What a night out in Lagos costs
Portugal is one of the cheapest places in Western Europe to go out, and Lagos is cheaper than Lisbon. That said, August prices are not May prices, and a night that starts with supermarket beers can still end badly for your card. Here is where the money actually goes.
The rough shape of a night
| Item | Where it lands | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarket beer | Cheapest thing you will buy all night | Pre-drinks are where the savings are |
| Bar beer | Low single figures in euros | Old town bars are cheaper than marina and beach bars |
| Shot | Often cheaper than a beer | Deals are common, especially early |
| Cocktail | Roughly double a beer | Marina and sunset bars charge a premium |
| Club entry | Frequently free | Cover on the biggest summer nights, sometimes with a drink |
| Late food | A few euros | Non-negotiable, apparently |
| Taxi home | Small, if you need one at all | Most people in the old town walk |
Prices move with the season and between venues, so treat the ordering above as the useful part rather than any specific figure. The reliable rule is that the old town backpacker bars are the cheap tier, the marina and clifftop places are the expensive tier, and Portuguese tascas are cheaper than both.
Where budgets actually break
- Rounds. In a group of eight travellers you will meet tonight, rounds are a trap. Buy your own.
- Cocktails at sunset. Two of these can cost more than the rest of the night combined.
- Cash withdrawals. Standalone ATMs charge fees. Use a bank machine and take out once.
- Card surcharges and dead machines. Some small bars have a minimum spend on card, and machines drop out on busy nights.
- The 04:00 taxi. Avoidable if you booked a bed within walking distance of the old town, which is most of the reason to do so.
How to do a big night cheaply
- Eat before you go out. Portuguese supermarket food is very cheap and dinner at 23:00 is not.
- Do pre-drinks at your hostel. This is the single biggest lever, and it is also the social bit.
- Drink beer in the bars and save cocktails for one sunset.
- Carry a set amount of cash and leave the card in your locker if you know yourself.
- Travel in May, June or September rather than August. Everything is cheaper, including beds.
- Walk. The old town is ten minutes end to end.
Where a pub crawl fits
A crawl is a fixed cost at the start of the night for the organised part, and then whatever you buy for yourself. It is not the absolute cheapest way to drink in Lagos — pre-drinks and a supermarket are — but it does remove the two most expensive mistakes: paying tourist prices in the wrong bars, and taking a taxi somewhere because you ran out of ideas. Our price is confirmed on WhatsApp before you commit, and it is paid on the night.
Season effect
August raises accommodation prices sharply and pushes bar prices up a little. May, June and September deliver almost the same nightlife for meaningfully less money, with warm water and a crowd that still fills the bars. If your budget is the binding constraint, move your dates before you cut your nights.
Ask us for tonight's price
We confirm the price on WhatsApp before you turn up. No booking fees, no deposit, paid on the night.
Friday, Saturday, Monday nights, April to October. Meet at Banana Beach House, Estr. da Ponta da Piedade 23, 8600-544 Lagos, Portugal, between 20:00 - 20:45.