Living in Lagos, Portugal – Interview With an Expat

The Algarve, the beautiful southern coastal region of Portugal. The quality of life in the Algarve has long attracted people from all over the world. And a popular place to move to in the Algarve is Lagos.

But what is it like to live in Lagos?

In this interview, the Louw family shares their experiences and practical tips for anyone who is thinking about moving to the Algarve in general and Lagos in particular.

This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series, I interview people living all over the world but outside of their home country. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of life abroad, share tips about moving to the place the expat now calls home, and information about what to see and do here.

Living in Lagos, Portugal

Name: Alya, Campbell, and Summer Louw
Age: 37, 44, and 1 year old
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa

Their Story:

”Campbell and I met while traveling in the Philippines nine years ago.

Together we’ve hitchhiked through Latin America, spent months hiking in the Himalayas, drove across Southern Africa, and walked 5000 km across Spain, Portugal, and France following different routes of the Camino de Santiago.

For six years we traveled full-time, and at some point, we started thinking about finding a good place to settle down. We were quite tired of living out of our backpacks.

We spent a lot of time walking and hiking across Portugal. Three years ago we walked the Fishermen’s Trail, a multi-day route in the south of the country. From the first day on the trail, we realized that that part of the country was exactly what we were looking for.

The Algarve is beautiful, safe, and sunny with a lot of outdoor things to do.”

Why Did You Move to Lagos?

”At the time of moving to Portugal, we were not sure about the exact location.

We were thinking of maybe going to the Azores. But in the end, we decided that the Algarve region was the perfect place for us.

Lagos seemed like a good town with picturesque beaches, a beautiful Old Town, an active digital nomad community, and good infrastructure.

It’s not a big place but has everything we need for living.”

Also Read: How to Become a Digital Nomad –  7 Skills That Will Help

What Do You Like About Living in Lagos?

”Lagos seemed like an ideal place to live as a digital nomad or remote worker.

The town has many spectacular beaches, plenty of coffee shops, a couple of workspaces, and good sunny weather all year round.

It’s well connected with Lisbon and Faro.

And there is a great expat community living in Lagos.”

Also Read: Portugal for Digital Nomads – Everything You Need to Know

What Do You Dislike About Living in Lagos?

”Lagos is a popular beach holiday destination. It gets extremely busy and overcrowded during July and August.

If we want to visit a beach, go surfing, or do a hike in summer we go very early in the morning to escape the crowds.”

Also Read: Things to Consider Before Moving to Another Country

Is Lagos Safe as a Place to Live?

”Yes, Lagos is a safe place to live.

You can walk back from a bar at night without being worried about your safety.

We’ve been living in Lagos for 1.5 years and haven’t had any bad experiences.”

What Is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Lagos?

”Surfing, diving, hiking along the cliffs, visiting Ponta da Piedade, and going to the beach with our daughter.

There are plenty of things to do in Lagos to keep yourself entertained.”

What Is Your Favorite Place to Hang Out in Lagos?

”We love the Coffee Studio. It’s a coffee shop owned by a fellow travel blogger. They have great coffee that they roast themselves and they serve good food. It’s a popular place to come to meet up with other digital nomads.

O Ninho Family Bar is another coffee shop that we visit quite often because they have great coffee and a beautiful indoor space for children to play.”

What Is the Expat / International Community Like in Lagos?

”The community is growing rapidly.

There are more and more people moving to Lagos including families with young children.

There are weekly meet-ups for digital nomads in different locations around the town, which is a great way to meet people.”

Any Tips for Moving To / Living in Lagos?

”Summer is the worst time for moving to Lagos.

In summer it’s very difficult to find long-term accommodation and prices are very high. October – November, just after the season are the best months for moving here.”

Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to and Building a New Life in Lagos?

”Idealista.pt to look for rental places.

And the Lagos Digital Nomads Facebook group to connect with other expats, to look for suitable remote jobs, shared apartments, events, etc.

If you’re not an EU-resident then you will, like us, need a visa to live in Lagos.

We applied for a D7 visa at the Portuguese Consulate in South Africa.

The D7 visa was traditionally a visa for people with a passive income (property rental, investments, retirement, etc.).

But these days it’s what’s often referred to as Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa, because remote workers can, if they meet all the income criteria, also apply for this visa.

In our case, my husband was the main applicant. With his D7 visa, he applied for residency in Portugal. I came on his visa and applied for family reunification in Portugal after he received his residency.

This is the link to Portugal’s official website with information about all the different visa options.”

Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do in Lagos?

Ponta da Piedade is a not-to-miss place in Lagos. Doing a boat or a kayak tour around Ponta da Piedade is the best way to see it.

Praia Dona Ana, Porto de Mos, and Camilo Beach are some of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve.

A boat tour to Benagil Cave from Lagos is a must-do activity.

The Marina de Lagos is a beautiful harbor worth visiting, with many restaurants and bars.”

About the Louw Family

Campbell, Alya, and their daughter Summer are a family of three living in the town of Lagos, southern Portugal.

They share their love and passion for the Algarve region on The Algarve Family destination website.

Before settling down in Lagos they’d traveled for seven years around the world writing Stingy Nomads travel blog.

Their daughter Summer was born in Lagos.

About Lagos, Portugal

Lagos is a town in the Algarve region in southern Portugal.

It’s known for its walled old town, steep cliffs, and variety of beaches. The beaches vary from long sandy beaches to almost private ones hidden by cliffs.

Lagos is an ancient maritime town with more than 2000 years of history.

It’s also one of the most popular places in the Algarve and in all of Portugal, due to its beaches, impressive rock formations, bars, restaurants, and hotels, renowned for its vibrant summer nightlife.

Also Read:

• Living in Lisbon – Interview With an Expat
• Living in Porto – Interview With an Expat
• Things to Consider Before Moving Abroad
• Going to Portugal as a Digital Nomad – What You Need to Know

Are You a Digital Nomad Looking for Your Next Destination?

Then also check out these articles about other popular digital nomad destinations:

• Why Spain is a Great Digital Nomad Destination
• A digital nomad’s guide to Medellin, Colombia
• A digital nomad’s guide to Bali, Indonesia
• Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for digital nomads

 
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