Lagos vs Olhão: which Algarve town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (16°C and 15°C). Lagos has cooler summer nights, more restaurants on foot and fewer strong earthquakes nearby; Olhão has fewer rainy days, a warmer sea and lower rents.
Lagos
33,494 peopleChoose Lagos if you want
- Beach lovers: A beach 0.5 km from the centre
- Cooler summer nights (22 nights a year above 20°C, against 71)
- More restaurants within a 15-minute walk (225, against 125)
- Fewer strong earthquakes nearby (1 of M5+ since 1900, against 5)
Olhão
29,239 peopleChoose Olhão if you want
- Fewer rainy days (61 a year, against 72)
- A warmer sea in August (22°C, against 20°C)
- Lower rents in the municipality (€8.09/m² a month, against €10.11/m²)
- Cheaper homes to buy in the municipality (€2,771/m², against €3,949/m²)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Lagos | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 16°C | 15°C |
| January low | 9°C | 10°C |
| July high | 28°C | 29°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 2 | 1 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 22 | 71 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 72 | 61 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 37 min | 9 h 37 min |
| Sea in August | 20°C | 22°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Lagos | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 22 | 26 |
| Pharmacies | 6 | 7 |
| Doctors and clinics | 8 | 7 |
| Cafés | 53 | 52 |
| Restaurants | 225 | 125 |
Getting around
| Measure | Lagos | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 0.8 km | 0.2 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.6 km | 0.0 km |
| Nearest hospital | 0.8 km | 7.8 km |
| Nearest beach | 0.5 km | 3.1 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 9.6 km | 12 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Lagos | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €10.11/m² | €8.09/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €3,949/m² | €2,771/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +86% | +88% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 38.5 | 40.3 |
People
| Measure | Lagos | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,494 | 29,239 |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.3% |
| Under 15 | 12.7% | 14.9% |
| Born in another country | 26.0% | 13.5% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Lagos | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 1 | 5 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | 16° | 16° | 18° | 20° | 23° | 26° | 28° | 29° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 17° |
| Olhão | 15° | 16° | 18° | 20° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 29° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 16° |
Olhão is warmer by 1°C or more in 1 month; in the other months the highs are within 1°C. Lagos in November · Olhão in November
Lagos or Olhão: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Lagos or Olhão?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 15.6°C in Lagos and 15.3°C in Olhão.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Olhão: 26 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 22 in Lagos.
Which is closer to an airport?
Lagos is 9.6 km from Portimão Airport (PRM); Olhão is 12 km from Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO), in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Lagos vs Olhão: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/lagos-vs-olhao/