Handy Maps & more.....

To make your travel a little easier, we have identified some useful symbols and landmarks to serve as reference points for navigating to and around Lagos. Our navigating instructions will guide you in more detail through your journey, followed by some very handy maps. Don't leave home without them!

Navigating Tips

1) Driving: Portuguese motorists enjoy testing the speed limits of their vehicles. Ensure that you give your self a wider than normal birth from on-coming vehicles when overtaking. Highway driving can be dangerous at times, but you'll be fine as long as you moderate your speed.

2) Street Signs: You will quickly discover that in general, Portuguese streets are not well-signed; street signs may be non-existent, or printed on tiles affixed to the side/corner of a building or faintly engraved on a building or on little cement posts; as a result it makes it very difficult for a Portuguese local to provide you with any comprehendible directions; and it is even more of a challenge to navigate using a map; be ready; be ready for the adventure

Handy Maps~Lagos

We have created some great maps to assist you with navigating around Lagos. These should ease your driving and walking adventure. Be patient with yourself , allow for some extra time "getting there" and enjoy getting oriented in Lagos. Our maps are unique to .

Note: The maps are in .PDF format. Please ensure you have installed on your computer the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader application. The Reader can be downloaded for no charge at:

Tip:
1) We recommend printing our maps and keeping them with you, at all times, as you explore Lagos. It is very easy to loose your bearings, just about when you start feeling confident about getting around (speaking from personal experience of course).

2) Larger Old Town Maps are available at the tourist office; "Free Maps" are available at several shops, restaurants and real estate agencies; excellent town maps are available for purchase at most newspaper kiosks for a reasonable fee (our favourite is the "ForWays" Lagos map) The maze of streets are narrow and there are many!

Note: Not all streets in the old town are signed, to add to the fun.

Handy Maps~Portugal & other

So where is Lagos in proximity to the rest of Portugal? Where is Portugal as compared to the rest of Europe? Does Lisbon have a metro/subway? What options for transit are available in Lisbon? Select from one of these handy map links to get a snapshot of these regions. Many of the links will take you to Mapquest, a fabulous web-site to help you get your bearings. You can navigate through each map to the east, west, north or south. Enjoy zooming around the world!

Useful Symbols

You will also notice some helpful symbols throughout our website to assist you in getting around on your holiday.

: This "Navigating" symbol provides directions to assist you in navigating to your destination.

: This "Parking" symbol assists you with parking availability around your destination. A wee bit of a challenge in Portugal!

Main Highways

Get familiar with these main "must know" highways.

A2: North-South 4-lane motorway; takes you from Lisbon to the Algarve; well maintained; lots of clean service stations along the way

A22: East-West Algarve 4-lane motorway; takes you from Lagos to Spain and everywhere in between; it's new, it's fabulous, it saves time; no tolls yet, it's got great service stations/rest stops; take advantage of it!!

List of A22 Exits: These Exits that we have noted on our drives to date will be helpful during your travels

• Exit 1: Bensafrim
• Exit 2: Lagos N120-1 - This is the exit for Lagos
• Exit 3: Lagos Este - Takes you to the Lagos Area de Servico (service station)
• Exit 4: Alvor
• Exit 5: Monchique
• Exit 6: Lagoa/Silves/N124-1
• Exit 7: Alcantarilha/Armação de Pêra
• Exit 8: Algoz/ Pêra
• Exit 9: Lisboa/Albufeira N395
• Exit 10: A2 Lisboa/Messines
• Exit 11: Boliqueime/Vilamoura
• Exit 12: Loule Centro/Almancil/Quarteira
• Exit 13: Loule Sul/Faro Aeroporto
• Exit 14: Faro/São Bras/Estoi

EN125: East-West Algarve 2-lane winding road with traffic lights; takes you through every small town from Lagos to Faro; can't imagine why anyone would take this route, unless you really need to stop at a particular town along the way; until recently this was your only East-West Algarve route.

Tips:
1) Portuguese motorists enjoy testing the speed limits of their vehicles. Ensure that you give your self a wider than normal birth from on-coming vehicles when overtaking. Highway driving can be dangerous at times, but you'll be fine as long as you moderate your speed.

Roundabout Landmarks in Lagos

The following roundabout landmarks are pivotal reference points identified in our many personalized maps and Navigating " " sections found throughout .
We have invented descriptive names to simply your orientation to these landmarks. Familiarize yourself with them to make your trip around Lagos more enjoyable.

The following Roundabout Landmarks are listed in sequence entering Lagos from the east and exiting towards the west. They have really simplified our navigating experience around Lagos.

Entry to Lagos - Roundabout #1
: Roundabout #1 guides you into Lagos. It has no fancy name and remains just a circular patch of landscaped grass.

Sailboat with - Roundabout #2
: As as you enter Lagos coming from the east, this magnificent sailboat is combined with the most impressive fountain. This is quite an appropriate symbol and tribute to the navigation history of Lagos.

Ironworks - Roundabout #3
: The Ironworks roundabout contains a cluster of iron statues which are most pleasing to the creative artist, I'm sure. It is located just in front of a gas station.

Black Ball - Roundabout #4
: The Black Ball roundabout is quite the sight. The top end of this artists creation consists of what looks like a basketball backboard and the bottom of course, a huge Black Ball. This huge centrepiece sways with the gentle and sometime intense pressure of the ocean breeze. I must say that this roundabout has become our favourite and quite a conversation piece.

The Black Ball roundabout is a pivotal landmark to head into the residential areas, hosting a multitude of apartments and hotel complexes. In addition this is a fundamental access point to many of the "Basic Needs" shopping areas as well as the route to head west to Sagres.

Stone Tulips - Roundabout #5
: The Stone Tulips roundabout is yet another key landmark leading you to our apartments at Praia Dona Ana and Vilabranca. This access point is also essential for getting you to Praia Dona Ana and Porto do Mõs beaches.

Praia Dona Ana - Roundabout #6
: The Praia Dona Ana roundabout is a handy landmark at the beach entrance.

Old Wall Archway - Roundabout #7
: The Old Wall Archway roundabout is just in front of the back entrance into the old town, at the old wall archway. It has now been graced with a miniature palm tree or a "palmeira".

Floral Lagos - Roundabout #8
: This roundabout guides you out of Lagos, heading west towards Sagres and to some great golf courses and pottery dens.

Lighted Chairs - Roundabout #9
: The Lighted Chairs roundabout is yet another conversation piece and consists of seven chairs laid out in a circle, facing outwards. To add more fun to this artistic display the chairs are lit up at night, so you just can't miss it.

Near Modelo Superstore - Roundabout #A
: The Modelo Superstore roundabout is a very handy landmark, located directly in front of the Modelo Mega Supermarket.

Swirl Sculpture - Roundabout #B
: The Swirl Sculpture roundabout is a great landmark to denote the center of the Town Waterfront.

.

Inova - Roundabout #C
: The Inova roundabout guides you to the Inova Drogaria hardware store. Oh my, we have made many a visit to this store!

Top of the Hill - Roundabout #D
: The Top of the Hill roundabout provides a key connection route to other parts of Lagos. One hint is that this is a "very" direct route to O Mana, our favourite place for Chicken Piri Piri take away.

Motorway Connector - Roundabout #E
: The Motorway Connector roundabout links you to a connector road to the Motorway Entrance/Exit roundabout #G.

Ancient Ruins - Roundabout #F
: This Ancient Ruins roundabout provides a more modern route than its previous dirt roads to Meia Praia, to the Train Station and to the Doca Pesca (fishing docks).

Motorway Entrance/Exit - Roundabout #G
: The Motorway Entrance/Exit roundabout provides a direct route on to the A22 motorway heading west to Bensafrim or east through the Algarve all the way to Spain

Prato Cheio - Roundabout #H
: This new roundabout makes it a little easier to make that left turn up the hill towards Prato Cheio.

From Faro Airport to Lagos, via A22

Lagos is 76 km from the Faro Airport

Driving time from Faro airport to Lagos: 50 min. via the new A22 motorway

:

• When leaving the airport you will come to a roundabout
• Stay right, taking your first exit onto a main roadway and follow the blue signs for IC4 Loulé/Lisboa
• Drive approximately 5 km on this main roadway which has traffic lights, until you see an exit with a blue sign again for IC4 Loulé/Lisboa
• Take this exit which puts you on a four lane motorway
• Stay on this route for another 4-5 km
• Take the exit for the A22 Albufeira/Lisboa;
• The A22 is a 4-lane motorway, that takes you all the way to Lagos
• Take the Lagos exit; just after the Lagos Area de Servico (service station)
• Note: Do not take the Lagos Este exit
• Drive to Roundabout #G: From here, take the 1st and only exit to.....
• Roundabout #E: From here, take the 3rd exit N125 Lagos to.....
• Floral "Lagos" roundabout #8: From here, take the 2nd exit, drive past one set of traffic lights to.....
• Blackball roundabout #4: From here, take the 1st exit to.....
• Stone Tulip roundabout #5
• Select directions below for:

  Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our Dona Ana (DA) apartment

  Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our apartment at Vilabranca (VB)

From Lisbon Airport to Lagos

Lagos is approx. 250 km from the Lisbon Airport

Driving time from Lisbon airport to Lagos: 3 hours; the new 4-lane highway systems make travel from Lisbon to the Algarve an absolute breeze. You will find these directions extremely helpful in deciphering the maze from the airport to the bridge (Ponte Vasco de Gama) taking you south to the Algarve.

:

• Leaving the Lisbon airport
• Make sure you visit the bathroom before leaving the airport
• Visit the airport Currency Exchange office and get some Euros; the rates are reasonable; you will need Euros to pay the highway tolls and to pick up a snack along the way
• As you exit the the rental car parking lot, turn right
• The road curves to the right until you reach the first V intersection, stay left
• You immediately reach a 2nd V intersection
• Go to the left and enter into an underpass
• Stay in centre lane; continue on to a roundabout with many exits
• Take your 4th exit Expo 98 - Chelas, directly to the left of the Shell gas station
• Continue straight on a partially recessed roadway
• Your will see the river in the distance ahead of you
• Watch for a Blue sign A12 Sul - Pte V. Gama - Expo 98 in the left lane
• Note the Staples Office Centre on your left
• Turn left at the traffic lights and continue straight
  
• Follow signs for A1-Norte - A12 Sul - Pte V Gama
  Do NOT take any exits until you reach the exit for A1-Norte - A12 Sul - Pte V Gama
  Immediately take this exit
  Again immediately take a 2nd exit A1-Norte - A12 Sul - Pte V Gama
• The Bridge over the Tagus - Heading south to Algarve
• You are now directly on the spectacular Vasco de Gama Bridge and ready for a scenic drive across the Tagus River
• Note that the bridge gives you the illusion of being on a very large sail boat
  
• At the end of the bridge, continue straight
• Note that you are still on the A12
• Follow the signs for the A2 Algarve
• Toll Booth "Portagem" on to Highway
• You will hit your first toll booth called a "Portagem"
• You will need to pay a bridge toll here: In Jan 2006 was € 2.85
• Also take a ticket and save it somewhere safe; you will need it to pay the highway toll when you exit the highway
• Continue on the A12 straight ahead
• You will reach a split: A2 Algarve Left; A12 Setubal Right
• Go left A2 Algarve and stay on this highway for the next 2 hours
• Interest Point: You will pass the A6 exit for Espanha (Spain)
• Note the sign as you enter the Alentejo province
• Service Area/Rest Stop
• The first Service Area/Rest stop "Área de Serviço Alcaçer " is about 30 minutes from the bridge
• Note: Service Areas/Rest stops along this highway all the way to the Algarve have gas stations, eating and bathroom facilities and are well maintained
• Toll Booth "Portagem" exiting Highway - Pay here
• You will reach another toll booth "Portagem" at the end of the A2 Algarve at the the town of Messines
• Pay the toll: Provide the attendant the ticket from the first toll booth
• Toll price in Jan 2006 for a station wagon was € 17.85
• Shortly after the toll booth "Portagem" take a right and exit onto the A22 Lagos - Portimão - Albufeira
• Note: Don't go left or you are on your way to Spain
• Heading west to Lagos
• Continue on the A22 straight ahead to Lagos
• Lagos is, approx 50 km from this exit
• The A22 is a 4-lane motorway, that takes you all the way to Lagos
• Take the Lagos exit; just after the Lagos Area de Servico (service station)
• Note: Do not take the Lagos Este exit
• Drive to Roundabout #G: From here, take the 1st and only exit to.....
• Roundabout #E: From here, take the 3rd exit N125 Lagos to.....
• Floral "Lagos" roundabout #8: From here, take the 2nd exit, drive past one set of traffic lights to.....
• Blackball roundabout #4: From here, take the 1st exit to.....
• Stone Tulip roundabout #5
• Select directions below for:

Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our Dona Ana (DA) apartment

Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our apartment at Vilabranca (VB)

Into Lagos from the East, via A22

• From the A22, take the Lagos exit; just after the Lagos Area de Servico (service station)
• Note: Do not take the Lagos Este exit
• Drive to Roundabout #G: From here, take the 1st and only exit to.....
• Roundabout #E: From here, take the 3rd exit N125 Lagos to.....
• Floral "Lagos" roundabout #8: From here, take the 2nd exit, drive past one set of traffic lights to.....
• Blackball roundabout #4: From here, take the 1st exit to.....
• Stone Tulip roundabout #5
• Select directions below for:

Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our Dona Ana (DA) apartment

Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our apartment at Vilabranca (VB)

Into Lagos from the East, via EN125

• Entry to Lagos roundabout #1 is the first roundabout into Lagos. Take you one and only exit into town, to.....
• Sailboat roundabout #2: From here take your second exit, to.....
• Ironworks roundabout #3: From here take your second exit into the Town Waterfront main road, graced with the marble sidewalk and the marina on your left contrasted with the historic old town of Lagos on your right.....
• Continue on straight through the Swirl Sculpture roundabout at the centre of town, and up the hill, to.....
• Black Ball roundabout #4: From here, take your third exit, to.....
• Stone Tulips roundabout #5.....
• Select directions below for:

Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our Dona Ana (DA) apartment

Navigating from the Stone Tulips Roundabout #5 to our apartment at Vilabranca (VB)

:

• Stone Tulips roundabout #5: From here, take your second exit.....
  Drive on as the road curves to the right.....
• Take your first left as the road curves to a sharp left and drive down the hill.....
• Our Vila Dona Ana apartment looms up on the left at the bottom of the hill with it's curvy shapes, this intriguing complex will be your home for awhile....
• Pass a few restaurants on your left and take a left just in front of the Vila Dona Ana apartment.....
• Drive through the stone wall entrance and park in any one of the parking spots on your right along the building
• Our property manager will give you a warm welcome and personally meet you with the key to our apartment!!

:

• Stone Tulips roundabout #5: From here, take your first exit, on to.....
• The main road into Torraltinha.....
• After approximately 400 yards, you will pass a long, low white wall on your left
• The entrance into Vilabranca is clearly indicated with a large blue sign at the walled entrance way on the left
• The entrance into Vilabranca should be the third left after you exit the Stone Tulip Roundabout
• Turn left into the walled entrance way of Vilabranca; the Reception Building is 50 yards on the left (don't stop here)
• Drive straight past reception to our apartment block which is just after reception on the left
• Look for the number "25" on a blue and white tile at the entrance lobby
• Our apartment is nestled in the beautifully manicured complex at Vilabranca.....
• Our property manager will give you a warm welcome and personally meet you with the key to our apartment!!

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