Motorcycle Dream Portugal CPS2501
Dream Portugal: Starting in the Heart of Lisbon Today it all begins – another motorcycle adventure filled with the scent of the ocean, the taste of port wine, and the rhythm of fado. We’re at the starting point of our Dream Portugal tour, and there’s no better place to kick things off than vibrant Lisbon. The bikes are ready, the sun is shining, and our group of riders from around the world met for the first time over breakfast. It took only a few minutes to realize we’re all on the same wavelength – driven by a desire for freedom, winding roads, stunning views, and authentic experiences. The Portuguese say, "devagar se vai ao longe" – slow and steady gets you far – and that’s exactly how we plan to discover the beauty of this country. Today is all about getting familiar – with the bikes, the team, the rules, and the city. A kind of dance through cobblestone streets, along the Tejo River, all the way to the famous Belém Monastery, where the air was filled with the sweet smell of pastéis de nata. Some will joined the cultural tour, others relaxed and captured their first photos with the bikes. Tomorrow we head north, into the hills, through vineyards and timeless little towns. But more on that next time. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner, a glass of wine, and a beautiful view over Lisbon by night. Wish us luck – Portugal, here we come!
Good morning, it's finally time for our first day of driving. The rain from the night has cleared for the time being and we can hardly wait to get going. After the briefing, we head to the garage, where we make the final preparations before setting off on our Lisbon rush hour adventure. After we finally reach the city limits, not only the first bends await us, but also the first highlight of the day. The westernmost point of the European mainland, the Cabo de Roca. After a coffee and countless photos, the rain unfortunately caught up with us. So we continue our journey towards the blue sky. In Mafra, the largest palace complex in Portugal awaits us. For those who wish, there is the opportunity to visit this impressive 18th century building. In Santacruz we finally leave the rain behind us and enjoy our lunch high above the Atlantic Ocean. We spend the afternoon experiencing the rugged beauty of the coastal region. Some of us drive to Cabo Carvoeiro, while the rest of the group end the day with a cup of ice cream on the beach at Nazare.
Let's continue. Today, culture is the order of the day. Alcobaça One of the largest monasteries on the Iberian Peninsula. 999 monks lived here and celebrated mass continuously in shift work. Fatima - A huge complex, 700x150 m The most important sanctuary of the Catholic Church Here should have appeared in 1917, 5 times the Junfrau Marie. Tomar Monastery Convento de Cristo Unesco World Heritage was built in the 12th century. The manueline architecture is only in Potugal . After all the culture, part of the group wanted to quickly see Coimbra and even more culture. Such as the size of the university in Portugal. And the others wanted to play a little more. So off to the fray. At the end of the day everyone is back safely together in the hotel. There will be more fun tomorrow Thomas, Rubin and Michaela will continue to entertain you
The morning in Coimbra greeted us with heavy rain – not just a drizzle, but a full-on downpour that reminded us how unpredictable April in Portugal can be. Still, spirits were high. After a hearty breakfast, we geared up in our rain suits, did a safety check, and headed out towards Porto. Our first stop was the iconic Palace Hotel do Buçaco, a place of incredible architecture and deep history. A short walk in the rain around its grounds was absolutely worth it. It was there we made an important call – to shorten the planned route for the sake of safety, as the strong rain affected both visibility and road conditions. Instead of winding mountain roads, we chose a calmer route heading north. While less technical, it still had plenty of charm – green hills, dense forests, and quaint villages gave us a different glimpse of Portugal. And when we saw the first vineyards near Porto, we knew the city was close. After arriving, we treated ourselves to a well-earned rest – dry clothes, hot coffee, and a beautiful view of the Douro River. The rain finally stopped just in time for a stroll through Porto’s charming old town. The city welcomes us in style – tomorrow promises to be unforgettable!
Good morning Porto, Our first and only rest day of the tour starts a little friendlier than the last. Perfect conditions for an extended walk through the city. Of course, we all have our own plans. Some of us explore the city on our own, others go hunting for the best pictures with one of our guides. Of course, we also have a short motorcycle tour on offer. The roads in the hilly hinterland of Porto are perfect for a short ride. And so some of us plunge into the maze of bends along the Douro. In the evening, culture is back on the agenda. A fado performance is a must on any real stay in Portugal. And so today we enjoy our dinner with a cultural supporting program.
Today we left vibrant Porto and headed north toward the Spanish border. Once again, the rain stayed with us, but spirits remained high. We started with a stretch on the highway to quickly leave the city behind, with our first and very special stop: Basílica de Bom Jesus do Monte, near Braga. This pilgrimage site is not only spiritually significant, but also a marvel of baroque architecture. Its most iconic feature is the monumental staircase with 577 steps, symbolizing the ascent toward salvation. The origins of the site go back to the 14th century, but the current design was shaped mostly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it proudly stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the view of the basilica rising above the forest is truly unforgettable. After a short visit, the weather forced our hand once more – due to continued rain, we shortened the planned route, taking the national road N101 from Braga. This brought us to a well-deserved lunch break at the cozy restaurant O Barriguinhas in the town of Parada, where warm local dishes and dry shelter were more than welcome. In the afternoon, the weather improved slightly, finally allowing us to enjoy some scenic, twisty roads through hills, forests, and small villages – exactly the kind of riding we came for. Eventually, we crossed the border and reached our destination, the Spanish town of Tui. There’s something special about this crossing – an invisible line divides two countries, yet their culture and history are so beautifully intertwined. Tonight, we enjoy the first taste of Spain and prepare for the next leg of our journey – Galicia awaits!
When we look out of the window this morning, our hunch from yesterday is confirmed. Today will be an adventurous day, but at this point we have no idea just how adventurous it will be. The mood is good as we leave the hotel. It's raining lightly but we already know that;-). We drive on well-maintained roads through the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Geres. At every bend we think to ourselves “oh damn, where's the sun”. After a few kilometers, the big surprise: the temperature drops and it starts to snow. Fortunately, after a few kilometers a spacious café offers shelter for a while. And so the theme for the rest of the day is found. We try to escape the weather as best we can. And to get everyone safely into the dry. And we succeed quite well. We succeed because we work together as a group, help each other out and don't lose our good mood. A few hours and warm-up stops later, we reach our hotel without any major incidents. At this point, many thanks to the pack, you are great. What an adventure.
Our guests are the best!!! They persevered and were awakened this morning with the sun. What a beautiful Easter gift. Everyone was shattering with the hooves, let's start our steel perch. In the far north of Portugal, you think time stands still. Wild and remote. We start this wonderful day, with the exit of the garage with a nice warmup into the mountains. The international Douro Nature Park and the 120 km river of the same name form the border with Spain. Millions of years shaped this enormous nature. Our coffee stop Miranda do Douro, is a great place to admire the huge rocks and the fluus. To cross the border we have to cross the barragem dam . This had an important film role in Fast and the Furious. Zack in Spain. In Formaselle we held a no procession on the main square, where we have a delicious lunch. Now it's from the mountains to the Altipalano. Past storks directly to Salamanca. And our colleague Rubin takes the opportunity to surprise us with a boot beer in the sunshine. We still want to visit the “Golden City”. There will be more news tomorrow
Magical Ride from Salamanca to Manteigas After a hearty breakfast, we left Salamanca right on schedule – and were finally greeted with beautiful spring weather. Our first stop was the charming town of La Alberca, known for its preserved traditional architecture and peaceful atmosphere – a perfect spot to soak in the local vibe. From there, we enjoyed a stunning cascading mountain road, full of curves and scenic views. We paused at a group of impressive, ancient eucalyptus trees, whose enormous trunks amazed us – it took almost six of us to wrap our arms around just one! Due to Easter Monday, our usual lunch spot was closed. But a few kilometers further, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Castelo do Sabugal, a majestic medieval castle perched above the valley. A light rain caught up with us near the end of the ride, but we continued safely toward our destination – the Vila Galé Hotel in Manteigas, where thermal hot springs awaited us for a well-deserved moment of relaxation.