Leave the ordinary behind and roll into Portugal’s coastal dreamscape! This eight-day cycling adventure starts in Lisbon, where the city buzzes with energy, and ends in Lagos, a lively hub of beaches and culture. In between? Pirate tales in Milfontes, rugged towns in Carrapateira, and the dramatic cliffs of Sagres. Think salty Atlantic breezes, ancient hilltop castles, and charming villages that seem straight out of a fairy tale. Storks nest on cliffs, surfers shred waves, and every turn feels like it’s leading somewhere extraordinary. Spoiler alert: It is. By the time we roll into Lagos, we’ll have stories to tell and a tan to prove it!
Cycle the Vicentine Coast and Algarve on an 8-day journey that blends stunning scenery, historic villages, and hidden beaches. Starting in Lisbon, we’ll ride along dramatic cliffs, through surfer towns, and past castles perched above valleys. From pirate lore in Milfontes to Europe’s edge in Sagres, every day offers a mix of natural wonders and cultural gems. With smooth roads, stunning landscapes, and plenty of coastal charm, this trip will have you falling in love with Portugal at every turn.
The journey starts in the city of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital. You’ll meet with your guides for a short briefing and make plans for the days ahead.
After a van transfer to Sines, we will cycle in the direction of Milfontes. Milfontes is the perfect combination of history and nature because it is situated on a beautiful coastline, and it has been a region often raided by pirates. We will then discover the charming city of Santiago do Cacém. Afterwards, we’ll cycle to the village of Porto Covo, which is one of the most sought after by locals and tourists. Its spacious and sheltered beach called Praia Grande is one of the busiest during the summer.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 45 km / 28 mi
Accommodation: Hotel HS MIlfontes
Quieter than Vila Nova de Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar attracts more of a backpacker and surf crowd. This small seaside town on the coast of Alentejo has some lovely sandy beaches and picture-perfect traditional architecture, making it a small but loved destination for visitors. The town has some charming traditional buildings and sightseeing spots, the most notable ones being the fountains of Amores and Santa Catarina, and the small, whitewashed chapel of Nossa
Senhora do Mar.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 35 km / 22 mi
Accommodation: Monte Soalheiro
Today, we’ll pass by Aljezur, an attractive village that straddles a river, with a collection of
cottages below a ruined 10th-century hilltop castle. The coastline around Aljezur offers some of the most pristine and scenic beaches in Europe, with the whole area of river estuaries, sheer cliffs, and dense marshes rich in bird and animal life. As the Alentejo turns into Algarve, the last coastal settlement is Odeceixe, an endearing small town with a beach classified as one of the 7
Wonders of Portugal. The beach offers stunning views and biodiversity. This Nature Park is the only place in the world where you can observe storks that nest on cliffs.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 45 km / 28 mi
Accommodation: Vicentina Aparthotel
On Day 5, we’re leaving Aljezur for the surf-central Carrapateira, a peaceful village with two nearby beaches with strong swells, which commonly attract surfers and visitors from Lisbon. The coast along this area is wild, with copper-coloured and ash-grey cliffs. Its landmarks include an old fort and a church with its reddish rock formations that look deceptively similar to Cape
St. Vincent in the southwest corner of Portugal.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 30 km / 18.6 mi
Accommodation: Aldeia de Pedralva
Today, we’re cycling towards Sagres. There is little of historical or architectural interest as the original town bore the full brunt of the 1755 earthquake. Situated within a few kilometers from Europe’s most south western point, stands Cape St. Vincent. The ferocious waves of the Atlantic Ocean pound the massive cliffs, while high above the immensely lighthouse, a light warns ships of the existence of these dangerous cliffs. The narrow streets which surround the main church contain many houses typical of the old Algarve, with whitewashed walls, bands of bright color, and carved stonework around the doors and windows.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 37 km / 23 mi
Accommodation: Pousada Sagres
On Day 7, we’re cycling from Sagres to Lagos. Lagos is a historic and lively city that offers glorious beaches, nightlife, and a charming historical center. Extending to the east of Lagos, there’s the Meia Praia Beach, which is the longest sandy beach on the western side of the Algarve.
Located about halfway between Lagos and Sagres there’s a picturesque fishing village, the little village of Salema. The village is home to a number of fishermen who still cast their nets daily and moor their fishing boats on the shore. Finishing off this ride, we’ll go to the Luz beach, which has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, as the town has a significant permanent community of retired or emigrated expats.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 45 km / 28 mi
Accommodation: Tivoli Lagos Algarve Resort
The final day of the adventure is here. After breakfast and saying our goodbyes, we’ll transfer to Lisbon and depart back home.
Meals: Breakfast
Great tour, excellent organisation and communication by Sergio and his crew. Accommodation was good – a couple of the hotels were exceptional! Would have no hesitation in recommending Top Bike.
Trip was amazing. Accomodations were perfect and would highly recommend this tour. Top Bike Tours are the best and we will be back.
Included:
Add-ons
Not included:
These Vicentine coast Algarve bike holidays are rated moderate, which means that a good level of fitness and previous multi-day cycling experience is required. Over the course of 8 days, expect to cycle for 227 km / 141 mi, with elevation ranges from +2,528 m / +8,293 ft to -2,538 m / -8,326 ft.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
All breakfasts are included in the price of the adventure.
Dinners are not included in the price, but they will be organized by the guides, and everyone is invited to join in (not mandatory). The bill won’t be split, and each customer pays for what they eat and drink during the dinner.
Group sizes and pricing
Biking in Portugal can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has bikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Vicentine coast Algarve bike holidays is Lisbon. To get there, most people fly into Lisbon International Airport (LIS). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Lisbon.
Once you’re there, you will meet your guide at a predetermined time in a predetermined location. Your guide will provide more information before the adventure starts.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Biking the Vicentine Route (Rota Vicentina) was beyond spectacular! Everyday we biked a different part of the Alentejo and discovered towns and scenery most Portuguese have not experienced.
It was an adventurous bike ride highlighting the natural beautify of the Alentejo. Sergio, owner of company along with Telmo guided and supported us every step. They added stops, visits to agricultural areas where we met and learned the process of making cheese, vineyards, distillery and incredible wild coast line. The restaurants they selected for our evening meals and hotels and Quintas were top notch. My husband and I are looking forward to signing up for another tour with Sergio.