ricko

A couple of travel guides I've looked at recently, have warned that cycling is particularly dangerous in Portugal. Does this extend to rural roads?

I've spent quite a few enjoyable short cycling trips (I don't cycle long distances) in France, and found that when you get into the countryside, there is very little traffic, and it's been a wonderful experience. I was hoping it would be the same in Portugal.

Does anyone have experience of doing this?

qianh

I've seen quite a lot cyclists on the routes in some natural park, for example, sintra/ caiscais/Serra da Arrabida etc. so it must be popular.

mfesharne

No end of cyclists in my part of the central zone including clubs & races etc & I've never seen one involved in an accident......... which is probably more due to lack of traffic than the driving skills of Portuguese drivers. lol!

carvoeiro

same here on the coastal Alentejo - in fact my village hosts an annual cycling event
i see a fair few people on the tracks and roads and quite a few mountain bikes on the coastal routes around Porto Covo
all of this lot - and many more run cycling holidays here - generally the roads outside of August are very quiet
https://pedalportugal.com/touring-ro...ntejo-circuit/
http://portugalnaturetrails.com/alen...-7d/4580928524
http://europebicycletouring.com/euro...o/Alentejo.htm

this one covers the area i live in - really beautiful coastal routes all the way down to the algarve in a national park
http://www.vicentinatravel.com/type-...vel-bike-tours

ricko

Many thanks for the replies.

It looks like the guides were being overly cautious.

mfesharne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volta_a_Portugal