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The best independent guide to Lagos
LagosPortugalGuide.com
The best independent guide to Lagos
Meia Praia Beach Lagos
Meia Praia is the largest beach in the Lagos region and offers an excellent location for an enjoyable day by the sea. The 4 km continuous expanse of golden sand extends from Lagos on the western side to the Odiáxere River mouth on the eastern side.
Despite the extensive tourist development found elsewhere in the Algarve, Meia Praia maintains a relaxed atmosphere with small beach cafes and bars dotted along the dunes. The main advantage of Meia Praia over other Lagos beaches is its vast size; even at the height of the tourist season, finding space is rarely an issue.
Related articles: Beach guide- Introduction to Lagos - Sights and activities
The pristine setting of the Meia Praia Beach
The western end of Meia Praia, at the mouth of the Lagos estuary
Meia Beach Overview
Meia Praia is bordered by wide grassy dunes that open onto quiet roads. These roads feature pleasant low-rise residential buildings and a selection of hotel complexes. The Lagos Marina lies at the western edge, making this the busiest area due to its proximity to the town center.
Most visitors simply cross the Lagos harbour bridge and head to Praia de São Roque, the specific name for the beach at the western end of Meia Praia. A rental car or a long walk provides access to the entire stretch, where deserted sections of sand can be found. Walking the length of the beach is enjoyable, with a handful of beach bars and restaurants clustered primarily around the train station or marina.
Meia Praia is a popular location for kitesurfing
Meia Praia beach
Tourist Information for Meia Praia, Lagos
The western end of Meia Praia, referred to as Praia de São Roque, is generally where most visitors arrive. Located on the shoreline is the Linda Bar, which serves good lunchtime beach food. Lifeguards supervise this area during the summer, but coverage becomes sparse as the beach becomes quieter further east.
Meia Praia is popular with Portuguese families as the waters tend to be calm and clean, although the water temperature is cold year-round. Beach loungers and parasols can be hired for €10 per day, providing welcome shade from the intense summer sun.
There is ample car parking along the beach, with more space available towards the east, making it the easiest Lagos beach for parking. Meia Praia is a popular hub for water sports, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, and jet skiing. Equipment is available for rent, and lessons can be booked. Translated into English, Meia Praia means "Half Beach." This name originates from the fact that it forms one half of the long strip of sand between Lagos and Alvor, divided by the Ribeira de Odiáxere river.
Meia Praia beach near Lagos
Travel to Meia Praia
There are three forms of public transport to reach Meia Praia from Lagos: walking, bus, and train. The public bus service is the "Beach Route" (Route 2), which starts at Porto de Mós, heads to the Lagos bus station, and ends at Meia Praia. An adult single ticket from the bus station costs €1.60, and the journey takes just over 20 minutes. However, there is only one service per hour and intermittent service on weekends.
The train connects to the quiet sections of the beach, served by the Meia Praia train station. The journey takes only 4 minutes, but infrequent service often makes rail travel impractical.
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