Day trip€€
Aqualand Algarve
Water park at Alcantarilha, 44 km from Lagos (routing model); closed for the 2026 season; the operator says it will return in 2027, with dates and prices for that season to check (research).
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Day trip in Lagos
Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos
Hands-on science centre in the town centre, open daily 10:00–18:00; under-6 free, 6–17 €3, adults €6, family €15 (prices updated Sep 2025) — a rainy-day option with kids (research, operator site).
- Address
- Rua Dr. Faria e Silva 34, 8600-734 Lagos
- Hours
- Apr–Sep Mon–Sun 10:00–18:00; Oct–Mar Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (closed Mondays); closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan (lagos.cienciaviva.pt, read 11 Oct 2026)
Great with kids
Operator-stated: interactive exhibitions; family ticket €15 (up to 2 adults with children up to 17), family + workshop pack €21 (workshop subject to staff availability); under-6 free, 6–17 €3; building reached by stairs and lift. Prices updated 13 Sep 2025 on the operator site. Research, not first-hand.
The notes
What the sources say (research)
- Hours: 10:00–18:00, daily from April to September; from October to March Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays. Closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. [lagos.cienciaviva.pt, 11 Oct 2026]
- Prices (operator page “updated 13 September 2025”): under-6 free; 6–17 €3; over-17 €6; family ticket (up to 2 adults with children up to 17) €15; family + workshop pack €21; extra workshop €9; concessions (disabled, over-65, teachers, student and youth card) €3; adult groups of 15 or more €5 per person with prior booking; school-age group visit €2.50; up to 3 “solidarity tickets” per day. Workshops depend on staff availability and occupancy. [lagos.cienciaviva.pt, 2 Oct 2026]
- Sunday free for residents of Lagos municipality, who must show proof of residence (operator’s conditions, footnote 2). [lagos.cienciaviva.pt, 2 Oct 2026]
- Address Rua Dr. Faria e Silva 34, 8600-734 Lagos; pink building behind and above the Avenida market, reached by stairs and a lift; phone +351 282 770 000. [lagos.cienciaviva.pt, 2 Oct 2026]
- Programme examples on the site: “Histórias Vivas” family sessions (e.g. 11 Oct 10:30), European Researchers’ Night 2026. [lagos.cienciaviva.pt, 2 Oct 2026]
Open questions
From Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos: Passadiços de Alvor (Ria de Alvor boardwalk) (7 km), Zoo de Lagos (9 km), Salema (14 km), Slide & Splash water park (18 km), Benagil cave (Algar de Benagil) (22 km), Serra de Monchique and Fóia (24 km), Aqualand Algarve (28 km). Straight-line distances from the centre point, not driving times.
Day trip
Benagil cave (Algar de Benagil)
Sea cave with a collapsed roof 43 km east of Lagos. No swimming in or landing; since July 2025 max 5 boats (2 min) and 14 kayaks/SUPs inside, kayaks only with a guide (Edital 009/2025).
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Day trip
Passadiços de Alvor (Ria de Alvor boardwalk)
Free wooden boardwalk through the dunes between Alvor and Praia dos Três Irmãos, beside the Ria de Alvor; about 21 km from Lagos (routing model) (research).
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Day trip
Salema
Fishing village 19 km west of Lagos: south-facing Blue Flag 2026 beach, lifeguards 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026 (Portaria), dinosaur footprints in the cliff rock (sources differ on which end) (research).
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