Praia do Pinhão – the complete guide
Praia do Pinhão is a beach in Lagos. The beach is quite small, but very beautiful. There are relatively few facilities on the beach, which also gives the beach its charm. Some people even think that Pinhão is one of the most beautiful beaches of Lagos. Discover why Praia do Pinhão is worth visiting.
Watch it in HD
Would you like to see more of Praia do Pinhão? Then watch the following short video.
The beach
Praia do Pinhão is a relatively small beach, located in a small bay. It is surrounded by beautiful rock formations that extend into the sea, which protect the beach from strong winds. Praia do Pinhão is located between Praia da Dona Ana and Praia dos Estudantes.
The sand on Praia do Pinhão is a bit hard and coarse, but less than on Praia dos Estudantes. The water is clear and suitable for swimming. However, the water can be a bit cold though. Also, the conditions here are excellent for diving and snorkeling. During high tide there is a spot on the left side of the beach where you can go cliff jumping.
Even though Praia do Pinhão is relatively close to the centre of Lagos, this beach is not so crowded. It is a great alternative to the more crowded urban beaches near the centre of Lagos. Praia do Pinhão is popular with locals and families with children, but in general, it is a relatively calm beach. The part of the beach near Dona Ana is usually more crowded than the part of the beach near Estudantes Beach. If you truly want to enjoy Praia do Pinhão, it is recommended to go early, because you will probably be alone (or with very few people) on the beach.
If you like a beach walk, you can walk from Praia do Pinhão via Praia dos Estudantes all the way to Praia da Batata. This is a pretty beach walk. You will also find arches and caves on Praia do Pinhão, which are places that kids usually love to explore.
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Two parts of Praia do Pinhão
Praia do Pinhão consists of two parts. The first part is the area underneath the staircase. This part consists of a small strip of sand and is actually quite small. During high tide, this part completely disappears.
The second part is on the other side of the rock formation. This part is larger than the first part. On the right side of this beach you can see a lot of stones in the water. These stones are placed there since the Praia da Dona Ana beach reconstruction in 2015. In the photo below, you can actually see the beach of Praia da Dona Ana behind the stones.
There is a tunnel in the rocks connecting both sides of Praia do Pinhão. You can only use this tunnel during low tide, because the first part of Pinhão Beach is completely swallowed by the sea during high tide.
Staircase
You can access Praia do Pinhão via a long staircase with a series of terraces that is built into the cliffs. The stairs are frankly in poor condition, since some steps are uneven and there are no hand rails. Moreover, the stairs are covered with graffiti, which is not good for the visiting experience.
During high tide, there is no more sand on this part of the beach. This means that you can jump straight into the sea from the staircase during high tide. Beware that the water here is not deep. So you can actually only use this staircase during low tide.
There is a viewpoint on top of the cliff above the staircase, from which you have an amazing view over Praia do Pinhão.
When watching from the water, you can see how big the staircase structure actually is.
Restaurant
There are no restaurants or beach bars on Pinhão beach. Perhaps the nearest restaurant is Mar Restaurant & Bar, which is located on top of the cliffs of the neighbouring Praia dos Estudantes. If you do not want to go to a restaurant, it is best to bring your own food and drinks to Praia do Pinhão.
How to get there
The easiest way to move around in the Algarve is by car. If you don’t have one, make sure to rent a car. It is best to park your car in the large car park across the fire station (bombeiros) and walk from there. Alternatively, when coming from the town centre, walk all the way to the top of Avenida dos Descobrimentos. There you will see an apartment building called Apartamentos Pinhão. Go left and follow the small road. At the end you will see the stairway leading down to the beach.
You can also reach this staircase from Praia da Dona Ana via a pedestrian trail on the cliffs. Another way to access Praia do Pinhão is by walking from Praia dos Estudantes. However, this is only possible during low tide.
Hotels
If you are planning to stay a couple of nights in Lagos, we recommend any of the following hotels.
Upscale
- Lagos Avenida Hotel. Immerse yourself in luxury by visiting this four star hotel. From the swimming pool you can see the ocean, which is pretty awesome. Furthermore, the staff is very friendly and the rooms are amazing. No wonder that this is one of the most highly rated hotels in the centre of Lagos.
Mid-range
- Aqualuz Lagos Hotel & Apartments – S.Hotels Collection. These apartments have everything you need for a great holiday in Lagos. They all have their own kitchen, so you can cook your own meals if you want to. Furthermore, there is a swimming pool, a gym and a rooftop terrace.
Budget
- Lagos City Center Guest House & Hostel. This hostel offers beds in mixed dormitory rooms, as well as private rooms. Prices are reasonable, which is perfect if you are travelling on a budget. Beds are comfortable and there is a great atmosphere in the hostel.
After the busy summer season of last year, we recommend to book your hotel now, as it will probably sell out. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels in Lagos. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
We highly recommend to explore the area around Lagos by kayak and by boat. The best way to do that, is by going on an excursion. Save yourself time by booking a boat trip or kayak trip beforehand online. Below you can find our favourite boat tours and kayak excursions in Lagos.
Facilities
There are few facilities on Praia do Pinhão. There are no lifeguards, no shops and no restaurants on the beach. Moreover, there is no possibility to rent a sunbed. In that sense, this is not a very commercial beach. That is why you need to bring all the necessary facilities yourself: make sure to bring food, water and towels.
Facilities in Praia do Pinhão:
- Restaurant: no
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: no
- Shower: no
- Water sports: the conditions are good for diving
- Sunbeds: no
- Parking: no
- Lifeguards: no
- Blue flag beach: no
