Spain to Portugal by Motorcycle: Riding from Andalucía to the Algarve and Lisbon

Crossing from Spain into Portugal is one of the great motorcycle journeys in southern Europe. In a single trip you get the mountain roads of Andalucía, the cliffs and beaches of the Algarve, the hills behind the coast, Lisbon and Sintra, and the empty plains of the Alentejo, before heading back into Spain through the Sierra de Aracena. This guide covers the route, the best roads on the Portuguese side and what to know before you cross the border.

It is also the route of our 15-day Road to Portugal motorcycle tour, which starts and finishes in Málaga and, like all our tours, avoids motorways.

The route at a glance

• Start and finish: Málaga
• Length: 15 days, 13 riding days, up to 2,600 km
• Spain: Ronda, the Sierra de Grazalema, Seville, the Sierra de Aracena, Córdoba, Granada and the Sierra Nevada
• Portugal: the Algarve coast, Lisbon and Sintra, and the Alentejo
• Best months: March to May and September to October

Andalucía: Málaga to Seville

The first days warm you up on some of the best roads in Spain. From Málaga, the route heads into the mountains above the Costa del Sol and down to Marbella, then climbs the A-397, around 50 km of bends up to Ronda and its famous gorge. From Ronda, it crosses the Sierra de Grazalema and its white villages before dropping to the Guadalquivir plain and Seville, where a rest day gives you time for the cathedral, the Real Alcázar and the tapas bars of Triana.

For more on this part of the trip, see our Andalucía motorcycle guide.

Crossing into Portugal

West of Seville, the route crosses the Guadiana river, which marks the border, and enters the Algarve. Three things change as soon as you cross:

• The clock: Portugal is one hour behind Spain. Set your phone and your GPS.
• The roads: national roads are numbered N or EN, and many motorways use electronic toll gantries with no booths. Our routes avoid motorways, so you won’t need to deal with them.
• The language: Portuguese, not Spanish, although many people in the Algarve and Lisbon speak English.

The best motorcycle roads in the Algarve

Most visitors only see the busy coast road, the N125, but the best riding in the Algarve is in the hills a few kilometres inland.

Serra de Monchique

Behind Portimão, the Serra de Monchique is the Algarve’s mountain range. The N266 climbs through cork oak and eucalyptus forest to the town of Monchique, and a short road continues up to Fóia, at 902 m the highest point in the Algarve, with views over the whole coast. From Monchique, the N267 east towards São Marcos da Serra is a newer road with good tarmac, long corners and very little traffic.

Serra do Caldeirão and the N2

The N2 is Portugal’s longest road, running the length of the country from Chaves in the north to Faro. Its southern end crosses the Serra do Caldeirão between Almodôvar and São Brás de Alportel, a run of tight bends through empty hills that is one of the best motorcycle roads in southern Portugal.

The west coast

North of Sagres, the Costa Vicentina is wild and windy, with cliffs, surf beaches and far fewer people than the south coast. It is a beautiful ride and a good start to the journey north towards Lisbon.

The Algarve to Lisbon and Sintra

From the Algarve, the route heads north along the Atlantic side of the country and crosses the Tagus into Lisbon. A rest day gives you time for the city and for Sintra, in the hills to the west, with the Pena Palace and its gardens. If you have the energy, ride on to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe.

Lisbon itself is best explored on foot or by tram. Park the bike at the hotel and leave it there.

The Alentejo and back into Spain

Leaving Lisbon, the route crosses the Tagus again and heads east into the Alentejo, Portugal’s big, quiet interior of cork oaks, vineyards and white hilltop villages. The roads are straighter here, but almost empty, and the food and wine are some of the best in the country.

From the Alentejo, you cross back into Spain and climb into the Sierra de Aracena in Huelva, a range of oak forests and stone villages that is home to the famous jamón de Jabugo, with the colourful Riotinto mines nearby.

Córdoba, Granada and back to Málaga

The last part of the trip crosses the Sierra Norte and endless olive groves to Córdoba and its Mezquita, then climbs into the Sierra Nevada on the way to Granada, where a final rest day gives you time for the Alhambra and the Albaicín. The last day crosses the mountains back to Málaga.

Riding in Portugal: what to know

• Speed limits: 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on roads reserved for motor vehicles, 90 km/h on other roads outside towns and 50 km/h in towns, unless signed otherwise.
• Alcohol: the limit is 0.5 g/l in blood, and 0.2 g/l for riders who have held their licence for less than three years.
• Tolls: many motorways use electronic gantries that read your number plate. Unpaid tolls are pursued with surcharges, so if you do use a motorway, make sure your bike is registered to pay. Our routes avoid them.
• Fuel: plentiful on the coast and around Lisbon, but sparse in the Alentejo and the Serra do Caldeirão. Fill up before the hills.
• Documents: carry your licence, passport and the bike’s papers at all times.
• Emergencies: 112 works in Portugal as well as Spain.

When to go

Spring and autumn are best. March to May brings green hills, wildflowers and comfortable temperatures, and September and October are warm with quieter roads after the summer. July and August are very hot in the Alentejo and inland Andalucía, and the Algarve coast is at its busiest. Our Road to Portugal runs in March. For more, see our month-by-month guide to the best time to ride in Spain.

FAQ

Can I ride a rented motorcycle from Spain into Portugal?

Yes. The Road to Portugal includes a BMW F 450 GS for the whole trip, with upgrades to larger BMWs available.

How long do you need for a Spain and Portugal motorcycle tour?

Two weeks is ideal. Our Road to Portugal takes 15 days, with 13 riding days and rest days in Seville, Lisbon and Granada.

What is the best motorcycle road in the Algarve?

The roads in the Serra de Monchique, including the climb to Fóia and the N267, and the N2 through the Serra do Caldeirão.

Do I need to pay tolls in Portugal?

Only if you use the motorways, many of which have electronic tolls. Our routes avoid motorways completely.

Is Portugal in a different time zone from Spain?

Yes. Portugal is one hour behind Spain all year round.

Plan your trip

Short on time? See all our Andalucía motorcycle tours from Málaga, from 8 to 15 days.

See the full itinerary of the Road to Portugal, or read the complete guide to motorcycle tours in Spain for our other routes.