Where to walk in Portugal
A walking vacation is the perfect way to appreciate this country. You can be surprisingly close to Lisbon or the touristy Algarve coast, yet hiking through peaceful, unspoiled scenery. Opt for center based, self guided walking in the westerly Sintra-Cascais Natural Park or through the rolling hills of eastern Algarve. For a great overview of the western Algarve and Alentejo, trek point-to-point on the Rota Vicentina, tackling manageable daily sections of 15-25km. Choose a trip with luggage transfer and you’re free to hike light, cooling your feet in clear rivers or the rolling Atlantic at the end of each day. Our map below gives more inspiration on where to walk in Portugal.
Our Portugal walking Vacations
Madeira walking vacation
Small group walking tour of madeira
From
US $1180 to US $1470
8 days
ex flights
Alentejo & Algarve self guided hiking vacation, Portugal
Independent coastal walking vacations in the Alentejo Coast
From
€460
8 days
ex flights
Azores walking vacation, Portugal
Walk to Cete Cidades and the Fire Lakes
From
US $2649 to US $2949
8 days
ex flights
Sintra Natural Park retreats & walks in Portugal
Walking, yoga, R&R near beaches, forests, historic sites
From
€600 to €1000
7 days
ex flights
Walking vacation in Madeira
Walk through the wild and varied scenery of Madeira
From
US $1349 to US $1479
8 days
ex flights
Portugal walking tour
Self guided walking tour in Portuguese Schist Villages
From
€1060 to €2060
8 days
ex flights
Coastal hiking vacation in Portugal
The very best walks from the 125km selection of coastal trails
From
US $1949 to US $2179
8 days
ex flights
Sintra Natural Park accommodation in Portugal
Eco-friendly B&B, in Sintra Natural Park near lovely beaches
From
€90 to €120
per room per night
Walking and wine tour of portugal
Walking and wine tours through the very best of Portugal
From
US $2349 to US $2579
8 days
ex flights
Portugal hiking vacation on the Rota Vicentina Way
Self-guided hiking on the Rota Vicentina, S W Portugal
From
€960 to €1075
13 days
ex flights
Portugal hiking vacation, highlights of Rota Vicentina
Southern Portugal self-guided walking vacation, tailor-made
From
£599 to £924
8 days
ex flights
Portugal palaces and coast walks vacation
An exceptional Self Guided walk in the Serra de Sintra
From
US $720
8 days
ex flights
Atlantic route coastal hiking vacation in Portugal
Leisurely coastal walk along Portugal’s Costa Verde
From
€665 to €745
8 days
ex flights
Self guided walking vacation Portugal, Sintra region
Car free vacations in Sintra Portugal
From
€300 to €1200
7 days
ex flights
Portugal guided hiking vacation
Explore unspoilt Portugal on these coastal walking trails
From
US $1370 to US $1520
8 days
ex flights
Sagres walking vacation in the Algarve, Portugal
Walk the unspoilt Sagres Peninsula
From
£1195 to £1325
9 days
inc UK flights
Walking and wine tasting vacation in Spain and Portugal
Journey from Madrid to Porto through the Ribera del Duero
From
US $2430 to US $2500
12 days
ex flights
Portuguese Camino walking vacation
Walking from Portugal’s fortress border to Santiago
From
€530 to €590
8 days
ex flights
Azores whale watching and walking vacation
Explore the hidden depths of the Azores
From
£625
7 days
ex flights
Western Algarve short break hiking vacation
Cycle the undiscovered Sagres Peninsula
From
£935 to £1075
5 days
inc UK flights
Highlights of Northern Portugal
Enjoy Douro Valley, Peneda-Gerês N. Park and coastal Minho
From
€1080
9 days
ex flights
Self-guided walking vacation in Alentejo, Portugal
Self-guided walking in the South West Alentejo, Portugal
From
€935 to €1010
15 days
ex flights
Algarve hiking vacation in Tavira
-The coast, villages and countryside of the Eastern Algarve
From
£1049 to £1329
8 days
inc UK flights
Alentejo hiking vaction, Portugal
Self-guided walking vacation through the Sagres Peninsula
From
£1045 to £1175
7 days
inc UK flights
Douro Valley self guided walking vacation in Portugal
Walking in Douro Valley through astonishingly landscape
From
€1090
8 days
ex flights
Algarve walking vacation, west to east
Twin-center walking trip through Portugal's Algarve
From
£1175 to £1235
8 days
inc UK flights
Portuguese Coastal Way walking vacation
The scenic alternative to the classic Portuguese Way
From
€625 to €695
8 days
ex flights
Portugal walking vacation, Eastern Algarve
Scenic coastal and inland walking in Portugal
From
US $1130 to US $1290
8 days
ex flights
Easy Camino de Santiago hiking vacation
Last section of the Portuguese Camino in short stages
From
€730
11 days
ex flights
Porto to Santiago De Compostela walking vacation
14 days pilgrimage through Northern Portugal and Spain
From
€990
14 days
ex flights
Alentejo
1. Alentejo
The Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina is the largest coastal park in Europe, a rolling landscape of river valleys, dramatic cliffs and golden beaches. The Fishermen’s Trail, part of the Rota Vicentina, sits within it, hugging the cliffs for 120km and often skirting precipitous drops. Views are long and spectacular and there’s wildlife to spot, from rare fishing eagles to the world’s only shore-living white storks.
Algarve
2. Algarve
Base yourself a mere 10km inland from Faro and you’re perfectly placed to access the Algarve’s most unspoiled walking routes. Follow the ‘backbone’ of northern Algarve on the Via Algarviana, head for the wild west coast between Sagres and Odeceixe or explore the unspoiled east, with its rolling hills, rivers, sandy beaches, natural parks and elegant towns such as Tavira.
Azores
3. Azores
This lush, green archipelago of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, peppered with steep craters, feels a long way from Portugal. Each of the nine islands is ideally explored on foot, so you can get close to the lava plateaux and volcanic lakes. You’ll have flat, well-maintained paths under your feet with the odd stretch of rough terrain, too.
Madeira
4. Madeira
Madeira has a great mix of walking for such a compact island. Trek the remote, dry eastern tip at Ponta de Sao Lourenco or the spectacular north coast path, or stroll along the flower-lined levadas, the irrigation canals that thread through the island. Want to test your calves? Hike through chestnut and eucalyptus woods, fragrant with wild thyme, to climb the 1,862m Pico Ruivo.
Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
5. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
Just 25km from Lisbon, this UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the Serra de Sintra mountains, where dry stone walls divide fields between picturesque villages. Its wild landscape stretches right to the coast, where Cabo da Roca is continental Europe’s westernmost point. The park contains miles of walking trails, with center based trips popular here, and its mild Atlantic climate means you can explore year-round.
The Portugal Way
6. The Portugal Way
Among the most popular of the many Camino de Santiago walking routes, the Portugal Way lets you embark on either a charmingly pastoral inland meander, or follow the wildly beautiful Atlantic and Galician coastline. It’s a comparatively forgiving route, mostly flat, with highlights include Ponte de Lima, the university city of Coimbra, and gorgeous Porto on the Douro River.
Portugal walking vacations
travel advice
Packing advice
Ricardo Estevao from our supplier Aventuractiva:
“Hiking boots are a must if taking the sandy trails along the coast of Alentejo and the Algarve, as well as a hat and sun protection. I would also suggest a 25-litre backpack to carry a picnic and plenty of water. The Fishermen’s Trail in the Alentejo Region is the most spectacular area, ideal if you only have a few days to do it. Walk along deserted beaches with stunning cliff areas and a great landscape variety; I love the stretch from Porto Côvo to Odeceixe village.”
“Hiking boots are a must if taking the sandy trails along the coast of Alentejo and the Algarve, as well as a hat and sun protection. I would also suggest a 25-litre backpack to carry a picnic and plenty of water. The Fishermen’s Trail in the Alentejo Region is the most spectacular area, ideal if you only have a few days to do it. Walk along deserted beaches with stunning cliff areas and a great landscape variety; I love the stretch from Porto Côvo to Odeceixe village.”
Our top Portugal walking Vacation
Madeira walking vacation
Small group walking tour of madeira
From
US $1180 to US $1470
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2021: 19 Jun, 7 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 30 Oct, 20 Dec, 27 Dec
2022: 12 Feb, 5 Mar, 19 Mar, 2 Apr, 16 Apr, 14 May, 28 May, 18 Jun, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 15 Oct, 29 Oct, 20 Dec, 27 Dec
2021: 19 Jun, 7 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 30 Oct, 20 Dec, 27 Dec
2022: 12 Feb, 5 Mar, 19 Mar, 2 Apr, 16 Apr, 14 May, 28 May, 18 Jun, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 15 Oct, 29 Oct, 20 Dec, 27 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Portugal walking or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Portugal walking tips from
our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with, packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful walking in Portugal vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful walking in Portugal vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
Take time to look and absorb and enjoy! It's not a race!![]()
– Denise Anne
“Bring binoculars so you can get a closer look at the storks and their nests, cleverly situated on remote, high rocks by the sea. And bring plenty of socks as the sand may well end up in your shoes as it did ours! Be prepared for spells of walking/ploughing through tracts of soft sand which inevitably slows down the pace a bit.” – Rosemary Cunniffe
“The Rota Vicentina is very reliable and marked with great frequency, but make sure you become acquainted with the marker system of the trails before you begin. The markers even go so far as to let you know when there may NOT be anything to follow for a while. For those afraid of heights, parts of the Fisherman’s Trail will prove challenging. The fishermen who carved this original trail were, in a word, crazy! There are times the trail literally skirts a sheer vertical edge 130m above a pounding sea. It is very stable ground, but intimidating. Most of the time there is an alternate route.” – Jeffrey Fish
“The Rota Vicentina is very reliable and marked with great frequency, but make sure you become acquainted with the marker system of the trails before you begin. The markers even go so far as to let you know when there may NOT be anything to follow for a while. For those afraid of heights, parts of the Fisherman’s Trail will prove challenging. The fishermen who carved this original trail were, in a word, crazy! There are times the trail literally skirts a sheer vertical edge 130m above a pounding sea. It is very stable ground, but intimidating. Most of the time there is an alternate route.” – Jeffrey Fish
If you love walking and exploring off the beaten track, then you will love it. This is not a city break.![]()
– Doreen Brett
“Pack light, carry plenty of water and a First Aid kit. In short be prepared for any conditions. We were provide with a GPS downloaded with the trail maps. This was an excellent tool.” – Barry Corbett
“Be prepared for weather in Alentejo to be unpredictable in March. Bring a fairly heavy rain poncho and a warm hat that covers the ears - it can also get windy at the coast - or come in April when the sun is more common.” – Kathy House
“If you’re walking in Sintra Natural Park, bring snacks and sunblock. If you love walking and exploring off the beaten track, then you will love it. This is not a city break. Stay at least three days (the longer, the better). There’s so much to see and do.” – Doreen Brett
“In Sintra, consider hiring a guide to really get the most out of your visit. Our guide was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable and added so much to the whole experience.” - Joanne Deller
“Be prepared for weather in Alentejo to be unpredictable in March. Bring a fairly heavy rain poncho and a warm hat that covers the ears - it can also get windy at the coast - or come in April when the sun is more common.” – Kathy House
“If you’re walking in Sintra Natural Park, bring snacks and sunblock. If you love walking and exploring off the beaten track, then you will love it. This is not a city break. Stay at least three days (the longer, the better). There’s so much to see and do.” – Doreen Brett
“In Sintra, consider hiring a guide to really get the most out of your visit. Our guide was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable and added so much to the whole experience.” - Joanne Deller
More about Portugal walking
This is the wild west of Europe, brilliantly accessible on two feet, as our Portugal walking vacation travel guide explains with a handy weather chart will help choose the best time to visit Portugal.
You’ll have a whale of a time on walking vacations in the Azores, with short and generally easygoing coastal routes around islands such as Pico and Faial offering magnificent views.
Walking in Alentejo introduces you to a sparsely populated and beautiful region where the landscapes, both rural and coastal, seem to have gone virtually unchanged for centuries.
Madeira is a fabulous destination for a walking vacation, wonderfully verdant with a real ‘paradise island’ vibe to it, and itineraries that follow some of its most beguiling scenery.
Our Portugal Way travel guide explains one of the most popular routes on the iconic Camino de Santiago, with the option to walk either inland or along the wildly beautiful Atlantic coast.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: aldorado10] [Alentejo: Justraveling.com]
[Algarve: Klugschnacker]
[Azores: Chris Slupski]
[Maderia: Jan Kraus]
[Sintra-Cascais Natural Park: bjaglin]
[The Historical Way: muffinn]
[Packing advice: GregMontani]
[Denise Anne Quote: Guillaume Baviere]
[Doreen Brett Quote: VinceTraveler]
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