Porto: radial tour

In Porto is where the heart of the North beats. The picturesque Old Town with its Baroque church treasure is UNESCO World Heritage Site, the modern Porto shines with lively culture and nightlife, and the shore line presents itself in a Mediterranean style. On the opposite side of the river Port wine is aged in the cellars and uniquely spans the historic bridge of Gustave Eiffel deeply incised Douro. The closely nested old town is dominated by the Baroque Bishop's Palace and the cathedral and beautiful pedestrian streets invite you to stroll. Here you can go to right on the day of arrival to explore and indulge in the special atmosphere of the beautiful city. From many European airports, there are inexpensive direct flights to Porto. The airport is directly connected to the old town by Metro (30 minutes travel time). Use your time today for a first city tour. During this city tour by bike you can easily spend a whole day or you just make an extensive round till you reach the Port wine cellars. You start in the old town right a way with a stop at the Cathedral and cycle to the famous Iron Bridge over the Douro with fantastic views of the historic center. In a large curve you cycle directly down to the bank and may take a first break at the river beach. It continues now along the water to the famous Port wine cellars, where you can take your time for a visit incl. Port wine tasting. An entire neighborhood is here dominated by countless historical warehouses and on your route you will be spoiled for choice. Once again you follow the Douro and just before the mouth you take a small passenger ferry over the river. From here you will cycle back constantly on a bike path through green parks up to the Serralves Museum with many outdoor exhibits and a colorful flower garden in the middle of the city. Next the path leads through the vast city park, which was opened in 1993, down to the sea and then at the end into the midst of the old harbor district Matosinhos, with its typical inexpensive seafood restaurants. Here you should definitely take a break before you comfortably return to the Old Town by metro.

This tour leads first across the historic iron bridge and then right on the Douro shore along the broad estuary in the Atlantic. On this first competitive kilometers you will be still trapped by the many panoramic views of the picturesque Old Town, but the picture changes when you arrive at the wide sandy beaches at the coast. On wide cycle lanes on the promenade you roll relaxed, undisturbed by traffic, always overlooking the gentle waves of the Atlantic. Subsequently, the varied path leads partly on own boardwalks through the vast dune landscape in ever new sandy coves and small coastal towns. Again and again small beach cafes and restaurants invites to linger and secluded swimming areas lure to take a cooling swim before you can visit the modern biological station with Fisheries Museum and Aquarium on the beach of Aguda. Arrived in Espinho the most beautiful beaches south of Porto are waiting for you with a diverse tourist offer of restaurants, bars and a casino. The route continues on the new bike trails through coastal forests to Furadouro with the wide beach promenade. From here you cycle the last 6 km to the train station from Ovary to start the return trip to Porto. Alternatively, you can also shorten the stage and enter practically anywhere along the coast in the train.

In the morning take the the modern railway to reach Guimaraes in 80 minutes. Portugal's first capital and European Capital of Culture 2012. The medieval town center has been changed only very little since the 15th century and is listed as a World Heritage Site. Here you can immerse yourself in the pedestrianized historic quarter streets with beautifully restored town houses and palaces and numerous street cafés that invite you to idyllic places to stay. The partly preserved medieval city walls, the Palace of the Dukes (Museum), the Romanesque chapel S. Miguel and the accessible city castle are worth seeing before you take the cable car (incl. Bike transport) from the city up to the 400m high mountain Penha. From the steps of the local pilgrimage church you have breathtaking panoramic views of the city and to the surrounding areas. Here you continue your bike ride with a beautiful descent through the well wooded area which is dominated by eucalyptus trees. Then you follow on mostly flat roads the river Vizela which is surrounded by vineyards of the famous Vinho Verde. You arrive in the spa town of the same name, where already the Romans loved and used the bubbling springs. From here you can take the train to get back to Porto without any efforts.

By train (30 min) you travel to Valongo, where the nature reserve Serra de Valongo begins. The small river Rio Ferreira leads romanticly through the nature area. A small road follows the river valley and you cycle without effort into this wooded recreational area where anglers, climbers and mountain bikers feel comfortable. After 13 km the river feeds the Rio Sousa and in its valley you cycle till you reach the Douro. Here it gets lively, excursion boats and rowing boats are on their way, small villages and tourist cafes line the shore. The scenery is unique and a real treat is the entrance to Porto, as you will cycle back to the newly built waterfront with a beautifully landscaped bike path.

Today you spend the whole day at the flat coast and cycle on the well-developed bike paths along the stilts paths and beautiful sandy beaches through the vast dune landscape. First in the morning you take the train either to the village Povoa de Varzim with its 2 km long beach promenade and the old port district, or you leave the train already earlier, to get to the coast. This allows you to shape today's stage length individually and spend more or less time on the 30 km long sandy beach. In the afternoon you again reach the Douro estuary and cycle here always right on the banks of the river back to the old town of Porto.

In the morning you take the train to Braga, the oldest city in Portugal and religious center of the country. Numerous evidence can be seen in the center such as the oldest cathedral of Portugal, the Episcopal Palace, chapels dating from the 7th century and more richly decorated churches as well as two major sanctuaries the surrounding area. Stroll through the old streets with many cafes before starting to climb the mountain by bike. Look forward to the Sanctuary 'Bom Jesus do Monte'. Through the associated park it goes further up the mountain to the second pilgrimage church 'Santuario do Sameiro'. The wide view over the city and surrounding area rewards for the exhausting mountain tour before the 8km wooded descent begins which takes you back to Braga. Return to Porto by train.

Once again you use the train to head south to the small town of Estarreja. From here you will cycle directly into the unique lagoon landscape, which is criss-crossed by small canals with adjacent bike paths. At the biological station canoes are ready for a round trip, but also in the saddle you can explore perfectly the flat landscape. Then you reach the beautiful fishing town of Aveiro, known with its picturesque canals as the 'Venice of Portugal'. Just outside of the city the white mountains of sea salt shine and in the old town dominated by Art Nouveau colorful traditional boats from the fisherman offer small canal cruises. Immerse yourself in this storybook town, visit the Cathedral and make a break in the numerous cafes or  fish restaurants on the waterfront. For the return trip to Porto you take again the train and you let  pass the beautiful scenery.

The old town as well as the beaches, the Douro Valley and the surrounding areas, the Vinho Verde and Port Wine –  there are so many reasons to visit this unique town again.