Welcome to Portugal — a motorcyclist’s dream, where the road meets the soul.
While autumn begins to paint Europe in shades of grey, Portugal still glows with light, warmth, and endless curves that seem made for two wheels.
Our journey begins in Lisbon, the city of seven hills — where tram bells echo through narrow streets, and the scent of pastéis de nata drifts through the air. From the shimmering Tagus River, we ride northward, tracing the Atlantic coast.
In Nazaré, we pause to watch the ocean unleash its power — the world’s biggest waves crashing against the cliffs, a sight that humbles every traveler. Then on to Coimbra, the cradle of Portuguese culture, where students in black capes still sing fado beneath ancient arches.
Our wheels turn next to Porto, where the Douro River glitters beneath bridges of iron and stone, and every sunset begs for a glass of golden port wine. Crossing into Spain, we find ourselves in Tui, a charming border town crowned by a medieval cathedral, before heading to Salamanca, where the golden sandstone buildings glow at dusk and history whispers in every plaza.
Returning to Portugal, we curve through Bragança, nestled within its medieval walls, and climb into the wild beauty of the Serra da Estrela, the “roof of Portugal,” where misty peaks and winding roads make every turn a revelation. Finally, we reach Crato, a tranquil gem in the Alentejo, where olive trees and monasteries remind us to slow down and savor the silence.
After ten unforgettable days, we awaken once more in Lisbon, our hearts full, our tires dusty, our minds still somewhere along the road.
If you want to follow our adventure — come back each day, and we’ll share the stories, the roads, and the magic we discover along the way.
Our group of nine participants from the US, Canada, Switzerland and Germany arrived safely. Some are looking forward to their first motorcycle adventure with us, others are on trip 4, 7 or 10 with Edelweiss. After our briefing we had dinner together, talked about tours in the past and the ones to come.
The excitement is rising and everyone is looking forward to our first day of riding tomorrow.
Our first day of driving started in Lisbon in light rain. We left the city as quickly as possible and crossed the Sintra National Park in the fog, without really being able to appreciate the beauty of this wooded area. The route took us on to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in Europe, where we had a short coffee break and enjoyed the view of the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. The route took us further north along the coastline, reaching the peninsula of Peniche in the afternoon. We made a short stop at Cabo Cavoeiro, where we admired the spectacular rock formations of the cliffs. Here, the sea claims land every year, and you can impressively see how the force of the water continually washes over the rocks and cuts canyon-like crevices into the cliffs.
A Day Full of Sights and Adventure
We woke up to bright sunshine – perfect weather for our motorcycle ride today. The morning was packed with fascinating sightseeing.
Our first stop was the Monastery of Alcobaça, an impressive 12th-century building that once stood among Portugal’s most important monasteries. The vast kitchen with its enormous chimney and the underground river flowing beneath it left us speechless.
Next, we headed to Fátima, one of Portugal’s most famous pilgrimage sites. We were lucky to arrive just as a large crowd had gathered on the main square to attend Holy Mass – an unforgettable Sunday atmosphere.
After enjoying a delicious coffee, our journey continued to Tomar, where the majestic Templar Castle awaited us – truly one of the highlights of the day.
In the afternoon, we took a short coffee break before riding through the winding roads of the Serra de Lousã. The scenery was breathtaking, even though traces of a forest fire that had swept through the area about three weeks ago were still visible.
We ended this wonderful day with a relaxing dinner at our lovely hotel in Coimbra – the perfect conclusion to a day full of beauty, culture, and the joy of the open road.
Fortress, picnic and eucalyptus trees.
Our route of today brought us first to the fortress of Montemor de Velho. The oldest of about 400 still preceived castles in Portugal. It‘s history goes back to the 4th century.
Afterwards we passed the eucalyptus plantations south of Porto. One of the most economical factors of the region.
The landowners changed mixed forest to this fast growing plants.
We stopped at the Alfuqueiro river for our first picnic and headed afterwards towards Porto with it‘s insane traffic situation. Porto has only 250.000 inhabitants but a huge amount of commuters coming and leaving the city day by day.
Today was our rest day in Porto. Still, three of our friends wanted to go for a motorcycle ride, despite the bad weather forecast.
So we rode into the Douro Valley on the well-known N222, a very scenic road with many curves and great views of the vineyard terraces and the river.
On the way, we made two coffee stops and a short stop in Amarante to see the Ponte de São Gonçalo bridge and the monastery.
In the early afternoon, we took the motorway back to Porto, just before rush hour.
The rest of the group joined a guided tour in the Douro Valley, which included Port wine tasting, a boat trip, and lunch.
In the evening, we had dinner together at the hotel, after some of us had relaxed in the sauna.
A nice and eventful day for everyone.
From Porto to Peneda-Gerês: A Day of Discovery
Today we set off quickly from Porto, taking the fastest route north. Near Braga, we visited the magnificent Bom Jesus do Monte — an impressive sanctuary that was built over more than six centuries. This Baroque masterpiece, with its elegant stairways and ornate chapels, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite a few raindrops, the atmosphere was magical, and the view over Braga was unforgettable.
After soaking in this remarkable site, we continued our journey into the vastness of Peneda-Gerês National Park. Covering about 703 square kilometers, it greeted us with oak and fragrant pine forests, around a hundred granite villages where time seems to stand still, and a serene, shimmering lake.
Even with occasional rain, the day was wonderful — full of variety, discovery, and the quiet beauty of northern Portugal.
From Ghosts to Granite Peaks
Nice roads and endless curves lead us back into Peneda-Gerês National Park Portugal’s first and only national park, established in 1971. Here, ancient oak forests, Roman bridges, waterfalls, and traditional granite villages create a breathtaking backdrop.
We enter the park early, stopping for our first coffee in Castro Laboreiro, where local legend tells of a shepherd’s ghost still whistling through the misty mountains.
Crossing briefly into Galicia, Spain, we visit a 2,500-year-old wolf trap near the Rio Salas dam before returning to Portugal for lunch by one of the region’s tranquil mountain lakes.
In the afternoon, the route takes us east toward Bragança, through a landscape rich in history — once home to Celtic tribes and later the Romans, who left behind roads and ruins. Expect twisting roads through river valleys, chestnut and oak forests, granite mountains, and wild open plateaus.
We finish the day in Montesinho Natural Park, famous for its rustic villages, panoramic viewpoints, and traditional smoked meats (“fumeiro”) — the perfect taste of rural Portugal.
Our hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant and wine tasting was already waiting for us in Bragança.
Back to Portugal – a Day Full of Curves through the Wild Nature of Spain and Portugal
The first 75 kilometers take us straight through the wide, rural landscape of Spain. Golden fields, small villages, and the scent of pine trees accompany us until a low mountain range slowly appears on the horizon – the Sierra de Francia.
Our first stop: a delicious Café con leche in the charming mountain village of La Alberca.
Climbing up over El Portillo, we enter one of the most sparsely populated regions of Spain – Extremadura. The roads become quieter, the landscape wilder, and riding here is pure joy.
Later, the route takes us across the border into Portugal, into the Serra da Estrela National Park. The mountains are stunning – rocky, green, and crossed by clear mountain streams. Our destination: Manteigas, where a beautiful hotel with a sauna and spa awaits us right next to a waterfall.
Our final day began with a gentle ride south, the road winding through peaceful countryside dotted with whitewashed villages.
Our first photo stop was at one of the oldest Roman bridges in the region
From there, we continued to the charming medieval town of Arraiolos, famous for its handwoven carpets. Narrow cobbled streets led us up to the town center, where we enjoyed a relaxed coffee under the morning sun.
The highlight of the day awaited us in Évora — a city that feels like a living museum. Its impressive Cathedral, the haunting Chapel of Bones, and the maze of cobblestone streets remind visitors why Évora is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a delicious lunch surrounded by centuries of history, it was time to head back toward Lisbon.
We took the freeway north, and just before reaching the Tagus River, the view opened up to the breathtaking Vasco da Gama Bridge — nearly 17 kilometers long, stretching endlessly across the water. Crossing it felt like the perfect grand finale to our journey.
That evening, we shared our farewell dinner, toasting to new friendships, unforgettable roads, and the promise of meeting again on another adventure.
Until next time — ride safe and keep exploring.
