Porto to Coimbra Cycling



This was our 11th trip with Headwater, most have been in France or Italy and this was our first in Portugal. Portugal is a great place to cycle in with many good cycle paths, friendly and helpful people and English is widely spoken. The itinerary was excellent, and the coastal and lagoon scenery was varied and interesting, and mostly level 1 with a handful of hills that may qualify it for the level 1.5 rating. We are glad we added an extra night in Coimbra and enjoyed walking around - the botanical gardens were a highlight.

Kim Phillips, 9 Jun 2024



Wonderful holiday, the Portuguese were friendly and welcoming. Eating out was very reasonably priced everywhere compared to UK which was a bonus. The terrain was easy going and more so with my electric bike. Lovely mix of coastline and countryside and rural villages and loads of places to stop for coffee breaks and the must have Pastel de Nata. Fab trip.

Fiona Payne, 2 Jun 2024



I was impressed with Headwater generally in that Megan always answered my queries very quickly and I liked that the itinerary would be altered to suit us. Generally, with one exception, the hotels were good and the food offered was adequate if not outstanding. The problems we had with the app were extremely irritating but it did not let us down entirely. The routes mapped out were good except in one place where the undergrowth on the cycle path made cycling very difficult and possibly hazardous.

Nicola Isard, 19 May 2024



A safe way to cycle through Portugal and experience Excellent food in great hotels.

Edward Helps, 21 Apr 2024



Overall, we had a wonderful cycling holiday and discovered many enjoyable facets of Portugal that would have been difficult to identify independently.

Gaby Pfeifer, 3 Sep 2023



Great holiday, bikes, routes, hotels all good (albeit we did pay for some upgrades). The agent we met was fine, but never had so little contact with them in all our holidays with you before. It would have been pretty perfect if they had mini - bused us back from Coimbra at the end of the holiday. Finally, of the three meals in restaurants, the two in Praia de Mira were excellent, delicious fish beautifully served. The restaurant in Porto was fussy and poor quality and we gave up and left when we had waited 40 minutes for a sweet and they clearly weren’t interested. Thanks, we will be back!

Ian Ralph, 30 Aug 2023



This was the first time we have been on a cycling holiday, and our first holiday with Headwater.



It exceeded our expectations. The itinerary was exactly as described; the hotels were all very comfortable, the bikes were more than adequate, and the administrative support around the edge of the holiday was all perfect. We enjoyed the routes, and cycling near to the coast before heading inland for the final two days. We were lucky to avoid any rain, and the temperature in October was ideal for cycling. The GPS Navigation App was simple to use and to follow. Everyone was very friendly and helpful; we were upgraded at two of the hotels without asking; and we especially enjoyed having a day in Aveiro to explore all the sights.



It was a perfect break, and very special to visit Portugal for the first time.

Mr Bashall, 9 Oct 2022



Great selection of activity holidays to diverse destinations offering the traveller a whole range of activities. Hotels are carefully chosen and Headwater go to great trouble to find local restaurants that offer food and drink that reflect the local area. Routes are carefully planned and detailed information provided. Headwater seem to use quality advisors to assist holiday makers whilst on their trips.

Mrs Collett, 2 Oct 2022



Self-Guided cycling across Portugal, Porto to Sagres. Brilliant. Great trip. Custom made holiday by the team at headwater. Excellent accommodation and support as needed by the local teams. Highly recommend.

Mrs Agnew, 10 Sep 2022



Great place to cycle if first time as most of the routes are very flat and easy to follow. Lots of local life and architecture to see en-route.

Miss Rutter, 4 Sep 2022



We are a couple in our mid-70s and found the distances and cycling routes easily managed on our e-bikes. We were very impressed by the many cycle paths on the Atlantic coast. The few hills on the route to Coimbra were easily managed on our e-bikes. We appreciated the good quality of the hotels and their locations. Our Trek e-bikes were very good quality although we would have liked one female step-through bike rather than the sloping crossbar provided. Charging them was easily done in the hotels. It was worthwhile booking an extra day in Coimbra to explore the city. Most of the food was of very good quality and good value.

Mr Hems, 4 Sep 2022



We have traveled with Headwater 7 times now. Once again we were very happy with the organisation and support we received. One day I had a flat tyre on my bike and we talked through the changing of it with the agent. He said someone would come to rescue us, but we fixed it ourselves so didn’t need help. The cycling varied between flat terrain down the coast and undulating through the countryside.

Mr Hunkin, 31 Jul 2022



Enjoyable, well organised holiday with good local partner company. The equipment and navigation app were all good. We made it to every destination without mishap. Good hotels overall - only onecwas a wee bit belowvthe standards we were expecting. We would recommend Headwater and would be happy to use them again.

Mr Smith, 17 Jul 2022



A lovely holiday with the right balance of activity and relaxing moments with an interesting and varied style of accomodation. The luggage transport between hotels was excellant. This holiday offers seaside and city, countryside and beach and the food oppportunities are memorable.

Mr Oxley, 3 Jul 2022



The cycling was generally on flat terrain, the last couple of days involved use of the gears, which made a welome change. Some of the cycle days could be a bit boring with long straight roads or tracks without a change of scenery. We hit Portugal at the height of the heatwave, but it was possible to complete the rides in the morning avoiding the heat of the day. The beach stay In Praia de Mira was most welcome, a dip in the cool sea was refreshing.

Most if the Headwater holidays we have done before had the Headwater rep situated locally, we missed this service. Our initial briefing took place in a hot underground car park, delivered at a rate of knots with only verbal information for the whole trip. We saw nothing of the local reps after the initial meeting. However, the luggage transfer was excellent with our bags always there before us.

The hotels were of a good quality. The Palace Hotel in Curia was disappointing as the air con didn't work and the food wasn't great.

Mrs Johnson, 3 Jul 2022



Cycling from Porto to Coimbra was an absolute delight. We started with an extra day in Porto which we would highly recommend. I wish we had added an extra day at Coimbra.

The cycles provided were excellent as were the gps maps. All but one of the evening meals were excellent, particularly the seafood at the restaurant at Praia de Mira. We have cycled with Headwater and Exodus on many occasions and always had a great experience. Porto to Coimbra is a relatively gentle cycle and could be enjoyed by anybody with average fitness.

We would highly recommend this holiday.

One final tip, always take your own cycle seat.

Mr Gittens, 26 Jun 2022



It was a good experience mostly flat cycling except for a few inclines at end with some good sights to see. We enjoyed the Port tour and tasting.

Mr Mitchell, 19 Jun 2022



Overall we were very pleased with Headwater and the holiday in Portugal.



Our holiday was however spoil by the cancellation of our outward flight at short notice by easyJet. This was overcome by the very quick and effficient service of Headwater in finding alternative flights outbound with TAP from Gatwick. We were very pleasantly surprised at the support Headwater provided late at night the day before we were due to travel and efficient reaction to the situation.



Return flights to Bristol necessitated a hire car from Bristol to Gatwick but we do not hold Headwater in any way at fault for this



In terms of the tour ouronly areas for comment would be:



We found three parts of the route where road/ rail works meant the app was not accurate. Do the local reps check accuracy of the app?



The hotel at Curia disappointed as the Spa facilities were unavailable , the outdoor pool area being dialapidated & the pool water very unwelcomimg!



Overall the holiday was excellent.



Mr Watts, 12 Jun 2022



The routes were well chosen, cycling along quiet roads and paths, passing through small villages, nature reserves, other unspoilt landscapes and agricultural areas. The bird life on and around the rivers and lagoons was fascinating, the wild flowers and trees lovely. From time to time there were views over the Atlantic ocean. There was plenty of time to stop for coffees and generally enjoy the ambience. The detour to Costa Nova was most enjoyable. The holiday timetable was perfect for us. The hotels were excellent. All in all a fab holiday.

Mrs Gorton, 12 Jun 2022



Very well thought out and planned holiday with materials (detailed maps + descriptions + garmin, once I had read the clear instructions on how to turn it on to the relevant route,) provided excellent. We would have appreciated the detailed written routes accompanying the maps to have included place names

Mrs Hemingway, 20 Oct 2019



Lovely area to visit with excellent hotels and support. Only weakness is very poor standard of app based guidance which is fine if you just want a car-like sat nav experience but it fails completely to provide any useful background information on the places being visited or passed en route. Much lower quality than the excellent written notes which Headwater used to provide. To be fair, if all you want is to get from A to B on your bike on the prescribed route, they are absolutely fine.

Mr Roff, 29 Sep 2019



This was our first Headwater holiday. We really enjoyed it. The scenery was diverse. The routes were interesting. The bikes, though heavy, served us well. The routes were easy to follow and the gps worked well. The weather in early October was fantastic - warm and sunny. Curia and Coinbra suffered from early morning mist which made the mornings cool. Evenings also made a Jumper advisable. Only issue we had was with the Mecarico Hotel where our upgraded room was directly opposite the building work which was no more than 20 feet away. We also had some difficulty in finding our way from the train station at Porto to the Metro. There are no signs. The escalators were not working. The Metro Route is route E. It was not operating a direct service. We had to change at Musica although we stayed on the same platform. Portuguese people were really helpful and friendly. Food was good and relatively inexpensive

Mr Sharp, 29 Sep 2019



We enjoyed this holiday, it was well-organised with a good variety of hotels and easy cycling on great bikes. The Ride with GPS App, which we had never used before, worked very well and kept us 'on track'. We liked the contrast between the urban environments of Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra and the coastal stops at Furaduoro and Prairie de Mira. Curia was an experience in itself, a real step back in time. The food was good throughput and we especially enjoyed the local restaurant at Praia de Mira and a tapas bistro called Dux Taberna Urbana (recommended by the hotel reception) in Coimbra. We found the people very friendly and helpful everywhere we went.. Some of the cycling is a bit dull, but this is to be expected in a flat coastal area and we found it more interesting when we turned inland. There may well be more birds and w ildlife in the spring and early summer. However we were lucky with beautiful September sunshine all the way and It was interesting seeing the different ways in which life works in the different areas, especially the fascinating the way of netting fish in Praia de Mira. I would recommend ladies to consider taking a gel saddle cover as despite some long cycles on unmade tracks I did not experience any lasting discomfort. The upgrade to a sea view room at the front of the hotel in Praia de Mira was definitely a good idea, we loved sitting on the balcony in the sun overlooking the sea. One night would not be enough in Coimbra, there is so much to see.

Mrs Brownscombe, 1 Sep 2019



Another great holiday with Headwater, our first time outside France. Easy cycling often on cycle paths.

Mr Martin, 9 Jul 2019



First time in Portugal , loved the people and the country would definitely like to return . The cycling was fairly easy ,even for over 70's .



Mrs Laing, 19 Jun 2019



Good itinerary with high standard of accommodation. Requests were noted. Appreciated upgrades with bath in 4 of the hotels. Restaurants for evening meals excellent. Enjoyed having time for sightseeing.

Mrs Muir, 12 Jun 2019



Following the maps provided for the days trips was hard as there was insufficient information on them. The places signposted on the route did not appear marked on the maps. That is the only grumble we have otherwise it was very well studied and planned. Good.

Mr Stead, 23 Sep 2018



A very good holiday ,well organised and covering an interesting area of Portugal. Bikes were very good and we appreciated the port wine tour and the wine tasting sessions that had been arranged.

Mr Coppack, 16 Sep 2018



A great (mainly flat) ride with wonderful cycling past the Atlantic Ocean and, as always, interesting hotels and meals.

Mr Cramond, 9 Sep 2018



Great hotels. Very good food,easy cycling and we had magnificent weather. Met very friendly locals.

Mr O'Neill, 9 Sep 2018



Headwater offer a quality experience, using excellent hotels, good bikes and gauge the difficulty of the cycling very well...well done Headwater!

Mrs Mcgeown, 9 Sep 2018



We had a very good time and were very happy with the planning, accommodation, itinerary etc.

Mr Glaser, 2 Sep 2018



Wonderfully tranquil cycling by the lagoons, and through forests. A great holiday from start to finish - very relaxing!

Mrs Keefe, 12 Aug 2018



A great introduction to Portugal away from the Southern tourist areas.The cycling was just far enough to deserve the evening meal but not exhausting .Hotels varied and swimming pools excellant.

Mr Harrison, 10 Jun 2018



lovely trip cycling mainly on flat coastal cycle paths visiting interesting places on the way Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra, a real relatively undiscovered part of Portugal overall a great holiday would highly recomend

Mrs Hendrickse, 10 Jun 2018



Slightly tarnished by the poor weather (which obviously you have absolutely no control over!) but felt we couldn't fully appreciate the scenery/picnic opportunities etc

Mrs Davison, 3 Jun 2018



Very enjoyable holiday

Mr Durant, 20 May 2018



This is an interesting journey with some urban routes in Porto and fairly flat and varied tracks along the coast. The pace is relaxed with well spaced optional rest days. The local reps. were very efficient and helpful if you have any problems. We would strongly recommend adding an extra night at Coimbra, which is a most interesting city, and a visit to the old University there. The Sat Nav was very useful.

Mr Turney, 6 May 2018



Great holiday - excellent cycling on cycle tracks along the coast and inland around lagoons teeming with birdlife. The hotels were all of a very high standard and a great choice of local restaurants when we weren't eating in the hotel. A full briefing by the agency rep before we set off and maps, directions and Garmin all provided, including suggestions for coffee stops and lunches. the best cycling holiday we've ever been on.

Ms Danleigh, 29 Apr 2018



Fabulous locations, cycling mainly flat through breathtaking scenery, varied and unspoilt landscapes.

Mrs Broughton, 7 Sep 2017



Fantastic holiday, great service from Headwater at home and at destination.

Hotels were all superb

Cycling was good although couple of the routes were bumpy and hard going (saddle wise!)

The wine tasting was a highlight!

The bikes were very robust and trustworthy.

Mr Hoffman, 16 Aug 2017



A small group of us have been taking a cycling holiday together for 15 years, This was by far and away the best, the food, the hotels, the people, the cycling and the scenery combined it to make it a wonderful experience. We will be recommending to our friends.

Ms Scholes, 20 Jul 2017



Portugal is an amazing country for cycling, lots of dedicated cycle paths, incredibly friendly people, quiet roads, beautiful scenery. The Porto to Coimbra trip had varied cycling, most of it very easy on flat surfaces. It was a nice mix of coastal cycling and countryside cycling, and every day was different. A couple of days the cycling was on roads, but these roads were never too busy, and in general the motorists were polite and aware of cyclists.

Mrs Mollett, 16 Jun 2017



We found Nuno, the local operator from A to Z bike tours especially helpful, but we've also had a good experience with Headwater in Italy. The riding was mostly very flat and easy, but we hit a heatwave at the end, so maybe that was just as well. Porto is fantastic and Aveiro is nice, but the rest day in Praia de Mira isn't needed and it's not a very beautiful or interesting place. Neither is Furadouro. In fact we enjoyed riding through villages and nature reserves much more than along the coast, which is quite developed. We loved the hotel in Curia most of all, because the building is so unbelievably beautiful, it's like stepping back in time. Coimbra is also interesting and worth spending an extra night. We dealt with the heat by starting early and arriving at our destination for lunch.

Ms Hatten, 8 Jun 2017



We really enjoyed the trip and were completely satisfied.

Hills, 11 May 2017



We have always found Headwater to be a most professional company in their approach and this holiday proved to be the same. However, due to both of us coming down with a nasty cold virus virtually from day one, we also found a caring and flexible company in the Local Agent who offered helpful suggestion's and bike transfers on bad days. Now in our September, years this was important and will bring us back to Headwater in the future.

Mr Levitch, 9 Oct 2016



Lovely holiday - the northern Portuguese seemed very friendly and welcoming of tourists.

Mr Aston, 7 Oct 2016



Everything was well thought though, GPS, local mobile and bike equipment. Very relaxing and enjoyable holiday

Mr Marsh, 30 Sep 2016



Very positive experience.

Interesting series of landscapes/urbanscapes travelled.

Excellent birdwatching along the way.

Very good hotels selected.

Mr Plant, 9 Sep 2016



Our 9 days on the Porto to Coimbra cycling holiday was overall a very enjoyable experience. For those who are not regular cyclists, the first 4 or 5 days, the cycling is along very quiet cycle tracks and mainly flat. The weather was not especially favourable for the first half of our stay, but good cycling temperature. On the other hand, it only rained on the day off and not for long, or at night. We were near the Atlantic coast most of the time, so we didnt get to see the beaches bathed in warmth and sunshine. We cycled along a lot of lagoons and saw flamingos which was exciting and one of the other couples doing the same holiday, was an avid birder and apparently crossed off most of the birds on his list.



Porto is a charming town and the first restaurant that Headwater booked us in for our first evening meal was terrific. Furodouro, the 2nd night's accommodation, hasnt that much to offer, apart from a nice beach and a most welcoming Manager and a lovely indoor pool. The accommodation itself is very

light and spacious.



Aveiro is also a pleasant town, a miniature Venice. The reception recommended a fantastic fish restaurant on the opposite side of the canal, called Mare Cheia, very regional. Excellent hotel, and next door to the Art Nouveau Museum, which is a bit quirky.



The Macarico Hotel in Praia de Mira has a lovely pool on the rooftop. The restaurant, for which you are given Vouchers is good, once you know how and what to order. Not many of the waiters speak English.



The Curia Palace Hotel is extremely grand though not quite as luxurious in its features as we have become accustomed. However there is a huge pool and on the other side of the pool wall, a field with fairly tame fallow deer. The hotel dates back to 1926 and is very much a heritage hotel, with swing music playing in the background at breakfast which is held in a vast ballroom or banqueting hall.



The last hotel in Coimbra is very modern, and you virtually have your own personalised lift. We encountered the only mosquito of the whole trip there! Lovely pool, and it is about a 20 minute walk to the train station, and probably less up to the main part of Coimbra.



The weather and the scenery improved vastly once we headed away from Mira. There are some quite steep hills on the last leg to Coimbra, but we saw electricity pylons layered with nesting White Storks.





Mrs Collins, 9 Sep 2016



The website does not make it clear that a lot of the cycling is in built up areas ,which was disappointing and unlike our many previous Headwater holidays.Although all the hotels ,apart from the one in Curia ,were outstanding, I would not recommend this area for cycling.

Mrs Barr, 2 Sep 2016



Very good.

We've done several similar cycling holidays in Europe and this was up there with the best.

Mr York, 28 Jul 2016



Excellent holiday. The bikes were quite heavy but the cycling was flat and the electric bike was modern and excellent.

Mr Allin, 24 Jun 2016