Portugal View All Portugal Tours At a glance Located in South Western Europe, Portugal features over 528 miles (850 km) of pristine blue water and sandy beaches. Along with Portugal’s coast are the energetic cities of Lisbon and Porto. Built on hills overlooking the coast, Lisbon is one of Europe’s underrated capital cities. Highlights include Europe’s largest Oceanarium, museums and the Park of Nations, excellent for cycling. Porto, Lisbon’s northern rival, highlights ancient castles, natural parks and home to the world-famous Port wine of the River Douro. Walk along cobblestone paths and enjoy Portugal's famous cuisine of fresh seafood, cheeses, or sausages, accompanied by Fado music, Portugal's traditional melancholic singing. Why cyclists love it Sunny, Mediterranean climate provides the perfect atmosphere for cycling Dedicated bike paths and small side roads with little traffic allow visitors to easily explore The rolling hills and quaint villages of the countryside The beautiful Algarve region and its coastal vistas Tour spotlight Cruising the Coast: Sesimbra to Lisbon via Sagres Along the Sea Bike around the most fantastic Portuguese beaches. The Costa Vicentina tour, along the Southern Portuguese sea coast, is like a banquet to your senses. Experience breathtaking landscapes in the Natural Park of Arrabida, dine among the Portuguese in the most typical fishing village, sun bathe along its continuous 15 Km length of golden sand, visit one of the oldest wine cellars in the country and find out why it’s forbidden to kill spiders! Tour details > Algarve Coastal Route: From the Spanish Border West Along the Sea Thist our features Portugal's "Ecovia do Litoral," a bike route linking Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Spanish border with Cabo de Saifo Vicente (Sagres) in the west. The Algarve is often called Europe's sunniest spot and is a great destination any time of the year for travelers seeking a warm Mediterranean breeze.The 133-mile/214km route combines trails in nature preserves with stretches on low-traffic roads and car-free paths. The tour winds along the coastline between fishing villages with Moorish architecture, cobbled lanes, and Roman ruins. Beaches, lagoons, and inlets offer the perfect spot for rest breaks and a snack. Tour details > Castles and Wines of PortugalThis cycling tour, which is available as guided or self-guided, combines cycling with regional discovery, allowing visitors to feel that they've left with a much richer knowledge of the area. Along the route, travelers will visit castles, churches, artisans, wine producers and typical family owned cafes. The landscape changes from olive groves to vineyards and cork oaks, from granite to schist and to marble.Tour details > Popular regions AlgarveThe Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal and is often considered Europe's sunniest spot. The landscape is breathtaking in the Algarve – mountains, inlets, natural lagoons, beaches, limestone caves, and the blue-green ocean await you. More on Algarve bike tours > Portugal stories On our blog: Cycling in Douro, Portugal: History, wine, and cultureRoad cycling is a great way to discover the Douro region of Portugal. The perfect tarmac, winding roads and great wine hotels can make for a great bike tour in the world’s first demarcated region. Here are a few highlights of cycling in Douro provided by our local partner operator. Operator profile: Portugal cycling offers authenticity and diversityWe love to hear the history of our local partners around the world. We love to hear how they become tour operators and guides, how they first fell in love with cycling the world, and, most importantly, why we should cycle in their little corner of the globe. Here, we chat (via e-mail) with Teresa at Portugal Best Cycling. Operator Profile: An adventure of a lifetime with Portugal Nature TrailsBikeTours.com chats with Portugal Nature Trails’ operator António Gavinho to find out more about what has made PNT a Certificate of Excellence holder from Trip Advisor. Following is an interview Whit conducted with António over e-mail. António shared what makes PNT a quality company and why you should book a bike trip to Portugal this year. Operator Profile: Discover Coastal Portugal with Algarve Bike HolidaysBikeTours.com chats with Algarve Bike Holidays’ operator Paul Beesley to find out why Portugal should be your next destination. Following are highlights from their email interview, including the delicious Portuguese cuisine and why you should cycle Portugal while it is still a well-kept secret. Operator profile: Portugal cycling offers authenticity and diversityBikeTours.com chats with partner tour operator Turaventur (Portugal on Bikes) to learn more about Portugueese culture and why it's an ideal destination for a bike tour. Fast Facts Language: Portuguese Currency: Euro Population: 10,760,305 Size: 35,556 square miles (92,090 square kilometers) - slightly smaller than Indiana Border countries: Spain National tourist office: www.portugaloffice.org View All Portugal Tours
