EN125 (Estrada Nacional 125)

Street guide, Algarve News

The EN125 is the historic main road running the length of the Algarve from Lagos in the west to Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Spanish border. For decades before the construction of the A22 motorway, it was the only east-west route across the region and carried all inter-town traffic. The road passes through the centre of most Algarve towns, which accounts for its reputation for congestion, traffic lights, and accidents. Sections have been widened and upgraded over the years, but much of the route remains a single carriageway. Since the A22 opened, the EN125 has been used primarily for local journeys and by drivers avoiding motorway tolls. It is lined with commercial premises, car dealerships, furniture shops, and supermarkets, particularly in the stretches between towns. The road remains an important commercial corridor despite its diminished role as a through route.