Hi. Within a few days, I will be flying to the Algarve. I am hesitant to book an excursion in Lagos the day I fly in, in case the flight is delayed. I will not have a car. I'm using Happy Days Algarve for transportation from my flight in Faro that lands at 13:05. Any personal recommendations of how to spend the first day in Lagos? I will be staying at Casa Flor do Mar Lagos Guesthouse. Of course, I will go to a grocery store (any favorites?) and see the beach. I think hiking Ponte de Piedade might be a bit much for the first day (4 to 6 hours, right?). I found fitness classes in the evening that interest me at Lagos Em Forma (Pilates and bodypump) in the evening. I like flower gardens, but wonder if it is too dry there for many flowers? I also like bird-watching but won't likely have time to make it to a river area. Would the zoo be a good stop? Thanks!

Have you researched anything from guidebooks? Interests? We don't know you. Apparently you like flowers and yoga. ..Find a park to do yoga with flowers? But really, I'd peruse some guidebooks to see what interests you.

I have perused 4 guidebooks. I like natural beauty, birds, sunsets, crafts, water sports, food, botany, zoology. I'm not very interested in old buildings unless they have really unique architecture. I read about a science building of some sort there. Any ideas?

In general, it is best not to really have a set plan for anything on arrival day because of the logistics involved.

Let's break this down:

Assuming your flight arrives on time at 13:05. You already have planned to beeline for something to eat at Faro Airport based upon this thread: healthy food offerings at Faro Airport

That is maybe another 20 minutes if you plan to eat on the spot, maybe a bit less if you do take away.

It's a little over an hour to your lodging in Lagos, making it around 14:30 (maybe later, maybe earlier) when you arrive, if no traffic. .Then you need to check-in and get settled. That is another 30 minutes or so.

It's now 15:00, give or take.

You said you want groceries. Ok. Go find your market, go back to lodging. It's probably now around 16:00, roughly.

You said you want to go to beach. Then you need to walk down to beach.

It's now getting closer to the evening, meaning you do not have much time for anything else other than to maybe walk around the town a bit and then dinner, however you plan on having it (making it with your groceries or going out).

So, if there is something absolutely specific and essential you want to see - do it immediately after checking in to your lodging. Otherwise, just do the things you have planned (beach, groceries) and wander. See what is around your guesthouse that might be interesting. Edit: if that is the science museum, go to the science museum, it closes at 18:00. The closest beach looks to be Duna Beach - it's about a 22 minute walk from your lodging. Since you do not have a car, you need to add walking time in your plans, including groceries and such, which is why I built in that time given above.

Btw - make sure you let your transfer company know you're planning to stop for food so they know to wait for you.