Portugal
Portugal Road Bike Tour: Self-Guided Alentejo
7 days
Bike tours
Departure days: Daily
280km
Intermediate
7 days | Alentejo, Portugal | From €1,530 pp | Self-guided road bike tour
Portugal Road Bike Tour: Self-Guided Alentejo
At a glance
- Season: January to mid-December, daily departures
- Tour type: Self-guided road bike tour
- Where: Alentejo, Portugal
- Length: 7 days / 6 nights
- Route: Estremoz to Évora
- Distance: 177 to 280 km in total. Every riding day has a short and a long option.
- Climbing: About 1,500 to 2,500 m in total
- Level: Intermediate
- Price: From €1,630 per person (two people sharing a room, low season). Peak season: €1,880 per person.
- Solo traveler: From €2180
- Included: 6 nights in historic pousadas and hotels, breakfast, 1 dinner, daily luggage transfer, GPS tracks, transfers from and to Lisbon Airport
Ride Portugal’s Alentejo on a Road Bike
The Alentejo is the quiet side of Portugal. On this self-guided road bike tour, you ride smooth country roads through vineyards, cork oak forests and olive groves. The roads are paved, and there is very little traffic.You ride from town to town: Estremoz, Vila Viçosa, Redondo and Évora. Along the way you pass medieval castles, whitewashed villages and old stone towns. The tour ends in Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage city.You ride on your own, at your own pace. We give you detailed route information and GPS tracks. We take care of the rest: your hotels, your luggage and your transfers to and from Lisbon Airport. Three of your four hotels are old castles and convents.
The Alentejo is Portugal’s best-kept secret. Every bend shows a new view, every meal is a discovery, and time still moves at its own pace.
Why Is Alentejo Good for Road Cycling?
Quiet roads. Much of the region is rural. Villages are small and far apart, so you ride long stretches with very little traffic.
Good riding rhythm. The land is rolling. You get climbs and long descents, but no mountain passes.
Lots to see. Hilltop castles, marble towns and vineyards change from one hour to the next.
Great food and wine. The Alentejo is one of Portugal’s best-known wine regions.
Fewer crowds. It is a calm alternative to busier cycling regions in Europe.
Who is this Portugal road bike tour for?
This Alentejo road bike tour is best suited to experienced recreational cyclists and road cyclists wThis tour is for road cyclists and fit recreational cyclists who like to ride on several days in a row. You choose a short or a long ride each day, so you can match the tour to your legs.
Choose this tour if you:
- like riding on paved roads and rolling hills
- want to choose between a shorter and a longer ride every day
- enjoy climbs and descents
- prefer to travel independently instead of in a group
- want your luggage moved from hotel to hotel for you
- like to mix cycling with wine, food and culture
- want to see a quieter part of Portugal
You can ride your own road bike or rent a bike from us: a carbon road bike, a hybrid bike or an e-bike. Do you prefer a relaxed pace on a comfort bike? See our Alentejo bike tour: castles, wine and Évora.
Highlights of this road bike tour in Portugal
- Évora: UNESCO World Heritage city with a Roman temple, a cathedral and the Chapel of Bones
- Vila Viçosa: the “Princess of the Alentejo”, known for its Ducal Palace and white marble
- Estremoz: historic town with a castle, city walls and a lively market square
- Redondo: wine town known for pottery and local food
- Alandroal and Juromenha: castle town and a village that looks out over the Guadiana river and Spain
- Arraiolos: village famous around the world for its handmade rugs
- Alentejo wine country: vineyards, cork oaks and olive groves along the whole route
- Castle and convent hotels: sleep in pousadas (historic Portuguese inns) in Estremoz, Vila Viçosa and Évora
Day to day itinerary
A transfer takes you from Lisbon Airport to Estremoz. The drive takes about 2 hours. You get a welcome briefing in English, and your bike is adjusted to fit you. The rest of the day is free. Walk through the old town and enjoy the view over the Alentejo plain.
Overnight: Pousada Estremoz, a historic castle hotel
Your first riding day. You cycle through quiet villages and historic landscapes. The route passes Borba, a town known for its marble and wine. Then you ride on to Vila Viçosa, the marble capital of Portugal. Visit the Ducal Palace, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. You have plenty of free time to walk through the old streets.
Overnight: Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa
Today you ride a loop and come back to the same hotel. You cycle toward Spain through cork trees, olive groves and flocks of sheep. You see the Guadiana river, which is the border between Portugal and Spain. Stop in Juromenha, a village with a view over Spain. There are some climbs on the way back to Vila Viçosa.
Overnight: Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa
Today you ride into the heart of Alentejo wine country. You pass through cork forests on quiet roads. You end the day in Redondo, a wine town known for its pottery. Dinner is included tonight (drinks not included).
Overnight: Convento São Paulo, Redondo
You ride through cork trees, vineyards and rolling gold and green hills. Old castles stand along the way. Then you arrive in Évora. After you check in, explore the old town. See the Roman Temple, the cathedral and the Chapel of Bones. This is a great place to try regional food and a glass of Alentejo wine.
Overnight: Pousada Évora, a former convent
Your last riding day is a loop from Évora. You ride through vineyards to Arraiolos, known for its handmade rugs and its castle. After a break, you ride back to Évora through Igrejinha. Celebrate with a glass of Portuguese wine in its home region.
Overnight: Pousada Évora
After breakfast the tour ends. A transfer takes you from Évora to Lisbon Airport. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. Do you have time? Add an extra night in Évora for a relaxed end to your trip.
Sights along the route
Évora
Évora is a historic gem in the heart of the Alentejo and a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the Roman temple, the Gothic Sé cathedral and the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). Walk through narrow streets with white houses and relax on the lively Praça do Giraldo.
Redondo
Redondo is a quiet village surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. It is known for its pottery and local wines. Visit a small workshop or a winery for a tasting. The castle of Redondo has a great view over the countryside.
Arraiolos
Arraiolos is famous for its handstitched rugs, a tradition that is hundreds of years old. Learn more in the Rug Museum. Walk through the white and blue streets and climb up to the castle for a view over the rolling Alentejo.
Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is an elegant town rich in history and marble. Its highlight is the Ducal Palace (Paço Ducal), the former home of the Dukes of Braganza. Walk along marble streets and squares, see the old city walls and enjoy the calm.
Prices and departure dates
Prices are per person. They are based on two people sharing a double or twin room. They include breakfast, luggage transfer, seasonal surcharges and VAT. Prices are in euros. Departures are daily during these dates.
| Season | Dates | Double/twin, per person | Solo traveler, per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low season | 4 Jan to 26 Mar, 27 Oct to 15 Dec | €1,530 | €2,080 |
| Mid season | 6 Apr to 26 Apr, 27 May to 26 Jun, 16 Oct to 26 Oct | €1,730 | €2,420 |
| High season | 27 Apr to 26 May | €1,750 | €2,450 |
| Peak season | 27 Mar to 5 Apr, 27 Jun to 15 Oct | €1,780 | €2,520 |
What’s included
- 6 nights in historic pousadas and hotels, in a standard double or twin room with private bathroom
- Breakfast every morning
- 1 dinner on day 4 (drinks not included)
- Daily luggage transfer between hotels
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Estremoz (day 1)
- Transfer from Évora to Lisbon Airport (day 7)
- Welcome briefing in English and bike fitting on day 1
- Digital information book, smartphone app and GPS tracks
- Local support number, free to call 24 hours a day
What’s not included
- Lunches and most dinners
- Flights to and from Portugal
- Bike rental (optional, see below)
- Wine tastings, entrance fees and local excursions
- Personal travel insurance
Optional extras
Prices are per person and include VAT. Every rental bike comes with a helmet, pedals, a water bottle, tools, a pump and spare tubes. Hybrid bikes and e-bikes also come with bags and a rear rack.
| Extra | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Carbon road bike rental | €308 |
| Hybrid bike rental | €193 |
| E-bike rental | €347 |
| Extra nights before or after the tour | On request |
| Different arrival or departure transfers | On request |
Practical information
| Destination | Alentejo, Portugal |
| Tour type | Self-guided road bike tour |
| Length | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Start | Estremoz |
| Finish | Évora |
| Distance | 177 to 280 km in total (short or long option on most days) |
| Climbing | 100 to 400 m on short days, 300 to 600 m on long days |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Terrain | Mostly rolling hills |
| Road surface | 100% paved. Some villages have cobblestone streets. |
| Traffic | Mostly quiet country roads |
| Hotels | Pousada Estremoz, Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa, Convento São Paulo (Redondo), Pousada Évora |
| Bike | Bring your own or rent a carbon road bike, hybrid bike or e-bike |
| Luggage transfer | Included |
| Navigation | Smartphone app, GPS tracks and digital information book |
| Arrival transfer | Lisbon Airport to Estremoz (about 2 hours), included |
| Departure transfer | Évora to Lisbon Airport (about 1.5 hours), included |
| UNESCO highlight | Évora |
| Travel style | Independent, self-guided |
Not sure what to pack? See our packing list for bike tours.
Frequently asked questions
It is a moderate tour. You ride 23 to 70 km per day. Every riding day has a short and a long option. The hills are rolling: about 100 to 400 m of climbing on short days and 300 to 600 m on long days. All roads are paved. Some village streets are cobblestone.
You ride between 177 km (all short options) and 280 km (all long options). The total climbing is about 1,500 to 2,500 m.
It is self-guided. You ride on your own with route information and GPS tracks. You decide when to start and where to stop for coffee or lunch. Would you like a guided or tailor-made trip? Contact us and we will look at what is possible.
Yes. You can bring your own road bike. You can also rent a carbon road bike for €308, a hybrid bike for €193 or an e-bike for €347 per person.
Fly to Lisbon. We arrange a transfer from Lisbon Airport to Estremoz on day 1. The drive takes about 2 hours. On day 7, a transfer takes you from Évora back to Lisbon Airport in about 1.5 hours. Flights are not included.
Yes. Your luggage is moved from hotel to hotel every day. You ride with only what you need for the day.
Departures are daily from 4 January to 15 December. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times for road cycling. The Alentejo is very hot in summer. Prices change by season, as shown in the table above.
Yes. Solo travelers pay a higher price because they have a room to themselves. Solo prices are in the table above.
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