Portugal Bike Tour: Self-Guided Lisbon to Sagres

Your bike tour starts in Lisbon, the city of seven hills. After you arrive, you have time to explore at your own pace. You get sightseeing tips in your travel pack. We suggest a walk through Alfama, the most typical district of Lisbon, with its views, history and culture. In the evening, try Bairro Alto too.

You sleep in a hotel in Lisbon. Want more time in the city? Ask us about extra nights.

An easy first day. Most of the ride is on bike paths along the Tagus river, with great views. The stage starts near Parque das Nações. Here we suggest the Lisbon Oceanarium.

You pass Alfama, with views of the cathedral towers and the Fado Museum. On Praça do Comércio you can walk to Praça do Rossio and try ginjinha, the local cherry liqueur. At Doca de Santo Amaro you see the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Christ the King sanctuary. In Belém we suggest the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries, Belém Tower and a famous Pastel de Belém.

Then you leave the capital by ferry from Belém to Trafaria, with a great view of Lisbon. Trafaria is a fishing village. Try the seafood stew here. A bike path through pine trees takes you to the beach of Costa da Caparica. Relax for the rest of the day.

A day full of nature. After a swim at the beach in Costa da Caparica, you ride through the pine and acacia trees of Mata Nacional dos Medos. Quiet roads and small paths take you through small towns and pine forests.

Then you ride through Arrábida Natural Park. You have wide views over the mountains, the Sado river and the Tróia peninsula. Two famous beaches here are Portinho da Arrábida and Figueirinha. The Arrábida monastery has a panoramic view.

You sleep in Setúbal. Visit the Livramento fish market, which was named one of the most famous fish markets in the world in 2015. Try the typical fried squid.

You start the day with a ferry ride over the Sado estuary. This is a nature reserve with more than 200 bird species. Dolphins often greet the ferry, which is rare in the world and unique in Portugal.

On the Tróia peninsula you start cycling next to a beautiful beach, with a view of the Serra da Arrábida. In Comporta you see rice fields and can visit the Rice Museum. Then you ride into the Alentejo, a mostly flat and beautiful region. You follow secondary roads and quiet paths with pine trees, eucalyptus and some cork oaks. In the villages you see typical white houses with ochre and blue details, and a village café where you can meet the locals. Try the cheese and the Alentejo wine.

A bike path takes you to the beach of Sines. You finish here, and have the rest of the day to relax. This is the longest day of the tour.

Start with a walk through Sines, the birthplace of the explorer Vasco da Gama. Visit the castle, the mother church and the Vasco da Gama monument, with a view over the whole bay.

Today is your first day in Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, the best preserved stretch of coast in Europe. You ride along the coast with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the dunes. You can swim at São Torpes, Morgavel or Praia Grande beach.

In Porto Covo, take a break on Marquês de Pombal square and have an ice cream. It has some of the best examples of typical Alentejo houses in the country. Stop at the fort of Nossa Senhora da Queimada for a view of Pessegueiro island. Sunset at Portinho do Canal is a great way to end the day.

Start with a walk through Vila Nova de Milfontes. See the 16th-century church and the 17th-century fort of São Clemente. You leave over the bridge across the Mira river. You ride on quiet roads and paths, past fields of raspberries and sweet potatoes.

At Cabo Sardão you see the lighthouse that has been working since 1915, and a great view over the ocean and cliffs. Visit the small fishing harbor of Porto das Barcas. In Zambujeira do Mar, visit the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar and try local seafood, such as velvet crab or Mira oysters. You can swim at Zambujeira do Mar, Carvalhal or Odeceixe beach. A visit to Azenha do Mar is worth it for the view of the coast.

Then you ride along the Seixe river and enter the Algarve. Enjoy the view until the river meets the ocean. You end in Aljezur, on secondary roads through pine forests.

Visit Aljezur, a small coastal town with typical Algarve houses. Check the local market and the castle on the hilltop for great views over the mountains.

Today you ride mostly on quiet paths through Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, past eucalyptus and pine trees. You can swim at Bordeira or Amado beach. In Carrapateira, visit the Museum of the Sea and the Land. Then you ride more than 5 km along the cliffs, with views of the coast from different angles. In Vila do Bispo, visit the 18th-century mother church and take a break in a traditional café.

At Cabo de São Vicente, a visit to the lighthouse is a must. This is the southwest corner of Portugal and of mainland Europe. The cliffs rise almost straight out of the ocean, up to 75 meters. In Sagres, ride to the fortress and the harbor of Baleeira, and have a toast on Mareta beach. Try the local percebes (gooseneck barnacles).

Your tour ends. You can take an optional transfer to Faro airport or another place of your choice. Want to stay longer? Ask us about extra nights, or about extending your trip along the Algarve coast.