Sagres
Sagres is a parish at Portugal's southwest tip, known for Prince Henry's clifftop fortress and Cape Saint Vincent above the Atlantic.
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Sagres is a civil parish on the Atlantic coast, in the far southwest of the Algarve in Portugal. Its history is tied to the early Portuguese Age of Discovery and to Prince Henry the Navigator, who ordered a fortress built on the Ponta de Sagres headland to guard the coast and the coves where ships sheltered. The fortress overlooks the Mareta and Beliche coves. Cape Saint Vincent lies nearby, and the Lighthouse of Ponta de Sagres sits on the same headland.
The coast here is high cliffs and rock platforms facing the open Atlantic. Accounts also place King Sebastian in the parish, along these cliffs. Sagres has mild winters, warm summers and high sunshine, though marine fog is frequent. November and December are the wettest months, so spring, early summer or early autumn suit a dry-weather visit.
Sagres in five
- Buy the fortress ticket and check winter hoursThe Fortaleza de Sagres charges 10 euros for the individual ticket, with lower fares for 65 and over, ages 13 to 24 and families. From October to April it opens 9:30 to 17:30.
- Know the closing daysThe fortress is closed on 1 January, 22 January (municipal holiday), Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Plan around those dates.
- Bring a windbreaker, not just sun coverThe promontory is open and exposed, and the Atlantic wind can turn a bright day cold. Layers matter more here than on the sheltered south coast beaches around Lagos.
- Rent a car or plan taxis for the beachesBeaches, the cape and surf spots are spread along the coast and public transport is limited. A car gives the most freedom, especially for sunset at the cape.Car and rail in Portugal
- Choose Sagres for quiet, Lagos for servicesSagres has a handful of cafés and surf schools, while Lagos has trains, a walled old town and many more restaurants within easy reach.Lagos travel guide
Things to do in Sagres
See all attractions in Sagres
Need to know
- Airport
- Faro (FAO) is the nearest, around 1.5 to 2 hours by road
- Getting there
- Car or bus from Lagos; trains stop at Lagos, not Sagres
- Getting around
- A car is easiest; the village itself is small and walkable
- Best base
- Sagres for surf and quiet, Lagos for trains and dining
- Time needed
- A day for the fortress and cape, two to three with beaches
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low13°Mild, swellJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, swell
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, swellFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, swell
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low15°Mild, windyAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Warm, walkingMayClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, walking
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh21°Low18°Warm, clearJuneClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Warm, windyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, windy
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Busy, windyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, windy
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Warm, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low16°Rain, swellNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, swell
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Mild, swellDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, swell
Average daily high and low in Sagres, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Sagres
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Sagres
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today25°14°0%Monday: Clear. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue23°13°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°13°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu20°13°12%Thursday: Fog. High 20°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Fri21°16°49%Friday: Rain. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Sat21°19°51%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Sun21°19°86%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 86%.
Updated 08:15 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Apr–OctInternational Sand Sculpture FestivalSilves, a day trip
Day trips by train
Before you go to Sagres
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Rules for Sagres, checked
- Fortaleza de Sagres: individual ticket 10 euros; 5 euros for 65+, ages 13 to 24 and families; free under 12 with an adult.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Fortaleza de Sagres: October to April 9:30 to 17:30, last entry 30 minutes earlier; closed 1 Jan, 22 Jan, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 Dec.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Sagres
The walled town with trains and boats
Read the guideCarrapateira travel guideSurf and dunes north on the coast
Read the guideCosta Vicentina guideCliff paths and the Fishermen's Trail
Read the guideAljezur travel guideA hill town above empty beaches
Read the guideAlgarve overviewBeaches, caves and the main bases
Read the guideOdeceixe travel guideRiver-mouth beach near the Alentejo border
Read the guideAll of PortugalCities, coast and entry rules
Read the guideSagres FAQ
How much does the Sagres fortress cost?
The individual ticket is 10 euros on the official site, with 5 euro fares for 65 and over, ages 13 to 24 and families. Children under 12 with an adult enter free, and residents in Portugal get a set number of free days per year.
Is Sagres worth visiting?
Yes for the fortress, the cliffs and the sunset at the cape, if you like open, windy landscapes. It is not a resort town, so skip it if you want a big choice of restaurants, nightlife or calm swimming.
How many days do you need in Sagres?
One day covers the fortress and the cape, while two or three let you add a surf lesson and a beach day. Many visitors treat it as a day trip from Lagos, but sunrise and sunset are best from a local base.
Can you get to Sagres by train?
No. The Algarve line ends at Lagos, so you continue by bus, taxi or car. Check bus times locally, because services thin out outside summer and school terms.
Is Sagres good for surfing?
Yes, the area has several beaches facing different directions, so a school can pick the one that suits the swell. Beginners should choose a school with local knowledge and avoid beaches with strong currents.