Cycling Portugal's Atlantic Coast
- Immerse yourself in Portuguese life and culture
- Explore the ancient city streets of UNESCO listed Porto
- Cycle along the canals of Aveiro, Portugal's 'Little Venice'
- Pedal past brightly-coloured striped fisherman's chapel's
- Ride through immense green pine forests
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive PortoArrive in Porto, a vibrant city set on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Douro River. Explore its old quarter, the Ribeira and its maze of narrow cobbled streets and beautiful plazas. From its UNESCO World Heritage Site medieval quarter to its large avenues of the early 20th century, Porto has so much to offer.
A transfer from Porto Airport brings you to your Porto Hotel.
Centrally located on Batalha Square, Legendary Porto Hotel is a 5-minute walk from São Bento Metro Station. The rooms at Legendary Porto Hotel have new furnishings and blackout curtains, each equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities and a seating area with a sofa.
This first day starts from the old Porto crossing the Don Luís Bridge which has a spectacular view over the Douro River. It will provide great moments to keep in memory. On the way, you will have the chance to enjoy several small beaches like Valadares, Francelos, and Miramar as cycling on a path near the coastline. Although the water might be too cold for some, these beaches are a great spot to take a bath and enjoy the sun (if the weather conditions allow it!). Miramar Beach is worth a stop to visit a small and intriguing little chapel that sits on the top of a boulder by the shore; the famous Capela do Senhor da Pedra. At Espinho, a seaside resort town, you will continue on a beautiful cycling path along the pine tree forest to Furadouro beach. On the way, you will discover the beautiful Lagoon of Paramos (also known as Esmoriz lagoon), where you can observe some birdlife. The overnight will be in Ovar, an open-air tile museum
Total ascent/descent: 108m/191m
The Aqua Hotel offers a wide range of services and comforts with a restaurant that combines the excellent quality of regional gastronomy and international recipes. The hotel has also a bar and outdoor lounge, which is the ideal place to have some drinks and snacks after a long day's cycling.
Today you will have a different and special day. Far away from the ocean, you will have the opportunity to discover incredible and historic hidden secrets of Portugal. Leave Ovar and ride inland towards “SantaMaria” lands, preparing yourself for an easy but challenging day. Thegoal is to reach Santa Maria da Feira. The city’s most distinctive feature is its emblematic and medieval castle, with a design and layout that is unusual amongst Portuguese castles, looking more like something that has been plucked straight out of a book of fairy tales. You also can visit the Convento dos Lóios Museum, a 16th-century convent, which has a unique and well-preserved cloister with a fountain in the middle of a stunning stairway that zig-zags up to the western façade of the connecting Church of the Holy Spirit. Explore this beautiful region and fall in love even more with the Portuguese culture.
Total ascent/descent: 361m/386m
The Aqua Hotel offers a wide range of services and comforts with a restaurant that combines the excellent quality of regional gastronomy and international recipes. The hotel has also a bar and outdoor lounge, which is the ideal place to have some drinks and snacks after a long day's cycling.
Today you will continue the path along the coast towards the city of Aveiro, known as the little Venice of Portugal. The ride will take you through the wildest and least explored area of the Ria. The Aveiro Ria has long been the heart of the city, imbuing it with vibrancy and vitality while preserving local traditions. Formed in the 15th century as the shoreline receded, leaving behind vast sandbanks spanning eleven thousand hectares, the Ria has evolved into a captivating network of canals and islands, earning Aveiro the moniker of the "Portuguese Venice". Its waters teem with diverse species, from lamprey clams to storks, herons, and various birds of prey, as well as mammals like genets and otters, prompting its designation as a protected area. There'll be countless opportunities to observe local wildlife, and you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in the fishing life of the surrounding villages, where the Ria serves as a vital source of sustenance. Upon reaching the heart of Aveiro city, you'll be greeted by the iconic Moliceiro boats, a quintessential symbol of the Aveiro Ria.
Total ascent/descent: 150m/144m
This hotel is situated in a 1930’s townhouse and offers 49 spacious rooms with plenty of modern amenities and some have a balcony. Even though it is centrally located, there is also a quiet garden where you can sit and relax.
As you leave Aveiro, you will head down a path that crosses the land of ponds, where salt is extracted by an old traditional method passed down through generations. As you head-on, you will arrive at a dock in which you can view the harbor and some old codfish boats. After, you will cross the main bridge and arrive at Barra Village. On the way to Mira, you will have the opportunity to admire the famous haystack houses of CostaNova, easily recognizable by the paintings on vertical colored bands. Then, the scenery will be from the Ria itself. However, as you arrive at the end of it, the landscape will begin to change into small fields and vegetable gardens right up until Mira Beach.
Total ascent/descent: 44m/59m
The Quinta da Lagoa Hotel is a colonial-style resort with views of a beautiful sleepy lagoon. The hotel resort itself has a swimming pool, restaurant and bar, and plenty of leisure facilities to keep you occupied during your stay in Mira.
Today you will say goodbye to the immense Atlantic ocean and ride towards Coimbra, a city that in old times was the medieval capital of the country. Famous for its University, the oldest in Portugal, and one of the oldest in Europe, it is a place full of heritage and historic places to discover (recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO). The scenery will be motivating. In the beginning, you will ride side by side with Ria de Aveiro. Then, as the path goes on, typical villages will appear with their simplicity. You will also pass by Cantanhede, a demarcated wine-growing region of Portugal. After, you will cycle accompanied by the Montego River, a river renowned for its purity and transparency, making it the perfect scenery to reach the town of Coimbra. Like the Portugueseexpression says: “one does not listen to Fado, one feels Fado”. So, we invite you to enjoy your free time, drinking some Portuguese wine and listening to Fado music, a symbol of Portuguese culture and tradition.
Total ascent/descent: 254m/195m
A friendly 4-star hotel in Coimbra that also benefits from a region rich in attractions: including, the historic centre, the University Library and the Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery.
The tour finishes after breakfast. Proceed with your onward travel plans. Please let us know if you wish to book a departure transfer (not included and a supplement is applicable) to the airport.
This trip has a carbon score of 12kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 12kg is equivalent to 5 bunches of flowers (grown in the Netherlands). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This tour will immerse you in the culture and way of life of north central Portugal and also offers easy cycling along coastal routes and through immense sand dunes and pine forests. So if you enjoy cycling through typical villages and towns and areas teeming with wildlife and natural beauty, then this is the tour for you.
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
Most of the time you will be cycling on small roads or cycle paths, so it will be relatively easy to find your way.
This tour is suitable for people that are in good physical condition. It is graded as easy to moderate as it is mostly flat but there are some elevation gains on some of the latter end of the tour (Days 5 and 6). It is mostly along coastal routes, through sand dunes and pine forests, with a total distance of 236km/146 miles.
E-bikes can be requested if you would like a little extra boost during your cycling day. Please note we need plenty of time to confirm an e-bike upgrade due to limited availability.
This tour is suitable for people that are in good physical condition. It is rated easy as it is mostly flat. There are some elevation gains, particularly on Days 5 and 6, but aside from that all the coastal routes are mainly level.
On your 7 days, 6-night self-guided cycling tour in Portugal you will stay 6 nights in a mixture of 3 & 4-star hotels (depending on availability).
Alternate accommodation
During the high season, you might be booked into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the main daily description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Cyclists
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. Solo cyclists are also welcome for an additional charge.
Meals
7 Breakfasts are included. All the other nights you can eat dinner at your accommodations, or in the local town or village. For lunches, there are plenty of villages that you cycle through where you can buy goods for a packed lunch.
You will be using our smartphone app to follow the GPS tracks provided to make navigation even easier. The standard GPS tracks found in our app are for a hybrid bike or E bike, but there are road bike GPS tracks available upon request.
- 6 Nights in 3 & 4-star hotels
- All Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers
- Transfer from Porto Airport to your first accommodation
- Orientation meeting with our local representative
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to Porto or Lisbon
- Departure transfer from last hotel in Coimbra to Lisbon or Porto Airport
- Bike hire
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights along the route
- Private transfer (Onward Travel) from Coimbra to Porto Airport
- Private transfer (Onward Travel) from Coimbra to Lisbon Airport
- Bike hire
This cycling tour is available to start any day of the week all year round, from Janurary through to December. The summer months of July and August can be extrememly hot and you should bear thsi mind and take extra precautions. We recommend spring and autumn months as the best time of year to travel.
Generally you'll find that spring and autumn are the best times for cycling in Portugal, with the added bonus of less summer tourists. Portugal benefits from a mild Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and long, hot summers.
On arrival at Porto Airport a transfer is included to your hotel. Therefore you will need to provide us with your flight arrival details.
Porto Airport is served by many airlines, such as Easyjet, Ryanair, KLM and British Airways. If you prefer to fly into Lisbon, Porto is also accessible from Lisbon Airport. From Lisbon Airport take an airport shuttle bus to the Santa Apolonia Train Station and then a train to Porto which takes around two and a half hours.
Please note that the departure transfer is not included in the trip price. A regular connecting bus/train service runs from Coimbra bus/train station to Porto and Lisbon. For more information visit: Flix Bus or CP (Trains) or use one of the many journey planner tools found online: Google and Rome 2 Rio.
If you wish to book a supplemented private transfer from your hotel in Coimbra to Porto or Lisbon Airport then please contact our Adventure specialists who can give you a quote.
All baggage transfers are included. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person and it should weigh only 20kg.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat and sun screen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking/cycling gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
You can choose between hybrid bikes or e-bikes (electronic bikes) on this tour. Bike hire detailed information.
Minimum age for
Brand |
own brand (bases KTM) |
Bike Type |
City, |
Frame types |
gents, ladies, unisex |
Sizes |
Unisex/ladies: 43, 46, 51, 56 Gents:46, 56, 60, 64 |
Front suspension |
no |
Stand |
yes |
Mud guards |
yes |
Luggage rack Rear/Front |
yes |
Paniers |
Yes |
Handle bar Bag/ map holder |
Yes/integrated in the handle bar bag |
Bottle holder/Water bottle |
no |
Computer meter |
yes |
Interchangeable pedals |
yes |
Front gear set |
3 |
Back gear set |
7 |
Brakes |
Shimano V-breaks |
Helmet included |
No |
Puncture repair kit |
Yes |
Spare inner tubes/ how many |
Yes/1 |
Pump |
Yes |
Lock |
Yes |
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as far in advance as possible. We will always try and accommodate late bookings but realistically you need to book at least 6 weeks prior to departure.
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard gear such as good, comfortable cycling, lightweight clothes, waterproofs and a day pack.
6 Breakfasts are included. All the other nights you can eat dinner at your accommodations, or in the local town or village. For lunches there are plenty of villages that you cycle through where you can buy goods for a packed lunch.
All baggage transfers are included. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person and it should weigh only 20kg.
You will be using our smartphone app to follow the GPS tracks provided to make navigation even easier. The standard GPS tracks found in our app are for a hybrid bike or E bike, but there are road bike GPS tracks available upon request. The majority of the time you will be cycling on small roads or cycle paths, so it will be relatively easy to find your way. 80% of the time you will be cycling on paved roads and 20% of the time on dirt roads (off-road).
This tour is suitable for people that are in good physical condition. It is rated easy as it is mostly flat. There are some elevation gains, particularly on Days 5 and 6, but aside from that all the coastal routes are mainly level.
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. This includes cycling gear and lots of other useful bits and bobs.
Bike hire is available as an optional extra. Good quality Giant Hybrid (or similar) 27-gear bikes may be rented, road bikes or E bikes are also available upon request. When you are picked up at the airport the bikes will also be delivered to you at the same time and upon arrival at the hotel, you’ll have an orientation meeting and bike fitting.
Full details about the bike will be in your information pack. All rentals include pedals (flat or SPD), lock, tool-kit, pump, inner tubes, helmet, handle-bar bag and also a rear bag if needed.
Please note that if you do want to rent a bike you need to provide us with your height so that we can make sure that the bike is going to be a good fit.
Public transport and taxis are available, if you are in need of support our local partner will be more than happy to help.
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