Portugal's Coastal Splendor from Porto to Lisbon

Day 1: Porto

Welcome to the ancient city of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage City where history, charm, and tradition flourishes in abundance. This former Roman outpost stands on the banks of the grand Douro River Valley, commanding the eye with its stunning ancient skyline and boasting the intrigue of one of Europe’s oldest cities.

Once you’ve arrived at your first hotel, meet our partners at their shop for a bike fitting.

Day 2: Porto - Furadouro
29 mi. / 47 km

Leave Porto behind as you pedal over one of Portugal’s most famous bridges - the Dom Luís I Bridge. On the southern side of the Douro, you’ll navigate into what was once a Roman settlement known as ‘Cale’, now known as the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Vila Nova de Gaia is guaranteed to provide you with abundant memories of authentic Portugal, from its world-famous Porto wine cellars to the spectacular chapel of Senhor da Pedra, perched atop a rock overlooking the magical Miramar Beach. Venture up and you’ll find yourself with phenomenal photo opportunities as the white sands - lapped by the glistening Atlantic Ocean - stream towards the horizon.

Enjoy exploring the nearby city of Espinho, sampling the fresh taste of the sea in its fish shops, before biting into a traditional breadcake in Ovar. Baking bread is a staple feature of authentic Portuguese culture just as much as wine, cheese, and pastry making. Take photos of the typical azulejos tiles that adorn the spectacular architecture here and feast your eyes on the famous Chapel of the Steps - a National Interest Monument.

Day 3: Furadouro - Aveiro
28 mi. / 45 km

Cycle the stunning coastal route, following a secondary road through several authentic fishing villages like Torreira with its expansive beach. Discover the magnificent São Jacinto Dunes nature reserve, exploring its trails, peaceful birdwatching areas, and 6.7 square kilometers of woodland.

Stepping aboard the ferry, you’ll sail across to Aveiro for a look at the Monastery of Jesus, the remarkable tiled train station, and to savor a memorable boat tour of the Ria de Aveiro.

Day 4: Aveiro - Praia de Mira
25 mi. / 40 km

Immerse yourself today in Ílhavo, home of the Portuguese porcelain manufacturer Vista Alegre, founded in 1815. Along today’s ride, you’ll also encounter the intertwining of blissful beaches and rural farms along the captivating Costa Nova do Prado. You’re guaranteed to remember the vibrant colors of the rainbow haystack houses along the waterfront here!

Day 5: Praia de Mira - Figueira da Foz Route
31 mi. / 50 km

Today, you’ll bike to the beautiful but lesser-known Barrinha Lagoon where the landscape evolves from oceanfront splendor to the lagoon’s expansive stretches of sand dunes and fragrant pine forests.

Today’s destination - Figueira da Foz - is nicknamed ‘Queen of the Silver Coast’ and is where the River Mondego reaches the ocean.

Day 6: Figueira da Foz - São Pedro de Moel
41 mi. / 65 km

Your adventure today leads you from the Atlantic Ocean and Figueira da Foz through Coimbra to São Pedro de Moel via Pedrogão. This is a region renowned for its strong agricultural and fishing heritage, particularly that of ‘Xávega’ - a drag-net fishing method.

The day’s destination is São Pedro de Moel, a sublime little town nestled in acres of aromatic pine forest that offer abundant leisure opportunities and the perfect place to commune with nature. The ‘Volta dos Sete’ is especially celebrated as a 7 km stretch of sea, woods, and beach, dotted with parks, fountains, and streams.

Take a load off and try one of the tantalizing traditional delicacies, including ‘Vidreiro’ soup, cod soup, and rabbit stew.

Day 7: São Pedro de Moel - Nazaré
18 mi. / 29 km

The stunning seaside town of Nazaré is known nowadays as a city of surfing. As well as catching waves, people come here to capture the breathtaking view from atop the city’s large cliff at the ‘Cannon of Nazaré’, the geomorphological phenomenon responsible for the formation of the giant waves that make this a surfer’s paradise. This is Europe’s largest submerged gorge lying at around 170 km along the coast and measuring 5000 meters deep. It was made famous by Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara who surfed the world’s largest ever wave here in 2011!

Day 8: Nazaré - Óbidos
29 mi. / 47 km

From Nazaré you’ll venture into Óbidos, one of the most iconic walled settlements in Portugal known for its incredible views of tall windmills, verdant vineyards, and flourishing farmland. Cycle along the quaint cobblestone streets past the whitewashed houses nestled beneath terracotta roofs and learn of this city’s incredible culture. Each year, it hosts two significant events - the traditional Medieval Market, where the castle and town recreates the atmosphere of medieval Europe, and the Chocolate Festival, where crowds are mesmerized by lifelike chocolate sculptures!

Day 9: Óbidos - Peniche
22 mi. / 35 km

Riding back into stunning coastal regions, pedal into the city of Perniche, perched atop a rocky peninsula considered to be a unique Toarcian Turnover by geologists, a formation that dates back to the Early Jurassic extinction. In more recent years, Perniche has enjoyed an excellent reputation for its extensive beaches popular with surfers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, and bodyboarders owing to the consistent windy conditions.

The Berlengas Islands, sitting around 10 km offshore, form one of the world’s first nature reserves, whilst a stop at ‘Lagoa de Óbidos’ provides a stunning photo opportunity at a breathtaking lagoon. This natural barrier sits between the dynamic Atlantic Ocean and peaceful marine biome, home to the river ecosystem of the ‘Foz do Arelho’ formed by lateral sand dunes.

Day 10: Peniche - Ericeira
42 mi. / 68 km

Today’s cycling takes you along the coast towards the seaside resort and fishing community of Ericeira. Due to its enviable location on Portugal’s western coast just 35 km northwest of the capital, Ericeira enjoyed a reputation as a favorite summer retreat for Lisbon families in the mid-20th Century. These days, it is still a popular location for visiting tourists keen to savor sensational coastal views and for surfers drawn to Ericeira’s waves along the Santa Cruz beach - this is where the ‘Ocean Spirit’ wave sports festival takes place each year!

Are you a music lover? Ericeira enjoys a reputation as a musical hub with a philharmonic hall (the Filarmónica Cultural Ericeira) dating back to 1849 that offers a free music school for all interested villagers.

Day 11: Ericeira - Sintra
17 mi. / 27 km

Today’s ride heads inland to the stunning town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Romantic architectural monuments, the Sintra Mountains, and the sublime Sintra-Cascais Nature Park. Surrounding this magnificent town are numerous royal retreats, estates, and castles, including the likes of the medieval Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace, and the Sintra National Palace.

Day 12: Sintra - Cascais
25 mi. / 40 km

Today’s bike tour culminates in the coastal city of Cascais, a cosmopolitan suburb situated west of Lisbon and one of the wealthiest municipalities in all of Portugal. From humble origins as a former fishing village, Cascais grew in reputation and riches when the Portuguese royal family began vacationing here in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Surrounded by popular beaches like the Praia do Guincho and sitting atmospherically in the embrace of the Sintra Mountains, Cascais draws many tourists to its stunning shoreline defined by cliffs. Golf enthusiasts also flock to the 10+ golf courses in the vicinity, whilst nature lovers venture into the Sintra Cascais Natural Park that extends from the Serra de Sintra to the coast.

Day 13: Departure from Lisbon

Your cycling vacation ends in the ‘City of Seven Hills’ - Portugal’s lively capital city, Lisbon. We thoroughly recommend extending your stay in this world-renowned city of culture, gastronomy, and history with an extra night or a day tour.