2023 trip to Portugal

[Strummer]

Hi all
As the title says I am planning to go to Portugal next summer ( fingers crossed ).
I would like to ask whoever has been through Spain or Portugal if there are some places not to be missed.
It doesn't have to be a big city, I actually plan to avoid them, but some spot or some roads instead...
I already have a rough plan but I would be more than happy to re route it.
I know there are some members from Spain and Portugal in here but I am under the impression some others fellas here have been there too.
Thanks in advance to whoever will give me some tips!!!!
Gibilterra, Cabo da Roca and Finisterre are already a must see on my list for different reasons.
I wouldn't mind spend a night somewhere on Southern Spanish beach on my way back to Italy ..
Thanks and take care.

 

[Longdog Cymru]

Looking forward to seeing your route, I have never been to Portugal.

 

[Strummer]

I never been there either...
I have been to the most northern spot in Europe and after that I have started thinking about going to Portugal....
One of the main reason I chose the S10 was this one.
Hopefully next summer will be the right time, will see...
I would be more than happy to post some pictures!!

 

[Quique]

ahhh yes, a lot of ideas
About Portugal,
Check route N2, it goes from north to south (or south to north) all along Portugal
Aljubarrota battle and monastery of Batalha
About Spain.
South to Xinzo de Limia to the border with Portugal, check Maus de Salas, Aquis Querquennis, several dolmens in the area and the town of Olelas and their cows.
The province of Cádiz is known for their beaches, long sandy beaches at the Atlantic Ocean. I know Playa de Bolonia, nice place.

Like Groucho said, these are my ideas, if you don't like them I have more. Don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Strummer]

ahhh yes, a lot of ideas
About Portugal,
Check route N2, it goes from north to south (or south to north) all along Portugal
Aljubarrota battle and monastery of Batalha
About Spain.
South to Xinzo de Limia to the border with Portugal, check Maus de Salas, Aquis Querquennis, several dolmens in the area and the town of Olelas and their cows.
The province of Cádiz is known for their beaches, long sandy beaches at the Atlantic Ocean. I know Playa de Bolonia, nice place.

Like Groucho said, these are my ideas, if you don't like them I have more. Don't hesitate to ask.

I will!!!
Thanks a lot amigo

 

[Strummer]

Is it Tarifa open and worth to be visited ?
I have checked but from the review it seems to be closed...

 

[Quique]

I have never been there. It's windy there, it is plenty of windmills inland and surfers in the sea. I don't think it is closed. It was closed during the coronavirus, but this is over now. Nobody closes the beaches in Spain. No, I don't think so.

 

[patrickg450]

My buddy is moving to Portugal in FEB 2023.....


So I am interested as well.

 

[Strummer]

So here I am...
What about picos de Europa?
I will have to consider to " swap" Pico de Europa with a visit to Santiago de Compostela and Fatima......
If my " brother in law" comes with me because he's a religious man and he'd love to pay a visit to those places....
I know some of us have been to picos de Europa recently ( I think he was either Bimota or Boris from UK) I am pretty sure to remember a B....
Is it not to be missed or will I survive if I won't see it?
Thanks for your patience

 

[Quique]

I don't know how much time you have
Picos de Europa is amazing, astonishing and super nice. I think you need three days minimum to see it properly. Also, all the north coast of Spain from the Basque country to Galicia, is nice too. Many fishermen towns, good fish to eat, nice landscapes.
Even if you are not religious, you will like Santiago, it's a nice city. Never been in Fatima.
Keep asking

 

[Strummer]

I really really appreciate your answers mate!
I will be on a tight schedule so I will probably " sacrifice " picos de Europa....
I have seen good things about Santiago so I will check it out...
It may not makes sense to the majority of the riders but...
I love riding so my priority it is to reach my goal ,Cabo da Roca, and while doing that I will hit some places but I will actually " drive through"....
I am not too interested in visiting, I enjoy more riding there more than visiting itself...
It doesn't make too much sense but it works for me at least.
I will ask more the more I will plan it....
Thanks a lot again and sorry for the long post!!

 

[Quique]

hmmm, if you like riding more than visiting, a good advice would be to avoid the freeways and take the normal roads. The Spanish roads are good in general and much more funny to ride. Keep in mind that the Spanish timetable is different to the rest of the world. We eat at 2 pm and 10 pm.

 

[Rush2112tenere]

The Douro valley is an incredible area for riding, following the Douro river towards (or away) from Porto. Portugal as a whole has amazing contrasting landscapes with incredible seascapes. Relatively cheap for travellers with great cuisine and friendly locals. I am sure that any trip there will be a success. Enjoy.

 

[Strummer]

hmmm, if you like riding more than visiting, a good advice would be to avoid the freeways and take the normal roads. The Spanish roads are good in general and much more funny to ride. Keep in mind that the Spanish timetable is different to the rest of the world. We eat at 2 pm and 10 pm.

The " plan " would be to use as less as possible the motorway and ride normal roads when I can.
The Spanish timetable actually plays in my favour because I will be driving till late afternoon, beginning of evening and I will still have a couple of hours of fiesta...
Then it all depends if I will go alone or with my brother in law, he is more relaxed than me....
But it's good to have a sort of a plan anyway...
As Arnold Schwarzenegger said once: I'll be back!!!

 

[Strummer]

The Douro valley is an incredible area for riding, following the Douro river towards (or away) from Porto. Portugal as a whole has amazing contrasting landscapes with incredible seascapes. Relatively cheap for travellers with great cuisine and friendly locals. I am sure that any trip there will be a success. Enjoy.

Thanks for the tip mate!
Very kind of you.

 

[Strummer]

This is a rough idea of what I have on mind....
But it's still an open site so I would like to see all the options to make the journey as enjoyable as possible
I will see...

 

[Boris]

So here I am...
What about picos de Europa?
I will have to consider to " swap" Pico de Europa with a visit to Santiago de Compostela and Fatima......
If my " brother in law" comes with me because he's a religious man and he'd love to pay a visit to those places....
I know some of us have been to picos de Europa recently ( I think he was either Bimota or Boris from UK) I am pretty sure to remember a B....
Is it not to be missed or will I survive if I won't see it?
Thanks for your patience

Yes I spent a week in the Picos in early July. I’m well travelled by bike throughout a lot of Europe, but the Picos was special. A truly spectacular region, with exceptionally good biking roads and very little traffic across much of it. A few of us that went have agreed that we need to revisit the area, as there’s much more to see and do. I highly recommend at least a few days there, it’s stunning.
Covadonga might satisfy the religious aspect,

 

[patrickg450]

The Douro valley is an incredible area for riding, following the Douro river towards (or away) from Porto. Portugal as a whole has amazing contrasting landscapes with incredible seascapes. Relatively cheap for travellers with great cuisine and friendly locals. I am sure that any trip there will be a success. Enjoy.

Post a route or stop teasing!!!!

 

[Strummer]

Yes I spent a week in the Picos in early July. I’m well travelled by bike throughout a lot of Europe, but the Picos was special. A truly spectacular region, with exceptionally good biking roads and very little traffic across much of it. A few of us that went have agreed that we need to revisit the area, as there’s much more to see and do. I highly recommend at least a few days there, it’s stunning.
Covadonga might satisfy the religious aspect,
View attachment 97261

I did consider to pass by Picos de Europa but if you guys suggest that is worth more than one day " exploring " I will just leave it to when I will have more time for it!
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience Boris!

 

[Quique]

But it's still an open site so I would like to see all the options to make the journey as enjoyable as possible
I will see...

I would suggest to play the four corners properly. Try Cabo de Gata in the southeast and Cabo de Creus (Cap de Creus in Catalonian) in the northeast. You will like both of them.