portugal/mainland-portugal/cycling

CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN PORTUGAL

Portugal is a great destination for a self-guided bike tour. What do we love most about our cycling holidays in Portugal? Well, without wanting to give away too many of our secret haunts in one go, we love the laidback atmosphere, the excellent cycling paths along the Algarve coast & the varied and diverse landscapes between the sea and the hilly hinterland. On a bike, you can see it all, clocking up the miles as you peddle along. You’ll be amazed at just how stunningly wild it is. Portugal may be a well-known tourist hot spot, but there are many hidden gems and peaceful hideaways to discover and explore.

What to expect on our Portugal cycling tours

Our bike tours are easy level cycling holidays. We take you on an exploration of a beautiful country, past rice fields and cork oak forests, through olive groves and along disused railway lines. Rolling green hills and pretty whitewashed villages paint the landscape of inland Alentejo. You can admire the megaliths of Almendres & the Zambujeiro dolmen and enjoy a refreshing swim in the largest artificial lake in Europe. Further south in the Algarve, you will be greeted with soaring cliffs, white sandy beaches and typical fishing villages. On our cycling holidays in Portugal, expect days spent in the saddle, along easy terrain and cycle paths, a breathtaking view every day and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the Portuguese cuisine. We highly recommend a healthy appetite as the food and drink are simply divine!

Highlights of the cycling trip in Portugal

Evora - a Unesco World heritage - a superb and proud regional capital

Whitewashed towns and villages, typical of the Alentejo region

The rolling green hills, bathed in sunlight, ideal for cycling

Lake Alqueva, the largest artificial lake in Europe

The rich archaeology of the region: roman temples, dolmens, cromlechs et menhirs

The quality of the hand-picked accommodations

Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

- - 8 days
- - From January to December
Accommodation choice :
- - Simple
  - Comfort
  - Charming

Highlights of the cycling trip in Portugal

The stunning landscapes of the Algarve: soaring cliffs, long white sandy beaches
The spectacular Ponta da Piedade and the Cape Saint Vincent: Europe’s untamed extremity
An itinerary along the stunning ecovia coastline cycle path
Daily swimming opportunities during the summer months
3 nights in Tavira, one of the most charming villages in the Algarve
Peddling through the wild and unspoiled natural parks: Ria Formosa in the east and Vicentine in the west

Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

From 860 € / pers

We can help organize the best cycling holidays in Portugal

Our cycling holidays in Portugal start in either Faro or Lisbon. There are plenty of flights to both airports and we have a taxi meet you at the airport and transfer you to your first hotel. Depending on your flight time, you may have time to visit either city, a great way to start the trip and get a feel for the country.

On our self-guided Portugal cycling tours, we provide high end road bikes or electric bikes which, let’s face it, make your peddling days a lot easier and more comfortable! The bikes are delivered to your first accommodation, and you are given a brief on how the bikes work. All necessary equipment is supplied, including helmets, paniers, and a repair kit. We also supply you with a roadbook with written directions and GPX files for the rides. Take each day at your own pace, stopping for breaks when necessary for resting or visiting local markets or monuments, or filling up on provisions for the day. Your luggage will be transferred hotel to hotel by taxi and you travel by train or by private transfer with your bikes to the start of the rides and cycle to your hotel or guest house where you will spend the night.

We create all of our cycling holidays in Portugal

Booking a Portugal cycling tour with Intura is choosing the trip directly at the source. No middleman: you are in contact with the track finders, the people that have tried and tested the bike tours, written the route notes and handpicked the accommodations. Our self-guided cycling holidays in Portugal are fit for beginners and experienced riders. The cycle paths in Portugal are well thought out and maintained, with many car-free paths and quiet trails.

What time of year to book?

Cycling holiday in Portugal is available all year round. Our bike tours in the Alentejo and Algarve are best suited to the winter and spring months. It is warm enough at the start of the year to enjoy a trip along the south coast with sunny days and fewer tourists. Come spring, the flowers are blooming, and it is warm enough to enjoy lunch outside but not too hot to spend a whole day in the saddle.

Why Portugal?

With so many destinations to choose from, one could indeed ask, why Portugal?
Portugal is a country that has slowly but steadily made a name for itself as a tourist destination and it is geared up to cater for travelers. Access is easy with many international airports offering regular flights. It is a country with a rich historical past, boasting the largest navel fleet to ever set sail in search of distant continents. There are many architectural gems and UNESCO sites, along with the picture postcard whitewashed villages bathed in the Mediterranean sun. And don’t even get us stared on the food and wine! Cycling holidays in Portugal are a haven for foodies, with fresh fish and seafood stews, slow cooked pork, and the pastel de nata, small custard tarts that literally melt in your mouth!

A self-guided bike tour in Portugal is a great way to get up close and personal with the country, its customs and people. We have planned the itineraries and we handle the bookings of the accommodation, transfers and bike hire to ensure that your trip runs smoothly. Your job is to peddle from A to B, chatting to the locals along the way, enjoying the scenery and exploring at your own pace all that Portugal has to offer.