Stays in Lagos

The MN56 Hotel is a 4-star, adults-only hotel in Lagos, so it does not suit families travelling with children. It has a rooftop pool and sun terrace, a restaurant and bar, room service and a 24-hour front desk, and Meia Praia Beach is about 11 minutes away. Guests rate it 9.7 out of 10 from 109 reviews. I would suggest it to parents taking a break without the children, or to adult family groups, rather than to families with young kids.

A short walk to the beach and sea-view balconies are what I would mention to families looking at Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda, perched above the Atlantic in Lagos. Rooms have private balconies or terraces set among Mediterranean gardens. The outdoor spa pool, sauna and massage options suit parents more than young children, and the gourmet restaurant is a calm, grown-up setting. I would suggest it for families with older teenagers; parents of toddlers will find livelier family hotels in Lagos.

The Salty Lodge offers studios and apartments in the centre of Lagos, about a five-minute walk from the beach, which keeps beach days with children simple. Every unit has a fully equipped kitchen, so meals can follow the family's rhythm, and some come with a terrace or balcony over the sea or the town. On evenings off from cooking, the on-site Italian restaurant is an easy fallback. There is no pool. Guests rate it 9.3 out of 10 across 564 reviews, a strong score for self-catering.

Giramar Apartamentos Turísticos gives families real space in Lagos: each apartment has a full kitchen and two balconies, many looking over the pools. With two outdoor pools and a large sun-bed terrace, children have room to swim while parents rest, and there is a spa too. Free parking makes beach and surf trips easy, and the historic centre is about a 15-minute walk. A terrace cafeteria covers snacks and drinks. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 across 488 reviews.

Lagos Atlantic Hotel is a family-friendly four-star in Lagos with an outdoor swimming pool, a garden and a bar. It stands 500 metres from Porto de Mós Beach. Air-conditioned rooms include some with sea views. Guests can choose between continental and buffet breakfast, and there are barbecue facilities and a lounge area. Guests rate it 9.2 across more than 2,100 reviews, one of the highest scores in Lagos.

An outdoor pool open all year is the first thing I would mention to families at Palmares Signature Apartments, since swimming does not depend on the season in Lagos. The apartments are spacious and air-conditioned, with balconies and private bathrooms, so children have room to play. The restaurant and bar on site save planning on tired evenings, and parents can take turns at the spa. Guests rate it 9.1 from 359 reviews, a strong score for a family base in Lagos.

Água Hotels Lagos Bay sits in the centre of Lagos, an 8-minute walk from Meia Praia Beach, and its rooftop pool gives children a place to swim between outings. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and TVs, and some look out to sea. A spa and a bar on the sun terrace are there for the adults. Guests rate it 9.1 out of 10 across 148 reviews. I would choose it for families who want the beach and the town both within walking distance.

I recommend Foz da Ria to families who want an apartment with a view and space to cook. The private condominium sits on a hilltop over Alvor Bay and Meia Praia, and each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and a private balcony. Outdoor pools, tennis courts, a gym and a sauna keep everyone busy between beach days, and golfers will find courses within reach of Lagos.

Iberostar Selection Lagos Algarve sits directly on Meia Praia, so families step from the hotel onto the sand. The outdoor pool area has ocean views, and many rooms have private balconies facing the sea. Parents can book the spa, and the restaurant serves international dishes with a terrace over the pool. Premium suites come with private pools if you want more space. Golf courses are nearby. Guests rate this five-star hotel 9 out of 10 across 444 reviews.

Lagos Avenida Hotel sits in the centre of Lagos with views over the marina and the sea, and its outdoor pool gives children a swim without a trip to the beach. Rooms are air-conditioned, and the 24-hour front desk helps with plans at any hour. The Lagos Live Science Center and Santa Maria Church are a short walk away, a good mix for a family day. A spa and golf facilities are nearby for the adults. Guests rate it 9 out of 10 across 603 reviews.

Canavial I & II Apartamentos is 600 metres from Porto de Mós Beach in Lagos, and I like it for families who want the sand within walking distance. Every studio and room has a kitchenette and air-conditioning, handy for children's meals and naps. The outdoor pools and gardens fill the afternoons, and parents have a spa. Local transport is easy to reach, and golf is nearby. A 9 out of 10 score from 1,547 reviews is excellent.

Hotel Marina Rio overlooks the palm-lined marina in Lagos, and I like it for families who want the town and the waterfront on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned with private balconies, and the rooftop pool is heated in the cooler months, so swimming is not only a summer plan. A spacious sun terrace and a lounge bar give parents a place to relax, and the town centre's restaurants and boutiques are a short walk away. Guests rate it 9 over more than 1,000 reviews.

I would book Clube Meia Praia for a family that wants Meia Praia's long sands and a kitchen of its own. Apartments and studios each have a fully equipped kitchen and a seating area, so beach picnics and easy dinners are simple. Lagos Marina and the old town are under 2 km away for evenings out, and Palmares Golf Course is a short drive for a parent who plays.

I would pick Solar de Mos for a family that wants a family-run hotel with a garden pool. Rustic-style rooms, many with private balconies, sit within a palm garden. There is a swimming pool and a separate children's pool, a spa, and a restaurant serving traditional Algarvean cuisine. Golf facilities are also available. Guests rate it 8.9 across 962 reviews, a high score for a three-star in Lagos.

Palmares Beach House Hotel is adults-only, so I would not suggest it for a stay with children, whatever their age. For parents travelling without the kids, though, it has a lot going for it: a beachfront location in Lagos, an outdoor pool, and rooms with balconies over the Atlantic. Breakfast is served daily and the restaurant cooks Mediterranean dishes, so evenings need little planning. Families with children will find better-suited options elsewhere in Lagos.

I would choose Ancora Park for a family that wants a pool-led holiday near Lagos. It offers villas and twin rooms, some with pool views, all air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi. The Olympic-sized swimming pool is joined by two children's pools, a restaurant and a spa, and Porto de Mós beach is 700 metres away. Guests rate it 8.9 across 921 reviews, a high score for a four-star.

I would suggest these apartments to families who want a kitchenette and a garden pool rather than a hotel corridor. Each unit has a kitchenette and a private patio, the grounds are lush and quiet, and there is an outdoor swimming pool with a sun terrace plus a mini-golf course for children. Meia Praia beach is a short drive away. Guests rate it 8.8 across 1,034 reviews, strong for self-catering in Lagos.

I would pick Costa d'Oiro Ambiance Village for a family that wants villa-style rooms and several pools in Lagos. The village-style resort has Mediterranean-inspired villas, gardens and multiple swimming pools, 300 metres from Dona Ana Beach. Each room has unique decor and a private balcony or terrace, some with pool views, and a varied breakfast is available. Guests rate it 8.8 across 807 reviews.

Lagos Appartement Resort suits families on a longer Algarve holiday. Its one-bedroom apartments each have a kitchenette, a balcony and a terrace, so there is room to spread out and cook simple meals. The outdoor pool is open all year, with a sun terrace and garden around it, and a pool bar keeps parents comfortable while children swim. An on-site minimarket saves trips for the basics, and surf spots and golf courses are nearby. Guests rate it 8.8 out of 10 across 525 reviews.

The Editory by the Sea Lagos works well for families who want a comfortable base close to the sand: Dona Ana Beach is a short walk away. The outdoor pool is open all year, which is handy outside summer, and rooms are air-conditioned with balconies, many facing the sea. Parents can take turns at the spa, which includes a sauna and hammam, and the restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes on site. The listing does not mention a kids' club, so children's days centre on the pool and the beach.

Meia Praia Lagos Beach Club Apartments is a three-star aparthotel a short walk from Meia Praia Beach. It has an outdoor pool with a children's pool, spa facilities, and apartment-style accommodation with a private balcony and a kitchenette or kitchen. The setting suits beach, surf and golf, and Lagos city centre is a short drive away. Guests rate it 8.6 across more than 2,700 reviews.

Apartments and studios overlooking the Lagos marina, many with private balconies, are what make Marina Club Lagos Resort easy for families. Having separate living space helps with children's routines, and the outdoor pool is there for afternoons off the sand. The historic centre and Meia Praia beach are both a short walk away, so you can leave the car parked. Parents also have a spa. Guests rate it 8.6 out of 10 across 1,836 reviews.

I would choose Suites Inn Lagos for a beach-and-surf week on a sensible scale. Meia Praia, the long sandy beach east of town, is about ten minutes on foot, and the air-conditioned family rooms give everyone space after a day in the sun. Breakfast arrives in the room, which suits slow mornings with children, and the sun terrace is a pleasant spot to dry off before heading out for dinner in Lagos.

Carvi Beach Hotel sits directly on Dona Ana beach in Lagos. Rooms are contemporary and many have ocean views, and there is a rooftop swimming pool and a restaurant with sea views. Wi-Fi is free. Lagos Train Station and the historic centre are a short drive away. Guests rate it 8.5 across more than 3,300 reviews. The focus is the beach and the view, not nightlife.

Vila Galé Lagos is one of the easier family choices in Lagos: it sits directly on Meia Praia, with a large outdoor pool in a spacious garden and a Kids' Club for younger children. Parents can take turns at the spa, tennis courts add some activity, and the on-site restaurants mean dinner needs no planning. With the beach a few steps away, days can switch between sand and pool without a car. I would book it for a full-service family week.