come early or late to avoid the crowds and the heat.
Safety
- Stay on the boardwalks and behind the railings. The cliff edges are crumbly and overhanging, and people have died falling while taking photos.
- Don’t sit or lie on the beach directly under the cliffs; rockfalls happen along this whole coast.
- Wear the life jacket on boats and kayaks, and obey the beach flags: red means no entering the water, yellow means no swimming.
Getting there
From the centre of Lagos, follow the coast path south past Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo to the point: about 40 minutes on foot. By car, follow the signs for Ponta da Piedade from the town. Lagos has a train station and buses from the rest of the Algarve; see our Algarve travel guide for getting there from Faro.
Combine it with
Swim at Praia Dona Ana or Camilo on the way back, then spend the evening in Lagos’s walled old town. Further east along the same cliff coast, the Benagil cave and Praia da Marinha make a good next day, and Sagres and Cape St Vincent are a short drive west.
Ponta da Piedade FAQ
Is Ponta da Piedade free?
Yes. The clifftop, boardwalks, viewpoints and stairs are free and open at all hours. You only pay for a boat or kayak trip.
Can you walk to Ponta da Piedade from Lagos?
Yes. It’s about 40 minutes along the coast path from the town centre, past Dona Ana and Camilo beaches.
Is a boat or a kayak better?
Boats are quicker and suit families and non-paddlers. A guided kayak tour takes longer but gets you into the narrow caves and arches. Both depend on calm seas.
How many steps go down to the water?
About 180. The stairs are steep in places, so allow time and energy for the climb back up.
When is the best time to visit Ponta da Piedade?
Morning for calm water and boat trips, sunset for the views from the lighthouse. Avoid midday in July and August if you can.