Getting to Lisbon: By bicycle

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From airport: Due to the relative proximity of Lisbon's airport to the city center, it is quite easy to cycle from the airport to the center, and could be recommended if you arrive for a cycling trip.

After leaving the airport and negotiating a roundabout, merge onto the long and straight dual-carriageway Av. Almirante Gago Coutinho (you should be able just to follow the "Centro" ("Downtown") signs.) After merging, the route to Baixa is simple and straight. This street later turns into Av. Almirante Reis, and then Rua de Palma, at the end of which you will be right in Baixa.

Cycling outside Lisbon can be a challenge, as Lisbon offers far easier cycling than what you may find outside of the city. The further you get from Lisbon however, the easier the cycling gets. You may wish to take advantage of certain regional trains that take bicycles in a separate luggage carriage, allowing you to start your cycling some 50 or 100 kilometers outside of the city.

Cycling within the city is now much easier because of the work the municipality has been putting in with bike lanes, changing car traffic patterns and adding speed bumps etc but of course parts of the town will always be part of the surprisingly hilly outlet of Lisbon. Although better than in recent years there are still very few bike lanes in town the newest one stretches from Baixa to Belem along the beautiful river Tejo water front. Car drivers are now often weekend cyclists and way more careful with cyclists than in recent years. Good spots to cycle are along the EXPO coast, the waterfront between Cais Sodré and Belém.

Just outside of Lisbon -you can take for free a bike on trains or ferries- along the coast from Estoril towards the beautiful beach of Guincho, reach Sintra, Cascais or Costa da Caparica.

If you take a bicycle in public transportation beware of the following:

• Metro: During working days you are allowed to carry bicycles in the metro only after 8:30PM. On weekends, it's allowed and it's free of charge.
• Suburban trains: You are allowed to carry bicycles in the trains free of everyday of the week just be reasonable and avoid rush hour passenger patterns.
• Ferries: Bicycles travel for free, you are allowed but there are strict limitations on the number of bikes allowed depending on ferry lines and ferry boat type, arrive early and you shall avoid disappointment.

Bike shops in Lisbon town center are rare. You can find a SportZone near Rossio or in Amoreiras shopping mall. Ask there for specialist shops, shop assistants are usually very helpful.

For bike the sights and bike rentals you can always check out Bike Iberia (Phone: +351 96 242 3455, bikeiberia.com) located in Baixa-downtown , next to Cais Sodre and the Praca Comercio square; they are professional, friendly and very helpful on providing tours, bikes, touring equipment, mountain biking gear and native insider's knowledge.

• bikeiberia.com