Portugal: Porto, the Silver Coast & Lisbon

Depart home for Portugal. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

Upon arrival at the Porto Airport, make your own travel arrangements to your centrally located Porto hotel. For details, refer to your VBT Handbook.

The rest of the day is yours to explore Porto at leisure, using the VBT city information as your guide.

After breakfast at NH Hotel Jardim, meet your VBT Local host and any other VBT guests arriving on the same day at 10:00 a.m. in the hotel lobby for the approximately two-hour drive to the town of Monte Real. Your host will be carrying a VBT sign.

The natural hot springs in and around Monte Real have long been considered curative. Lucky for you, your palatial hotel draws on them for their soothing therapeutic spa treatments. Before you indulge, you might want to get acquainted with your bike during an easy loop ride, or take a stroll around the extensive grounds that stretch some 60 acres. Take your time and enjoy this beautiful property. An included three-course dinner is served at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. If you wish, take advantage of the Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, or indoor heated pool this afternoon. (Spa access and treatments are at your expense).

Today’s Ride Choices

Monte Real loop short option — 8.9 km (5.5 miles) | Monte Real loop long option — 19.9 km (12.5 miles)

What to Expect:

Short option

Designed for you to get comfortable with your bike and move your legs after your flight, this easy short loop starts at your hotel and goes through the town of Monte Real into the surrounding farmland and follow un-trafficked roads for a loop along the Lis River. Watch out for some uneven pavement between kilometers 5 and 7.

Long option

Designed for you to get comfortable with your bike and move your legs after your flight, this easy short loop starts at your hotel and goes through the town of Monte Real into the surrounding farmland and follow un-trafficked roads to do a loop along the Lis River. Watch out for some uneven pavement between kilometer 12 and 15.

Non-biking options: After your Welcome Orientation you may be ready for lunch at your hotel or in town. Later, you may choose to enjoy your hotel’s spa facilities (spa access cost of approx. 16 euros and treatments additional). The hotel is surrounded by easily accessible and signed walking paths.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Get your first taste of Portugal’s coastal beauty as you cycle to the Atlantic Ocean. You will travel through pine forests and past fertile farms. You may want to bring a snack and take the time to enjoy it on your arrival at the Ervideira Lagoon. You’ll see why this is a favorite spot among local families seeking a calm alternative to the nearby ocean beaches.

You will continue with a slight ascent up a small ridge, arriving at the white sands of the sleepy village of Pedrogão. Take a refreshing swim in the Atlantic if you wish. Then, turn slightly inland to parallel the coast, passing the town of Vieira and its namesake beach. Later, arrive in the resort of São Pedro Moel, a graceful village tucked above the surf and sand in a protective cove. Pass its landmark Penedo da Saudade lighthouse, built on the rocky promontory where a 17th-century widowed Duchess is said to have mourned her husband. After settling in to your hotel, take a scenic stroll along the boardwalks atop the dramatic cliffs, the ideal place to observe a stunning sunset over the Atlantic. Choose from a half-dozen or more restaurants within a short walk of your hotel or take advantage of the ocean view from your hotel’s dining room.

Today’s Ride Choices

Monte Real to São Pedro Moel — 43 km (26 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route descends from Monte Real on paved roads through farmland, then climbs up a small ridge before reaching the Atlantic coast. At the ocean, take a left and head south, paralleling the coast along a paved bike lane through the town of Praia de Vieira. Just before reaching your evening’s destination and hotel in the small town of São Pedro Moel, you will ride past the Penedo da Saudade lighthouse.

Included Meals: Breakfast

You will depart São Pedro Moel’s cobbled streets and join a dedicated bike route through fragrant pine forests paralleling the coastline. Sections of this historic Atlantic pine forest were planted in the 13th century by King Afonso III to stop the erosion of the dunes. Later, during the Age of Discovery, they supplied the timber for Portugal’s fleet of intrepid explorers as they sailed to distant shores.

Your route brings you to the town of Nazaré, renowned for its long crescent beach and resort atmosphere, and celebrated as the place where surfer Garrett McNamara rode the record-breaking 100-foot wave at North Beach. You’re sure to find a spot for lunch here.  Freshly caught seafood is always on the menu.

Continue cycling past the marina and turn inland to follow the Alcobaça River on a dedicated bike lane. Then, gently ascend to the small city of Alcobaça, centered around the 13th-century Cistercian monastery, one of the country’s most magnificent Gothic structures. It was originally built to commemorate the taking of Santarém from the Moors in 1147 and today holds the tomb of King Pedro I. Architecturally, it represents the first example of its style, with its unique portal and rose window. Take all the time you’d like to wander this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Conclude your ride at your resort, where you may choose to relax in its indoor or outdoor pool, steam room or sauna. Savor an included dinner in the fine-dining restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

São Pedro Moel to Alcobaça — 40 km (25 miles)

What to Expect:

The route departs the town of São Pedro Moel on a short section of cobbled street and immediately follows a paved, dedicated bike lane that alternates between pine forests and the coast with ocean views. In the busier town of Nazaré, use caution on the steep descent through narrow streets and along the beach-front bike lane (you will ride on sidewalk for a few hundred meters). After leaving town you will turn inland along a flat paved road and join the riverside bike lane and country roads, ascending gradually to the town of Alcobaça.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Depart your hotel this morning and coast down to the center of Alcobaça. Start the day at your own pace, revisiting the monastery or just enjoying a late morning coffee or early lunch at an outdoor café, and grabbing some snacks for the road. Any time of day is perfect for the delicious pastel de nata, the Portuguese custard tart pastry dusted with cinnamon. Then, cycle into the agricultural fields that slope to the coast, following a bike route to the seaside town of São Martinho do Porto. Founded by monks in the 13th century, it was a favorite seaside resort of Portuguese nobility in the 19th century. Its unique, protected scallop-shaped bay of fine sand is bordered on its southern side by one of Europe’s largest dunes at the far end. The red sandstone Salir do Porto soars to 160 feet.

Here, a two-night stay allows for a beachside rest day or a choice of two optional rides. Dinner is on your own and the seaside town’s restaurants are just a short walk away.

Today’s Ride Choices

Alcobaça to São Martinho do Porto — 28 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

Descend gradually from Alcobaça to the river valley, then join a dedicated bike route to the Atlantic coast and the beach resort town of São Martinho do Porto. Follow town streets and bike lanes to the scallop-shaped beach, and your hotel for the next two nights.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your Stay Put Day is full of possibilities! If you can’t get enough of cycling, you can choose to ride one of two loops. The short option loops inland from São Martinho do Porto to the outskirts of the town of Caldas da Raina. The longer option back to Nazaré, returning on a ridge high above the Atlantic with stunning views. You can enjoy São Martinho do Porto’s unique scallop-shaped, protected beach. Your hotel’s staff can suggest a rental outfit where you can set out on a kayak, canoe, sailboat, paddleboard, paddle boat, or windsurfer. Relax in the calm waters of the lagoon, enjoying lunch at a seaside café or simply relax on the beach. The day is yours to do as you please and in the evening, seek out a nearby restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

São Martinho do Porto to Caldas da Raina loop — 35 km (22 miles) | São Martinho do Porto to Nazaré loop long option — 36.1 km (22.4 miles)

What to Expect:

São Martinho do Porto to Caldas da Raina loop:

Cycle southeast through farmland. At about kilometer 14 (mile 9), you encounter the first of two ascents on the outskirts of Caldas da Raina. Then at about 23 kilometers (14 miles), you start a long gradual descent of over 15 kilometers (10 miles) back to the bay of São Martinho do Porto.

São Martinho do Porto to Nazaré loop long option:

On this longer optional loop, cycle northeast through flat or gently rolling farmland from São Martinho do Porto. The ride returns back to the surf mecca of Nazaré. On the return ride, you’ll stay close to the coast after leaving Nazaré, which means a steep climb of about 2 kilometers (between kilometer 26.3 and 30) to a beautiful ridgeline with little traffic and then a fun descent to São Martinho do Porto.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy today’s leisurely ride to Óbidos, one of Portugal’s best preserved medieval walled towns. You will ride out of São Martinho do Porto, following the Atlantic coast south into the beach and town of Foz do Arelho, then wind inland through a mixture of small farms, villages, and pear orchards.

This cultural and historic gem of Óbidos is so beautiful that King Dinis offered it as a wedding gift to Queen Isabel in 1282. Future kings followed suit—for 600 years!—and the hilltop town has since become known as the Casa das Rainhas, the House of Queens. Whether or not you are royalty, you’re likely to fall in love with the whitewashed houses, bougainvillea vines, and crenellated walls. It is a fitting end to your self-guided bike tour of Portugal.

The charming pedestrian center invites endless exploration. Narrow cobblestone streets lead to leafy, shaded squares, rising gradually to the town’s highest point—the 15th-century castle. If you’d like, you can walk along the top of some of the city walls and enjoy breathtaking views of the town’s red roofs and surrounding countryside—although not recommended if you dislike heights! Staying in Óbidos overnight is a real treat. After the day trippers have left, a hush falls over the cobblestones as street lamps illuminate the town in a magical glow—step out into this mesmerizing atmosphere to enjoy a celebratory evening and dinner.

Today’s Ride Choices

São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos short option — 51 km (31 miles) | São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos long option — 64 km (40 miles)

What to Expect:

São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos short option:

The shorter option to Óbidos follows the ridge parallel to the Atlantic coast south. Starting with a steep ascent at kilometer 2.8 (1.8 miles), then gradual ascent to the maximum elevation at about 10 kilometers (6 miles). An exhilarating descent takes you into the beach town of Foz do Arelho at the mouth of the Óbidos Lagoon. You ride through villages and farmland with some undulating terrain up to just over 29 km (18 miles), then turn on a short portion of hard-packed gravel bike path along the shore of the lagoon (3 km, 1.8 miles), which is not accessible by car. You then continue pedaling through farmland and charming villages to the hilltop town of Óbidos. Take care in the busy and cobbled streets of Óbidos.

São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos long option:

The longer option to Óbidos follows the ridge parallel to the Atlantic coast south. Starting with a steep ascent at kilometer 2.8 (1.8 miles), then gradual ascent to the maximum elevation at about 10 kilometers (6 miles). An exhilarating descent takes you into the beach town of Foz do Arelho at the mouth of the Óbidos Lagoon. You ride through villages and farmland with some undulating terrain up to just over 29 km (18 miles), then turn on a short portion of hard-packed gravel bike path along the shore of the lagoon (total of 3 km, 1.8 miles), which is not accessible by car. After a few hundred meters on the road, you rejoin the gravel bike path for 4.4 km (2.8 miles) along the tranquil lagoon (total on gravel 7.4 km, 4.6 miles). Continue west to the mouth of the lagoon at Bom Successo Beach before turning inland on rolling roads, then ascend gradually and pedal through farmland and charming villages to the hilltop town of Óbidos. Take care in the busy and cobbled streets of Óbidos.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, at 10:00 a.m., travel to your hotel in Lisbon, roughly an hour away, together with any other VBT Self-Guided guests. You have the remainder of the day to discover the cultural and historic treasures of the fascinating Portuguese capital. Wander the narrow streets of the Alfama district. Explore the fantastic Manueline architecture of the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. Marvel at the enormous Monument to the Discoveries. This evening, you may enjoy dinner accompanied by the passionate songs of the city’s famed fado singers. See your VBT city information for specific recommendations about how to spend your time.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast this morning, allow yourself a minimum of three hours prior to your flight departure to get to Lisbon’s Airport. For details, refer to your VBT Handbook. This timeframe includes a maximum of one hour of travel and around two hours of recommended pre-flight check-in time.

Included Meals: Breakfast

We suggest arriving in Portugal at least one day prior to the tour start date as your tour begins at 10:00 a.m. Meet your VBT Local host and any other VBT guests arriving on the same day at 10:00 a.m. in the lobby of the NH Hotel Jardim in Porto. Your host will be carrying a VBT sign. Your transportation to the historic village of Monte Real will take approximately two hours.

The natural hot springs in and around Monte Real have long been considered curative. Lucky for you, your palatial hotel draws on them for their soothing therapeutic spa treatments. Before you indulge, you might want to get acquainted with your bike during an easy loop ride, or take a stroll around the extensive grounds that stretch some 60 acres. Take your time and enjoy this beautiful property. An included three-course dinner is served at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. If you wish, take advantage of the Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, or indoor heated pool this afternoon.

Today’s Ride Choices

Monte Real loop short option — 9 km (6 miles) | Monte Real loop long option — 20 km (13 miles)

What to Expect:

Short Option:
Designed for you to get comfortable with your bike and move your legs after your flight, this easy short loop starts at your hotel and goes through the town of Monte Real into the surrounding farmland and follow un-trafficked roads for a loop along the Lis River. Watch out for some uneven pavement between kilometers 5 and 7.

Long Option:
Designed for you to get comfortable with your bike and move your legs after your flight, this easy short loop starts at your hotel and goes through the town of Monte Real into the surrounding farmland and follow un-trafficked roads to do a loop along the Lis River. Watch out for some uneven pavement between kilometer 12 and 15.

Non-biking options:
After your Welcome Orientation you may be ready for lunch at your hotel or in town. Later, you may choose to enjoy your hotel’s spa facilities (spa access cost of approximately €16 and treatments additional). The hotel is surrounded by easily accessible and signed walking paths.

Included Meals: Dinner

Get your first taste of Portugal’s coastal beauty as you cycle to the Atlantic Ocean. You will travel through pine forests and past fertile farms. You may want to bring a snack and take the time to enjoy it on your arrival at the Ervideira Lagoon. You’ll see why this is a favorite spot among local families seeking a calm alternative to the nearby ocean beaches.

You will continue with a slight ascent up a small ridge, arriving at the white sands of the sleepy village of Pedrogão. Take a refreshing swim in the Atlantic if you wish. Then, turn slightly inland to parallel the coast, passing the town of Vieira and its namesake beach. Later, arrive in the resort of São Pedro Moel, a graceful village tucked above the surf and sand in a protective cove. Pass its landmark Penedo da Saudade lighthouse, built on the rocky promontory where a 17th-century widowed Duchess is said to have mourned her husband. After settling in to your hotel, take a scenic stroll along the boardwalks atop the dramatic cliffs, the ideal place to observe a stunning sunset over the Atlantic. Choose from a half-dozen or more restaurants within a short walk of your hotel or take advantage of the ocean view from your hotel’s dining room.

Today’s Ride Choices

Monte Real to São Pedro Moel — 43 km (26 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route descends from Monte Real on paved roads through farmland, then climbs up a small ridge before reaching the Atlantic coast. At the ocean, take a left and head south, paralleling the coast along a paved bike lane through the town of Praia de Vieira. Just before reaching your evening’s destination and hotel in the small town of São Pedro Moel, you will ride past the Penedo da Saudade lighthouse.

Included Meals: Breakfast

You will depart São Pedro Moel’s cobbled streets and join a dedicated bike route through fragrant pine forests paralleling the coastline. Sections of this historic Atlantic pine forest were planted in the 13th century by King Afonso III to stop the erosion of the dunes. Later, during the Age of Discovery, they supplied the timber for Portugal’s fleet of intrepid explorers as they sailed to distant shores.

Your route brings you to the town of Nazaré, renowned for its long crescent beach and resort atmosphere, and celebrated as the place where surfer Garrett McNamara rode the record-breaking 100-foot wave at North Beach. You’re sure to find a spot for lunch here.  Freshly caught seafood is always on the menu.

Continue cycling past the marina and turn inland to follow the Alcobaça River on a dedicated bike lane. Then, gently ascend to the small city of Alcobaça, centered around the 13th-century Cistercian monastery, one of the country’s most magnificent Gothic structures. It was originally built to commemorate the taking of Santarém from the Moors in 1147 and today holds the tomb of King Pedro I. Architecturally, it represents the first example of its style, with its unique portal and rose window. Take all the time you’d like to wander this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Conclude your ride at your resort, where you may choose to relax in its indoor or outdoor pool, steam room or sauna. Savor an included dinner in the fine-dining restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

São Pedro Moel to Alcobaça — 40 km (25 miles)

What to Expect:

The route departs the town of São Pedro Moel on a short section of cobbled street and immediately follows a paved, dedicated bike lane that alternates between pine forests and the coast with ocean views. In the busier town of Nazaré, use caution on the steep descent through narrow streets and along the beach-front bike lane (you will ride on sidewalk for a few hundred meters). After leaving town you will turn inland along a flat paved road and join the riverside bike lane and country roads, ascending gradually to the town of Alcobaça.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Depart your hotel this morning and coast down to the center of Alcobaça. Start the day at your own pace, revisiting the monastery or just enjoying a late morning coffee or early lunch at an outdoor café, and grabbing some snacks for the road. Any time of day is perfect for the delicious pastel de nata, the Portuguese custard tart pastry dusted with cinnamon. Then, cycle into the agricultural fields that slope to the coast, following a bike route to the seaside town of São Martinho do Porto. Founded by monks in the 13th century, it was a favorite seaside resort of Portuguese nobility in the 19th century. Its unique, protected scallop-shaped bay of fine sand is bordered on its southern side by one of Europe’s largest dunes at the far end. The red sandstone Salir do Porto soars to 160 feet.

Here, a two-night stay allows for a beachside rest day or a choice of two optional rides. Dinner is on your own and the seaside town’s restaurants are just a short walk away.

Today’s Ride Choices

Alcobaça to São Martinho do Porto — 28 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

Descend gradually from Alcobaça to the river valley, then join a dedicated bike route to the Atlantic coast and the beach resort town of São Martinho do Porto. Follow town streets and bike lanes to the scallop-shaped beach, and your hotel for the next two nights.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your Stay Put Day is full of possibilities! If you can’t get enough of cycling, you can choose to ride one of two loops. The short option loops inland from São Martinho do Porto to the outskirts of the town of Caldas da Raina. The longer option back to Nazaré, returning on a ridge high above the Atlantic with stunning views. You can enjoy São Martinho do Porto’s unique scallop-shaped, protected beach. Your hotel’s staff can suggest a rental outfit where you can set out on a kayak, canoe, sailboat, paddleboard, paddle boat, or windsurfer. Relax in the calm waters of the lagoon, enjoying lunch at a seaside café or simply relax on the beach. The day is yours to do as you please and in the evening, seek out a nearby restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

São Martinho do Porto to Caldas da Raina loop — 35 km (22 miles) | São Martinho do Porto to Nazaré loop long option — 36.1 km (22.4 miles)

What to Expect:

São Martinho do Porto to Caldas da Raina loop:

Cycle southeast through farmland. At about kilometer 14 (mile 9), you encounter the first of two ascents on the outskirts of Caldas da Raina. Then at about 23 kilometers (14 miles), you start a long gradual descent of over 15 kilometers (10 miles) back to the bay of São Martinho do Porto.

São Martinho do Porto to Nazaré loop long option:

On this longer optional loop, cycle northeast through flat or gently rolling farmland from São Martinho do Porto. The ride returns back to the surf mecca of Nazaré. On the return ride, you’ll stay close to the coast after leaving Nazaré, which means a steep climb of about 2 kilometers (between kilometer 26.3 and 30) to a beautiful ridgeline with little traffic and then a fun descent to São Martinho do Porto.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy today’s leisurely ride to Óbidos, one of Portugal’s best preserved medieval walled towns. You will ride out of São Martinho do Porto, following the Atlantic coast south into the beach and town of Foz do Arelho, then wind inland through a mixture of small farms, villages, and pear orchards.

This cultural and historic gem of Óbidos is so beautiful that King Dinis offered it as a wedding gift to Queen Isabel in 1282. Future kings followed suit—for 600 years!—and the hilltop town has since become known as the Casa das Rainhas, the House of Queens. Whether or not you are royalty, you’re likely to fall in love with the whitewashed houses, bougainvillea vines, and crenellated walls. It is a fitting end to your self-guided bike tour of Portugal.

The charming pedestrian center invites endless exploration. Narrow cobblestone streets lead to leafy, shaded squares, rising gradually to the town’s highest point—the 15th-century castle. If you’d like, you can walk along the top of some of the city walls and enjoy breathtaking views of the town’s red roofs and surrounding countryside—although not recommended if you dislike heights! Staying in Óbidos overnight is a real treat. After the day trippers have left, a hush falls over the cobblestones as street lamps illuminate the town in a magical glow—step out into this mesmerizing atmosphere to enjoy a celebratory evening and dinner.

Today’s Ride Choices

São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos short option — 51 km (31 miles) | São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos long option — 64 km (40 miles)

What to Expect:

São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos short option:

The shorter option to Óbidos follows the ridge parallel to the Atlantic coast south. Starting with a steep ascent at kilometer 2.8 (1.8 miles), then gradual ascent to the maximum elevation at about 10 kilometers (6 miles). An exhilarating descent takes you into the beach town of Foz do Arelho at the mouth of the Óbidos Lagoon. You ride through villages and farmland with some undulating terrain up to just over 29 km (18 miles), then turn on a short portion of hard-packed gravel bike path along the shore of the lagoon (3 km, 1.8 miles), which is not accessible by car. You then continue pedaling through farmland and charming villages to the hilltop town of Óbidos. Take care in the busy and cobbled streets of Óbidos.

São Martinho do Porto to Óbidos long option:

The longer option to Óbidos follows the ridge parallel to the Atlantic coast south. Starting with a steep ascent at kilometer 2.8 (1.8 miles), then gradual ascent to the maximum elevation at about 10 kilometers (6 miles). An exhilarating descent takes you into the beach town of Foz do Arelho at the mouth of the Óbidos Lagoon. You ride through villages and farmland with some undulating terrain up to just over 29 km (18 miles), then turn on a short portion of hard-packed gravel bike path along the shore of the lagoon (total of 3 km, 1.8 miles), which is not accessible by car. After a few hundred meters on the road, you rejoin the gravel bike path for 4.4 km (2.8 miles) along the tranquil lagoon (total on gravel 7.4 km, 4.6 miles). Continue west to the mouth of the lagoon at Bom Successo Beach before turning inland on rolling roads, then ascend gradually and pedal through farmland and charming villages to the hilltop town of Óbidos. Take care in the busy and cobbled streets of Óbidos.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Óbidos. At 10:00 a.m., complimentary transportation of about one hour brings you to the VBT Self-Guided Air+ hotel in the heart of Lisbon together with any other VBT Self-Guided guests. From there you may continue with your independent travel. For details, refer to your VBT Handbook. Depending upon your destination, it may not be possible to depart for the U.S. on the last day of the tour. Please check airline schedules carefully. If you plan to schedule return flights immediately following the tour’s conclusion, please call your airline directly for specific check-in requirements.

If you wish to linger in Óbidos and travel to Lisbon on your own, the train and bus stations are a half-mile (850 meters) from your hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast