Cycling Albufeira: 7 best cycling routes of the central Algarve, Portugal

Lagos loop

Marco from BikeSul says “Albufeira is a busy place, especially in the summer months, so take care on your way out; until you reach Algoz you’ll probably encounter some traffic. From then on you’re in the Algarve’s wonderful Barrocal region and the roads will be much quieter.

Fontes da Matosa is a pretty cobbled village and Lagoa and Carvoeiro are also charming. Carvoeiro also has a beautiful beach; the perfect place to take a break, overlooking the sea.

At Algar de Benagil there’s a famous cave you can explore if you have time – rent a kayak, paddleboard or take a boat there. From here there’s a climb up and on to Senhora da Rocha you’ll find an excellent viewpoint over the cliffs.

From here it’s back to the more touristy areas surrounding Albufeira.”

Alte loop

Jerom from Musette Bike is a good friend of Jürgen Roelandts and spoke to us about the route on Jürgen’s behalf. Jerom says “You head out of busy Albufeira towards Algoz. Once you’re out of the city you’ll pass many orange and citrus farms. It’s something of a rollercoaster for the first 20 kilometres or so before the main climb starts, heading up to Messines and Alte.

Alte is a gorgeous little town and an excellent place to stop for a coffee on your ride, the Germano Bike Cafe. The old village is next to a river with cascading mini waterfalls through the centre. There’s also a mountain bike race that’s held here.

On the way back to Albufeira you’ll ride through a number of seaside resorts – so there’s always the option to park up and take a dip!

This is an excellent ride if you haven’t got all day but want to get out into the beautiful landscapes the Algarve is famous for.”

Silves and Loulé loop

Marco from BikeSul says “You leave Albufeira on pretty flat terrain, through orange groves, heading west towards Alcantarilha. Alcantarilha is a gorgeous village which gives you a feel for how life in the Algarve was in the 1950s and 60s, with cobbled roads, a church and local cafés.

The road rises to Silves, a beautiful town topped off by an impressive castle that is a National Monument. The N124 is wonderfully quiet and takes you northeast to São Bartolomeu de Messines about 40 kilometres into the route. It’s up and down (but mostly up) to Alte, one of the most historical villages in the Algarve, with a fantastic bike cafe, the Germano Bike Cafe also mentioned in the Alte loop ride above.

A little further on, from Benafim you get great views of the Rocha da Pena landscape. At Salir your turn south and the rollercoaster of hills continues, amongst which the Tôr and Cruz da Assomada climbs stand out. From these you can see all the way to the coast.

From there it’s down to Loulé and back towards Boliqueime and Albufeira.”

GPX DownloadTerms of use reminder

Malhão and Salir Loop

For cyclists who enjoy exploration, varied landscapes, and an authentic local atmosphere, Luís from AlgarveCycling recommends the following ride.

“The ride starts from Ferreiras (Albufeira), a central and convenient location accessible by train from across the Algarve. You roll out through peaceful countryside roads toward Paderne, where the ruins of the medieval castle can be seen high up on the hill. The road gradually begins to rise as you leave town, offering a smooth intro to the climbing ahead.

You then pass through one of the Algarve’s most beautiful villages, Alte, famous for its springs and whitewashed houses. After this village, the road kicks up into a sharp climb that offers the first real test of the day. Once over the top, the terrain eases off into a more rolling rhythm, giving you a chance to recover as the road winds through peaceful countryside.

After a scenic ride through olive groves and cork oak forests, you reach the legendary Malhão climb with steep switchbacks and short ramps leading up to over 500 metres of elevation. It is the toughest section, but also the most rewarding, with vast views over the Serra do Caldeirão.

Following a descent and some rolling terrain, you reach Salir, a traditional inland town and an ideal place to pause and take in the peaceful surroundings. From here, the ride becomes more gentle, winding through valleys and quiet lanes.

After passing through Tôr, the route leads you to the peaceful village of Querença, set on a hilltop and known for its traditional charm and 16th-century church, a local landmark that is surrounded by cobbled streets.

Approaching Loulé, one of the region’s most vibrant inland towns, you feel the shift from countryside to lively local life. The route takes you through the historic town centre, where you can stop to visit the famous covered market or grab a coffee. From there, you exit Loulé via quiet backroads, catching glimpses of its traditional architecture before heading into the final stretch back to Albufeira.”

Like the sound of taking on the Malhão climb, but looking for a longer, tougher day in the saddle? See Luís’s more challenging route suggestion below.

GPX DownloadTerms of use reminder

Vilamoura loop

Marco from BikeSul says “This is a challenging route with a considerable amount of climbing through the impressive interior of the Algarve. Be prepared for the fact that the route is pretty much uphill for the first 50 kilometres. At Barranco do Velho you’re near the top of the climb and it’s a nice place to stop for a coffee.

Here you meet the Algarve’s famous N2 road, which takes you to the northernmost point of this ride at Ameixial. Just after here, the climb to Vermelhos is one to watch out for – it’s only 2.5 kilometres long but some parts reach gradients of 10%+. You then descend down to Califórnia, though are some notable “up” parts too!

Just after Tameira, you will spot that you are quite close to the famous Malhao climb – if you want you could always divert up it and conquer the Algarve’s most famous climb. After this, you head south to Benafim, the nice village of Paderne and then back towards the more busy coast.”

Malhão loop

If you are ready to take on a challenge, Luis from AlgarveCycling has just the thing for you!

Luis says, “Your ride begins at Albufeira-Ferreiras train station, which is easily reachable by train from anywhere in the Algarve. From there, your route will take you inland on quiet roads through the Algarve Barrocal. The early kilometres roll gently, perfect for warming up before the hills begin.

The road starts to climb steadily as you head northeast past Paderne and toward the inland ridges. The scenery shifts to rural farmlands, olive groves, and eucalyptus forests.

Approaching the village of Alte, you find yourself in one of the Algarve’s most picturesque spots. It’s a great place for a quick coffee or water stop (e.g. at famous Germano biciArte Café) to recharge before tackling the first major challenge ahead.

After the café, the road kicks up into the “Wall of Alte”, a two-kilometre climb averaging a 7.4% gradient that is sure to put your legs to the test. From here, you truly enter the Algarve’s wild interior — a remote and scenic landscape of quiet roads, long straights, and rolling hills. Traffic thins out, the gradients pick up, and the terrain becomes more rugged as you approach the foothills of the Serra do Caldeirão.

At kilometre 31, the legendary climb to Malhão begins. Short but brutal, this ascent has steep gradients, tight switchbacks, and a real Tour de France feel. This is the queen climb of the route, made famous by the Volta ao Algarve, and it’s a true highlight of the ride.

After conquering Malhão, enjoy a technical descent. At kilometre 65, the route intersects the iconic N2 road. Cycling along this stretch offers smooth tarmac and expansive views of the surrounding hills. The Miradouro da Serra do Caldeirão is an ideal spot for a brief pause to take in the panoramic scenery of the Algarve’s mountainous interior.

By São Brás de Alportel, the toughest climbs are behind you. You’ll loop back west towards Boliqueime and Albufeira, crossing more open countryside with easier gradients.

Best ridden in cooler months and ideally with support due to the route’s length and climbing volume, this challenging loop will test your legs and reward you with epic climbs, quiet roads, and some of the Algarve’s most breathtaking inland scenery.”

GPX DownloadTerms of use reminder

Monchique and Foia loop

As for the Albufeira-Alte route Jürgen recommended, Jerom from Musette Bike spoke to us about the route on Jürgen’s behalf. Jerom says “The route carefully winds out of Albufeira, avoiding the busiest roads. After Guia the traffic subsides and you settle into the swing of the gentle rise and fall of the terrain.

From around 20 km into the route, the road follows the railway track and you can enjoy some fast, flat riding until you approach Silves about 10 kilometres later. You’ll have spotted Silves’ mediaeval hilltop castle looms on the horizon for a good distance beforehand. It’s a popular little town with a well-known festival in summer.

You pass the Autodrome, home to Formula 1 racing, and the climbing gradually starts, taking you up the climb to Monchique and from there to the summit at Foia.

The route down is quite spectacular, through Alferce. Jurgen likes to call it the roof of the Algarve, as you’ll enjoy far-reaching views to the ocean. You pass the Odelouca dam and descend to Silves and take a different route back into Albufeira.

This is a route with a good chunk of climbing and some spectacular scenery. One not to be missed, especially if you want to tick off having cycled Monchique and Foia.”

GPX DownloadTerms of use reminder

A huge thank you to Jerom and Marco for sharing their expertise. We hope you enjoy exploring this area of the Algarve – let us know how you get on in the comments below!

Want to know more about cycling in the Algarve?

Don’t miss our in-depth guide to cycling in the Algarve. We share everything from where to stay, to when to come and what to bring.

Once you’ve read that, you might also like

• The best cycling routes from Lagos
• The best cycling routes from Tavira
• Our article on the best cycling events in the Algarve to watch and take part in.

For more cycling regions and routes in Portugal take a look at this overview guide.

Fonte Grande de Alte –  a peaceful oasis in the Algarve hills (photo credit: AlgarveCycling)

Marco Fernandes has been involved in cycling for most of his life, starting as a professional racer in his youth. After he finishes his degree, he worked with the Portuguese Cycling Federation and other companies that organise events and cycling tours in Portugal. He remains one of the authorities on cycling in Algarve Portugal.

Jerom Pannier runs Musette Bike and has lived in Portugal for many years.

Jerom says "Our mission is to provide a high quality service. We have two shops, one at the exclusive Martinhal resort near Sages and one in Salema, close to Lagos.

From each shop you can hire high quality carbon and aluminium road bikes as well as e-bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes and kids bikes. Our prices include little extras, like helmets, pedals and access to their library of routes. Bike delivery is available (1 euro per kilometre and a 15 euro minimum) as well as guided tours.

Our multilingual team (but fear not, everyone speaks English!) love to take guests out to explore their beautiful region. Our mantra is that good service starts with a smile.”