Overview
A seven day, self-guided cycling holiday taking in some of northern Portugal’s finest coastal and cultural highlights. Cycling from Porto to Coimbra not only takes in two of Portugal’s most handsome and historical cities, but also Aveiro’s canals and lagoon, the Bairrada Wine Region and Choupal National Forest. This is an easy and totally exquisite cycling holiday, where you get a perfect mix of Atlantic wind in your hair, Portuguese seafood and great wine, and finishing off at one of Europe’s most underrated cities for academic heritage and fine architecture. Stay in a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, with luggage transfers. Bike rental is included in the price of this tour, with an optional upgrade for e-bikes.
- Porto
- Aveiro
- Ílhavo
- Choupal National Forest
- Coimbra
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Porto
Arrive in Porto. Spend some time exploring the historical monuments and the bustling areas of the city, such as Rua das Flores and the riverside Ribeira district. If time allows, cross the river and visit one of the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
- Accommodation: Porto Music Guest House in Porto or similar
Day 2: Porto – Ovar | 54.5km
Start by riding along the Douro River heading south to the coast, mostly on bike paths. Along the way, there are plenty of places to stop for a traditional Portuguese meal or to have a drink while looking at the Atlantic Ocean. At Espinho, continue on a cycle path through a pine tree forest to Furadouro beach. From the beach, it is just a few kilometres to Ovar.
- Cycling for the day: 54.5km, ↑167m, ↓241m
- Accommodation: Aqua Hotel in Ovar or similar
Day 3: Ovar – Aveiro | 39.7km
Cycle south from Ovar along Ria de Aveiro, a route that is packed with a diversity of precious habitats. Cycle as far as São Jacinto, where a short ferry takes you across the water to Barra (payable locally). Barra is only a few kilometres from Aveiro, a city known for its network of canals. Take a trip on a traditional moliceiro boat to see the pastel-coloured Art Nouveau houses that line the waterways.
- Cycling for the day: 39.7km, ↑19m, ↓25m
- Accommodation: Hotel Afonso V in Aveiro or similar
Day 4: Aveiro – Mira | 50.7km
Cycle southwards to Ílhavo where we recommend visiting the Maritime Museum of Ílhavo or Vista Alegre, a factory and museum of Portugal’s oldest porcelain producer. Continue across the Aveiro Lagoon to meet the ocean again in Vagueira. From here, it is possible to take a detour to visit Costa Nova, its beach lined with colourful candy-striped houses, before cycling back to Vagueira along the coast. Continue to Praia de Mira and turn inland, following the cycle path that takes you to your hotel in Mira.
- Cycling for the day: 50.7km, ↑146m, ↓112m
- Accommodation: Casa De Campo Colmeal in Mira or similar
Day 5: Mira Region – Curia | 31.9km
Follow the cycle path inland through an acacia forest, before passing through farms and small villages on the way to the vineyards of the Bairrada region. Apart from the wine, the region is also known for leitao (roasted suckling pig). Continue to Quinta do Encontro, where there is a chance to stop for a wine tasting before a short ride brings you to Curia.
- Cycling for the day: 31.9km, ↑169m, ↓176m
- Accommodation: Hotel Termas da Curia in Curia or similar
Day 6: Curia – Coimbra | 36.9km
The final stretch takes you through vineyards to the Mondego River Valley. Cycle alongside farms and rice fields, following the river, with a final stretch through the Choupal National Forest before arriving in Coimbra. The Choupal National Forest or Mata Nacional do Choupal, is located just a few kilometres from Coimbra’s city centre. We recommend visiting its ionic and stunning university, one of the oldest in Europe and a World Heritage Site. Other sites of interest include the Cathedral Sé Velha de Coimbra, Santa Cruz Church or one of its fado bars.
- Cycling for the day: 36.9km, ↑191m, ↓203m
- Accommodation: Vila Galé in Coimbra or similar
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food and commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view our default hotels for this trip
- Porto Music Guest House (Porto)
- Aqua Hotel (Ovar)
- Hotel Afonso V (Aveiro)
- Casa De Campo Colmeal (Mira)
- Hotel Termas da Curia (Curia)
- Vila Galé (Coimbra)
Hotels are subject to availability. In event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included (usually buffet breakfast/coffee and toast/bread/croissant). When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is rated easy, with daily distances of up to 50km. It may include longer stretches on some days on generally flat terrain with some occasional moderate uphill/downhill sections (read more about difficulty grades).
Please note that distances might differ depending on the availability of accommodations in some areas. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available with departures on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from January to July and September to December. A supplement applies for departures on a different day.
There is a higher chance of rain in the spring and autumn, but the temperatures are cooler, making it more comfortable for cycling.
For more information, see our blog post, Best time to go to Portugal.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival and departure airport for this tour is Porto Airport (OPO) in Porto.
By train or bus
- If you can travel to Portugal without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with train stations in Porto and Coimbra. For more details, see the national rail operator CP or use the Omio planner above.
- From Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, you can use the metro, bus, shuttle or taxi to reach Porto’s centre. You can check the various options here.
- There are regular trains to Porto from Coimbra. For more information and tickets, visit CP or use the Omio planner above. Alternatively, there are also bus services to Porto and other destinations in Portugal. For more information and tickets, visit Rede Expressos or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights on selected accommodations
- 6 breakfasts
- Briefing with our local representative
- Luggage transfers – one bag per person – up to 15kg/bag
- App on your phone with maps, GPS tracks, and descriptions of stages
- Personal accident Insurance
- Bike rental
- 24-hour support line
Excluded
- Flights to and from Portugal
- Transfers to and from the airport
- Ferry from São Jacinto to Barra Beach
- Dinners and lunches
- Museum and monuments fees
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal equipment
- Local tourist taxes
- Other personal expenses
- Any other items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights available on request
- Airport transfers
- Upgrade to an e-bike
- Helmet rental
Bike rental
We offer standard 10-speed mountain bikes (Trek Dual Sport 3 Gen 5) most suitable for the paths you will be riding on. The bikes come with pannier rack, pannier or handlebar bag, lock and quick repair kit. You can order additional gel pads for the saddle. The bikes are regularly checked; however, basic knowledge on bike maintenance is highly recommended, as this is a self-guided tour.
You can also upgrade your cycling experience with an electric bike (Trek Allant + 7 Lowstep/Trek Allant + 8 Stagger).
Standard bike
Optional e-bike upgrade
Optional e-bike upgrade
Sample images above, note that the exact models may differ depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
