“The Algarve was outstanding: a perfect place to tour by bike.” —Carol

Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

Name: Best of the Algarve by Road Bike
Brand: BikeTours.com
SKU: bt48x1346
Rating: 4.8 (11 reviews)

★★★★★★4.8/5 (11)

7 nights

38 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 1000
Bike tour in Portugal

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Take an adventure in the alluring Algarve

This romantic road bike tour is your one-stop-shop for discovering the alluring beauty of the Algarve. Designed as a self-guided riding experience covering 60-70 km each day, you'll take advantage of a fantastic network of quiet tarmac roads stretching across the whole region on a tour adaptable to your individual needs.

Your tour will take you from the elegant Roman town of Tavira to the blissful beaches of Armacao de Pera, exploring myriad treasures and hidden gems along the way. Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of Loule, with its sequestered bars and souvenir stores, and discover the best-preserved castle in the Algarve in the ancient town of Silves.

The spirit of adventure draws you to Cape St. Vincent, the southernmost tip of Portugal and Europe, and onwards to the Moorish town of Aljezur, the market town of Monchique, and the historical port of Lagos. Take an unforgettable Algarvian adventure for perfect memories of Portugal!
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Highlights
- Tavira, an elegant old town dating back to Roman times
- Vila Real de Santo António - traditional Portuguese fishing town
- Loulé - an explorer's haven with its narrow cobbled streets, tiny shops, hidden-away bars & restaurants
- Ancient town of Silves, home to the best-preserved castle in the Algarve
- Cape St. Vincent, southernmost tip of Portugal and Europe
- Aljezur, an ancient Moorish town
- Market town of Monchique
- Historical old port of Lagos
- Beautiful beaches of Armacao de Pera
Learn More

Learn more about self-guided tours.

Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Portugal.
CC0 - Loulé, Faro district, Portugal. CC:Benoit Prieur' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Neo-Classical Arabesque-inspired 19th century Marketplace in Loulé, Faro district, Portugal. CC:Jose A.' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-2.0 - Silves, the 1st capital of the Algarve, Portugal. Bert Kaufmann@Flickr' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Jose A.' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Marzipan is a popular Portuguese treat! Aurelien Guichard@Flickr' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Marina in Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Mathieu Marquer' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Traditional Portuguese dish of shredded bacalhau, migas & rapini! CC:silvar.net' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Tavira, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Dmitry Tonkonog' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-ND-2.0 - Road biking! Kuster & Wildhaber Photography@Flickr' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Algarve, Portugal. wiseguy71, Flickr' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Beautiful beaches in Algarve, Portugal. CC:Philippe Salgarolo' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-3.0 - The Moorish influence is exemplified in Silves, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Lacobrigo' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Sheep in Algarve, Portugal. CC:Lacobrigo' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Silves, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Silves 1' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Aljezur, Algarve, Portugal. CC:William Warby' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Ceramic & Pottery Shop in Algarve, Portugal. CC:Kolforn' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Seafood Cataplana - a typical Algarve, Portugal. CC:Satdeep Gill' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Bert Kaufmann' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Mediterranean Chameleon in Algarve, Portugal. CC:Luis nunes alberto' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Almond blossoms in Algarve, Portugal. Yolanda@Flickr' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Francesinha is an original Portuguese sandwich! CC:Filipe Fortes' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Monchique, Algarve, Portugal. CC:Bextrel' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Beach in Algarve, Portugal. CC:Bengt Nyman' data-type='image'>

CC-BY-SA-3.0 - Medieval Fair in Silves every August. CC:Municipio de Silves' data-type='image'>

Traveler photos
Best of the Algarve

Tour Description Daily Program
Daily program

Note: You may start this tour on any date, year-round (minimum of 2 participants). Prices shown are for Apr-Sep, 2023. If you wish to book a tour starting in Jan-Mar or Oct-Dec, please inquire for prices.

Day 1: Arrival
Upon your arrival in the Algarve, you'll be collected from Faro Airport and transferred to your first destination - Vila Real de Santo Antonio - an interesting old town on the banks of the Guadiana river, which forms the border between Spain and Portugal.
Overnight in Vila Real de San Antonio.

Day 2: Vila Real de Santo Antonio – Loulé (44 miles/71 km)
After breakfast, you'll receive your bike and a briefing for the tour. The first day's cycling starts with a gentle ride along the coast towards Tavira, an elegant old town dating back to the Roman era. From here, you'll head inland through unspoilt countryside where few tourists venture, encountering São Bras de Alportel – a typical Algarvian working town, which offers a mixture of old and new. From here, it's only a short onward ride to the market town of Loule, an explorer's haven with its narrow cobbled streets sequestering atmospheric restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.
Overnight in Loule.

Day 3: Loulé – Silves (40 miles/65 km)
Venturing north into the rolling hills, you'll find yourself on fabulous winding roads leading to the hilltop village of Querença, a perfect place to sip a superb coffee with splendid views. Passing through Alte, famous for its white painted houses and freshwater springs, you'll head towards the barragens (reservoirs) before cycling on to Silves.

Once the Moorish capital, Silves is steeped in interesting history and home to the best-preserved castle in the Algarve. A very atmospheric place to explore!
Overnight in Silves.

Day 4: Silves – Sagres (46 miles/74 km)
Heading west towards the southern tip of Portugal, there are a few hills and frequent headwinds, so this ride can be challenging. However, it's well worth the effort to experience the dramatic scenery that unfurls as you approach the rugged coastline around the Sagres fortress and high cliffs of Cape St. Vincent (the southernmost tip of Portugal and Europe).
Overnight in Sagres.

Day 5: Sagres – Aljezur (37 miles/60 km)
Enjoy a fabulous day of riding as you venture northwards up the unspoilt western coast of Portugal to Aljezur. Aljezur is an ancient Moorish town situated in a lush green valley and built on either side of the winding river.

Starting out from Sagres, there's the option to visit Cape St. Vincent (12 km detour) if you decided not to yesterday. Passing through Vila do Bispo and onwards to Carrapateira, choose again whether you'd like to take the 5 km detour to the Pontal Headland, a great viewpoint that provides a lovely mid-journey cafe/lunch stop. The road ahead to Aljezur is straightforward with a few hills but with pleasant scenery every pedal of the way.
Overnight in Aljezur.

Day 6: Aljezur – Monchique (24 miles/38 km)
Today's ride is not about the distance but the climb! It's an initially steep cycle that becomes more gradual as you make your way to Marmelete and beyond. Upon reaching Monchique, a market town in the Serra de Monchique mountain range, you'll discover panoramic views from the thickly wooded mountain region that separates the Algarve from the winelands of Alentejo. The journey up to Monchique is totally different from the coastal views of the Algarve. When you arrive, you'll have myriad choices of places to stop for refreshments, before journeying a little further up to the summit of Foia where your exquisitely located hotel sits.
Overnight in Monchique.

Day 7: Monchique – Albufeira (37-44 miles/60-70 km)
There are many options for the route down to the coast today! Our recommendation is neither the shortest nor longest option, but instead one which offers great scenery and more quiet roads. Passing through Silves again and onwards into several sublime little villages, you'll reach your final destination in Albufeira. This bustling tourist town boasts lots of things to see and do. You'll be staying in a good quality 4-star hotel within walking distance of Old Town, where you can discover atmopsheric restaurants and bars, perfect for celebrating the end of your cycling trip!
Overnight in Albufeira.

Day 8: Departure
You will be transferred you from your accommodation to Faro Airport for your journey home. Don't want the adventure to end? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Portugal.

Surface and terrain

This tour features mostly quiet tarmac roads that will take you through coastal towns and hilltop villages. The tour includes generally rolling or hilly terrain with average daily distances of between 60-70 km.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

Vila Real de Santo Antonio: Hotel Apolo

Loule: Loulé Jardim Hotel

Silves: Colina dos Mouros

Sagres: Mareta View

Aljezur: Hotel Vicentina

Monchique: Monchique Resort & Spa

Albufeira: Vila Gale Cerro Alagoa

How to get there

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Faro, Portugal
Nearest train station: Loule, Portugal

The tour operator will arrange pick-up from airport in Faro. They can also do pick-ups from the Loule train station, located a convenient 1 km from the bike fitting shop.

Tips on getting to and from your tour.

Best of the Algarve

Tour Photos Dates & Prices
Dates
Daily: Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2024 (minimum 2 persons)

Off season: Jan 01, 2024 - Mar 31, 2024; Oct 01, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024

Season A: Apr 01, 2024 - Apr 30, 2024

Season B: May 01, 2024 - May 31, 2024

Season C: Jun 01, 2024 - Jun 30, 2024

Season D: Jul 01, 2024 - Jul 31, 2024

Season E: Aug 01, 2024 - Aug 31, 2024

Season F: Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024

Prices

Tour package

Season A Season B Season C Season D Season E Season F

Per person, double occupancy €1190 €1250 €1315 €1395 €1505 €1405

*For Off Season pricing, please contact us for more information.
*Single rooms are available for a surcharge. The surcharge is dependent on your travel dates, please contact us prior to booking for more details.

Bike Rentals

Carbon fiber road bike rental €175

SPD pedal rental €15

Helmet €15
Included services
- 7 nights accommodation
- Breakfasts
- Luggage transfer
- Quality maps and route suggestions
- Hotline number
- Transfers to/from start and end of route
- Garmin GPS navigation system (1 per group)
Bike rentals

Bikes available to rent (must be reserved at time of booking) include:
- TREK carbon fiber road bike (ultra light-weight)
Pedals
The bikes will have flat pedals, however SPD pedals are also available for a surcharge. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

Helmets
Helmets are available for a surcharge. However, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.

Tour Company
Best of the Algarve

Daily program Route Map
Route Map

Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.

Best of the Algarve

Dates & Prices Tour Reviews
Reviews

Write a review
- ★★★★★ Chris Downey 3 months ago
  
  Tour of the Algarve
  
  Great routes through the Algarve for road biking. The hotel were great except for the final hotel in Albufeira where we were given two single beds and each had a plastic mattress protector! A change I would recommend is incorporating Lagos in the bike tour and as an end destination to allow for spending an afternoon in that City to explore the coast after a morning of biking.
- ★★★★★ Timothy Thornberry 7 months ago
  
  Outstanding! Portugal is amazing!
  
  Entire experience was great! 6 days of riding in Algarve! Routes were great! Hotels very nice! Portuguese people were gracious hosts! Wonderful experience! Can't wait to do it again! (Recommend a rest day in the middle. traveling and biking is hard on you!)
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  June 2023
  How many tours have you completed?
  2
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Families with teens
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 3/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ Peggy Lister 7 months ago
  
  Algarve self guided bike tour
  
  Great experience! The accommodations and the daily breakfasts were all top notch!
- ★★★★★ Karla Frank 7 months ago
  
  Perfect Portugal Cycling
  
  We can’t say enough about how wonderful this trip was! It was perfect in every way. Our holidays always include cycling so this was the perfect way for us to see the Algarve region of Portugal. Algarve Bike Tours was top notch in every way. They arranged everything for the trip including hotels, cycling routes, bike rentals, and luggage transfers. Everything went off without a hitch. The hotels were all different styles, and included a fantastic breakfast to fuel our ride for the day. The cycling routes were just the right amount of distance and climb to challenge us but not exhaust us. The bicycles were in good condition and met all our needs. We brought our own pedals, clips, shoes, saddles and helmets. Also, we never had one flat! Our luggage was always at the hotel when we arrived and the hotels were happy to accommodate us if we arrived a little before check in time.
  We can’t say enough about the Algarve region! The roads were nice, the people friendly, the scenery beautiful, the food and coffee plentiful and delicious! Motorists were very considerate of bicycles, even in the busier city areas.
  We have done many cycling holidays and this rates at the top, if not the top of all our trips!
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  May 2023
  How many tours have you completed?
  This is our first with biketours.com. We have done over 20 bike holidays.
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Jamie PRORACKI 12 months ago
  
  First bike trip experience
  
  Great first trip of this type. Also first time to mainland Europe. This was a great way to experience the land and meet and interact with so many people. The food was amazing and most of the accommodations were top notch.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  December 2022
  How many tours have you completed?
  1
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat harder
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 4/5 Value
  - 4/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 4/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Timothy Libassi November 9, 2022
  
  Beautiful road biking through the Algarve countryside
  
  Beautiful tour through the countryside of the Algarve. The routes provided kept you on quite almost car free roads for the most part and where it couldn’t you are still on well maintained secondary roads with a good shoulder to ride on. The weather was great, not too hot during the day and no rain while we were riding. The carbon fiber road bikes were high quality, well-tuned and setup for us on the first day. The hotels were good to great, we stayed an extra night in Sagres, which was not only a great way to break up the trip but also the nicest hotel on the tour. The Garmin provided worked fine, we had one glitch where it sent us to the wrong hotel, but since we had also downloaded the tours to our phone, we worked it out quickly. Communication was great with biketours.com and even better with the local tour company who kept track of my bag which the airline had lost and had it to me just in time for the first day of riding. Overall a fun trip, I would go back to Portugal in a heartbeat.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  october 2022
  How many tours have you completed?
  1
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 3/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 4/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Timr November 23, 2019
  
  Castles, Orange Groves and Sea
  
  Delightful tour through this beautiful and fascinating part of Portugal. Bikes provided were quality, carbon frame road bikes. Accommodations were good to very good. Navigation was clear—the Garmin provided worked just fine. The countryside was lovely. Recommend especially in September to November when temperatures are better.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  November 2019
  How many tours have you completed?
  11
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat easier
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 4/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 5/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Tuck October 27, 2019
  
  Great trip!
  
  Six of us did an unguided trip using the bike shop's GPS on our Garmin 520 and Iphone "Ride with GPS" app. We would have been miserably lost without it! The route took us thru the back roads of southern Portugal with beautiful orchards of oranges, pomegranates, lemons, vineyards as well as to the southern most tip of Europe and north along the Atlantic ocean coast. We stopped at little cafes for lunch and cappuccino's and stayed in lovely towns at 3 and 4 star hotels. It was simply a fantastic trip. The bike shop provided new carbon fiber road bikes, set us up with the proper adjustments, installed our pedals and left us with plenty of extra parts, tools and tubes to do any repairs. We had one flat tire. They were available anytime and only a phone call away. Addee and BikeTours.com were very helpful on getting us prepped on what to take and made the arrangements for us to be picked up and dropped off at the end of our tour. A few things to note:
  * This is a #3 out of 4 difficulty rated bike tour so come prepared and properly trained.
  * We went the 2nd week of Oct. with perfect weather, 72°F (22°C) for a high and down to 62°F (16°C) at the start of the day. One ½ hour of rain the entire 6 days but it would be very hot during the summer months.
  * There were a lot of hills and a total elevation gain of around 13,000' (over 4000 meters) so be prepared.
  * Download the GPS coordinates and routes to your Garmin or Iphone before leaving home as the internet connections are dicey at best.
  * There is 6 days in a row of riding with no breaks in between so the last day or two can be a bit tiring.
  * Do take a mirror for your helmet or to clamp onto your bike as well as a small bike bag (or day pack) to install on the bike for your cash, passport (needed to check into your hotel), energy bars, sun screen, etc... as there is only one under the saddle small bag that is filled with tools, extra tube, etc...
  * The bike shop provided us with a complimentary water bottle but take a 2nd bottle as the bikes had 2 bottle cages on them and you will be glad you have them.
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  Oct. 10-17, 2019
  How many tours have you completed?
  one
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat harder
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Solo travelers
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 3/5 Ease of navigation
  - 4/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Cara November 20, 2018
  
  Beautiful way to see this country!
  
  We booked the self-guided tour, and loved it! Bikes, maps, GPS, panniers, and lots of tips were all provided! The routes were beautiful, the hotels were great, and I would go back to Portugal in a heartbeat!
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  10/8/18-10/15/18
  How many tours have you completed?
  this was the first
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat easier
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 4/5 Value
  - 3/5 Included meals
  - 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 4/5 Route selection
- ★★★★★ Algarve July 9, 2017
  
  Algarve Road Trip
  
  Cycling through the Algarve was outstanding. What a perfect place to tour by bike. The people are kind and the scenery is outstanding. The challenge of riding made the trip better than I expected. Every day was different scenery and terrain. The accommodations were fabulous. I wish we had planned to stay longer. Thank you BikeTours.com for making this so memorable and easy to take the trip!
  
  What was the date of your tour?
  June 25 to July 2
  How many tours have you completed?
  2
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  Somewhat harder
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 5/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 5/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
  - 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
- ★★★★★ Marcus k October 3, 2015
  
  Fantastic trip through Algarve
  
  We took the 10 day version in 2014. Absolutely loved it. Paul took great care of us. All equipment was excellent. Hotels were good. Best of all Paul was able to accommodate some changes along the way.
  
  How many tours have you completed?
  1
  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
  As expected
  Who is this tour suitable for?
  Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
  Do you recommend this tour?
  Yes
  - 5/5 Value
  - 5/5 Included meals
  - 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  - 4/5 Hotels or boat
  - 5/5 Scenery
  - 4/5 Ease of navigation
  - 3/5 Tour documents
  - 5/5 Local tour company services
  - 5/5 Route selection
Best of the Algarve

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