Seeking an off-the-beaten-path destination for your next bike holiday?
Explore the trails, places, and tips we discovered during our bike holiday in Portugal! Relish the freedom and leisurely pace of exploring the wild nature and sights of the Sintra Natural Park.
Flight to Lisbon and Transfer to Azhenas do Mar
Getting on the plane with two bikes, a kid trailer, and our 1 year old baby for the first time was a real adventure! Packing turned out to be harder than we expected. But, we managed to fit our big mountain bikes into their travel bags and build a simple box for the kid trailer. Then, in our usual slightly chaotic but funny way, we got everything checked in.
After a 3.5-hour flight, we landed in Lisbon on New Year’s Eve. Realizing that renting a car accomodating all our bulky equipment wasn’t feasible within our budget, we packed everything into a large taxi van. Eventually, we arrived in Azhenas do Mar village, ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve and we indulged in a frozen bacalhau dinner cooked in the oven!
Bike-Friendly Top Apartment in the Sintra Natural Park: Azhenas do Mar Roadside House
We couldn’t have asked for a better apartment in terms of location, space, and comfort, especially for a bike holiday!
The spacious terrace, equipped with a water pump, made bike washing easy. Ample storage space in the entrance held our bikes and baby carrier. The spacious kitchen, equipped with cooking essentials (including an oven, perfect for preparing frozen bacalhau!), made mealtime a delight.
Additionally, the apartment, newly furnished, was remarkably affordable, and the host was incredibly accommodating.
Azhenas do Mar: Perfect Starting Point for Bike Trips Around Sintra Natural Park
Azhenas do Mar, 5 km from Colares, offers a stunning ocean view and its own beach with natural swimming pools.
During our visit, a fierce storm churned up foam, turning the swimming pool and surroundings into a playful, albeit sandy, spectacle.
The village is well-stocked with two supermarkets. Despite its modest size, the convenience store in our building was impressively equipped, stocking diapers and umbrellas—both indispensable for us.
Enduro MTB in Sintra Natural Park (with a baby)
We fell in love with this natural park for our two-wheeled adventures. We ascended together, Dad carrying the child trailer. For the descent, Dad tackled the enduro trails while the baby and I stuck to the easier routes, occasionally parting ways. Our favorite rides and full description of them can be found at this separate post.
The trails offered spectacular ocean views and opportunities to explore the park’s wilderness, discover sandy beaches, and marvel at the magical palaces and castles of Sintra.
As Italians, we deeply appreciate food, so we made sure to include stops for sampling typical local products, even suitable for our little one. We quickly discovered that anytime is a good time for pasteis de nata and for bacalhau (codfish).
We highly recommend this destination for a bike holiday, perfect for both enduro enthusiasts and families! The roads are quiet, the scenery is breathtaking. Moreover, you can easily access sightseeing spots and nature reserves with short rides—a consideration not only for the physical effort of hauling a trailer but also for your baby’s patience.
What to do when riding is not possible: Short Trip to Lisbon by train
When rain temporarily halted our biking plans, we explored Lisbon via bus and train from Azhenas do Mar. Surprisingly we enjoyed the efficiency of the local bus system, with buses departing almost every half hour to Sintra. From there, we seamlessly transferred to trains heading to Lisbon every 10-15 minutes. Despite the journey taking an hour and a half instead of the usual 40-minute drive, the fares were less than 10 euros each way (and babies traveled for free). It was surprisingly enjoyable, especially for our little one who isn’t fond of long car rides.
The Lisbon Oceanàrio
Our main destination in Lisbon was the Oceanário. Our baby has a fascination with fish, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. For an admission fee of 25 euros per person (with babies entering for free), we encountered sharks, rays, penguins, otters, and even the famous sunfish, albeit a bit unusual.
The aquarium, primarily designed for adults with its dim lighting and numerous tanks, seemed to tire our little one towards the end. Accessing the Oceanário from the train station was straightforward, requiring only a short walk, manageable even without a stroller. Additionally, for a quick bite, we found a convenient spot in front of the station at the Vasco de Gama shopping mall. There, we savored soup for the baby and indulged in coffee and pastel de nata at pocket-friendly prices.
While our Lisbon exploration was somewhat limited due to heavy rain and the limited patience of a child more accustomed to nature than city life, it was still a worthwhile experience. If you plan to spend a night in the city, we highly recommend visiting the market. Our previous visit left us deeply impressed.
We cherished every moment of this holiday and will forever hold onto the wonderful family memories created during this bike adventure!
Discover further bike holiday destinations in our dedicated section!
