Walking holidays in Portugal

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Families Alentejo Algarve Lisbon Maderia Sintra Advice Responsible tourism

Walking holidays in Portugal

Portugal is something of an unsung hero for walking breaks in Europe, but it’s no surprise that once someone does discover it they tend to become a firm devotee. For one thing the terrain here is ideal for casual walkers: forgiving and perfectly manageable even if you’ve only recently broken in your boots. Daily walks are between 10km and 20km, and timings are generous, ensuring you can soak up the surf ‘n’ turf scenery and local culture as you go along. The country is best known for its beaches and golf courses, but walking holidays in Portugal take you into areas that traditionally see few visitors, so you can expect a hearty welcome.

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What does a Portugal walking holiday entail?

Portugal walking holidays are a mix of small group tours, where you’ll be walking with up to 16 or so others, and tailor made trips that will have a basic structure but give you plenty of flexibility over your dates, the types of accommodation used, and routes. Some trips are accompanied by guides, others are not but might as well be, given the level of support you receive from maps to comprehensive route notes and daily transfers to trailheads.

You’ll typically be based in one place, making day treks instead of walking point-to-point, but in some regions, certainly Madeira and the Azores, you will change locations every couple of nights allowing for diverse scenery. Accommodation tends to be rural hotels and guesthouses, and if you are moving around then there will be the option to have your luggage transferred between them.

Most of these walking holidays run all year round, especially those in northern Portugal and Sintra, which are usually several degrees cooler than Lisbon and the south. But in the Algarve and neighbouring Alentejo you’ll probably want to avoid July and August, which can be swelteringly hot and full of tourists. Spring and autumn are far more satisfying seasons for walking. The Azores and Madeira of course are a totally different story, with generally mild climates but unpredictable weather.

Where to walk in Portugal

Sintra

The wooded hills and rugged coastline of Sintra National Park, just outside Lisbon, are crisscrossed with magnificent walking trails, and accommodation providers in the park can supply you with excellent recommendations and directions. The historic town itself is a hugely popular daytrip, but stay in the wider park and you’ve got the perfect position from which to explore the palaces and also get out and about in the fresh Atlantic breeze.

The Azores

This isolated, volcanic archipelago is justly famed for its incredible marine life, especially the whales and dolphins that gather in the deep waters for the plankton blooms each spring. On Pico Island you can walk trails around the coast where you might see a Blue whale breach the waves, climb Mount Pico, the highest peak in the Azores, or admire the unique, UNESCO-protected vineyards. Faial is known as ‘the blue island’ for the hydrangeas that carpet it in summer, and has a stunning walk around its volcanic crater. These are generally small group tours, during which you’ll walk around 10km a day over moderate terrain with a guide.

Madeira

A vast network of irrigation channels called levadas runs across this verdant, volcanic island, forming handy footpaths that can be followed through laurel forest, past villages and tumbling waterfalls. The Balcony Walk between two mountain peaks is famed for its stunning views, and as is that along the exposed São Lourenço Peninsula. Madeira’s pristine natural beauty and usually gentle gradients make it a renowned walking destination, and there is even the option to watch dolphins and whales here.

The Portugal Way

One of the most popular Camino de Santiago routes, the Portugal Way can depart from Lisbon or Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Hike inland across beautiful Portuguese and Spanish countryside, or take the Atlantic/Galician coastal route, with both options meeting in the Spanish town of Redondela. If you can manage around 24km a day over generally quite easygoing terrain (at least in comparison to other Camino routes) then you can walk comfortably from Porto in a two-week holiday.

Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is among Portugal’s premier wine regions, with gentle trails twisting through pretty valleys, over medieval bridges, by vast waterfalls and terraced vineyards. Walking between a succession of luxurious hotels you can meet top winemakers, taste the wonderfully refreshing local speciality Vinho Verde, and of course spend some time in Porto, home of port wine, perhaps taking a boat trip on the river and touring some cellars.

Geres-Peneda National Park

This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is one of Europe’s last great bastions of nature. You’ll never tire of waking up to the Tolkien-esque landscapes here of towering mountains, juxtaposed with plunging river valleys where eagles soar, and forests harbouring wolves and wild horses. It’s best suited to more experienced walkers, with some quite steep ascents and descents involved.

The Algarve

Escape the well worn tourist traps by heading into the eastern Algarve, one of Europe’s most renowned bird watching destinations, where rural Portuguese life goes on much as it has for centuries and where you’re never far from a gorgeous sea view. Expect average daily walks of around 16km and generally flat terrain around lakes, nature reserves, salt pans and fragrant pine forests.

Alentejo

The big draw of the Alentejo region is the Rota Vicentina, a 400km network of trails of which the Fisherman’s Way is the best known. The idyllic rural landscapes here, practically unchanged in centuries, are simply made for self guided walks but you can also take a more coastal direction, remembering that the sand can make it a little harder going in places. Walk in Alentejo to sample some of Portugal’s most distinctive traditional culture and food.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Portugal or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

“Dramatic cliff top scenery with rare aromatic plants growing in the sandy soil round the paths. Watching surfers in the beautiful bays and fishermen perched precariously on the cliffs. Unspoiled countryside and forests inland. The fantastic non-light polluted night sky at one of the places we stayed; we saw the milky way and a shooting star. The warmth of the local people. Other walkers we met en route from many different countries. Very good locally produced food.” – Denise Anne in a review of her Alentejo self guided walking holiday

“We went in February and did not pack over-trousers and regretted it. It is cold in the mountains and any cloud coming over the Island has to climb 1800m, so will deposit a full load of rain on you. We walked on one day in heavy rain from start to finish and were soaked through. Our assumption that we would be warm as we were on a subtropical island was wrong. Come prepared for bad weather and then you will be able to enjoy it more if the weather is good! Our tour leader did very well to choose walks that we could do in inclement weather conditions, he was attentive and ensured the experience was fun and memorable.” – Gabrielle Lorenz in a review of her Madeira walking holiday

Dramatic cliff top scenery with rare aromatic plants growing in the sandy soil round the paths. Watching surfers in the beautiful bays and fishermen perched precariously on the cliffs.

– Denise Anne

More about Portugal

Best time to visit Portugal

The best time to visit Portugal is spring season which starts in February to find hills bedecked in seasonal flowers and almond groves awash with pretty pink blossom.

Portugal travel guide

Our Portugal travel guide will point you in the right direction when it comes to what we rate and what we don't as well as offering a fair bit of insider info regarding the best beaches, walking and cycling trails, and a brief history of Portugal, warts and all.

Portugal Map & highlights

From Porto in the north to Lagos in the south, with Lisbon and the Sintra-Cascais National Park in between, making the most of your time in Portugal should always start with a map and highlights as this page goes to prove.

Things to do in Portugal

There's no getting away from Portugal's wild and woolly coastline which is why things to do in Portugal usually start and finish with a day spent surfing, sunning or simply staring at the beach.

Yoga holidays in Portugal

There's just something about the warm weather and peaceful countryside that sets yoga holidays in Portugal aside from the rest of the pack with no end of additional activities and well-being therapies also helping to create an experience that's as spiritually inspirational as effortlessly relaxing.

Things to see & do in Sintra

Sintra, a fairytale tapestry of ancient castles, palaces and grand estates set into the wooded hills of the ‘Portuguese Riviera’ is the most popular day-trip from Lisbon.

Things to see & do in Alentejo

Holidays in Alentejo introduce you to one of Europe’s last remaining unspoilt landscapes.

Things to see & do in the Algarve

Whether you want a more active holiday, or a peaceful few days hanging around the pool with the family, Portugal’s famously sunny Algarve region fits the bill.

Things to see & do in the Azores

1,500km off the coast of Portugal, the Azores is a volcanic archipelago that’s all about the scenery and cetaceans.

Cycling in Portugal

We give Portugal an ‘A’ for cycling holidays: Algarve, Azores, Alentejo, Atlantic Coast – an incredible diversity of scenery.

Things to see & do in Lisbon

The Monument to the Discoveries, representing iconic figures of Portugal’s ‘Age of Discovery’, is among the most famous landmarks in Lisbon.

Things to see & do in Madeira

For such a small island Madeira boasts a stunning range of landscapes from volcanic lava pools to vineyards, emerald green forests, rivers and offshore reefs.

Portugal with kids

Finding the right beach is essential for anyone travelling to Portugal with kids as wave sense equals freedom to let little ones run wild amongst the surf and sand along the Atlantic coast.

Portugal travel advice

Portugal travel advice should always start with a few tidbits from friendly folks that we know and trust which is why this page is devoted to tips on how to eat, live and love like a local as well as a handy health & safety section to help you travel with confidence along Portugal's Atlantic coast.

Responsible tourism in Portugal

Hard times across the globe haven't helped Portugal's fragile economy although the responsible tourism industry in Portugal is doing its level best to entice travellers away from the resorts of the Algarve as well as encouraging travel outside of peak seasons and into the country's rural landscapes.

All our Portugal guides

All our Portugal guides. Find all of our Portugal guides in one place, for particular places in Portugal such as the Azores or Algarve. Or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of Portugal holidays we offer such as walking or cycling in Portugal.