The distinction was made by the National Geographic magazine, with the Algarve city one of only a handful of European towns to make the ranking.
National Geographic, while singling out Lagos, said the Algarve as a whole is blessed with waves to the west and the south, plus a pulsing party scene in the summer, and is ever ripe for adventure.
Other venues on the list include Bali, Cape Town, Waikiki and Cornwall.
In the listing, referenced this week by the Lagos Town Hall, National Geographic reveals that “a great surf town is the sum of its parts. These 20 towns run the gamut, from a mecca for the surf-obsessed to a spot where surfing’s in its infancy. With waves awaiting, an adventurous spirit, and a little guidance, you can’t go wrong.”
In its description of Lagos as one of the world’s top 20 surfing towns, the magazine writes: “Get ready for some of the best waves of your life, and the most fun finding them — that is, if you get out of bed before noon.”
Perched at the south of Portugal, the Algarve’s seductive mix attracts two kinds of surfers. “The more social ones, who love to hang out with other people, surf a bit, enjoy a beer, but mainly enjoy the lifestyle. The other ... comes purely for the waves,” it adds.