My friend Chloe came to visit me a couple of weeks ago, and we spent two days exploring Lagos, a coastal town west of Faro known for its stunning pocket beaches carved into the rugged coastline, with views of dramatic, towering rock formations jutting out of the azure waters. On our first day, we walked along the boardwalk that runs from the tip of Ponta da Piedade, a popular lookout point with incredible views, all the way to the town centre. We walked down many of the long, steep staircases set into the cliffside, leading us to beautiful sandy coves surrounded by golden rock walls.

Despite how close the beaches were to one another, each felt completely unique. And although most of the beaches were packed with people, there was a collective happy energy. You could tell everyone was there to enjoy the breathtaking views and appreciate the beauty of the Algarve while soaking up the sun after an uncharacteristically rainy week.

Chloe and I had an unforgettable experience on a dolphin-watching tour, where we were lucky enough to see a pod of bottlenose dolphins, including a mom and her baby. These dolphins, which can grow up to 4 meters (13 feet) long and weigh as much as 1,300 lbs, are known to frequent specific areas to feed, and that’s how we were able to find them on our tour. They are very curious and intelligent creatures, and we were lucky enough to witness their playful behaviour as they swam alongside our boat!

Of course, we also wandered through the winding streets lined with charming whitewashed buildings and bright bougainvillaea. We checked out some small shops selling local goods and Chloe picked out a traditional ceramic kitchen tool for grating garlic and veggies, while I found a couple of unique crocheted and fabric vests. The main square was lively but laidback. There were street musicians playing, and the air was filled with the smell of fresh seafood from nearby restaurants.

We ate at quite a few restaurants and cafes that I would love to visit again. The highlight was definitely Barbosa, where we ordered delicious seafood and orange wine on our first night, and enjoyed it so much that we went back the next day to try the rest of the menu! We celebrated our last hour in Lagos with pistachio flavoured gelato before hopping on the late bus back to Faro.