• This is an ideal route to ride during the off-season—throughout autumn, winter, and spring—when it’s highly likely you won’t encounter anyone else along the journey.
• Route Stickers: before rolling out, stop by Grupeto Bike Café/Rcicla Bike Shop or Oficina 35 in Lisbon to grab an official route sticker. Other spots along the track will also have stickers available, but check the official website for updates, as these locations are still being carefully selected. Take the opportunity to support the communities, consume locally, and ride mindfully.
• Traversing the largest limestone massif in Portugal.
• Cabo da Roca: the westernmost point of continental Europe and the official starting point for a west-to-east European bicycle crossing.
• Wild beaches and rugged coastal singletrack.
• Multiple sections of fun, flowy singletrack.
• Wild camping inside dramatic limestone alcoves.
• Striking rock formations and unique plant life featuring several endemic species.
• The Convent of Christ and Templar Castle in the historic Templar city of Tomar, and the Royal Building of Mafra, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Conímbriga Roman Ruins: the best-preserved ruins of a Roman city in Portugal.
• Pockets of native Portuguese oak, a significantly declining tree species with rare old-growth examples, alongside the cork oak—Portugal’s national tree, which is strictly protected by law and from which natural cork is harvested. The numbers on cork oak trunks indicate the harvest year.
• Traditional gastronomy and a journey through several demarcated wine regions.
• Tasting a classic salt-cod dish (bacalhau). While you’ll find it on the menu of almost every restaurant along the route, your absolute best bet is the panoramic Terra Chã restaurant, perched high in the heart of the Candeeiros Mountains. Though their preparation changes seasonally, they always guarantee an incredible, traditional cod option that is perfect for travelers.
• Authentic “moelas com fígados” (chicken gizzards and livers) at Tomar’s traditional Cervejaria Fernando—one of Portugal’s most beloved local snacks, though it might not be for every palate. The place always packs out, so arrive early. Best paired with plenty of bread and a cold beer.
• Sol da Sicó: Grabbing a regional craft beer tucked away in the Sicó Mountains. Note: The brewery’s backyard taproom has very limited hours, so it is highly recommended to adjust your trip schedule to experience it.
• Riding back to Sintra or Lisbon: Once you reach the end, you can add an extra 300 kilometers (187 miles) to your journey by hopping on the EuroVelo 1. It is a great opportunity to check out Nazaré’s massive wave (winter only), with much more accessible, practically flat terrain that alternates between paved roads and smooth dirt tracks.

When to go

• Spring and fall offer ideal weather. Winter is a highly rewarding alternative with frequent sunny days, no snow, and no extreme cold—just pack for shorter daylight hours and cold nights. Avoid summer completely due to extreme heatwaves.

Logistics & Trains

• Kicking off a short train ride from Lisbon Airport (LIS), the route is fully train-accessible at the start, end, and midpoint (Tomar), with free bike transport on all lines. Though Regional/urban trains require no booking, Intercidades (IC) require a mandatory bike spot reservation, and high-speed Alfa Pendular trains do not allow fully assembled bicycles.

Dangers & Annoyances

• Even outside the summer season, it is crucial to stay informed about active wildfire alerts, though the region presents a very high fire risk during the summer months. Stay vigilant, especially if you plan to wild camp or bivy along the route. Building campfires or grilling is strictly prohibited and extremely dangerous during the dry season.

Travel basics

• Carrying cash is essential when riding this route. Many small local shops, cafés, and village taverns don’t accept debit or credit cards. Even where electronic payment terminals are available, establishments frequently enforce a minimum purchase limit, typically around €5.
• Follow Leave No Trace principles: pack out all trash, no campfires, and respect private property. Protect this fragile limestone ecosystem. Support the local economy: shop at small businesses and learn from the people who live in the area.

What bike

• A hardtail or rigid mountain/ATB bike is ideal. Use at least 2.25” tires (50mm bare minimum for gravel) and prepare for flats or sidewall cuts from aggressive limestone. Bike shops are marked on the map, but if prepping in Lisbon, stop by Oficina 35—a specialized adventure shop with a dedicated workshop to dial in your gear.

• Wild camping is prohibited, but discreet bivouacking—pitching your tent at sunset and packing up at sunrise—is generally tolerated and safe, as long as you remain low-profile and show absolute respect for the location and the local population. A few potential bivy spots are marked on the map as general suggestions. These locations rarely have access to drinking water along the track.
• If you prefer to complete the journey using established accommodations, there are plenty of options available; however, booking in advance is highly recommended when passing through the more isolated zones.

• There are numerous public fountains and taps with potable water along the route, but carrying a backup supply is highly recommended during the hotter months. If traveling self-supported, fill up at the last village with enough water to last through the night and into the next morning.
• Food resupply is equally straightforward, with plenty of options along the track ranging from small village grocery stores to larger supermarkets—and with a bit of luck, buying directly from local producers. If you plan to cook, keep in mind that universal screw-on gas canisters are very difficult to find outside of Lisbon or Porto.
• In the city of Tomar, there is an excellent market filled with local products where, on Friday and Saturday mornings, you can buy directly from the region’s farmers. Note that it is only open in the morning and remains closed on Sundays and Mondays.

A route designed to be taken slowly, letting riders fully enjoy the journey, the landscape, the food, and the people on a fully self-supported adventure. This breakdown is purely advisory and depends on individual fitness levels.

locationSintra — Mafra

Day 1 (58.7km, +1,200m)

The itinerary kicks off at the train station in the historic hub of Sintra, launching into a coastal granite massif where massive boulders frame the climb toward the Peninha summit. The descent leads to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. The trail then hugs the sheer cliffs of the West Coast, crossing lonely bluffs, the first pockets of lapiás, and wild beaches perfect for a cold plunge before hooking inland. After Foz do Lisandro, the track hooks inland through a quiet valley toward the limestone interior.

locationMafra — Serra de Montejunto

Day 2 (52.8km, +1,390m)

In Mafra, passing the iconic National Palace marks the transition into the rustic Saloia region. Just after leaving the village center, a short detour to the Centro de Recuperação do Lobo Ibérico—a vital sanctuary managed by the non-profit Grupo Lobo for wolves unable to survive in the wild—is well worth it. You must book your guided tour in advance via their website. Back on track, the circuit winds through agricultural plains and vineyards, breaking up the terrain with short, punchy climbs over the Socorro and Archeira ridges. The main challenge is the steady singletrack climb up Serra de Montejunto, requiring solid traction on goat-herding hillsides. Regroup at the summit picnic park or set up a wild camp nearby.

locationSerra de Montejunto — Mendiga

Day 3 (53.9km, +998m)

Drop down the northern face of the mountain via a rocky singletrack over an ancient Roman road, connecting directly to the Rio Maior salt pans. From there, enter the extensive limestone ridges of Serra de Candeeiros, a hollowed-out massif supported by a vast underground cave network. Riding across this rugged mineral labyrinth means navigating sandstone walls and maroiços—mounds of loose stone cleared by hand over generations. Sharp focus is required on the rocky singletracks to avoid sidewall cuts, though fast dirt roads provide quick relief along drystone walls to Mendiga.

locationMendiga — Tomar

Day 4 (58.7km, +1,200m)

Navigate a mineral labyrinth of lapiás, sandstone walls, and maroiços across the rugged plateaus. After descending into Vale da Serra, pass through traditional olive groves before a fast, technical descent down the Fungalvaz Canyon. After skirting the foothills of Serra de Aire, the towering Pegões Aqueduct signals your arrival at the UNESCO-listed Convento de Cristo in Tomar. As a vital midway logistical hub, this historic Templar city invites riders to resupply and explore.

locationTomar — Ansião

Day 5 (56.2, +1,289m)

Transition into the Sicó Massif via a technical singletrack along the Nabão River, requiring several hike-a-bike sections. The Nabão Canyon offers natural rock alcoves in vertical cliffs, making it an ideal wild-camp shelter. Ride through deep, isolated rural valleys before tackling the demanding climb up Serra de Alvaiázere. A technical, rocky descent dominated by singletracks guides you through massive Portuguese oak forests into Ansião.

locationAnsião — Conímbriga

Day 6 (58.7km, +1,217m)

Serra de Alvaiázere stands as the next challenge, followed by a demanding descent through jagged limestone fields. A long dirt-road grind leads to the summit of Serra do Sicó, priming riders for a strategic stop at Cervejaria Sol da Sicó to sample local craft beer—make sure to pick up some regional Rabaçal cheese beforehand. The route then snakes through the impressive vertical limestone walls of Poios Valley to the Buracas de Casmilo, where massive cave openings serve as a scenic bivy spot. Leaving the massif, the track crosses the Roman ruins of Conímbriga along the central Camino de Santiago.

locationConímbriga — Cabo Mondego

Day 7 (57km, +449m)

Leave the limestone relief behind as the terrain flattens completely into the dikes, canals, and sprawling rice fields of the Baixo Mondego. After a short climb to the medieval walls of Montemor-o-Velho Castle, follow quiet, secondary paved roads toward the coast. The route officially wraps up at the Cabo Mondego Lighthouse.