Why this ride
A dense sequence of passes, valleys and viewpoint roads. It also links naturally to Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Serra da Estrela Loop
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 28 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 31 min
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: planning record, not independently verified geometry.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distances and riding times are planning figures. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Access context
Check wildfire closures, heat and local road works. Specific flag: seasonal; weather.
Seasonal context
May-Oct
Scenic road chapters
Serra da Estrela Road
Expect company on a summer weekend. Early is better than fast. For 14 km this is Serra da Estrela Road, a road with a name of its own and a reason for it.
Rider note
Check the pass is open before you commit to it.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 14 km
- Named road
- Serra da Estrela Road
- Pass
- Torre
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Covilhã
Covilhã clings to the steep eastern flank of the Serra da Estrela, so much so that its streets seem to be climbing the mountain one stair at a time. It is Portugal's highest-lying city of any size, a place where the air changes noticeably as you ride up from the plains of the Beira Baixa. The town is the starting point for the road up to the Torre, the highest point in mainland Portugal at around 1,993 metres, and a good place to prepare.
Read the complete Covilhã write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Covilhã sits at 0 km, early in the day. Next is Manteigas.
2. Manteigas
Manteigas lies at the bottom of a valley that was cut by a glacier. The Zêzere river runs along the floor of a great U-shaped trough, with granite walls on either side rising to the plateau of the Serra da Estrela, and it is one of the clearest examples of glacial scenery in the Iberian Peninsula. The town clings to the lower slopes, a tight cluster of stone houses with slate roofs, steep narrow lanes and the smell of woodsmoke in winter. At under a thousand metres, it is a gateway rather than a summit, and it is the best base from which to explore Portugal's highest mountains.
Read the complete Manteigas write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Manteigas comes up 14 km in. Next is Covilhã.
3. Covilhã
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Covilhã write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
28 km in you reach Covilhã.
Recorded source links
More motorcycle rides nearby
- Serra da Estrela Road · 74 km
- Estrada Nacional 2: Chaves to Abrantes · 360 km
- Estrada Nacional 2: Viseu to Abrantes · 199 km