{"id":482,"date":"2019-03-20T10:20:24","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T10:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/?p=482"},"modified":"2019-03-20T10:20:24","modified_gmt":"2019-03-20T10:20:24","slug":"winter-holiday-cycling-guide-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2019\/03\/20\/winter-holiday-cycling-guide-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Holiday Cycling Guide: Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you find yourself staring at dreary skies and wet roads, wishing for better cycling weather\u2014we\u2019ve got the answer! Winter can be the ideal time to discover a new riding location and trade the bad weather in for some off-season sun. There is certainly no shortage of sunny locales to enjoy all year long, but we\u2019re breaking down some of the best destinations in a series, offering more detail and highlighting some of the options available.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We start in the land of sun and wine\u2014Portugal. With summer heat making cycling a challenge in many parts of the country, the off-season is the ideal time to explore this beautiful country. There are tours available for all styles and budgets, and we\u2019ve selected 5 great tours that offer variety depending on the type of experience you\u2019re after. All tours are available throughout the winter months.<\/p>\n

Get to know the authentic Algarve<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Offered in 8- or 5-day trips, this moderate cycling tour<\/a> in the Algarve takes you all the way from the Spanish border in the east to Sagres at the southwestern tip of Portugal. You will get an authentic Algarve experience while exploring hidden inland villages, the Natural Park and lagoon of the Ria Formosa, and taking in fantastic views from the top of cliffs. A much different Algarve than the tourist-packed beaches, this tour is about enjoying nature at its finest and getting to relax in gorgeous hotels at the end of a solid day\u2019s riding.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Level: Moderate
\nDistance: 260km (8-day trip)
\nPrice: \u00a3900<\/p>\n

Challenge yourself in Madeira<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Get your legs burning while exploring the sub-tropical island of Madeira. Winding around most of the coast from Canico town to the capital, Funchal, this self-guided tour<\/a> allows you to enjoy Madeira\u2019s mild climate while passing through coastal villages, ancient grottoes, and traditional thatched houses. This tour involves a few long ascents, including a stunning cycle to Europe\u2019s highest cape.\u00a0You\u2019ll also have plenty of time to unwind and enjoy Madeira\u2019s famous wine.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Level: Moderate to Challenging
\nDistance: 121mi\/195km
\nPrice: \u00a3706 to \u00a31124 for 7 nights<\/p>\n

Experience relaxed cycling from a delightful farmhouse<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is a trip for those looking to experience the best of Portugal\u2019s countryside<\/a> and get acquainted with a relaxed rural way of life. Staying from four nights to a full week, you\u2019ll be living in a typical Alentejo farmhouse from which you can venture out on daily rides. Choosing from five diverse cycle routes, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to visit some of Europe\u2019s largest and oldest megalithic monuments, ride past Roman ruins, discover ancient watermills and take in the views from hilltop castles. To stay fueled, you\u2019ll have time to stop off at cheese farms, wine cellars, and traditional villages renowned for their rustic meat pies, olives, and fresh herbs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Level: Easy to moderate
\nDistance: 44mi\/71km
\nPrice: 4 nights from\u00a0\u00a3451 to \u00a3619<\/p>\n

Get your ladies together for a women-only tour<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking to plan a girls-only winter vacation<\/a>, Practice Bicycle Tours offers custom women\u2019s bike trips throughout southern Portugal. They have flexible dates and routes, so all you need to do is\u00a0round up a few of your favourite gals and create your ideal cycling vacation. They offer a selection of over 70 proven ride routes with a variety of terrain and distances throughout the Algarve.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Level: Easy to moderate
\nDistance: You choose
\nPrice: N\/A<\/p>\n

Castles and wine by bike<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Benefit from lower prices in the off-season and take advantage of this tour that certainly lives up to its name. You\u2019ll spend most nights sleeping in a\u00a0castle<\/a>\u00a0or an old convent that have been transformed into charming hotels. Along the way, you\u2019ll see the ancient city of\u00a0\u00c9vora, world heritage site, and small fortified hamlets that hold stories of wars with the Moors and Spain. You\u2019ll pass the biggest artificial lake in Europe and have ample opportunities to learn for yourself why Portuguese wine is famous around the world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Level: Moderate
\nDistance: 200km
\nPrice: Self-guided from\u00a0\u20ac931<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you find yourself staring at dreary skies and wet roads, wishing for better cycling weather\u2014we\u2019ve got the answer! Winter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,1],"tags":[],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mostly-for-fun","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWinter Holiday Cycling Guide: Portugal - \u0160koda We Love Cycling - Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2019\/03\/20\/winter-holiday-cycling-guide-portugal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winter Holiday Cycling Guide: Portugal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you find yourself staring at dreary skies and wet roads, wishing for better cycling weather\u2014we\u2019ve got the answer! 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