If you’re seeking an off-the-beaten-path destination for your family MTB holiday and have an affinity for untamed nature, consider embarking on a family journey to Sintra Natural Park.

We’re thrilled to share our favorite rides with the trailer around the park. Get immersed in the enchanting ambiance of Sintra city, the coastal tracks leading to Praia Magoito, and the picturesque Peninha hills. Tailored for enduro bikers, these routes offer exhilarating descents for experienced riders and manageable descents for those towing a trailer.

We’ll also highlight family-friendly stops for your little ones to enjoy, suggest charming spots for small lunches. You will find also additional tips garnered from our experiences exploring this captivating landscape.

All our rides start from Azenhas do Mar because this was our chosen starting point. Anyway, you have the flexibility to begin the rides from any location within the excursion.

1. Sintra Coastal Route Family MTB Ride

This family MTB excursion starts with a beautiful oceanside trail at Azhenas do Mar. This part is quite short but very impressive. It’s better if you ride here with a one-wheel trailer because the trail is narrow in some points. We loved the scenery captured by the ocean waves and their sounds crashing.

Then we followed the main road till Praia das Maçãs, a beautiful beach with a village. We arrived at Colares through a bikeway which is very well paved and passes next to the rails of an old-time train. This train is still operational on some days, though very slowly; we found cycling to be quicker.

Once in Colares, we took a sort of hidden trail in the countryside on the slopes of Sintra. A steep paved road leads to Sintra, suitable for those with strong legs, especially if carrying a trailer.

Sintra City and the enduro descent

Once arrived there, you feel immersed in a kind of magical atmosphere (this is Sintra), and that day, even more so (it was the 1st of January), with very few tourists. We paused at the main Square for Caldo Verde and bacalhau, relishing the warmth of the January sun.

Then Daddy went to the top of the Monge hill for the trails Monge and 17Pes, and my little one and I went down to Colares. The path down had a very rocky part, so I had to push my bike and trailer for 10 meters. If you don’t have a single-wheel trailer, I recommend you return to Colares via an alternative road.

We stopped at the playground in Colares waiting for Daddy. Close to the playground, there is also a well-equipped supermarket (Atlântico) with a butcher’s shop inside (we tried it: delicious meat!).

We then stopped at Praia das Maçãs for the sunset and to play with the sand, just amazing! Here, there are also plenty of bakeries and cafes for a snack if you wish (it is always a good time for a pastel de nata!). Praia das Maçãs hosts a market with fresh local products on Saturdays. We tried the roasted chicken; it was crunchy and tasty like homemade BBQ chicken, not too salty, so good also for the little ones.

We absolutely recommend this excursion to explore the city of Sintra and its surroundings, enjoying the ocean breeze and tasting the magical atmosphere of Sintra’s palaces.

This family MTB excursion heads to Sintra from Azhenas do Mar via an internal route, passing through the village of Janas. The way to Sintra is a road, but traffic is very low. In general, I have to say that Portuguese people are very friendly to bikers (they wait to overtake with no rush and do not pass too closely).

Discovering the magical athmosphere of Sintra City

We stopped for a quick lunch with tapas at the Tascantiga. I strongly recommend this place for family bikers. They let us park bikes in the internal terrace and had a baby seat. Also, serving good soups, ideal as the first baby food.

After lunch, we rode uphill to the gardens of Palácio de Pena. The road, likely the only one leading up, was bustling with tourist tuk-tuks and various installations. A lush, intensely green forest amazed us at the top, and the castle immersed in the fog appeared in a very magical atmosphere.

Unfortunately, heavy rain prevented us from visiting the palaces or castles. Still, we strongly recommend it, despite tourist crowds. We headed back home as soon as we could. The baby was safe under the trailer: always check for good rain protection when you buy it. We recommend here you go back from the other side and if you wish you have a stop in Colares or Praia das Maçãs.

If you want to enjoy the marvelous Portuguese sunset, consider stopping at Azhenas do Mar beach or at the mirador. We rushed home for a hot shower because of the rain, and despite the rain, we really enjoyed this family day out. To be honest, the rain made it even more adventurous and crazy. Everyone was wowing us riding under the rain with a baby.

3. Praia Magoito Family MTB Ride

An entire oceanside ride to fill your lungs with fresh iodine and fill your eyes with magnificent views of waves! We loved this family MTB excursion and completely fell in love with the green landscape and rocks overlooking the ocean.

The trails we traversed are sometimes only suitable for single-wheel trailers. However, you can still reach Praia Magoito via the main road (no traffic), which is worth it even with a larger trailer.

The first part of the trail is a gravel road but very large and easy; then a paved road conducts you to a Mirador (lookout). There two fishermen were waiting for an ocean fish bite on the top of these tall rocks. I still wonder if it is more difficult for a fisherman to hold a fishing pole from this height or for a fish to bite under these thunderous waves.

From this point on, if you wish, you can continue through the paved road. We explored the inner trails; some aren’t very suitable for trailers, especially after rain like during our visit. In fact the mud stopped the wheel, and we had to push bikes in some parts—for us, it was funny though!

We reached a hilltop, then rode down to Praia Magoito, surrounded by a marvelous landscape. Green fields with cows and small flowers adorned the scenery (yes, flowers in winter!).

The wild beauty of Praia Magoito

Praia Magoito is large and sandy. Although the café was closed during our visit, it’s open in summer with good prices, which we found very affordable. Our baby loved running in the sand. We rolled together and enjoyed a snack, breathing the salty ocean air.

The way back (especially the very first part) is very steep (poor Daddy!). Luckily then, when we reached the top of it, the rest of the trail was quite slow, and the landscape was always remarkable.

We stopped at the Azhenas do Mar Mirador for the sunset. There an intense red sky was thrown into the roar of the ocean waves. We love Portuguese sunsets; they are always so intense, or probably we mountaineers are not used to them. If we can, we won’t skip any of them when on holiday.

If you are seeking hidden, non-touristic places immersed in flourishing nature, you absolutely have to try out this family ride! It’s quite physically demanding, especially if you are carrying a trailer and do not have an e-bike. Nonetheless, it’s absolutely worth it, allowing you to explore Sintra Natural Park from the ocean to the mountaintop in one tour. If one in your group loves enduro, this trail will take you through the beginning of the famous coastside enduro trails. So, are you ready to shred the gnar with your baby?

The first part explores villages on the coast down to Colares, and then it starts the climb to the village of Penedo. The climb is steep but on a paved road, manageable even with a trailer if you have strong legs.

The must stop: Refugio do Ciclista

In Penedo, the “Refúgio do Ciclista” will offer you the perfect stopover to refuel. This place is really local (no tourists at all; only local workers were having lunch there), and we loved it. We parked the bikes just at the entrance and then we took a ticket like in the supermarket. In the meanwhile, they set the table for us.
As we entered, a large cold isle filled with various types of meat and fish greeted us at the entrance. We selected our choices, and the cook grilled them right behind. Here, with a set menu priced at 9 or 11 euros, we enjoyed delicious and generously portioned grilled meat and tuna fish. The meal also included a side dish, dessert, and beverage (UNBELIEVABLE).
The interior is simple with shared tables and benches, adorned with bike-themed decor like old bikes, t-shirts, and biking paintings. The personnel is very welcoming but not intrusive and treats you like a local. We loved the authenticity of this place and absolutely recommend it!

After this stop in Penedo, the climb continues to the top of the Peninha mountain. This part traverses a wide gravel road, suitable even for big trailers, but it’s very steep, particularly challenging after a hearty lunch. The landscape is marvelous. The first part (estrada do molinos) passes by old mills and then enters a lush eucalyptus forest. When we went through this forest, it started raining to make it even more rainforest atmosphere.

The thrilling enduro descents from Peninha hill

On the top of the mountain, the sun shined again. We loved the surroundings: big moss-covered stones, tall trees, and the silence and scent of wild nature. Daddy went down through a fast and flow enduro trail inside the forest (Home – Trilho Mágico), while my little one and I, sleeping in his trailer, went down to the coast on a paved road.

We met at the end of the descent and climbed up together on a gravel road with amazing ocean views, immersed in the green nature. At some point, there is a gate for wild horses, challenging for us with the trailer. We detached it and continued on a stunning, albeit steep, trail.

We reached the top of Peninha again. Daddy tackled another enduro trail, the new Ruim trail, while we descended to Colares via the paved road, passing through little villages. In Colares, we stopped at the playground before heading home, passing through Praia das Maçãs and enjoying the sunset colors by one of the many orioles.