From Porto, the proud capital of northern Portugal, on the banks of the majestic Douro, this route follows the Atlantic coast southwards, skirting the ocean, its beaches and cliffs, as well as the rivers, estuaries, lakes, lagoons and canals until Lisbon. You cycle through majestic pine and mimosa forests, dunes and salt marshes, rice fields, and orchards. The coastline of northern Portugal is unspoilt and picturesque. Rural life, fishing and tourism seem to have found a balance that allows travellers to experience both authenticity and hospitality.
Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Nazaré, Sintra and Lisbon are beautiful stopover towns of exceptional heritage, highlighting the different periods in history of this small Iberian country. The small coastal towns and picturesque villages are also ideal stopping-off points during this immersive trip into the Portuguese art of living.
Arrival on your own in Porto. Optional airport transfer to your accommodation in the centre of Porto. Depending on your arrival time, you can explore the « capital of the North ». With its modern flair, Porto's medieval alleyways, squares and quaysides boast monuments and buildings of exceptional architecture, a leisurely stroll for an ideal start to your trip! Bikes are delivered to your accommodation.
Meals included: none
Night: Porto
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You reach the Douro, cross the Eiffel Bridge and cycle along the quays of Vila Nova de Gaia, where the cellars of all the great Port Wine houses stand on the banks of the river. You can visit one of these impressive cellars and taste a Ruby, Tawny or Vintage Port. You cycle along the Douro Estuary Natural Park and small port before reaching the ocean and its long beaches where huge blocks of granite emerge. You follow the coast southwards along a seafront cycle path as far as the charming ocean side village of Furadouro.
After setting off along the seafront, you travel along the Ovar canal, which leads to the picturesque São Jacinto peninsula. An itinerary between land and sea, by the lagoon or in the countryside past fields, orchards and hamlets. A detour via the pristine beaches of the São Jacinto Dunes Nature Reserve is highly recommended. From São Jacinto, take a ferry across the Ria d'Aveiro to the port of Aveiro. You can then cruise along the harbour with the spectacular cod-fishing boats that are so important to Portuguese gastronomic culture, before following Aveiro's famous canals which have given it it’s nickname « The Venice of Portugal ».
You leave Aveiro via the salt marshes, pass the port and cross a bridge to reach a strip of land between the Canal de Mira and the ocean. The cycle path runs along the water's edge, passing through Costa Nova and its multicoloured striped wooden houses, crossing dunes and wetlands frequented by many birds. The route passes through a beautiful seaside pine forest before reaching the small seaside resort of Praia de Mira, nestling between a pond and a superb beach.
From a beautiful little chapel by the sea, the route then follows canals, rivers, lakes and ponds, in a setting worthy of the best Impressionist painters. A beautiful winding cycle path passes through forests of mimosas and tall maritime pines. You then return to the waters edge and follow the small road along the coast of Cape Mondego, with its lighthouse and spectacular cliffs, before descending to the vast beach of Figueira da Foz, between the Boa Viagem massif and the estuary of the River Mondego.
The cycle path follows the River Mondego upstream, leaving the estuary and port area for a fertile alluvial plain. From tributaries to canals, water is always present as you cross this fertile plain, passing rice paddies, cereal fields, hedgerows and wooded avenues. The bell towers of the small villages and hamlets punctuate the route as far as the Choupal national forest, whose plantation began in the 18th century on the outskirts of Coimbra. The arrival in Coimbra on the banks of the Mondego is a superb finish to this journey. The old town on a hill, boasts monuments including the famous Joanina Library and the university buildings, one of the oldest in Europe.
After a short transfer to the coast with your bikes (30 min), your ride follows the « estrada atlantica », the Atlantic Road, via a cycle path that leads through the national forest. Lake Ervedeira is an ideal place for a rest where you can relax on the lake shore or enjoy a swim. The beautiful cycle path, shaded by large pine trees, follows the coast, passing through the villages of Pedrogão, Praia da Vieira and Paredes de Vitoria. Detours to certain large beaches are both possible and recommended! The Notre Dame de Nazaré promontory is an exceptional end to the day, overlooking the cliffs battered by the largest waves on the planet, a legendary spot for surfers!
Departing from Nazaré, you have spectacular views over the protected harbor cove and the two parts of the town, one perched on the promontory and the other nestled in the lower part and protected from the prevailing north-westerly winds. An agricultural canal, small roads and country lanes lead to the magnificent bay of São Martinho do Porto. Once dubbed “the bidet of the marquises”, this small 19th-century seaside resort boasts some beautiful facades from the Romantic era and one of the cosiest beaches on the Portuguese coastline. The « estrada atlantica » continues southwards towards the Foz do Arelho estuary. Offshore, the Berlengas archipelago offers a beautiful landscape on the horizon. You cycle along the estuary and the Obidos lagoon where you can spot many different species of bird before reaching Obidos, one of the best kept fortified villages in the country, whose ramparts and alleyways defy time.
Obidos deserves one final visit after breakfast before cycling over hills and dales to the village of Pó. The passage through the Cornaga Gorge is the most difficult part of the itinerary, but perhaps also one of the most beautiful, with its ancient cascades and water mills. The gorge leads to the Cesarenada plateau, which you cross, passing through the vineyards of Lourinha and the windmills of Pinhoa. You reach the coast and the beach in Porto Novo via the bucolic valley of Alcabrichel.
The itinerary continues south following the coast to the small town of Santa Cruz, famous for its beach surrounded by cliffs. The trail then leads inland, along the River Lizandro and wooded or cultivated hills dotted with small villages and isolated hamlets. The final part of today’s ride follows the Atlantic Ocean to the beautiful town of Ericeira. Originally a major fishing port and a military stronghold, thanks to the fortress of Nossa Senhora da Natividade, Ericeira has become a seaside resort popular with surfers from every continent.
The route takes in the Lizandro valley and the superb São Julião beach before reaching the coast of the Sintra Cascais Natural Park. You will follow the steep coastline of Aguda beach, discover the photogenic village of Azenhas do mar with its terraced houses clinging to the cliffs, then cross the pinewoods and vineyards of Colares before skirting the northern flank of the Sintra massif, one of the peaks topped by the spectacular Pena Palace. Sintra has to be earned, and this cycling trip ends with a final climb to reach the historic centre. Hand over the bikes at the end of your cycling day and transfer to your accommodation in Lisbon (45 min).
End of your trip after breakfast. Optional transfer to Lisbon airport.