Sandstone rock formations rise out of the ocean in Lagos, Portugal.

Sex, sand and sangria - Lagos is the town that's got it all. Don't be put off by the fact this fishing port is one of the most popular tourist haunts in the Algarve.

Its historic old town is attractive, the restaurants are tip-top, the bars are always pumping and the beaches are some of the loveliest you'll ever clap eyes on. Avoid the main beach Meia Praia - a vast sandy stretch that could be anywhere - and head west of Lagos where secluded sandy coves are framed by dramatic eroded sandstone cliffs. Outside of high season, you can grab a beach all for yourself.

A boat trip is a good way to view the coastline's romantic grottoes and rock formations that jut out of the sea. Other day-time activities in Lagos include dolphin-spotting tours and parasailing, or take a trip out to Sagres and be blown away by the windswept cliffs at Europe's most southwestern point.