Cycling The Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago
9 days | from 1.090€
See the best of northern Portugal and Galicia as you cycle the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago along the coast.
Explore the wonders of the Atlantic Coast, the Minho River and the Ria de Aveiro lagoons on this surprising 1-week self-guided cycling holiday in Portugal.
Starting in the fascinating small fortress town of Valença in the far north of Portugal, you’ll begin your leisurely two-wheeled adventure by cycling along the River Minho, which forms a natural border with Spain, towards Caminha and then following the Atlantic coast to the beautiful historical city of Viana do Castelo at the mouth of the River Lima.
Discover how the coastline shifts between rocky and sandy beaches between Viana do Castelo and Ovar and how the countryside is a glorious patchwork of fields, forests and hills. Once you get closer to Aveiro, the immersion in the natural wonders of the Ria de Aveiro lagoons and wetlands begins. These waterways are brimming with bird and aquatic life so look out for flamingos as well as colourful fishing boats.
Get to know local traditions and ways of life as you explore rural areas as well as more urban ones as you head south on a mixture of dirt tracks, quiet roads, boardwalks and cycle paths.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1: Valença
Arrive in this beautiful fortress town overlooking the River Minho and the Spanish town of Tui. When your bikes are delivered, a member of our team will give you a full briefing.
Enjoy exploring Valença’s many fascinating sights, especially the bulwarked fortress, and enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside and neighbouring Galicia. You could pop across the International Bridge to explore Tui.
Accommodation: Valença, 4-star hotel
Day 2: Valença to Viana do Castelo
Distance: 58.3 km (36.2 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +359m / -373m
From Valença, you’ll follow the majestic River Minho towards the pretty town of Caminha at the tip of Portugal, where you’ll begin your journey south along the Atlantic coast.
Your destination is the fascinating small city of Viana do Castelo, known for its filigree jewellery, traditional embroidery and costumes, the hilltop Santa Luzia Basilica and other architectural and cultural treats. The many squares offer opportunities to watch the world go by from an outdoor café or restaurant as you savour local cuisine.
Accommodation: Viana do Castelo, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Viana do Castelo to Vila do Conde
Distance: 57.8 km (35.8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +355m / -362m
Today, you head south, weaving between stunning beaches and verdant countryside, including nature reserves such as the one at Esposende. As you traverse small villages, you’ll see local people tending their small crops and fisherfolk at work, usually preparing their nets and bait for the next catch. You’ll also spot windmills on the beach!
As you enter Vila do Conde, marvel at the replica 15th century ship that once set sail from there on voyages of discovery. Along with its impressive naval history, the town is famous for its bobbin lace and embroidery. You can learn more at the local Bobbin Lace Museum and see craftswomen at work.
Accommodation: Vila do Conde, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Vila do Conde to Porto
Distance: 35.4 km (22 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +278m / -276m
Enjoy the varied coastal scenery as you make your way to the city of Porto. Shortly after leaving Vila do Conde, you’ll cross another nature reserve so look out for birds. See the colourful boats and small fishing community at Angeiras, a stark contrast from the busy port at Matosinhos.
Follow the Douro River from its mouth into the heart of Porto city centre, which is where today’s route ends.
Make the most of your time in this beautiful city by visiting a port wine lodge or one of the many unique monuments, such as Clérigos Tower or Lello Bookstore. You can also simply unwind with a drink overlooking the river in the Ribeira district.
Accommodation: Porto, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Porto to Ovar
Distance: 47.5 km (29.6 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +286m / -284m
Today’s Cross the mighty Douro River and head back to the Atlantic Ocean to continue cycling south along the coast and through coastal towns and villages, including Miramar, where there’s a chapel on the beach. Before reaching the last of these villages, Furadouro, enjoy the shade and refreshing scent as you cycle through an extensive pine forest.
End the trail in the small town of Ovar, where you can try the famous Pão de Ló, an impossibly soft sponge cake that Portuguese people will travel miles for. This town is also known for its colourful tiles, which cover most of the buildings in the historical centre, making it an open-air tile museum.
Accommodation: Ovar, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Ovar to Aveiro
Distance: 61.9 km (38.4 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +206m / -212m
On your way to Aveiro, you’ll explore the vast blue waters of the Ria de Aveiro lagoons. There are many small quays lined with brightly-painted fishing boats of varying shapes and sizes as well as small shipyards where you may find construction or maintenance in progress.
At Cais do Bico beach, you’ll find a monument to the Moliceiro, a traditional boat that was once used to transport seaweed along the waterways for use as fertiliser in the surrounding agricultural lands.
End the day in the city of Aveiro, where the Moliceiros are now used to transport tourists along the canals. You may wish to take a ride on one. This attractive city is also full of Art Nouveau buildings and patterned pavements, so once you’re refreshed, take a stroll around the historical centre.
Accommodation: Aveiro, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Aveiro circular (via Costa Nova)
Distance: 55 km (34.3 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss): +245m / -245m
Head back to the coast for the first part of today’s route, passing some salt pans as you leave Aveiro. You’ll pass Barra Fort and lighthouse and see the picturesque striped houses in Costa Nova.
There are plenty of wading birds in the Aveiro Lagoon, between here and the town of Vagos, which you will skirt on the way to the Vista Alegre Museum. This fascinating museum is housed in the original porcelain factory and explains the history of porcelain in Portugal as well as the story of Vista Alegre and the village that it developed to support the factory workers.
From here, make your way back into the city of Aveiro for your last night. If you’re curious about salt production, you can find out more at the Troncalhada Marine EcoMuseum.
Accommodation: Aveiro, 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, make your own way to your next destination.
End of our services
Meals: Breakfast
Like what you see but it’s not quite a perfect fit?
Simply get in touch to tell us what you’re looking for. We’re happy to make changes to create your ideal holiday.
Map
Atlantic Coast Cycling Tour
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 7 nights | 6 cycling days
Tour type: Self-guided
Nº of people: From 2
Cycling grade: Moderate
Total cycling distance: 315.8 km | 196.2 miles
Region: Atlantic Coast
Highlights: Medieval towns and cities, riverside trail along the Minho River, typical villages, fishing communities, UNESCO World Heritage Porto, birdwatching, gorgeous coastline and countryside, experience local crafts and lifestyles, immersion in nature, ria de Aveiro lagoons and wetlands, moliceiro boats, Vista Alegre porcelain museum and factory village, abundant seafood.
Available: From 1st March to 31st October
Price per person:
March, April and October
> In double room occupancy: 1.090 euros
> Single room supplement: 450 euros
May, June and September
> In double room occupancy: 1.140 euros
> Single room supplement: 480 euros
July and August
> In double room occupancy: 1.290 euros
> Single room supplement: 580 euros
What’s included?
- 7 nights’ hand-picked accommodation with breakfast;
- 6 days bike rental (MTB TREK Marlin 6 with 29” wheels + panniers + helmet);
- Luggage transfer between accommodations;
- Detailed route notes;
- App with trail information for use on a smartphone
- In-person welcome briefing;
- 24-hour emergency contact number (English-speaking).
What’s not included?
- Lunches and dinners; Insurance; Tourist taxes; Gratuities; Personal expenses; Anything not mentioned in the “included” section above.
Important notes:
- The route combines rural paths (asphalt, cobblestones, or dirt), forest trails (dirt or gravel, uneven and sometimes rocky), secondary roads, and some main roads (both on asphalt). You may sometimes encounter steep climbs and descents along the journey, so good advanced physical preparation is necessary to make this trip.
- It is essential that you have previous experience with mountain bikes and basic bicycle repair knowledge, especially how to change a tire as punctures may occur during your trip.
Optional extra services:
- Upgrade to E-bike TREK Powerfly 4 625 (or similar): 175 euros/E-bike
- Extra nights in Porto (4-star hotel): On request.
- Extra nights in Aveiro (4-star hotel): On request.
- Transfer from Porto city/airport to Valença: 180 euros for up to 3 people; 230 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from Aveiro to Porto city/airport: 180 euros for up to 3 people; 230 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Porto: 50 euros for up to 3 people; 80 euros for 4 to 7 people.
OUR BIKES
Because we’ve carefully created this programme ourselves, we selected the most appropriated bikes for this route. Each bike has a full service between trips, replacing any parts as needed. Plus, we always ensure the brake pads are changed, delivering the bike as new to our guests.
All our bikes are high-quality Trek bikes, chosen for reliability and performance. We have different sizes and use the Trek size guide to pick the best one for you. When you book a cycling holiday with us, we’ll ask for your height so we can reserve your bike.
We also have some e-bikes in our fleet, which can help give you a boost on the hills, that we offer as an optional upgrade.
MTB: Trek Marlin 6
This 29-inch hardtail mountain bike (27.5-inch for smaller sizes) is the standard bike for most of our cycling holidays. The geometry and front suspension make it a comfortable ride and it’s perfect for off-road trails. The medium width tyres roll well on asphalt, gravel, and cobbles.
Electric MTB: Trek PowerFly 4 – 625
This 29-inch hardtail e-mountain bike (27.5-inch for smaller sizes) has all the features of our regular mountain bike, plus a battery for extra power. It’s great for riding with a stronger partner or if you want to cover longer distances. The design makes it perfect for gravel, cobbles, and steep paths. We use this bike on our Camino Portuguese tours and offer it as an option on other tours for those who prefer to ride an electric mountain bike.
Electric hybrid bike: Trek Allant+ 7
This 27.5-inch electric bike was named the Dutch e-bike of the year in 2020. The faster rolling tyres, more upright design, and front suspension, make it comfortable on smooth surfaces. It’s perfect for longer distances on roads, and the electric motor means you can still enjoy the ride when the hills get steeper.
What’s provided with our bikes?
Relax and enjoy your cycling holiday, knowing we’ve got everything covered for you:
- Rear pannier rack and bag
- Bottle cage and brand new Portugal Green Walks water bottle
- Helmet
- Adjustable phone mount on the handlebars
- Bell
- Bike lock
- Battery charger (where applicable)
- Small repair kit per group. This includes spare inner tubes (Schrader valve), tyre levers, bike pump, chain oil, chain link, disposable gloves, and multi-tool.
DIGITAL DETAILED ITINERARY
Click on the button below to download the itinerary with day-by-day details, highlights, prices and the respective general conditions.
