7 Beautiful Walkways You Must Visit in Portugal
Despite its small size, Portugal is home to some of the most beautiful walkways in Europe!
After a big success with the building of the Paiva Walkways, which we will talk about in a second, more and more districts in Portugal started to put a lot of effort into conserving and making walkways more accessible to the public.
There are walkways for all types of travelers, short and long, easy and challenging, and inserted in different environments and settings.
In this article we will go through the ones that we find to be the most beautiful, and that we think most people will enjoy!
So, get your pack ready and come with us to explore the most beautiful walkways in Portugal!
Take a look at the map for an overview of the walkways we list in this Blog post:
© Expresso.pt
Departure and Arrival: Sistelo Village
Coordinates: 41.973 - 8.374
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 2 km
Let’s start in the North of the country with the Sistelo Walkways. This wooden path is short, about 2 km, but is part of a famous 11 km long trail know as Ecovia do Vez.
This is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve area, where you will be walking by the Vez river, and up unique medieval bridges.
You can expect to see waterfalls and windmills along the forested area!
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Around this area and particular town, there are a lot of different hiking trails. If you intend on walking a lot and exploring the country on foot, this might be the best region in the country to do so!
© Aqueles Que Viajam
Departure / Arrival: Afurada beach, Vila Nova de Gaia / Baía beach, Espinho
Coordinates: 41.093 - 8.657
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 15 km
This extensive wooden walkway by the beach connects two different towns, Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho. It was constructed to allow people to walk by the dunes without disturbing or affecting the eco-system and nature in the area.
This is a beautiful and easy trail where you can enjoy the sounds of the ocean and its fresh breeze! It is loved by locals, that you will usually see practicing jogging, and remains a very peaceful place to enjoy.
Perfect for an early morning run or in the late evening to enjoy the wonderful sunsets by the shore!
© Patricia Oliveira
Departure / Arrival: Ribeiras Park, Fiães
Coordinates: 40.986 - 8.508
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2km
Considered to be one of the most beautiful wooden paths in the north of Portugal, Fiães Walkways are just 30 minutes away from the city of Porto.
Completely integrated in nature, among native vegetation and trees, this walkway passes right by the beautiful Uíma river.
It is a very easy and enjoyable walk where you can really immerse yourself in nature, as well as practice birdwatching in an observation tower by the path!
There are several areas around the trail with stone tables where you can enjoy your lunch or stop for a snack.
If you arrive by car, you will be happy to know that parking around this area is free!
© Enno Tours
Departure / Arrival: Areínho / Espiunca
Coordinates: 40.952 - 8.176
Difficulty: Moderated
Distance: 9 km
We cannot talk about the Portuguese walkways without mentioning the most famous of all: the Paiva Walkways!
Located on the left bank of the Paiva river, this beautiful path is part of the Arouca Geopark, recognised by UNESCO as a Geological Heritage of Humanity. You can expect to see raw and untouched nature with breathtaking views along the whole path!
As of April 2021, the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge is located here, and can be found just before the beginning of the walkway. It is known as Arouca 516 and has an incredible length, as the name suggests, of 516 meters! Crossing this bridge is optional, which is good news if you are afraid of heights!
© Enno Tours
You do need to purchase a ticket to cross this bridge (12€ per adult, 10€ per children and plus 65). This price includes the fee that you would have to pay to visit the Paiva Walkways, which is 2€ per person (children under 10 years old do not pay).
Being the first walkway ever constructed in Portugal, it set the bar very high and led to the building and construction of all the others on this list!
This award-winning wooden walkway should definitely be on your list, and we absolutely recommend that you go and experience it for yourself.
Important information to know:
This walk is officially considered to be moderate to difficult, but we believe that if you are used to hiking, the whole path shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. Nonetheless, expect the experience to vary a lot from person to person. Consider checking the hike on Youtube or by using Google Maps so that you have a better idea of what you can expect before going.
© Sapo Viagens
Departure / Arrival: Casal de São Simão / Fragas de São Simão Viewpoint
Coordinates: 39.914 - 8.316
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 2 km
This small wooden walkway in the centre of Portugal was built recently to ease the connection between the beautiful schist village of Casal de São Simão and a natural pool, totally inserted in nature.
The walk integrates ancestral paths that stretch for more than 1.7 km, and you will be able to spot different native tree species such as cork and strawberry, that are often planted every year.
The schist village, the views along the path and the possibility to end the hike by taking a refreshing swim in a beautiful natural pool, are more than enough reasons to visit this region and enjoy the trail!
Important information to know:
Keep in mind that, specially if you are travelling with small kids, although this is a very small trail, the very steep steps can become challenging.
© mediotejo.net
Departure / Arrival: Fluvial beach of Alamal / Belver bridge
Coordinates: 39.488 - 7.966
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1,8 km
Located along the Tagus River, this wooden walkways were completely rebuilt and opened to the public in 2019, after strong wildfires struck the region in 2017.
Along the path you will fully immerse in nature, between the refreshing river and the amazing hills and fauna, making this an idyllic setting for a nice walk in nature.
You can expect unique views, with Belver Castle as a backdrop between the hills that surround this trail. Native fauna and flora are abundant in this region of Alentejo, so don’t forget to bring a camera with you on this beautiful walkway!
Things to remember:
If you go during the summer months, don’t forget to bring your swimsuits! This Fluvial beach is safe to swim in and will feel extra refreshing after your hike!
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If you are looking for a more challenging hike, this walkway is part of the Arribas do Tejo PR1 route, a 15 km hiking trail. This can be a great alternative if you want to explore the wild nature in the surroundings!
© Viajar Entre Viagens
Departure / Arrival: Beach of the Three Brothers / Ria de Alvor
Coordinates: 37.126 - 8.600
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6 km
This walkway is the biggest in the Algarve region, located in the protected area of the Ria de Alvor.
Because of its location, it won’t be as crowded and noisy as you would normally expect, despite being loved by tourists as well as locals.
If you’re a fan of birdwatching you’ll surely love this path, as you’ll be able to spot dozens of bird species while walking across the dunes of Alvor. We recommend that you take your time to photograph along the way!
Expect a scenic walk along the river and beach area, with plenty of nature to be seen! The sunsets here are known to be extremely beautiful so, if you can, try to enjoy this walk in the late afternoon, just in time for sunset!
Don’t miss out:
If you decide to visit this walkway during the summer months be sure to check out the Beach of the Three Brothers, with its beautiful golden sand and blue waters!
We hope that this article inspired you to explore another side of Portugal, its nature and beautiful walkways!
There are many more paths we did not mention in this article but we’ll be coming back with more info in the future!
𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 ?
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 !
Until next time, keep on travelling!
Luca & Ana
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