Touring Tuesday - Bicycle Touring Portugal

Road Touring in Portugal (photo courtesy of Visit Portugal)

Portugal is a small country, with a little less area than Indiana. That makes it easy to see a good chunk of it when touring by bike. Portugal has quite a bit of coastline, so you can  ride along the Atlantic. There are cycling routes with signposts, including the Rota Vicentina, which covers 220 miles, much of it along the coast. If you are looking for hills, there are some peaks over 6,000 feet above sea level in the interior. Inland roads are less crowded than those along the coast.

You can bicycle tour Portugal several ways. You can do a fully supported tour with a company like Pedal Portugal. This is the easiest and most expensive option. Self-guided tours are also available. The routes are planned out and you just have to ride them. The third way is to go on your own. This is the cheapest, but you'll have to do the planning. If you take this option, here are some tips from Traveling Claus:

• Getting out of Lisbon can be difficult. If you are heading south, take a ferry across the Tejo River from Cais do Sodre.
• Most roads are good, and motorists are courteous to cyclists.
• Rooms at smaller hotels go for about $25 to $35. Camping and youth hostels are also good options.