Embarking on a memorable MTB holiday with your family in Portugal?
Explore the trails, places, and tricks we discovered with our tribe! Relish the freedom and leisurely pace of exploring the wild nature and sights of the Sintra Natural Park.
Flight to Lisbon and Transfer to Azhenas do Mar
Flying with two bikes, a bike trailer, and our little family for the first time was an adventure in itself. Packing proved a tad more challenging than anticipated. However, we managed to fit our large enduro bikes into the bike travel bag and devised a makeshift box for transporting the trailer. The trek from the car to the airport was perhaps the most demanding part. While Daddy pushed a cart laden with the trailer box, backpacks, and our little one, I towed the bike travel bags.
Our baby loved exploring the airport. Following that, after checking in our bikes, we stopped for a quick lunch. He couldn’t contain his excitement in the bustling crowd.
After a 3.5-hour flight, we landed in Lisbon on New Year’s Eve. With all our luggage, we had no idea how to reach the apartment we booked in Azhenas do Mar. Realizing that renting a car wasn’t feasible within our budget, we packed everything into a taxi van. Eventually, we arrived in Azhenas do Mar village, ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve. We indulged in a frozen bacalhau dinner cooked in the oven, although we retired before midnight.
Bike-Friendly Top Apartment in the Sintra Natural Park: Azhenas do Mar Roadside House
We couldn’t have asked for a better apartment in terms of location, space, and comfort, especially for a bike holiday!
The spacious terrace, equipped with a water pump, made bike washing easy. Ample storage space in the entrance held our bikes and baby carrier. The spacious kitchen, equipped with cooking essentials (including an oven, perfect for preparing frozen bacalhau!), made mealtime a delight.
Additionally, the apartment, newly furnished, was remarkably affordable, and the host was incredibly accommodating.
Azhenas do Mar: Perfect Starting Point for Bike Trips Around Sintra Natural Park
Azhenas do Mar, 5 km from Colares, offers a stunning ocean view and its own beach with natural swimming pools.
During our visit, a fierce storm churned up foam, turning the swimming pool and surroundings into a playful, albeit sandy, spectacle.
The village is well-stocked with two supermarkets. Despite its modest size, the convenience store in our building was impressively equipped, stocking diapers and umbrellas—both indispensable for us.
Enduro MTB in Sintra Natural Park with a Baby
We fell in love with this natural park for our two-wheeled adventures. We ascended together, Dad carrying the child trailer. For the descent, Dad tackled the enduro trails while the baby and I stuck to the easier routes, occasionally parting ways. Our favorite rides and full description of them can be found at this separate post.
The trails offered spectacular ocean views and opportunities to explore the park’s wilderness, discover sandy beaches, and marvel at the magical palaces and castles of Sintra.
As Italians, we deeply appreciate food, so we made sure to include stops for sampling typical local products, even suitable for our little one. We quickly discovered that anytime is a good time for pasteis de nata and for bacalhau (codfish).
We highly recommend this destination for a family MTB excursion! The roads are quiet, the scenery is breathtaking. Moreover, you can easily access sightseeing spots and nature reserves with short rides—a consideration not only for the physical effort of hauling a trailer but also for your baby’s patience.
What to Do When Riding Is Not Possible: Short Trip to Lisbon by Train with a Baby
When rain temporarily halted our biking plans, we explored Lisbon via bus and train from Azhenas do Mar. Surprisingly we enjoyed the efficiency of the local bus system, with buses departing almost every half hour to Sintra. From there, we seamlessly transferred to trains heading to Lisbon every 10-15 minutes. Despite the journey taking an hour and a half instead of the usual 40-minute drive, the fares were less than 10 euros each way (and babies traveled for free). It was surprisingly enjoyable, especially for our little one who isn’t fond of long car rides.
The Lisbon Oceanàrio
Our main destination in Lisbon was the Oceanário. Our baby has a fascination with fish, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. For an admission fee of 25 euros per person (with babies entering for free), we encountered sharks, rays, penguins, otters, and even the famous sunfish, albeit a bit unusual.
The aquarium, primarily designed for adults with its dim lighting and numerous tanks, seemed to tire our little one towards the end. Accessing the Oceanário from the train station was straightforward, requiring only a short walk, manageable even without a stroller. Additionally, for a quick bite, we found a convenient spot in front of the station at the Vasco de Gama shopping mall. There, we savored soup for the baby and indulged in coffee and pastel de nata at pocket-friendly prices.
While our Lisbon exploration was somewhat limited due to heavy rain and the limited patience of a child more accustomed to nature than city life, it was still a worthwhile experience. If you plan to spend a night in the city, we highly recommend visiting the market. Our previous visit left us deeply impressed.
We cherished every moment of this holiday and will forever hold onto the wonderful family memories created during this sport tribe adventure!
