Excursion à vélo d’une journée de Albufeira à Faro

Swap Albufeira’s beach buzz for Faro’s historic calm on a scenic Algarve spin. It’s roughly 49 km with about 380 m of gentle ups and downs, topping out around 80 m—more rolling than tough.

Routing favors quiet roads for most of the way, with some farm tracks and a bit of cycleway. Surfaces are mixed: plenty of asphalt but also gravel and a few loose sections, so wider tires (35 mm+) are a plus. You’ll likely thread past pine groves and orange orchards and, closer to Faro, the salt pans and lagoons of the Ria Formosa—keep an eye out for wading birds.

Break options abound in resort towns like Vilamoura or Quarteira, or grab a pastel de nata en route. Start in Albufeira, a former fishing village turned beach hotspot, and finish in Faro, the Algarve’s capital, with its walled old town and stork-topped arches.

Tip: summer sun and coastal winds can be strong—carry water and a bit of chain lube for the dusty bits. Expect around 3–4 hours at a comfortable pace.