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Times
06-07-2025
- Times
11 of the best hotels in Lagos
You come to Lagos for the beaches. To the east of town you'll find the 2.5-mile sweep of Meia Praia, beginning at the town's yacht-lined marina and bowling along the ocean towards the waters of Ribeira de Odiaxere, backed all the way by rolling sandbanks tufted with grass. Here, and in Alvor just beyond, you'll find large, beachy hotels with easy access to the sands — ideal for active coastal breaks. To the west there's an altogether different feel, with a series of small coves backed by the cocoa and caramel-coloured cliffs for which the Algarve is famed. Porto de Mos offers chic clifftop hotels and there are also water sports aplenty and numerous excuses for a boat trip (dolphins offshore, the striking Benagil caves). Prefer smaller and more boutiquey? Head for Lagos old town instead. The city has a long history as one of southern Portugal's most important ports — and former capital of the Algarve — and its cobblestone lanes and picturesque churches are enclosed by chunky walls dating back to the 16th century. It's a glorious place for a stroll and you'll find some wonderful little hotels tucked away. Here are some of the best places to stay during your next visit to Lagos. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for a chic stay in the city This beautifully renovated 19th-century estate house is tucked away beneath Lagos's city walls and has light-filled suites with smooth wooden floors and a soothing almost all-white colour scheme. You'll find freestanding bath tubs and vintage furniture throughout, while the ground-floor farm-to-table restaurant makes the most of the garden's produce, including eggs from a happy, clucky brood of hens. Deckchairs surround the courtyard pool and treatments can be booked in a small rooftop spa, complete with its own saltwater pool, sauna and steam room. • Discover our full guide to the Algarve £ | SPA | POOL | Best for a laidback beachside stay Just back from the sands of Praia de Porto Mos, a few minutes' drive from Lagos itself, this sea-facing hotel has an alfresco pool for whiling away sunny days and simple, elegant studios and apartments. The latter can sleep as many as six and come with lovely balconies overlooking the gardens and pool or facing out to sea. The on-site Levante restaurant serves up local seafood lunches and delivers drinks and snacks to you poolside, while the hydrotherapy circuit and indoor pool are a welcoming retreat on cooler days. • Best affordable hotels in the Algarve under £200 ££ | POOL | Best for city centre location This stylish, adults-only hotel in the centre of Lagos has unrivalled views of the marina from its glass-edged rooftop pool, designed to feel like it's suspended above the sea. Many of the bedrooms gaze out this way too, so you can watch the yachts coming and going from your balcony, and there's an easy-breezy vibe throughout, with wood and wicker furniture, flowing white drapes and beachy wall art. Breakfast is served in the ground-floor restaurant, where the best tables have marina views, and it's a ten-minute drive to the sands of Meia Praia. • Best family hotels in the Algarve £ | SPA | POOL | Best for keeping the whole tribe happy This five-star is perched on top of a cliff above the secluded scoop of sands at Praia do Canavial and is easily one of the Algarve's most luxurious stays. There's a huge range of facilities and guests can choose between everything from lazing in its lagoon-like pool to playing tennis or floating around the thermal circuit in the Cascade Spa. When it comes to dinner there are plenty of options too, be it fine dining at Senses or the more casual Gastropub, which serves local seafood and steaks. Rooms run the gamut from chic doubles with contemporary four-posters to private villas that sleep up to ten and come with their own private pools. • Read our full guide to Portugal £ | SPA | POOL | Best for couples Surrounded by lush gardens atop the cliffs overlooking Praia de Porto Mos, this small hotel feels more like a private home — and when it was built in the 17th century, that's exactly what it was. You'll find your eyes constantly drawn towards the sea — from your Adirondack chair amid the trees, perhaps, or from the lounger on your room's private balcony, as well as from the piano-shaped alfresco pool. Rooms are truly individual, with decor that includes bold striped walls and hot-purple window-top lighting. For dinner, it's Mediterranean cuisine on the terrace of the Mirandus restaurant. £ | POOL | Best for golfers You'll find three nine-hole golf courses sweeping down to the ocean here, all with glorious views of the sea and the Alvor estuary. Those same views are enjoyed by the (adults-only) hotel, where the 20 rooms all feature generous seaward-facing balconies and the inviting pool is perched overlooking the links. The beach is an easy stroll through the grounds, while the Clubhouse is home to an all-day restaurant and the Michelin-starred Al Sud. Families can stay in the neighbouring apartments that sleep up to six. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for beach breaks People drive for miles to visit Praia dos Tres Irmaos, famous for its hidden caves and trio of sea stacks, but stay at this clifftop hotel and you'll find its sands on your doorstep, easily accessed via a direct lift. All rooms have balconies here, and most have sea views, while the buffet restaurant will please the whole family and there are both indoor and outdoor pools plus tennis courts and a (summer only) kids' club. The spa offers treatments as well as a sauna, steam room and hot tub. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for families With wide, open gardens leading down to the sands of Meia Praia, this beachfront hotel is ideal for families, and it has a kids' club, playground and children's splash pool complete with mini waterslides to boot. That beach is one of the Algarve's best too with miles of golden sands making it easy to find a quiet sunbathing spot, even in high season. Even the smallest rooms can sleep three, while family rooms and junior suites have sofa beds for kids. Of the three restaurants, Massa Fina is the top pick, with tasty pizzas and crowd-pleasing pastas. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for wellness Clean, soothing design and a laser-sharp focus on wellness make this hotel unique on the Algarve. This is a place for rejuvenation and many of the guests are following programmes tailored to detoxification, weight loss or mindfulness with the on-site clinic. Book any of its minimalist rooms though and you'll get inclusive spa access, for two warm pools (one for detox, one for relaxation), sauna, hammam and pebble-clad reflexology path, plus a healthy breakfast at vegetarian Pure Café. Note that the en suite bathrooms are separated from the bedroom by only a glass wall. £ | POOL | Best for value It's all about the beach at this Lagos hotel, where the bedrooms feature walls filled with sea-themed artworks (think pictures of sandy swirls, starfish and the Algarve's famously caramel-coloured cliffs). The sands of both Porto de Mos and Dona Ana are within walking distance and the hotel can organise water sports, from kayaking to paddleboarding, as well as boat trips along the coast. It's just over a mile into Lagos old town but you might prefer to stay by the pool deck, where you'll find a lively atmosphere with upbeat music and cocktails mixed to order. £ | POOL | Best for oenophiles Prefer a more rural feel? Just half an hour's drive outside Lagos is this picturesque winery dotted with whitewashed modern villas. Your stylish home-from-home sleeps up to 14 people and the largest properties come with private pools. There's a gorgeous communal swimming spot though, beside the sculpture garden and overlooking the vineyard, and activities range from wine tasting (naturally) to tennis, padel, boules and mini-golf. Children will also be happy to find a small playground. • More of the best hotels in the Algarve• Best beaches in the Algarve What's your favourite hotel in Lagos? Let us know in the comments below
National Post
20-06-2025
- National Post
'Canada Strong Pass' to offer free admission to national parks, historic sites this summer
Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault says the Canada Strong Pass will be in effect from June 20 to Sept. 2. It provides free summer admission to national parks and historic sites, discounted camping through Parks Canada, and discounts for young people at national museums and on Via Rail. (June 16, 2025)
Times
19-05-2025
- Times
Why Corsica could be your surprising summer escape
With its fusion of Mediterranean cuisines, perfect beaches and historic towns – including Napoleon's birthplace – the French island is ripe for discovery Clear waters and shady pines make Palombaggia one of Corsica's must-see beaches Pearl-white sands lapped by turquoise seas, dramatic mountain and coastal scenery, and a host of historic sites dating back 8,000 years, all garnished with fine food and super hotels and holiday villas: it's no surprise the French call Corsica L 'Î le de Beauté (the Isle of Beauty). Although it is somewhat of an undiscovered gem for many British tourists, Corsica offers sun, culture and adventure without the crowds, and its 200 beaches are some of the Mediterranean's best. Whether it's Ostriconi's exquisite sunsets, Calvi's fashionable urban vibe in the north, or Rondinara's perfect scallop of grains and Palombaggia's pink-grey rocks and tall pines in the south, divine sandy shores and crystal-clear waters are a given. Prefer a cooling dip inland? The island is blessed with stunning natural pools. They might lie within Les Piscines Naturelle de Cava's sculptural volcanic stone, Fango Valley's waterfalls and colourful rocks, and on the Solenzara River beneath photogenic peaks. All promise a rejuvenating diversion from the summer heat. The shallow waters at Santa Giulia beach make it a perfect spot for snorkelling Corsica is also laced with wonderful hiking trails linking mountains and the Mediterranean – most famously the 180km GR20, but there are also shorter, equally spectacular routes. Walk to stunning Lake Nino, ascend 2,706m Monte Cinto – the island's highest point – or cross the Col de Bavella above red granite pinnacles. You could also explore Scandola Nature Reserve's mesmerising rocks and jagged peaks with sweeping bay views, visit epic glacier-moulded Restonica and Tavignano gorges or the Lavezzi Archipelago's secluded beaches and coves. Corsica's natural wonders are just the start. Its prolific historical sights include the capital Ajaccio, Napoleon's birthplace, with pastel-hued streets and gracious squares; medieval Bonifacio, rising seamlessly from vertiginous limestone cliffs; and Calvi's magnificent citadel. Genoese towers and forts abound, alongside prehistoric ruins that include Filitosa's tombs and standing stones. However, these are not the only man-made wonders. Corsica's food is a thing of beauty. Not just fish fresh off the boat but also local dishes featuring wild boar, slow-cooked lamb and chestnut-flour cheesecake. There are superb cafés and restaurants, with 43 Michelin Guide entrants, including two-star Casadelmar's Corsican-Italian menu. Corsican cuisine is an undoubted highlight of any trip to the island To fully appreciate this glorious island, book with the best. Corsican Places has years of experience, experts with first-hand knowledge of the destination for tailored advice and an English-speaking team on the ground. They're all essential ingredients in Corsican Places' ATOL–protected packages that include flights, car hire and transfers. Its extensive range of accommodation runs from adult-only apartments to hotels and family villas. In the northwest, Algajola's ancient fishing village is home to the intimate family-run Hôtel Santa Vittoria, with 15 rooms and a beautiful dining terrace with views across the sea and beach. Further south, the exclusive five-star Grand Hôtel Cala Rossa ups the ante in a private park overlooking the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio. Perfect for couples and honeymooners, its serene spa's therapies use wild botanicals and homegrown produce, and its celebrated restaurant serves seasonally inspired dishes. Poolside at La Citaj, a beautifully refurbished period villa near St-Florent that sleeps eight Corsican Places also offers superb family villas, pool towels and welcome pack that provides everything from wine and beer to snacks. Contemporary four-person Villa Kallisté has crisp modern interiors and French windows opening onto a large south-facing terrace and a pool overlooking the rugged southeast coastline. Beaches are just a short drive away, along with Propriano's bustling quayside. Alternatively, enjoy the tranquil eight-person Villa Rasello, which is superbly elevated in the southern hills, with an open-plan living area and kitchen ideal for families, and looking over a large private pool to the mountains. Its terrace is perfect for alfresco dining, while a few miles' drive takes you to Monacia d'Aullene with its traditional Corsican restaurant. Book your summer villa holiday before the end of May for Corsican Places' special offer where kids and school-age teenagers fly free from London Stansted to Calvi between May 18 and October 5, and from London Gatwick to Figari between June 29 and August 24. Accommodation includes stunning family villas such as the eight-person La Citaj near St-Florent, where seven nights, including flights and car hire costs from £699pp. A superbly refurbished period home, La Citaj features exposed stonework, fireplaces and a large pool offering views towards the magnificent Cathédrale du Nebbio. Alternatively, the four-person Casa di L'Olivu is a rustic stone property in southern Corsica costing from £699pp for seven nights, including car hire and flights. Set between olive trees and vineyards, its open-plan living/dining area and two bedrooms are decorated in tasteful neutral tones. Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio are within a short drive. Corsican Places also offers great deals on adult-only accommodation. A Merula near Calvi is bookable from £799pp for seven nights, including flights and transfers. Set in immaculate grounds, the 25 two-person residences with kitchenettes are individually styled and overlook the gardens and shared pool from their balconies or terraces. Multiple bars and restaurants are close by. Nearby, Le Home's two-person apartments offer another adult-only break within tranquil grounds, from £699pp including flights. The view across the Gulf of St Florent from Corsican Places villa L'Ancre Bleue
