Alentejo Coast Cycling Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Sesimbra
You will arrive in Sesimbra, about 45 minutes from Lisbon Airport, and settle into a hotel with a swimming pool. If you arrive early, explore the beachfront, the market and the fortress, or cycle out to Cape Espichel for its dramatic cliffs and sweeping ocean views. At 6:00 p.m. a welcome drink opens the tour; if your flight lands late, an extra night here is recommended.

Day 2: Sesimbra – Setúbal (43 km; +890 m)
You will start at Sesimbra's lively fishermen's market, then climb to the 12th-century castle for panoramic views over the town and the Atlantic. The lush Arrábida Natural Park follows, with coastal viewpoints, fragrant vegetation and quiet roads, and some challenging hills. A swim at Figueirinha beach is optional (+10 km, +345 m), before you reach Setúbal, a vibrant coastal city of fishing traditions. A car transfer up to the castle can cut the first hill.

Day 3: Setúbal – Carvalhal (39 km; +90 m)
After exploring downtown Setúbal, you will take the ferry across the Sado River, home to a resident population of wild dolphins. On the Tróia Peninsula you will ride through vast sand dunes and peaceful coastal landscapes, then inland through rice fields and traditional villages. The ride ends at the transfer point in Carvalhal, with an included transfer to your hotel in Santo André or Santiago do Cacém; strong riders can cycle on to Santiago (+40 km).

Day 4: The Lagoons Tour (50 km; +457 m)
You will ride through serene cork oak forests to a family-run olive mill for an olive oil tasting, then continue to Melides and its Marble Book Monument. On the coast you will discover the Santo André and Melides Lagoons Nature Reserve, rich in wildlife, before a challenging final climb into Santiago do Cacém, with its castle, the Roman ruins of Miróbriga and a local gin distillery.

Day 5: Santiago do Cacém – Porto Covo (34 km; +235 m)
After visiting the castle of Santiago do Cacém, you will ride through a lush oak forest toward the Atlantic, stopping at the last operating windmill in the region. As the ocean appears, warm waters and dramatic schist cliffs frame the final stretch to the fishing village of Porto Covo, in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentina Coast Natural Park, with beach coves a five-minute walk from your hotel.

Day 6: Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes (30 km; +235 m)
You will visit the old coastal fortification that once protected the harbor from pirate attacks, facing the iconic Peach Island, then ride to a traditional fishing harbor where you can walk into the ocean along the stone piers and watch the day's catch being unloaded. In Vila Nova de Milfontes you can stroll the whitewashed streets and end the day watching the sunset at the lighthouse.

Day 7: The Cliffs Route, Vila Nova de Milfontes round trip (60 km; +305 m)
With no bags to pack, you will follow one of the most spectacular cliff rides in Portugal on quiet rural paths, with easy dirt roads and asphalt alternatives, past stork nests perched on the coastal cliffs. Almograve Beach is the stop for a swim. Riders who prefer to keep moving can continue south and spend the night in Odeceixe instead.

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast your coastal journey comes to an end. A transfer to Lisbon airport can be booked as a supplement.