Sintra Bike Tour - Full Day Tour. Atlantic beaches and UNESCO Forest

SINTRA FULL DAY E-BIKE TOUR

Sintra has got all the ingredients that make it a fantastic day trip destination: beautifully kept coast line, Unesco forest woods, romantic architecture and small traditional villages.

Lisboetas, or those who call Lisbon home, get a thrill going to Sintra beaches in the summer but we also love going to the farmers market on the weekends, and we try to never miss a ride in the forest roads.

After picking you up at your hotel in Lisbon we transfer to Cascais and hop on our beloved e-bikes. You’ll soon realize why the 5 km bike lane along the atlantic has been chosen a few times to shoot ads.

After passing by Guincho beach, the surfers mecca, you’ll start smiling as the e-bike boost starts showing its potential. Pass by traditional white villages, immerse yourself in the old forest roads within the Sintra Unesco area, stop at the fantastic atlantic beaches (go for a dip weather permitting) and ride by small scale farms and vineyards. Agriculture in Sintra hills is mainly about self sustainability, fertile soils and a moist atmosphere make for a great diversity in vegetables and fruit.

On the third Sunday of each month we’ll stop at Almoçageme farmers market to chat with the local vendors and you will have the chance to buy super local products.

About the bikes: It’s called “electric-assist” because that’s what it is; a boost when you need it, and a bike when you don’t. This isn’t a moped, and there’s no reason to feel guilty. It’s just another way to ride on your terms.

Why take THIS tour, Why THIS tour with Cycling Lisbon?

Sintra was chosen as a holiday destination of our royalty for six centuries, it is blessed with palaces, villas and churches, and it has an artistic heritage that belies its tiny size.

We may live in Lisboa but Sintra has been our backyard for bike touring and mountain biking for a long time. Join us for an e-bike tour in the fantastic Sintra area.

We adapt the rides to your preferences and fitness level. Let us know where in Lisbon or Cascais are you staying and we will pick you up at your place and drive you back “home” after the tour.

More interested in a tour that shows Lisbon as well as a ride along a cork forest? Try the City of the Senses Tour. You may also enjoy our Along the River and the Market Tour.

GROUP TOUR 60€

Min. 6 riders (for organized groups only), up to 5h ride.

Sintra Bike Tour Details

Sintra Bike Tour Start Time – pick up at your hotel at 9:30 am
Price – 77€
Duration – 5/6 hours
Availability – everyday (Solo travelers welcome!)
Start/Finish – We’ll meet you at your hotel and transfer to Cascais/Sintra

Sintra Bike Tour Distance – Depends on your preferences. From 20 to 60 km
Difficulty – Relaxed. But be confident on the streets with your bike.
What to Bring – Only yourself and comfy clothes
Inclusions – Helmet, bottle of water, cereal bar, bilingual guide and your machine (bike).

Sintra Bike Tour Itinerary

09:30 am: Pick up at your Hotel in Lisbon followed by 30 min transfer to Cascais outskirts

10:00 am Cascais outskirts

10:15 am: Quinta da Marinha, the ocean breeze, a bike lane and a protected natural park: it can’t get much better than this as a starting point of our adventure.

Once you are kitted out with helmets we begin our pedalling through Sintra/Cascais Natural Park. For the first 5 km we will have the atlantic on one side and the natural park on the other.

Guincho beach

10:30 am: After passing by Guincho beach, one of the nicest beaches on our coast and the spot for international surfing and kite surfing competitions, you’ll start smiling as the e-bike boost starts showing its potential. Up we go to the hills of Sintra!

Malveira village

11:00 am: Stop for a coffee, maybe a local pastry or something to take on your front bar bag for later. We know how important these things can be, and sometimes they just come together. On the weekends, some cyclists use this village as the starting point for their rides, it has a few restaurants, a fountain, surf shop and good coffee.

Sintra forest

11:30 am: Off the beaten path of most tourists, the old forest roads are almost traffic free. Time to enjoy the silence in this woods and the diversity of trees and wildflowers.

Pass by some singletrack hiking trails and granite boulders, learn about the exotic species that have been introduced in the hills back in the 19th century and how they affected the local vegetation. Nothing like a water fountain to refill your bottle out of the spigot.

Almoçageme village

12:15 am: Almoçageme is the main village in Sintra, where life didn’t change much in the last decades, here locals don’t rely on tourism. Meet the traditional fruit shop, the tiny winery and the band stand. About 100m down the street you can change your 10 euro bill for a simple lunch, seated next to the locals. And if you are an ice cream fan, there’s a good homemade one almost next door.

Praia Pequena and Praia Grande

1:45 pm: Time for a break at this viewpoint from which one can see the Sintra coastline. Here you will be able to create pictures that will make your friends become so envious that they will turn red. It has a stunning view of the cliffs looming over the Atlantic Ocean, if we decide to do a picnic lunch this is the spot. From here we will proceed inland into a rural and bucolic scenery.

Colares

2:15 pm: When the phylloxera bug reached Sintra it wasn´t able to destroy all of the vineyards because some had such deep roots, most times in sandy soil, which made it impossible for the bug to reach the roots. This made Colares wine region one of the few regions where the production never ceased, nowadays and despite the small scale production, it’s a well known wine. We will ride by a few small wine producers.

Penedo village

2:30 pm: This is a favorite village for us, be welcome to the slow living mode. It’s almost travelling in time, flowers pop up from the houses walls, old ladies chat on the streets and a band stand is still being used on special occasions. The main square may be small but it has a good view down to the ocean and the white villages dotting the hills. The temple of the cyclists lies just by the square.

Cascais outskirts

Around 3:45 pm: We finish this wonderful Sintra full day e-bike tour in Cascais outskirts and will transfer you back to your Hotel. Or choose to stay in Cascais to explore it and take the train back to Lisbon. Cascais is a charming village by the sea, it used to be a fishing village until the 2nd world war, when some european wealthy families – including royalty – exiled and settled here. In the 50’s it became more sophisticated, upper class houses and palaces were built, but it managed to keep the traditional aspects: little fishing boats on the bay, a diversity of locals hanging on the streets and cafés, and more recently a marina that hosts several sailing regattas. You may choose to go for a stroll to explore the good selection of cafés, restaurants and shops, and get the 35 min train back to Lisbon.

If you choose to be transferred back to Lisbon after the ride, the estimated arrival time at your hotel in Lisbon is 4 pm.

Sintra Full Day E-Bike Tour