Contrasts Of Coastal Portugal

Portugal's western coast north of Lisbon combines wild, beautiful Atlantic beaches with rich cultural treasures, and is perfect for exploring by bike.

Your night is spent inland, discovering verdant valleys of strawberries, palms and vines, before heading out past hilltop castles to the sea. Along the way, a clutch of dramatic UNESCO heritage sites provide fascinating insights into Portugal's golden era of expansion and exploration.

Your next four nights are spent by the ocean where your route heads south passing majestic breakers thundering onto empty gold-sand beaches just metres from lively tasca beach bars - hugely popular with locals and perfect for sun-kissed seafood lunches. It's a spectacularly unspoiled and laid-back stretch of coast. White fishing villages and windmills bask in the sun, and fade to dusky-pink as blazing scarlet sunsets...