This unique cycling tour follows the west coast of Portugal along the Atlantic Ocean. From Porto to Lisbon is a delightful route linking Portugal’s two main cities. You can visit some of the country’s leading cultural attractions while cycling through nature and picturesque coastal paths.
During the bike tour, you will pass numerous fishing villages with their magnificent beaches, see giant waves in Nazaré, visit an ancient monastery in Alcobaça, and explore the best-preserved medieval village of Obidos. The tour takes place on quiet, secondary, and rural roads along the Atlantic Ocean, in places on dedicated bike paths.
The tour starts in Porto, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will learn more about port wine, drinks, and culinary specialties. Enjoy the taste, smell, sun, sunrises, and sunsets as you cycle along this beautiful coastline. Visit Aveiro, the “Portuguese Venice,” with its canals and salt pans, and the lively seaside town of Figueira da Foz. Then, you will get to know the world-famous ancient Sintra and the “younger” Cascais, located on the Atlantic Ocean’s shores. Finally, Lisbon! On the right bank of the vast mouth of the Tejos River, the capital of Portugal rises gracefully above the hills. The exceptional natural light that has long inspired writers, photographers, and filmmakers, the brightly colored buildings on both sides of the hillsides, the striking ochre roofs, the tiles on many of the facades, and the narrow winding alleys of the medieval districts give Lisbon the unique atmosphere of a city located somewhere between the European North and the Mediterranean to the south.
This bike tour will mainly follow coastal paths without any ups or downs but will also include country roads and “Ecovias” (typical Portuguese bike paths that run through “natural territory”). We have added short transfers to the route on two tracks. You will have no problem on this bike route if you are a regular cyclist!
In 2025, https://bike-n-ride.com/ will offer a more extended version of the Potro to Lisbon bike route—12 days / 11 nights. This tour is for more experienced cyclists or those who enjoy riding E-bikes. The new version of the tour includes 4 days with some steep climbs. But like the original tour, the route takes you along bike paths, country lanes, and low-traffic roads. Short sections are on slightly busier roads. There are also longer sections for cycling on gravel paths.
What budget should those who decide to repeat your feat count on? Were your budget expectations met?
I spent about 800 euros for four months and about 400 euros on tickets. You could say that my expectations were met, but I went a little over budget — I estimated the average expenses at 5 euros per day, but I had to buy some things to replace stolen ones, repair my bike, and surprisingly spend more on food with a fellow traveler.
Those who plan to travel around Portugal should not, of course, blindly follow my budget. For example, the frugal can dumpster dive or ask for food in different establishments closer to closing time. Enterprising or talented people can earn good money playing an instrument or selling souvenirs (photos, postcards) with a request to support the trip. And the travelers who don’t want to communicate with locals, sleep in a tent, and cook for themselves, on the contrary, will spend much more — if you sleep in a hotel and eat in cafes, then the average expenses can be estimated at about 100 euros per day.
What can you save on, and what shouldn’t you?
Specifically for Portugal — you can save on everything except insurance. If something happens without insurance, you can end up paying for it for the rest of your life. For example, one ambulance ride can cost a thousand euros or more. And breaking something can cost tens of thousands of euros; something serious can easily cost a hundred thousand euros. One of my hosts told me how he was hit by a car, and in the end, he estimated his total costs at a quarter of a million euros. And the civil liability insurance (or something similar) of the lady who hit him only paid out 25 thousand euros.Copy textCopy HTMLRejectAccept the task