If you’ve spent any time exploring the world of cuisine, you probably know that there are few places on earth with as much variety in their food as Portugal. A small country with a big history, this region is home to some of the most amazing dishes from almost every culture and subculture you could imagine. 

Whether it’s veggie, beef, pork, fish or chicken, there are so many different types of dishes in Portuguese cuisine that we had to narrow our list down to just ten of the very best ones. Even if you’re not a fan of fish or red meat, these dishes will open your eyes (and your mouth) to a whole new world of tastes and textures.

If you love exploring new flavors and cuisines, then read on for our list of the top 10 best dishes from Portugal you must try!

Green broth - Kale Soup (Caldo Verde) 

I think Portugal is the soup capital of the world.  All Portuguese eat soup every day!  It's just part of life.  If you’re a fan of veggie soups and stews,  you’ll love this popular soup dish. 

Caldo Verde has been a staple of the Portuguese diet for centuries. The hearty kale soup It became a staple of the national diet during the Great Plague of 1720.   When food became scarce, people looked to this dish as a source of nutrients and vitamins to keep them going.

This traditional dish is made from a variety of green vegetables and herbs but, mainly, shredded kale, potatoes, mint, parsley, leeks, and cabbage. The vegetables are cooked in water with a touch of salt and pepper, garlic and a little olive oil, until they’re soft and tender.   The result is DELICIOUS!

Codfish Casserole (Bacalhau à Brás)

If you’re a fan of codfish and chips, you’re in for a treat. This traditional Portuguese dish is made from salted codfish shredded and baked in a rich, creamy sauce. The dried cod is first soaked for 24+ hours in water to reconstitute it.  It´s then prepared like fresh fish and  baked until golden brown.  

It's then shredded and served with a rich, creamy sauce made from eggs, milk and a pinch of pepper with a  topping of fresh coriander, chopped hard-boiled eggs and a generous helping of Portuguese piri-piri sauce.   The salty codfish is accompanied by a crunchy layer of fried potato slices.

Combined with a generous helping of piri-piri sauce, this dish is perfect for lunch or dinner.

Fish Stew (Caldeirada de Peixe)

This traditional Portuguese fish stew is a hearty, heavy dish made from a variety of fish and seafood. Although there are many different recipes for this dish, it’s common for the stew to include a mixture of fish such as squid, clams, fresh mussels, and shrimp.

This fish stew is cooked with potatoes, carrots, onions and parsley in a rich, creamy sauce that gives the dish a unique flavor and texture. Fish Stew is often served with a drizzle of olive oil or sprinkled with a generous helping of paprika.

Cod á Lagareiro (Salted Cod a Lagareiro style) 

If you love seafood and are looking for something a little different, this Portuguese dish is one you won’t want to miss. Bacalhaou á Lagareiro Style is a traditional Portuguese dish that’s both simple and delicious.

In this dish, the cod is boiled in water, shredded, mixed with bread and then drizzled with olive oil. It’s then served with slices of toasted bread and a generous sprinkling of chopped parsley and paprika.

This is a great dish to serve as an appetizer at a dinner party or as a meal on its own.  It’s simple to make, rich in flavor and full of nutrients. The cod is high in protein and low in calories.   

Açorda

A wonderful  hearty, potato-free meal, you’ll love this traditional Portuguese fish and bread stew. This stew is made with a variety of fish, such as codfish, shrimps, clams, and mussels and pieces of bread that are slowly cooked in a rich, flavorful sauce.

This is a great dish to make if you’re looking for something quick, simple, and hearty. Açorda is often eaten as a light meal or a snack, or served as an appetizer at dinner parties and barbecues.

This dish is so popular in Portugal that it’s considered a National Dish. You can find it served at almost any restaurant or bar in Portugal.

Portuguese Piri-Piri Chicken

If you love spicy food, you’ll go crazy for this Portuguese take on a classic dish. The Portuguese Piri-piri Chicken is a popular dish served in many Portuguese-owned restaurants and bars all over the world.

This is a spicy chicken dish made with a variety of spices, including paprika, piri piri and garlic. It’s often served with a side of vegetables, rice or potatoes, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. The Portuguese Piri-Piri Chicken is a quick, easy and cheap dish to make for yourself, family or friends. It’s also a great dish to serve at parties and barbecues.

Francesinha

This one is a wildcard, but if you love sandwiches and want to try a dish that’s as different and delicious as it is decadent and indulgent, the Francesinha is a must-try. This sandwich is so popular in Portugal that it even has its own festival, which celebrates this sandwich and the people who love it.

The Francesinha is made from a variety of meat and seafood, melted cheese, and a special sauce. It’s then baked in a sandwich press to create a delicious and unique texture.

Monkfish Rice

If you’re looking for a fish dish that’s a little different, we think you’ll love the Monkfish Rice. This is a delicious firm scale-less fish often served in rice dishes that are typically enjoyed for family lunches or dinners.

The Monkfish Rice is made from a mixture of monkfish, seafood, and a generous helping of rice. It’s then sloly stewed in a rich tomato sauce, flaboured with bay leaves, white white and a pinch of pepper.

This is a simple, hearty and healthy dish that’s quick and easy to make. It’s a great dish to try if you’re new to Portuguese cuisine or if you’re looking for a new type of fish dish to add to your weekly menu.

Pastel de Nata

Portugal’s most famous treat from the bakery!  If you’re a fan of desserts, you won’t want to miss out on this unique little tart. The Pastel de Nata is a traditional Portuguese dessert that’s loved around the world.

This little tart is made from a thick layer of flaky pastry and a rich, creamy filling made from eggs, sugar, and cinnamon. It’s often served with a drizzle of honey and sprinkling of cinnamon.

The Pastel de Nata is a delicious pastry that’s rich in flavor and absolutely delicious!  It’s a great treat to end a meal with or to share with friends or family over mid-morning coffee.  

So much to try, so little time

Well, there you have it! Our list of the top 10 best dishes from Portugal you must try. If you love spicy food, seafood, and rich, creamy sauces, then you definitely won’t want to miss out on these amazing dishes.

If you love exploring new cuisines and want to try something new and different, then why not plan a trip to Portugal? This amazing country offers visitors a taste of history, culture, and cuisine in every bite.

Looking for the best cycling routes in Portugal? Whether you are a beginner in bike touring looking for the most beautiful views of Portugal, or a seasoned bicycle traveler looking for new routes to explore, this list has something for you. 

The routes are graded on the difficulty of terrain and length. All of these cycling routes are scenic with plenty to see, so pack your bike and enjoy!

The Best Coastal Cycling Routes In Portugal

Rota Vicentina bike route

The Rota Vicentina is one of the most popular routes in Portugal, and in the whole of Europe. The route follows the Atlantic coast through rice paddies and marshes, rolling hills, farms, fields and numerous villages. 

Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to stop for a coffee break or snack or a proper meal of world class grilled fish. The route is graded as an easy-medium difficulty with an average daily distance between 35 and 65 kilometers.

Eurovelo 1 cycling route

The Costa de Prata Coastal Cycling Route runs along the picturesque coastline of southern Portugal. This route is popularly known as the Eurovelo 1, which actually starts in northern Europe. 

This coast has some of the best beaches in Portugal and offers stunning views of the beach towns and wild nature. This route is graded at low to medium difficulty with flat to rolling terrain for most of the route. 

This is a great choice for beginners or people who want to take it easy on their first bike tour in Portugal, with an average daily mileage of between 45 and 65 km. If you are looking for a tougher challenge, you can always ride 2 days back to back!

The Best Bike Touring Routes In The Mountains Of Portugal

Douro Valley bike route

You would be hard pressed to find more exceptional rides than what the Douro has to offer. The Douro valley cycling route is one of the very best bike routes in Portugal!

With excellent roads and near zero traffic for the most part, the Douro valley bike route will take you through the most stunning landscapes with breathtaking views of this unique valley.

This UNESCO heritage site owes as much to the labors of man in making the remarkable terraced vineyards as with the beauty of the valley itself. 

A unique micro-climate and varying solar exposure ensure that no two hillsides are alike and the result are the wonderful wines of the region, as well as turn after turn of sublime vistas.

The rides are as challenging as they are rewarding, with most climbs being taken on the saddle, as they wind round the contours of the slopes rather than straight up them. Daily average mileage ranges between 35 and 65 km.

Even so, this is a more challenging route and it's important that you're in good shape to take it on - or you can always consider an ebike to get a little extra help on the hill climbs!
 

Camino Português bike route

The Camino Portugues cycling route follows one of the official pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella, in the footsteps of the Way of St James. 

The cycling route follows closely the walking path, along ancient Roman roads of Lusitania and is the second most traveled route after the Camino Frances. 

Whichever route you take, the incredible beauty of its varied landscapes, charming villages and monuments to the glory of St James will instill unexpected awe in you. 

Due to the hilly and mountainous terrain of northern Portugal, this is a more challenging route, so you need to be in good shape to undertake this adventurous bike tour. Expect to ride between 35 and 65 km per day.

As mentioned above, don't be put off considering the Camino Portugues, as an ebike can certainly help on the hills and make this route accessible to more riders!

The Best Bike Touring Routes In Portugal For Beginners

If you are new to bike touring, these routes are the best to start with. They are less difficult than the other routes and still offer beautiful views and an in depth experience of Portugal.

Alentejo wine country bike route

Relaxing, Self Guided bike tour across the rolling fields of the Alentejo in Southern Portugal, cycling past wild flowers, vineyards, ancient castles and cork trees along the way. 

Medieval walled villages, white-washed and trimmed in blue, dot the hilltops while plains of wheat and oats spread out below, freckled with small flocks of sheep and goats grazing under majestic cork trees. 

With traffic free roads and beautiful landscapes it is no surprise that the Alentejo is one of my very favourite regions in Portugal. This is an easy to moderate route with a daily average mileage of between 40 and 70 km on mostly rolling terrain.

Algarve interior bike route

The Algarve is famous for it's sunshine and sparkling beaches, but the often overlooked interior offers rustic tranquility and outstanding cycling on very low traffic roads.

Departing from Tavira, not far from the Spanish border and cycling to Lagos, near the south-westernmost point of Portugal, the Algarve route follows little traveled inland country roads, passing fragrant orange groves and fields of fig, almond and carob as we cycle back to the sparkling beaches the Algarve famous for. 

This part of Southern Portugal gets around 300 days of sunshine a year and offers some of the finest cycling conditions in Europe. The cycling is easy to moderate with a daily average of between 40 and 60 km.

This warm, sunny bike tour route offers great rides, the unbeatable Portuguese hospitality, superb food (particularly fresh grilled fish!) beautiful beaches and plenty of reasonably priced accommodation. 

If you are looking for a fun and easy bike tour, this is a great choice!

Conclusion: My Favourite Cycling Routes In Portugal

The popularity of cycling in Portugal is on the rise, and with good reason. The country has some of the most beautiful routes for cyclists, with scenery that ranges from iconic coastal routes to picturesque mountains. 

Whether you're a novice cyclist or an expert, Portugal has the perfect cycling routes for you. 

My personal favourite bike touring routes in Portugal include the Rota Vicentina, for it's perfect blend of seascapes and bucolic landscapes, as well as the daily option to wet your feet in the Atlantic - before or after a delicious seafood meal. I can never tire of this route!

Another personal favourite is the Camino Portugues, although it's not exclusively in Portugal, it covers some of my favourite regions in northern Portugal; the Minho and the Douro. 

This is where you experience some of the warmest hospitality I've encountered in my travels and the cherry on top is arriving in Santiago de Compostella - always a jubilant triumph, no matter the weather!

While the previous two favourites tick all the boxes for an inspiring and exciting bike tour adventure, perhaps my very favouirte cycling route in Portugal remains the Alentejo wine country, for it's very simplicity and tranquility in our hectic times. 

For someone who loves wine and food as much as they love cycling, the Alentejo is hard to beat - anywhere in the world. It's also a perfect place to unplug, unwind and get far from the crowds.

How about you? Have you cycled in Portugal, and if so what is your favourite cycling route or region? You can share your bike touring stories or submit your photos and videos with like minded cyclists right here!

Europe is one of the top global destinations for cycle and adventure enthusiasts. This is because of its cultural heritage, excellent food, and range of terrain. 

Spain and Portugal take all of these aspects to the next level. So if you are looking for a long-distance biking adventure destination in Spain or Portugal, you are likely to find some of the best tours in the world. Read on to discover the 10 Best Biking Adventure Destinations Across Spain and Portugal!

5 Best Biking Adventure Destinations in Spain

Due to Spain’s excellent year-round climate and incredible terrain, the country isn’t short of avid cycling fans. Part of the reason cycling is so prevalent in Spain is because of the excellent route, road and mountain biking opportunities available. Here are some of the best biking routes leading to adventure throughout Spain.

Ruta del Califato

The Route of the Caliphate is a prestigious route through Spain. It brings together some of the most significant and emblematic parts of the Andalus region in Spain. You cycle through a period of the past and get to enjoy the cultural heritage of one of Spain’s most beautiful regions.

Ruta del Cid

Ruta del Cid, or the Way of El Cid, offers cyclists the opportunity to get the true Spanish experience. If you aren’t interested in doing the better known and more popular Camino de Santiago, try Ruta del Cid instead.

It is a 2000 km route that offers a calm and beautiful tour through Spain. It takes you from Castilla along to the Mediterranean coast.

La Ruta de Don Quijote

Ever heard of the literary classic Don Quijote? Cervantes, a satirical Spanish author, may have written the book hundreds of years ago. However, the legacy it left behind is still living on.

This route takes you 2,500 kilometers from Castilla to La Mancha, tracing Don Quijote’s route through the region. In addition, there are national parks, cultural communities and more on the ten stages of the route throughout the country.

The TransAndalus

The TransAndalus takes you through one of the most scenic parts of the country, the southern region of Andalucia. The conception of the trail was to get cyclists to experience Andalusia’s eight provinces. The route takes you through the volcanic landscapes of Cabo de Gata along with wetlands and more. Keep an eye out for trail signs and keep a detailed map on you to successfully get through the 2,000-kilometer route.

El Camino de Santiago

No list of the Best Biking Adventure Destinations Across Spain and Portugal would be complete without The Camino de Santiago pilgirmage route.

This has been one of the favorites for cyclists and backpackers for many years. Since the bones of St. James the Apostle were supposedly discovered in 813 AD, the route has become a world-famous pilgrimage path. The Camino Frances that runs along the North of Spain is the most popular and sacred cycling trail that leads to Santiago in the North of Spain.

5 Best Biking Adventure Destinations in Portugal

Spain isn’t the only country with a beautiful climate and stunning cycle routes. So if you feel the inner adventurer calling out for the next trip, consider indulging them in a trip to Portugal along any one of these four routes.

Rota Vicentina

Rota Vicentina is a bike tour that takes you along the coast of Portugal from Setubal to Sagres. You get to follow along the Alentejo and Algarve coastline to find your way along the scenic Rota Vicentina.

Along the way, take some time to explore the seaside villages and rural towns set next to the some of the most beautiful wild coastline of western Europe.

Douro Wine Valley

Douro Wine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its ancient relationship with growing valuable wine. The vineyards across the countryside soak up the sun that shines down on them all year round.

Don’t only go for the sampling of wine, but indulge in vintage ports and unique landscapes that punctuate the whole ride.

Alentejo Marble Route

Alentejo is one of the least densly populated regions in Portugal. However, it is an area that is well worth visiting on the numerous bike friendly routes that criss-cross this part of Portugal, known mainly for wine, olive oil, cork and marble.

Starting and finishing in the postcard perfect town of Évora, you will cycle across the rolling fields past wild flowers, vineyards, ancient castles and cork trees along the way. Loop through the beautiful marble towns of Borba and Vila Viçosa, considered Portugal’s white gold where everything down to the park benches is made of marble!

Ecovia do Litoral Cycling Trail

Last but not least is the Ecovia do Litoral Cycling Trail. The route takes you through the well-known Algarve but gives you a different taste of the region than you would typically find. This almost entirely flat trail offers 214 kilometers of stunning cycling by clinging to the coast and swimming into the Spanish border.

Enjoy heritage sites like Cabo de Sao Vicente and Vila Real de San Antonio. If you prefer rolling terrain and don't mind travelling a little further inland, the Algarve interior offers superb cycling and very low traffic rides.

EuroVelo 1: The Atlantic Coast Route

The EuroVelo network is a criss-crossing route of 17 long-distance cycling routes that extend throughout much of Europe. The Atlantic Coast Route is the first route of the EuroVelo system. It is the extension that connects Lison to Oporto. Due to its beauty and positive standing throughout the communities along the route, it is widely promoted by the Portuguese National EuroVelo Coordinator.

It is quite a popular route among the EuroVelo network and we recommend riding from Porto to Lisbon, to take advantage of the prevailing tailwinds.

Conclusion

Spain and Portugal are fantastic countries for cycling, with great cycling conditions almost year-round. 

It’s not just beautiful scenery that will tempt you to take a bike out on these routes, but also some of the best food in Europe. You can enjoy delicious regional dishes and wines on any of these bike touring routes.

These are just some of the wonderful sights and tastes await anyone looking for a cycling adventure in Spain or Portugal. Are you ready to explore?