We’re hosting a music festival this September in Lagos, Portugal (Eyes of the Algarve) and many travelers are staying in hostels during their stay. I get asked pretty consistently for affordable places to stay in Lagos, like hostels and guests houses. So, I’m sharing the list I made for our festival attendees with you – no gatekeeping here. I also share some tips after the list.
Also thank you to the reddit poster and Mike’s aunt who both inspired me to finally get this article out there!
Here are the best hostels in Lagos, Portugal:
- Great location in Old Town Lagos
- Variety of dorm types, including bunk and pod
- Closest beach: Praia da Batata
- Chill and prayer room for private time
- Music and art focused
A quick video tour so you can see the vibe:
- Mixed gender dormitories
- Great location in Old Town Lagos
- Quiet street within the heart of town
- Closest beach: Praia da Batata
- Mixed & single-gender dormitories
- Great location in Old Town Lagos
- Rooftop hangout area
- Party vibe more than a chill vibe
- Closest beach: Praia da Batata
- Surfer vibes
- A little farther from the heart of town
- Private, same-gender, and mixed gender rooms
- Can book surf & stay option
- This is the nicest but farthest of the choices – about 15 minutes walk from Old Town Lagos (where most activities are) and 35 minutes walk from the marina where the boat cruise will be
- Closest beach: Praia Dona Ana
- Cutesy guest house
- 15-minute walk from the center of Old Town Lagos
- Private, same-gender, and mixed gender rooms
- Just outside the historic wall of Old Town Lagos
Here’s a map, which I’ll continue to update, that shows blue icons of where activities/restaurants are that we recommend so that you can see how far everything is.
FAQs for Lagos, Portugal Hostels
What is a guest house?
A type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging. A guest house is distinguished from a hotel or inn usually by the shared common spaces and lack of full-time staff. You will usually find private rooms in a guest house, but may share toilets, showers, kitchens, etc.
Guest houses are a great way to have more privacy than a hostel but stay on a budget. In some areas of Europe, guest houses are the primary accommodation.
Do most places have A/C in Lagos?
Some hostels have A/C; some don’t. If you’re coming in the summer, you’ll want to make sure to confirm that your accommodation has air conditioning. It can get hot, and if you’re not used to a European summer, you’ll likely want A/C.
The closer you are to the ocean, the less you’ll need it thanks to the ocean breeze!
Are hostels safe for women?
In general hostels in Lagos, Portugal tend to be chill & safe. If you’re worried about safety and privacy, you can book a women-only dorm, pod-style bed, or private room with shared amenities in a guest house.
The closer you are to Old Town Lagos, the more of a party scene you’ll experience in town. Check out our Lagos nightlife guide so that you can see where the party spots are.
What should I bring to my hostel?
Each hostel provides different amenities. Some provide towels, some don’t, some have them for a small fee. Some hostels include toiletries, others don’t. Most provide linens for the beds.
In general, it can be helpful to bring:
- Shoes for showering
- Travel/super packable towel
- Travel toiletries (bar soap lasts a lot longer than gel form)
- Fresh pillow case (I bring a super packable silk pillowcase wherever I travel as my comfort item)
Do hostels have bed bugs?
People who don’t stay in hostels often say bed bugs is their biggest reason why. The majority of hostels in Lagos, Portugal do not have bed bugs. However, check recent reviews on sites like booking.com or hostel world to see what travelers in the last few weeks have said about cleanliness.
What’s the best way to get to Lagos, Portugal?
The closest airport to Lagos is Faro, and you can take the train, bus, or hire a private driver from there to Lagos. We have a detailed guide from all areas of Portugal and nearby airports with more details: Best Way to Get to Lagos
What are the best beaches in Lagos, Portugal?
My top three beaches are Praia da Batata, Meia Praia, and Praia Dona Ana in Lagos. You can learn more about Lagos beaches on our YouTube:
Do you have any more tips for the Algarve?
We have section on our blog called “Portugal Recs” where we post our favorite places (many of them are in the Algarve) and a playlist on our YouTube “Algarve Adventures”
Follow along as we continue to share more of our favorites in Lagos and beyond!
Note: if you book a hotel using some of the links in this blog, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how I keep my blog up and running without doing brand deals 🙂
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