Portugal - Silver Coast Explorer
HYBRID BIKE: INCLUDED
E-BIKE HIRE - €300 PP
CARBON ROAD BIKE - €320 PP
GRAVEL BIKE HIRE - €420 PP
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - PRICE ON REQUEST
Overview
2027 DATES COMING SOON!
Seven days, two of Portugal's great cities and a coastline of lagoons, dunes and fishing villages in between. This guided Porto to Coimbra bike tour follows the Silver Coast south from the port cellars of the Douro River, then turns inland along the Mondego River to Portugal's historic university city.
You'll roll over Porto's double-decker Dom Luís I Bridge, hop on a ferry across the Ria de Aveiro lagoon and spend a night in Aveiro, a town of canals and brightly painted moliceiro boats. Next come the candy-striped beach houses of Costa Nova, pine forests that smell of resin and salt, and the long sandy beaches of Figueira da Foz, the Queen of the Silver Coast.
The journey ends in Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Climb its steep lanes to a baroque library where a resident colony of bats keeps the books free of insects, then settle in for an evening of Coimbra fado, traditionally sung by students in long black capes.
Along the way there's port in Porto, sponge cake in Ovar, sweet ovos moles in Aveiro and fish fresh off the boats.
Prefer to set your own pace? This tour is also available self-guided, with your route preloaded on GPS and your luggage sent ahead each day.
Highlights
Culture: The University of Coimbra, Coimbra fado, Porto's port lodges.
Nature: The São Jacinto dunes, the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, coastal pine forests.
Activity: Ferry hops, beach swims, riverside riding along the Mondego.
Culinary: Aveiro's ovos moles, Ovar's pão-de-ló, fresh-caught seafood.
Souvenir: Vista Alegre porcelain from Ílhavo
Full Itinerary
Porto Arrival & Welcome
Start your Silver Coast journey in Porto, Portugal's second city and the home of port wine. Your guides will meet you for a welcome briefing, after which the afternoon is yours. Ride the old tram along the river towards the Atlantic, cross into Vila Nova de Gaia for a cellar tour, or simply track down your first pastel de nata. The streets are steep, so comfy shoes are a good idea.
Cycling Distance: 0 km
Meals: None included
Accommodation: Hotel in Porto
Porto to Furadouro via Espinho
Today you swap city streets for sea air. Leave Porto across the Dom Luís I Bridge, with the port lodges lining the Gaia waterfront, and follow the coast south. Lunch is in Espinho, a seaside town with a long fishing heritage, before you reach Ovar, known for the decorative tiles covering its façades. Pick up a slice of pão-de-ló, the town's famously moist spongecake, then it's a short ride to the beach at Furadouro.
Cycling Distance: 47 km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Furadouro
Lagoon Life & Ferry to Aveiro
A day with water in every direction. Follow the long sandbar that separates the Atlantic from the Ria de Aveiro, one of Portugal's largest lagoons. Ride through sleepy fishing villages and the protected dunes of São Jacinto. A short ferry crossing brings you to Aveiro, a canal city of Art Nouveau buildings, salt pans and painted boats. The old railway station, covered in blue-and-white tiles, is worth a detour.
Cycling Distance: 45 km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Aveiro
Ílhavo Porcelain to Praia de Mira
Today's ride starts with a little history in Ílhavo, a town with deep ties to Portugal's cod-fishing fleets and home to the Vista Alegre porcelain works. Then it's on to Costa Nova, where old fishermen's storehouses have become striped beach houses that look like rows of deckchairs. With the lagoon on one side and dunes on the other, an easy afternoon brings you to Praia de Mira, a relaxed beach town between sea and lagoon.
Cycling Distance: 40 km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Praia de Mira
Mira to Figueira da Foz
Leave Praia de Mira past the tucked-away Barrinha lagoon, popular with windsurfers, and head into the dune forests where the scent of pine mixes with salty air. Near the end of the day comes the tour's one real climb, about 4 km over the Serra da Boa Viagem. Easy with some battery power and you will be rewarded with sweeping views up and down the coast. Then it's downhill into Figueira da Foz, where the Mondego River meets the Atlantic.
Cycling Distance: 50 km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Figueira da Foz
Along the Mondego to Coimbra
Leave the coast behind and follow the Mondego River inland, past rice fields and farmland, to Coimbra. Portugal's capital in medieval times, Coimbra is home to one of the world's oldest universities, now UNESCO World Heritage-listed. Wander up the steep lanes to the Joanina Library, where bats keep the books free of insects, then find a seat for Coimbra fado, traditionally sung by men in long black student capes. Hungry? Try chanfana, goat slow-cooked in red wine.
Cycling Distance: 55 km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Coimbra
Farewell from Coimbra
After breakfast it's time for goodbyes. Coimbra is well connected by train, with easy links to Lisbon and Porto for your onward journey.
Cycling Distance: 0 km
Meals: Breakfast
Download the Itinerary PDF here
All distances are approximate. Our tours often go off the beaten track and follow routes that are not always predictable. We cannot always guarantee the weather. For these reasons we may occasionally have to update our itineraries. We will only do this to improve your experience or for safety reasons. Our listed accommodation is always accurate at the time of writing but should we need to change you can rest assured that it will be for similar or better. Display price may differ to what is quoted as this tour is invoiced in the currency stated, and can be dynamic with daily exchange rates.
The Details
• 6 nights' accommodation in four-star hotels and rural guesthouses
• Daily breakfast
• Local guide
• Support van (minimum 8 riders)
• Luggage transfers between hotels
• GPS with the route preloaded
• Mechanical assistance
• Flights
• Lunches and dinners
• Drinks
• City tax, ferry fares and entry fees to sights
• Onward travel from Coimbra after the tour
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
For recreational cyclists seeking a challenge with greater variety. Expect up to 75km (flat) or 500m of climbing on rougher roads; no technical off-road. Moderate tours require good cycling experience and fitness. Cycle twice a week with a longer weekend ride.
Explore our range of Moderate tours here.
If you're unsure about anything, please see our FAQs page for extra information.
FAQsBooking information
Participants will be asked to complete a booking form after confirmation of their booking.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
To ensure the trip's viability with our suppliers, a minimum number of participants is usually required. Upon submitting your booking request, we will provide specifics regarding minimum numbers. Following trip confirmation, you may proceed with flight bookings and other travel arrangements. A ‘Limited’ trip status signifies limited spaces available. For trip status inquiries, kindly email or call our office.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
A deposit is required to secure your place on your selected tour departure. On receipt of your deposit, Global Cycling Adventures will email you a confirmation to verify your travel arrangements and advise final payment details. The final payment is normally required 60 days before departure date unless otherwise specified.
CANCELLATIONS & AMENDMENTS
All tour cancellations will require notification in writing to Global Cycling Adventures by the person participating on the tour. Please be advised that booking cancellations or amendments will incur relevant fees. Cancellation charges are tour-specific and timing-dependent. For a comprehensive outline of our terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, please refer to the travel proposal provided by our team.
We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.
OVERSEAS JURISDICTION AND TERMS
For all overseas tours, the terms and conditions, laws, and jurisdiction of the destination country will apply. By booking a tour with us, you acknowledge and agree that local regulations, industry practices, and terms specific to the destination country may supersede or modify our standard terms. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable local laws and regulations while participating in the tour.
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