The Lés-a-Lés 2025 adventure passes through Benecar
Created by Lucas Luís at Thursday, 27 March 2025
The Lés-a-Lés 2025 adventure, which takes place between 7 and 10 June 2025, passes through Benecar and the City of Automobiles will be one of the highlights of the route of the country's biggest motorbike tourism adventure. It's not just a stop on the route (‘Oasis’), but a meeting point where the passion for motorbikes, the spirit of camaraderie and the freedom of the road come together.
The event, known for linking Portugal from end to end, brings with it remarkable stories, great ‘machines’ and thousands of kilometres filled with emotion. This year, with the integration of Benecar into the Lés-a-Lés 2025 route, with an unprecedented passage through the interior of the Motor City, we are sure that there will be no shortage of new stories and unforgettable moments for all the adventurers who take part in this journey.
What is Lés-a-Lés?
Lés-a-Lés is more than just a motorbike ride: it's a real adventure, where every kilometre tells a story and every stop is a milestone of sharing. In 2025, Benecar - Cidade do Automóvel is proud to be part of this route, enthusiastically welcoming thousands of motorcyclists and all those who travel to Benedita to follow the journey.
Lés-a-Lés was created in 1999 with the aim of uniting Portugal from one side to the other, from the most easterly to the most westerly, in a celebration of the country's geographical, cultural and human diversity. Organised by the Portuguese Motorcycling Federation, the event stands out for its mototourism character, its lack of competition and its emphasis on safety, camaraderie and discovery.
Over the years, Lés-a-Lés has grown, winning over thousands of motorcyclists. Today, it is one of the biggest events of its kind in Europe, with an exemplary organisational structure.
More than the kilometres travelled, Lés-a-Lés represents a community that lives the road with passion, sharing values of mutual help, respect and love for motorbikes. There are those travelling alone, as a couple or in a group. There are those who take Vespas, Boss Couples or GSs. Everyone counts. Everyone belongs.
It's this communion between machines and people that makes the event truly unique. Many motorcyclists look forward to Lés-a-Lés because they know they'll meet up with friends from other editions and make new ones, thanks to the atmosphere of conviviality and sharing, especially in the ‘Oases’, like the one that will be set up in Automobile City.
Why is Lés-a-Lés 2025 so special?
The 2025 edition promises to surprise. With new routes, breathtaking landscapes and carefully chosen strategic stops, this will be a route marked by diversity and authenticity.
This year, Lés-a-Lés reinforces its mission of bringing motorcyclists closer to the communities it passes through. The inclusion of Benecar - Cidade do Automóvel as a stop-off point reflects this intention, providing a welcome in a truly unique space - ‘a gigantic stand with 1,500 cars inside’, as Ernesto Brochado, from the event's organisation, said at the official presentation of Lés-a-Lés 2025.
It will be the last ‘Oasis’ of the second day (8 June) and promises much more than a simple break: it will almost be an early dinner or, as it has been said with good humour, ‘an early snack’. The grandeur of the venue allows for something unprecedented in this type of event - ‘even walking inside the pavilions’, on a route of ‘more than a kilometre delineated inside’, recreating experiences from previous editions, such as the one in Felgueiras.
All this, and much more, takes place on a day when the route through our region is designed to showcase almost every parish in Alcobaça, a region rich in heritage, landscapes and, above all, hospitality. As Ernesto Brochado emphasised, ‘it's a land that deserves it, because it has a lot to see and, essentially, it has a lot of people who like to receive, even some who surprise us’.
‘Alcobaça is to be congratulated, it has mobilised a lot to welcome us. Joaquim Silva (Canário), who is here, has moved worlds and ends. Germano (...) too,’ he added, recognising the local commitment and dedication in preparing for this special stage.
What to expect when you visit Cidade do Automóvel
The day Lés-a-Lés arrives in Benedita and Benecar - Cidade do Automóvel will be marked by dynamism and experiences for all those who come across this memorable stop. From a warm welcome, rest and socialising areas, to exhibition spaces, promotion of products and services from the region, musical entertainment and interactive experiences designed for Lés-a-Lés adventurers, and also for the local community, who will be able to take part free of charge.
Participants will have access to everything that characterises an ‘Oasis’: rest, food and drink, exclusive merchandising and an environment designed down to the last detail. All this with the care, professionalism and attention to detail that are Benecar's trademark.
On this day, Motor City will be transformed into a veritable sanctuary for motorcyclists. Featured will be Vespas, Boss Couples, classic motorbikes with decades of history and adventure models such as the unmissable GS, Africa Twin or Ténéré. It will be a real living exhibition, where you can admire, photograph and share stories with those who live the road like no-one else. Here, engines are not just machines, they are extensions of the identity of those who drive them.
Despite its focus on the automotive sector, Benecar maintains a genuine connection with two wheels, with dozens of employees who are passionate about the world of motorbikes. In addition, it once again cultivates a close relationship with the local community, promoting moments of unity such as the Lés-a-Lés event. This collaboration strengthens that bond at a time when mobility is reinventing itself and the passion for motorbikes is taking centre stage.
The brand's commitment to innovation, excellence in experience and the promotion of quality events positions Benecar at the forefront of the sector, whether on two or four wheels.
The second stage starts very close by
The start of the second stage of Lés-a-Lés 2025, on 9 June, takes place very close to Benecar - Cidade do Automóvel and begins early: ‘the first teams leave as early as six in the morning,’ revealed Ernesto Brochado. While Pedro and Inês de Castro rest in the Monastery of Alcobaça, the participants hit the road, ready for another day of adventure.
Before heading east, the caravan heads for the coast, passing by Cela - ‘the land of General Sem Medo's wife, Humberto Delgado’ and São Martinho do Porto, ‘a perfect shell-shaped bay’ that continues to captivate those who pass by. From there they continue on to Salir do Porto, home of one of Portugal's best cyclists today, António Morgado.
The route then heads east, stopping at the first ‘Oasis’ of the day, the salt pans of Rio Maior. This is followed by the Alcobertas Dolmen Church, the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, the Chão de Pias viewpoint and the ‘most motorbike-friendly swing in Portugal’. A vibrant start right next door.
The importance of Lés-a-Lés for the region
The passage of Lés-a-Lés through Benedita and Alcobaça represents an injection of life into the local economy. Hotels, accommodation and shops benefit directly from the traffic generated by the event. In addition to the economic impact, the cultural impact stands out as it makes the local identity known to thousands of people, creates memories and establishes connections. Lés-a-Lés is also a showcase for the best that Portugal has to offer.
Lés-a-Lés 2025 Roadmap
The Lés-a-Lés 2025 route links the north to the south of the country, passing through stunning landscapes, historic towns and communities that live the motorcycling spirit to the full. It will be around 1,160 kilometres from Penafiel to Faro, with stops in Alcobaça and Portalegre.
The event kicks off on 7 June with the usual Opening Ride, a 70 km route through the municipality of Penafiel, before the official start of the adventure.
1st stage (8 June): Penafiel → Alcobaça (405 km), passing through Abragão, Cinfães, São Pedro do Sul, Penacova and Soure, where the first ‘Oases’ take place. The stage ends with a special stop at Benecar - Cidade do Automóvel, near the end of the day.
2nd stage (9th June): Alcobaça → Portalegre (275 km), crossing the Centre Interior, with stops in Rio Maior, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Sardoal, Mação, Castelo de Vide and Marvão.
Stage 3 (10 June): Portalegre → Faro (410 km), with stops in places like Arronches, Mourão, Mina de São Domingos (Mértola) and other emblematic areas of the Alentejo.
All along the route, ‘Oases’ (marked on the map by yellow dots) offer moments of rest, socialising and logistical support. They are: Abragão, Cinfães, São Pedro do Sul, Penacova, Soure, Benecar (Benedita), Rio Maior, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Sardoal, Mação, Castelo de Vide, Marvão, Arronches, Mourão and Mina de S. Domingos.
Lés-a-Lés 2025 promises to surprise once again, with a diverse, culturally rich itinerary designed in detail to celebrate the best of Portugal.
The 2nd phase of registration opens online on 1 April: les-a-les.com
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
