October 29, 2024 - Exploring Portugal by bike is a unique experience heralded by its diverse landscapes, beautiful scenery, stunning beaches, and charming towns and villages. The cycling options seem endless, and the views can be breathtaking from the Douro Valley in the north, to the capital Lisbon, and the famed Algarve region in the south. Here’s a snapshot look at several excursions to whet your appetite.

Discovering Lisbon on two wheels is a great way to explore the country’s vibrant capital city. The popular 20km Tagus River route takes in the port, the various docks, and the city’s most important historic zones including Alfama, Europe’s oldest neighbourhood.

Another great ride is the Avenida Duque d’Ávila urban route through the gardens of Campo Grande towards the Quinta das Conchas. Try the cycle path through Jardim Amália Rodrigues to Parque Eduardo VII, or the silent and calm routes in Parque das Nações.

Stretch your legs with a 30km excursion to Sintra, west of the city. Take in the beautiful Atlantic coastline and beaches including UNESCO forest woods, a farmer’s market on the weekends, and the region’s artistic heritage, as this was a getaway destination for elites and royalty.

For mountain bikers and eMTB riders, the 235km Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) starts
in the northern city of Porto, three hours north of Lisbon, where you can visit UNESCO world heritage sites and sample the award-winning wines and port of the Douro River Valley while visiting historic estates.

Head north to Barcelos with its historic centre and Ponte de Lima, in the Minho region, touted as the oldest village in Portugal. The route continues past the fortified city of Valença do Minho, where you’ll cross into Spain and reach the medieval city of Tui. The beautiful coastal area of Galicia takes you to Pontevedra, and then it’s another 40km to Padrón, a region known for its peppers. Your final stop is Santiago de Compostela, the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region, and the culmination of this renowned pilgrimage route to the burial site of the biblical apostle St. James.

Portugal boasts more great mountain bike rides in the Lousã and Estrela mountain ranges and at Louzan Park along with Manteigas Bike Park.

Cycling along the Costa Vicentina in the Algarve region, from Odeceixe to Sagres, is an unforgettable 60km road cycling adventure. Featuring spectacular ocean views, secluded beaches and dramatic cliffs, this area is part of the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park and is the longest stretch of protected Portuguese coast.

Visit the Castle of Aljezur, built in the 10th century. Along the way, enjoy the local cuisine famous for its sweet potatoes and shellfish. Further south, the imposing landmark Pedra da Agulha rises out of the sea as you head to Praia do Amado beach, a surfing favourite.

Take in Vila do Bispo, a parish church covered to the ceiling with tiles as you press on the Sagres, the southernmost point of Portugal featuring fabulous and dazzling views including a lighthouse on the Cape, which is one of the most powerful in Europe with a range of 95km.

Portugal offers numerous local cycling tour companies for self-guided and full-service group adventures, including rentals of bicycles, mountain bikes, e-bikes or eMTBs.