Sun, cliffs and endless roads in the Algarve
Road Cycling Collection by komoot
7
Tours
39:39 h
419 mi
28,300 ft
With 300 days of sun each year, Portugal's west coast — the Algarve — is one of the best places to head for a cycling holiday, wherever you go. Situated right in the middle of this beautiful region, however, is the Costa Vicentina Nature Park, a stunning region comprised of fantastic hills and breathtaking beaches — a sight that is bound to warm you up.
Whether you are an ambitious roadie or a leisurely touring cyclist, the Algarve offers rides for everyone. What's more, being a well-developed destination for other fans of outdoor activities, there's still plenty to do when you're not in the saddle, from horseback riding and surfing to hiking and mountain biking. This makes it the ideal destination for a week away with the family, or as the training ground for your next off-season prep.
The easiest way to arrive is to fly. Several low-cost airlines fly here from cities all over Europe, although if you're coming from further afield, Lisbon might be a good alternative. There are direct buses and internal flights from Lisbon to Faro. Once you arrive, you can get to all of the numerous cities in the region — the places that serve as our routes' starting points — within an hour in a rental car, or you can also take a public bus to save some money. Just bear in mind that there are numerous beautiful gravel roads to be found down here, so we'd recommend kitting your standard road bike out with thicker tires so you can enjoy them all.
The hub of our rides is the small coastal town of Arrifina, a wonderful alternative to the well-known destinations of package tourism. We chose this place because of its quiet and beautiful location; an area where you can really relax after a day in the saddle. To avoid the searing hear of the summer, the best time to visit is in spring or autumn — but you'll find a host of great activities to take part in whenever you come.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Intermediate02:0427.1 mi13.1 mph1,700 ft1,750 ftIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
From the starting point in the tranquil fishing village of Arrifina you start today on a short (culinary) introductory round. First, head inland to Aljezur, a small town that has the best ice cream parlor in the area. While you enjoy the delicious ice cream, you can decide whether you want to cycle back…
by komoot
- Difficult08:42106 mi12.2 mph7,150 ft7,200 ftExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Fancy a challenging day in the saddle? Then this road bike tour is just right. With 172 kilometers and 2210 vertical meters, this tour is challenging, but it also has plenty of motivating highlights to offer. It starts from Arrifina in the direction of Monchique Mountains, which houses the 902 meter…
by komoot
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- Difficult06:5966.2 mi9.5 mph4,950 ft5,125 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Above all, this tour has a bit of beach, a bit of town and a few fine climbs over the Algarve hills. Not too much, not too little. But wonderful.
Let's start from Arrifana up to the Sierra de Monchique. Once at the top you can treat yourself to a break, here there is a small supermarket and a few bars…
by komoot
- Difficult04:3642.7 mi9.3 mph2,450 ft2,425 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Attention: This is not a normal road bike tour. This tour is due to the fact that you are currently in the Algarve. That beautiful area with great weather and a beautiful landscape. And with the most beautiful beaches you can imagine. Exactly dedicated to this tour. Today you are doing beach hopping…
by komoot
- Difficult08:4478.0 mi8.9 mph4,925 ft5,125 ftExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The Via Algarviana is an ancient pilgrimage and has long been popular with hikers. A few years ago, Portugal recognized the potential of cycling tourism in the Algarve and started to make the Via Algarviana a cycling route. Overall, this trail is about 300 kilometers long and leads to the Spanish border…
by komoot
- Intermediate02:0927.6 mi12.9 mph1,600 ft1,650 ftIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This tour combines your passion for cycling with the fact that you are on vacation. That's why you'll cycle today to an absolute highlight of the Algarve, a boat tour through the impressive rock caves of the Ponta da Piedade in Lagos.
For this you drive a loose tour from Arrifana to Lagos, the port city…
by komoot
- Difficult06:2471.7 mi11.2 mph5,550 ft5,625 ftExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This tour is in the truest sense of the word a borderline experience. Because you follow a stretch of about 20 kilometers of the border between the regions of Algarve in the south and Alentejo in the north, which is marked by the small river Ribeira de Seixe, through whose beautiful valley you drive…
by komoot
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance419 mi
- Duration39:39 h
- Elevation28,300 ft
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