Is Nazaré hilly for cycling?

The town sits under a 110 m cliff, so every ride starts or ends with that climb. Beyond it the coast is rolling, the Alcoa valley inland is flat, and the mountains 20 km east climb to 600 m. You choose how hilly the day is. On an e-bike the cliff is a non-issue.

Do I need a gravel bike or a mountain bike?

For the coast and the valley, no. A road bike or an urban bike handles the São Pedro de Moel and São Martinho rides. For the Fátima loop and anything inland, a gravel bike with 40 mm tyres. For the singletrack above Alcobaça, a mountain bike.

Where can I rent a bike in Nazaré?

We rent e-bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes and urban bikes from our base on Praia da Nazaré, by the half day, day or week, and we deliver to São Martinho do Porto, Alcobaça, Famalicão and the beaches north of town. Helmets included. See bike rental in Nazaré.

Can I ride from Nazaré to Óbidos?

Yes. The direct road is about 45 km with traffic on the last stretch. The better line is our 80 km gravel route to Foz do Arelho on the Óbidos lagoon; Óbidos village is 10 km further on the lagoon road. We can collect you at Foz do Arelho.

Can I cycle from Nazaré to Fátima?

Two ways. The 90 km gravel loop via Batalha and Porto de Mós is mostly tarmac and takes five to eight hours. The 105 km mountain-bike loop crosses the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros plateau on trail. Both come back to Nazaré. Pilgrims who want to stop at Fátima should book a transfer, since buses do not carry bikes reliably.

When is the best time to cycle in Nazaré?

March to June and September to November for everything. July and August are fine on the coast with an early start, and too hot on the inland limestone by afternoon. Winter is rideable most days; the big-wave season from October to March makes the Praia do Norte ride the best short ride of the year.

Are the routes paved?

The coastal rides are tarmac and paved bike path. The inland gravel routes are roughly 80% tarmac and 20% compacted limestone track. The MTB routes are mostly off tarmac. Every route page lists its surfaces.

Is cycling in Nazaré safe?

On the routes here, yes. They use bike paths, farm tracks and roads with little traffic. The one place to be careful is the N242 into town at weekends in summer, which the routes avoid. Portuguese drivers give bikes room on rural roads.

Can I take a bike on the train to Nazaré?

Nazaré has no station. The nearest is Valado dos Frades (Oeste line, 6 km), with trains from Caldas da Rainha and Leiria that carry bikes outside rush hour. From Lisbon the practical way is the bus to Nazaré, which takes bikes in the hold if boxed or bagged, or a transfer with us.

Is there a family ride?

The Praia do Norte lighthouse loop (20 km, one climb, flat forest path) and the seafront. For a fully flat day, take bikes to São Martinho do Porto and ride the ciclovia around the bay.

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Cidade

Ciclismo em Nazaré

Uma pitoresca vila piscatória famosa pelas suas ondas gigantes, rica cultura marítima e belas praias.

16 percursos 19 passeios guiados Entrega de bicicletas disponível

Percursos de bicicleta à volta de Nazaré Alugar uma bicicleta

Nazaré is a fishing town on a cliff with a beach on either side of it, and that shape decides every ride. Leave along the seafront and within two kilometres you are climbing: 110 m up to Sítio on the headland, or over the Serra da Pescaria to the south. After that the coast flattens out. North of the fort a bike path runs through the Pinhal de Leiria pine forest to São Pedro de Moel with almost no traffic. South, quiet road and bike path follow the Salgado dunes to the calm bay at São Martinho do Porto. Inland, the Alcoa valley is flat farmland to Alcobaça, and behind it the limestone of the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros climbs to nearly 600 m on gravel and forestry road.

So the honest answer to "is Nazaré hilly?" is: the first ten minutes are, and the mountains are if you go looking for them. Most of the riding in between is rolling and quiet.

Two things to know before you plan a day. The northwest wind builds every summer afternoon, so ride north in the morning and come home with it behind you. And the limestone inland holds heat; in July and August start early or stay on the coast.

Every route below has distance, climbing, surfaces and a GPX you can download without an account. We ride all of them ourselves, and most have a guided version if you would rather not navigate.

Percursos de bicicleta à volta de Nazaré

Todos os percursos →

Percursos de gravel à volta de Nazaré

The gravel here is compacted limestone farm track and forest road, mostly dry and fast. The 90 km Fátima loop is the one to do first: four monasteries and 80% tarmac. The 130 km Gravel Challenge is the route we test our own frames on.

Nazaré to Fátima gravel loop via Batalha (90 km)

Alcobaça, Batalha, Porto de Mós and Fátima in one loop. About 80% tarmac, 20% white farm track. The climb to the Fátima plateau is the only hard part.

90 km 1000 m 6.5 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

IronDeer Gravel Challenge loop: Serra dos Candeeiros to the Óbidos lagoon (130 km)

130 km and 2,200 m of gravel and tarmac. Over the 598 m Serra de Aire e Candeeiros plateau, down the remote south side to Caldas da Rainha, out to the lagoon and home up the coast into the wind.

130 km 2200 m 9 h · Gravilha

Trilhos de BTT à volta de Nazaré

Real singletrack starts 15 km inland, above Alcobaça and in the hills toward Cós. Roots, loose limestone, short drops. The climbs are never high but they repeat: the Santa Rita loop gains 1,100 m without going above 140 m. An e-MTB opens the 80 km Serro Ventoso day to most fit riders.

Salgado hills night loop from Nazaré (30 km)

Sunset start, the boardwalk above Praia do Salgado, a climb through the pines to a ridge clearing with almost no light pollution, and a road descent home through Famalicão.

30 km 600 m 3 h · Trilho

Nazaré to Santa Rita de Cós MTB climb through the olive groves (50 km)

1,100 m of climbing on terrain that never gets above 140 m: short, repeated, relentless. Old olive groves, the monastery at Cós, the hilltop hermitage of Santa Rita, and the Aljubarrota limestone ridges.

50 km 1100 m 4 h · Trilho

Salgado hills and Serra da Pescaria loop from Nazaré (50 km)

Coast road south, then inland on farm tracks into almond and olive country above the Salgado dunes. 800 m of steady climbing, a ridge view of the whole coast, and the Capela de Santa Ana on the way down.

50 km 800 m 5 h · Trilho

Alcobaça hills and Vale Vazão MTB singletrack loop (56 km)

52 km off tarmac: pine and eucalyptus singletrack above Alcobaça, the Chiqueda descent, seven flat kilometres on the old estuary floor and a cobbled climb into Pederneira. Experienced riders only.

56 km 1000 m 5 h · Trilho

Nazaré to Serro Ventoso e-MTB loop via Alcobaça (80 km)

Sea to summit and back: farm tracks to Cós, the 6 to 11% forestry-road climb to the Serro Ventoso pass, singletrack down to Alcobaça, and a flat cool-down along the Pederneira lagoon to a swim.

80 km 1600 m 7 h · Trilho

Nazaré to Fátima by mountain bike (105 km)

The long way to Fátima: through Porto de Mós and over the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros plateau, 1,500 m of climbing, then a different line home through the pines.

105 km 1500 m 8 h · Trilho

Percursos de estrada e e-bike à volta de Nazaré

Coast and valley rides on tarmac and bike path where any bike works and an e-bike removes the Sítio climb. These are the rides to do with a partner who does not ride much.

São Gião church and Monte de São Bartolomeu loop from Nazaré (25 km)

The oldest things around Nazaré in one short ride: a 7th-century church on a farm track, a 156 m volcanic hill with a chapel on top, and the medieval ridge town of Pederneira.

25 km 200 m 3 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha / Trilho

Nazaré to Alcobaça Monastery by e-bike (35 km)

Inland through Famalicão and the apple orchards to the Cistercian monastery, up to the castle ruins for the view, and back to the coast with the wind behind you.

35 km 300 m 5 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Nazaré to São Martinho do Porto coastal loop (50 km)

South over the Serra da Pescaria to the Salgado dunes, past the dinosaur footprints to the calm bay at São Martinho, then back inland. Quiet roads and bike path, one real climb.

50 km 580 m 5 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Nazaré to São Pedro de Moel through the Pinhal de Leiria (50 km)

North over Sítio, past the fort, then bike path and clifftop road through the royal pine forest to Paredes da Vitória, Polvoeira and the lighthouse at São Pedro de Moel. Back on the inside line through the trees.

50 km 580 m 5 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Nazaré to the Óbidos lagoon gravel route via São Martinho (80 km)

Coast road, limestone farm track, dune track and lagoon path from Nazaré to Foz do Arelho. 780 m of climbing, lunch at São Martinho, birds at the lagoon. The Silver Coast in one day.

80 km 780 m 6 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Voltas curtas e em família à volta de Nazaré

Under 30 km, one climb or none, back in town for lunch. Fine on an urban bike or with kids on the flat sections.

Nazaré to Praia do Norte lighthouse loop (20 km)

Seafront, the Sítio climb, the deer reserve and the fort above the big-wave beach. 20 km, one climb, mostly downhill home.

20 km 200 m 2 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Nazaré town loop: seafront, Sítio, Praia do Norte and Pederneira (30 km)

The whole of Nazaré in one easy ride: the promenade, the 110 m climb to Sítio, the deer reserve, the lighthouse above Praia do Norte and the Pederneira belvedere.

30 km 200 m 2 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Nazaré north coast loop to Paredes da Vitória via the deer reserve (30 km)

Up to Sítio, through the red-deer reserve in the pines, along the Vale Furado fossil cliffs to the beach at Paredes da Vitória. Half a day, 360 m of climbing, quiet roads.

30 km 360 m 3 h · Alcatrão / Gravilha

Percursos de Nazaré para…

Localidades vizinhas a que chega de bicicleta, cada uma com os seus percursos.

Passeios guiados por Nazaré

Prefere pedalar com guia? Estes passeios passam aqui.

Arribas Selvagens e Veados: Tour E-Bike Meio-Dia Costa Norte Nazaré.

Alugar uma bicicleta em Nazaré

Rent from us and ride any of these routes with the GPX loaded and a phone number to call. E-bike, gravel, MTB and urban bikes, half day to a week, delivery to the towns on this page.

Entregamos bicicletas de aluguer em Nazaré a partir de 10 €, mais 10 € por cada bicicleta adicional.

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