Car Rental Lagos

The ancient maritime town of Lagos in Portugal's beautiful Algarve region has over 2,000 years of history and is located right on the mouth of the Bensafrim River. Home to around 25,000 people, its charming traditional buildings and vibrant nightlife draw many tourists each year, both domestic and international.

The majority of Lagos' inhabitants work in the tourism industry and the region inland is now sparsely populated and given over to forestry or agriculture. The town is one of the most-visited in the whole of Portugal for its variety of beaches, its choice of hotels and restaurants and bars and its party atmosphere.

Lagos has seen all the Mediterranean empires, from the Carthaginians and Celts through Romans, Visigoths and Moors, and was a major trading centre for slaves as well as commodities. Remnants of its past can still be seen, although most of the old town is an 18th century rebuild following a disastrous earthquake.

The beachfront of the town is one of the prettiest on the Algarve coast and St Anthony's Church is a must-see for its extravagantly carved and gilded interior. An ancient fort sits on the harbour, guarding its entrance as it has for hundreds of year. Outside town is the beautiful countryside of the Algarve, with car rental in Lagos downtown the best options as public transport is sparse.

The beaches here are the town's major glory, with everything from the wide strand of the town's seafront to tiny rocky coves hemmed in by towering cliffs and only accessible by boat. Some of the best are Meia Praia with its soft white sand set on a massive bay, Priaia da Batata tucked between two high cliffs and home to music festivals in summer and Dona Ana, the most popular with visitors.