Portugal
Description
It wasn't until the late nineteen-nineties that Portugal started the construction and marking of hiking paths. Long distance hiking trails are still rare. The major Grande Rota (GR's) are in part no more than a promiss. Of European long distance hiking trail E7 (GR12), 80 km on the border with Spain are ready. The GR11, Camino de Santiago, by now runs from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela. Most fully completed is the 540 km long GR22, Trail of the Old Towns. Problematic in Portugal are the often outdated maps and sometimes poor condition of paths and markings.
As a good alternative you can hike a range of shorter trails, which you will come across in all national parks and protected landscape areas. These walks last from several hours to a full day, and are marked in red and yellow. Names of these trails start with PR, Pequena Rota (= minor routes), signposts mark the trailheads, although some trails are circular. Try to buy maps and guides through the internet or in you own country in advance, because locally these are hard to come by.
Walking the shorter trails is an excellent way to explore Portugese nature. The first national park that deserves to be mentioned is Peneda-Gerês, a mountain area abounding in water, in the north of Portugal forming the border with Spain. Another good area for hiking is the Serra de Estrela, where you will find mainland Portugal's highest mountain Malhão de Estrela (1993m). Most hikers will be looking for walks in the Algarve, and on the vulcanic islands of Madeira, the Azores (with Mount Pico as the highest at 2351m) and Berlengas. These popular islands harbour bizarre plant and animal life, and offer numerous short marked trails.
Trails
Regions
- Alentejo
- Algarve
- Alvão Natural Park
- Arrábida
- Azores
- Berlengas
- Corvo, Azores
- Costa Verde
- Doura
- Estremadura
- Faial, Azores
- Flores, Azores
- Graciosa, Azores
- Madeira
- Montesinho
- Peneda-Gerês
- Pico, Azores
- Porto Santo, Madeira
- Santa Maria, Azores
- São Jorge, Azores
- São Miguel, Azores
- Serra da Estrela
- Serra da Malcata
- Serras de Aires e Candeeiros
- Terceira, Azores
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books
United Kingdom
- A1 Traveler
- Portugal (Travel Guide) Planning A Trip To Portugal Read more
United Kingdom
2017
- The Wild Guide Portugal
- Hidden Places, Great Adventures and the Good Life Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
2017
- Reisgids Wild Guide Portugal | Wild Things Publishing
- Inspirerende gids voor mooie plekken en het goede leven in Portugal. Imagine a summer spent plunging into clear turquoise rivers, playing on hidden beaches, walking in wild flower-strewn cork forests, and tasting wine from boutique vineyards accompanied by the freshest seafood. In this explorer’s compendium you will discover the hidden... Read more
Netherlands
2014
- Wandelgids Voetwijzer Midden Portugal | Op Lemen Voeten
- De gids staat boordevol praktische informatie over routes, onderdak, kaarten en openbaar vervoer. Elke wandeling heeft een eigen routekaartje. Kijkpunten verwijzen naar interessante elementen in het landschap. Ook vindt u in de gids een uitgebreide routebeschrijving van een meerdaagse trektocht door de Serra da Estrela. Kaartmateriaal is... Read more
United Kingdom
2018
- Walking in Portugal: 40 graded short and multi-day walks throughout the country
- Portugal is something of an undiscovered gem for hikers, offering beautiful, diverse landscapes and vast amounts of space. Thanks to its variety of micro-climates, it is possible to find pleasant walking conditions in all seasons, and the multitude of trails boast fantastic scenery and are rich in natural, historical and cultural interest.This... Read more
- Also available from:
- The Book Depository, United Kingdom
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
2018
- Walking in Portugal
- 40 graded short and multi-day walks including Serra da Estrela and Peneda Geres National Park Read more
Netherlands
2018
- Walking in Portugal
- Portugal is something of an undiscovered gem for hikers, offering beautiful, diverse landscapes and vast amounts of space. Thanks to its variety of micro-climates, it is possible to find pleasant walking conditions in all seasons, and the multitude of trails boast fantastic scenery and are rich in natural, historical and cultural interest. This... Read more
Belgium
2018
- Walking in Portugal
- Portugal is something of an undiscovered gem for hikers, offering beautiful, diverse landscapes and vast amounts of space. Thanks to its variety of micro-climates, it is possible to find pleasant walking conditions in all seasons, and the multitude of trails boast fantastic scenery and are rich in natural, historical and cultural interest. This... Read more
Netherlands
2018
- Wandelgids Walking in Portugal | Cicerone
- Guidebook describing over 40 walks throughout Portugal. The mainly circular half-day and day routes cover most National and Nature Parks in Portugal including the country's highest peak in Serra da Estrela, as well as visiting traditional stone-built villages and sites of historical interest. Includes background information. Read more
Netherlands
2014
- Walking In The Algarve
- For many years the Algarve has not been considered as a 'real' walking destination. That opinion is rapidly changing. An increasing number of people are beginning to realise that there is far more to this area than first meets the eye - besides a spectacular and dramatic coastline, there is a huge interior that sees very few visitors. Here the... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
2014
- Walking In The Algarve
- For many years the Algarve has not been considered as a 'real' walking destination. That opinion is rapidly changing. An increasing number of people are beginning to realise that there is far more to this area than first meets the eye - besides a spectacular and dramatic coastline, there is a huge interior that sees very few visitors. Here the... Read more
Netherlands
2018
- Camino Portugues Maps - Sixth Edition
- Spiritual seekers and travelers will find all the resources they need to walk the Way of St. James in this complete set of maps and town plans covering the sacred route from Lisbon, via Porto, to Santiago de Compostella, including the alternate coastal route. For the first time, the 2018 edition also includes a Spiritual Variant and a Littoral... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
2018
- Camino Portugues Maps - Sixth Edition
- Spiritual seekers and travelers will find all the resources they need to walk the Way of St. James in this complete set of maps and town plans covering the sacred route from Lisbon, via Porto, to Santiago de Compostella, including the alternate coastal route. For the first time, the 2018 edition also includes a Spiritual Variant and a Littoral... Read more
Maps
United Kingdom
- Alenquer
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Vila Verde de Ficalho
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Vila Verde de Ficalho
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Regenguos de Monsaraz
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Regenguos de Monsaraz
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Redondo
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Freixo de Espada a Cinta
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Mogadouro
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Mogadouro
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Moimenta da Beira
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Moimenta da Beira
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Cuba
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Figeiro dos Vinhos
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Ovar
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Figeiro dos Vinhos
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
United Kingdom
- San Marcos da Serra
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Aveiro
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
United Kingdom
- Coruche
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Coruche
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Miranda do Douro
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:100,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 50m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Miranda do Douro
- Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more