What to eat when exploring Portugal by bicycle

By Nelson Carvalheiro

When exploring Portugal by Bicycle, the adventure will never be enough if you will not get a taste of the prided food and wine that only Portugal has to offer.

For the past few years, the capital city of Lisbon has been serious in trying to reinvent the classic cuisine of the country by adding a touch of a new and more refined flair. While there are still a lot of tabernas and tascas that serve the classics, there are now more high end and gourmet style versions that are opening in vast numbers all over downtown as well as other more affluent areas. Aside from these, there are also wine-bars that are now flourishing in different parts of the city. The gourmet stores are also growing like mushrooms in downtown Lisbon that reignites the tradition of the Portuguese canned fish, preserved fruits and sweet jams. Recently, the ethnic restaurants from the previous colonies have also become more famous, specifically African, Goan and Brazilian cuisines.

With the rivers on the north, Atlantic to the west and the mountains bordering the eastern side, Porto is a spectacular place that you should never miss out when you tour Portugal on bicycle. Porto has its own set of signature dishes while still serving the traditional cuisine of northern regions. It has also been perfectly located right at the center of the wine country and from there, you can take off your day trip or even a longer excursion to the wine regions of Douro, the Dão and Vinho Verde. Here, you can participate in the guided wine tastings, check how the local wineries work and see the grapes that are grown and harvested from the vines in the actual vineyards themselves.

The Algarve is amazingly rich in diversity and culture, particularly if you after a food friendly experience. If you are tired of touring Portugal by bicycle, you can stop by at the place and relax and choose from more than 100 beaches that all abound with uniqueness and biodiversity. If you are a diehard nature lover, you can even try one of more than 30 hiking trails in the place.

The gastronomy in Algarve from west to east can be best described as Mediterranean to a rustic twist, and very much from the ocean, earth and sun. The traditional residents of the place will insist on the use of the infinite nutrient resources of the region and demand for honest, unpretentious and fresh ingredients that you can feel, smell, cook and taste under a local expert’s guidance.

A single day of touring Portugal by bicycle is not enough especially if you want to experience all of the gastronomical offers of the place and try and sip its unique wines. Considering the rich diversity of the place, it is not a big surprise that many people always welcome the idea of having food and wine travels in this one of a kind place and Portugal Bicycle Tours can help you experience all of these and more.