Lisbon to Sagres

Arrival at Lisbon airport, then optional transfer, to the hotel in Lisbon, where the cycling tour will start. 

There is a lot to do and see in the capital of Portugal, just enjoy the glamor, history, and vibrant culture that the city offers. 

Discover the special views, visiting  Alfama to feel the most typical neighborhood of Lisbon with its history, culture, and tradition. 

 OPTIONAL: extra nights available on request. To get to know Lisbon better you can choose to do the cycling program SHORT BREAK - Cycling Lisbon - 3 nights | 2 stages, before departure to Costa da Caparica.

Beginning our tour  with only 21km to have opportunity to explore the city of Lisbon. 

We will cycle through bike paths along the Tejo River. Its The longest of all Portugal's rivers which also forms a piece of natural border between Portugal and Spain. 

The starting point is marked at Tejo River by the Parque das Nações  (English: Park of the Nations) - a distinct area of the city (south of Lisbon's border with the city of Loures.) This highly technological part of Lisbon is literally  an open-air museum, with dozens of masterpieces  that offers many leisure, fun and cultural activities.

Here we recommend visiting the best oceanarium in the world -  the Lisbon Oceanarium  and  the Fado Museum to learn the history of this Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The enchanting views open over the buildings that go up the hills and over the towers of the Cathedral of Lisbon. 

We suggest that you visit Praça do Comércio, which is one of the largest squares in Europe and the symbol of a city. Take a picture near the statue of  King José I on his horse Gentil ( by Machado de Castro).

Then go down to the area l Praça do Rossio, and taste the ginjinha - the typical Lisbon liquor. 

Passing by the Santo Amaro Dock, opens an unforgettable view of the 2-km length  “25-th April bridge” that crosses the narrowest part of the Tagus River.  On the other side of a Bridge, city Almada, you will be surprised to witness a huge monument of the Sanctuary of Christ the King, which is very reminiscent of the statue  Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

The Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries),  the Belém Tower  belong to the heritage of Portuguese architecture of the XVI-the century.  Here you can stop and taste the world's beloved Pastel de Belém. 

A ferry is already waiting to depart from the capital. Rest, enjoy the fantastic views, and say goodbye to the city of Lisbon. 

At Trafaria you find yourself in a fishing environment, dozens of fishing boats surround the small beach of the village. The best chance to have dinner is with a seafood stew, the main typical dish here. Cycling along a bicycle path shadowed by pine trees, you get to  Costa da Caparica beach, where you can relax for the rest of the day. 

 A percentage of bike lines / car roads:

- Cycle paths: 90%

- Road: 10%

Start your day with a morning swim at Costa da Caparica beach. 

Cycling along a road with some movement, surrounded by pines and acacia trees,  cross the Mata Nacional dos Medos. The way to the Serra da Arrábida is full of nature and leads through small towns and several pine forests. Cycling through the Arrábida Natural Park, observe the Sado River and the Troia Peninsula over the mountains. You can also choose between the two most famous beaches in the natural park: Portinho da Arrábida and Figueirinha. Then enjoying panoramic views through the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Arrábida. Today's stay is in Setúbal, a city with the Livramento fish market, which in 2015 was considered to be one of the most famous in the world, and to evaluate the city's gastronomy, for example, the typical fried cuttlefish.

A percentage of bike lines / car roads:

 - Cycle paths: 5%

 - Road: 69%

 - Off road or gravel: 26%

Ready to merge with nature today?

Then start with a ferry crossing through the Sado Estuary Natural Reserve, where passengers are accompanied by the local dolphins, a rare phenomenon here. During the ferry crossing of this biologically rich area, we can observe more than 200 species of birds. Finally, we need the bicycle as we arrive at the Troia Peninsula, next to its magnificent beach over the Serra da Arrábida. Passing through Comporta observe a large number of rice fields under cultivation and optionally visit the Rice Museum, where you can learn more about this region's history. We entered the Alentejo, a stunning and mostly flat region. Everywhere you will find the typical Alentejo houses, the houses whitewashed and decorated in ocher and blue colors. 

Don't hesitate to have a  traditional snack and cheerful communication in some craft village cafe. Local cuisine is based on meat, fish, and seafood. You will evaluate a wide variety of cheese and excellent Alentejo wines.

The rest of the day is to be extremely nice - just swim and relax at Sines beach.

A percentage of bike lines / car roads:

 - Cycle paths: 11%

 - Road: 85%

 - Off road or gravel: 4%

Sines is the town where navigator Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India, was born. 

Explore the Vasco da Gama monument, the castle, the Mother Church, the Church of Nossa Senhora das Salvas and get access to a fantastic view over the entire bay of the city. This is the first stage to cycle in the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast: the best preserved section of the European coast. 

Cycling along the coast, you have the opportunity to choose your special place for todays rest - here are several best braces in a row : São Torpes beach, Morgavel beach, Praia Grande beach or any other.  At the square Marquês de Pombal, in Porto Côvo, please take a break to eat an ice cream.  At the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Queimada please stop to have a fantastic view over the Pessegueiro Island. A road with some movement and quiet paths with a predominant vegetation of pines and eucalyptus will lead you to the destination. And try not to sleep before the sunset,  not to loose a picturesque  moment,  that presents the Portinho do Canal.

A percentage of bike lines / car roads:

  - Cycle paths: 3%

  - Road: 64%

  - Off road or gravel: 33%

Before the biking program,  you can visit the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça of the XVI century and the Fort of São Clemente from the beginning of the XVII century. 

And the starting point today is the monument to aviators of the Raid Lisboa-Macau, in the square Largo Brito Pais, where the Raid started. Cross the bridge over the Mira River, then ride along many fields of cultivation of raspberry, sweet potato, and others. The typical Alentejo houses are seen again, making a great highlight of the landscape among the villages. Arriving at Cabo Sardão, observe the functioning since 1915 lighthouse, and explore the unforgettable views of the ocean and the cliffs, while cycling through quiet paths.

Pay your attention to the small fishing port of Porto das Barcas, Zambujeira do Mar, visit the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar, and try some seafood from the region, such as the velvet crab or oysters of Mira.

 In the middle of the day, don't forget about a refreshing swim on the beach of Zambujeira do Mar, the beach of Carvalhal, or the beach of Odeceixe. 

Cycling through the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, you are welcomed to Azenha does Mar, with its fantastic views over the coast. By roads with little movement, we cycle along the Seine river and enter the Algarve region. Enjoy the wonderful views that the river provides until it joins the ocean. Our final goal is Aljezur, and we reach it by secondary roads, mostly next to pine forests.

A percentage of bike lines / car roads:

 - Road: 80%

 - Off road or gravel: 20%

In Aljezur, a small coastal village,  you will find a municipal market and visit one of its many museums. A visit to the castle at the top of the hill offers you extraordinary views and an insight into the historical past. The stage is traced by quiet paths with the common presence of eucalyptus and pine trees, through the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast, with fantastic views over the valleys that draw the hills.

The presence of beaches on your way is so pleasant. 

In Carrapateira, it might be interesting for you to visit the Museum of the Sea and Earth, where you can learn about local development. 

Cycling for more than 5 km next to the cliffs, with fantastic views from different angles over the coast, will give you strong inspiration.

 In Vila do Bispo visit the Mother Church of the XVIII century and take a break in one of the traditional cafes. 

 At Cape St. Vincent, please visit the lighthouse, so you will be fascinated by the magnificent views in the most southwestern point of the whole of Continental Europe. 

On your way to Sagres enjoy a beautiful environment full of cliffs, which rise almost vertically from the Atlantic to a height of 75 meters.

 Reaching Sagres, visit its fortress and the Baleeira port where observe the fishing activity of the village.

On the Mareta beach finally, treat yourself to a glass of good wine while tasting the most popular seafood in the region – the percebe (Gooseneck Barnacles). 

A percentage of bike lines / car roads:

- Road: 60%

- Off road or gravel: 40%

End of the program with optional transfer to Faro airport or another location of your choice. 

Extra nights are available on request. 

It is also possible to continue cycling with the program Cycling Algarve Coast Line - 7 nights | 6 stages if you have another week available. 

01st January; 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 April; 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st December