A super nice straight road along the Mondego river for 43 km of pure “central Portugal”
Portugal can be quite challenging to cycle as it’s only up hills and mountains all over the country. But when you follow the cost or a river, it’s immediately less difficult (especially with kids). 86 km both ways or you can go back to Coimbra on a train, The last train leaves at 9.58 pm, your call!
A few tips to be sure you don’t miss anything:
Pass by the nautical center of Montemor o velho to enjoy the riverbank and the huge stork nests in the trees.
Mandatory stop at Montemor o Velho.
A very pretty village hidding an old castle – free entrance.
For lunch
There are a few options in Montemor. We opted for “Restaurante Moagem” and even if the food was not the best we had in Portugal, we definitely don’t regret that choice. This “all you can eat buffet” style restaurant, with all the portuguese specialities you can imagine, is “the place to be” at the end of the week for locals and the atmosphere is very pleasant there. (Plus when you cycle you’re most of the time starving and therefore buffet is quite an economic mode in this case).
When you enter Figueira da foz, go up until the end of the road to the beach…
A perfect cycling road is waiting for you there.
And do not leave without a last special moment : Sunset by the lighthouse