Northern Portugal is a diverse region with coastal areas, hilly landscapes, and mountainous areas. It borders the Galicia region in Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, the region extends all the way to just below the city of Porto. Northern Portugal (naturally) covers the northernmost part of the country and is therefore a bit cooler than the more southerly regions. In the summer, you can enjoy fantastic cycling here, while it can be very hot in the south during that period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along the coast, the landscape is relatively flat. The interior is known for its hills and mountains, where cyclists have the choice of numerous beautiful climbs and routes. The Peneda-Ger\u00eas National Park even features some of Portugal\u2019s toughest climbs, with little traffic and well-maintained roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roads in northern Portugal are generally quiet and very suitable for cycling. In the vicinity of Porto, of course, the roads are busier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Northern Portugal is a fantastic cycling destination if you love authentic, peaceful landscapes. This region still feels unexplored. Yet cycling culture is increasingly gaining momentum here. This is due, among other things, to the various climbs that occur in the Tour of Portugal. Although the Tour of Portugal is not as \u2018important\u2019 as the three Grand Tours, the climbs are definitely worth the effort. And although you will undoubtedly encounter other cyclists here, it\u2019s not as crowded as on the famous cols in the Alps or Pyrenees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the way, you don\u2019t have to be a hiking enthusiast. The Minho subregion, located in the northwest of Northern Portugal, has a beautiful rolling landscape with vineyards and authentic fishing villages. Minho borders the Peneda-Ger\u00eas National Park, where the rolling hills gradually transition into more rugged mountain landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another reason to visit this region is the climate. In the summer months, the average temperature here is between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. That\u2019s warm, but not as warm as in the south. This is also Portugal\u2019s greenest region. That\u2019s thanks, of course, to the fact that it rains more here \u2013 and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In northern Portugal you will find mainly many vineyards and rolling landscapes. Popular areas are Minho, in the northwest, or the Douro region (east of the city of Porto).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minho is greener and cooler due to its location along the Atlantic Ocean. The area is hilly, but the northeast of Minho is at the foot of the Peneda-Ger\u00eas National Park; it is Portugal\u2019s only National Park. That is the place where you can find some beautiful climbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Douro Valley is somewhat drier and sunnier. The landscape here consists mainly of terraced vineyards (this is the area of the Port!) and river landscapes. Here you can already discover a number of routes from Porto and the Douro Valley. We\u2019ll tell you in advance; although this isn\u2019t necessarily pristine mountain scenery, you\u2019ll still be able to rack up enough elevation gain here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes is the subregion in the northeast of Northern Spain. This area is far from the larger cities. Small, remote villages and the Montesinho mountain range form the backdrop here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coastal regions of northern Portugal have a temperate marine climate, with mild winters and not too hot summers. The interior, on the other hand, has a continental climate where the summer days can be hot and the winters cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In spring, temperatures in northern Portugal average between 12\u00b0C and 22\u00b0C. Along the coast and in the Douro Valley, wine-growing begins to take off. During this period, the region experiences an average of 10 to 15 rainy days per month, but there are also an average of 9 sunny days, especially in April and May. The number of dry days increases, but it usually does not rain all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The summers in Northern Portugal are cooler than in southern Portugal. Along the coast, temperatures usually remain between 22\u00b0C and 28\u00b0C, while inland, such as in Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and the Douro Valley, can regularly reach above 30\u00b0C. In the mountains, it is slightly cooler. Rain is rarer during this period, with an average of 3 to 7 rainy days per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average temperature in September is 14\u00b0C to 24\u00b0C, and then temperatures continue to drop towards the winter period. The Douro Valley is beautiful during this period, when the vineyards take on beautiful autumn colors. Rainfall gradually increases, with 8 to 14 rainy days per month, but in September you usually still enjoy plenty of beautiful, sunny days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winters in northern Portugal are mild along the coast, with temperatures between 8\u00b0C and 15\u00b0C, but in the mountains and inland it can get considerably colder. In high-altitude areas such as Montesinho and Serra da Estrela, it can snow, which makes cycling difficult there. In lower-lying regions such as Minho and the Douro, cycling is still possible. This is the wettest period of the year, with an average of 12 to 20 rainy days per month, but it usually doesn\u2019t rain all day. There are 4 to 7 sunny days per month during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can ride fantastic bikes in Northern Portugal. Check all the ins and outs about cycling in Northern Portugal on this page.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":3807,"parent":27720,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"thema":[],"gebergte":[],"uitgelicht":[868],"class_list":["post-27754","bestemming","type-bestemming","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n