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