Walking in Portugal

Walking in Portugal: how to plan your trip

There are a few factors to consider when booking a self-guided Portugal hiking trip. First it is important to take into account your level of fitness. If you try to walk too much or too far every day, you could end up feeling very tired and not enjoying your holiday to the fullest. Walking in Portugal is in fact fairly easy with excellent hiking trails. Most of walks average out at 2 to 5 hours per day. We rate most of our walking holidays in Portugal as ‘easy’, with hikes along fairly flat and smooth terrain, with time to take in the sights and stop for a leisurely lunch. The ‘moderate’ walking tours are longer in distance, you can handle walking up hill at a slow rhythm and you enjoy day-long hikes.

Next, you need to decide what it is you want to get out of your Portugal hiking tour. The country boasts a rich cultural heritage, with some UNESCO sites such as Sintra and the Douro wine valley with its terraced crops. It is also a country bathed in history: visit the Sagres fort, where it is said that Henry the Navigator had his vision of the Portuguese expansion towards other continents or enjoy a walk along the Tagus estuary in Lisbon towards Belem and imagine the scene where the ships would return from Brazil, Mozambique and China, the Great Maritime Discoveries.

Or maybe you would prefer a city break in the cosmopolitan and colourful city of Lisbon where we send you off exploring the many districts of the city and the botanical gardens and then take you to admire the architecture of the Palaces of Sintra. 

Or it’s the Portuguese cuisine and wine that tickles your fancy. Spend your days sampling and indulging in local delicacies such as the Pastel de Nata, Porto wine and fresh fish. Lose yourself in the fragrance and ambiance of the famous Mercado de Ribeira market in Lisbon, open everyday offering a huge choice of places to eat. Visit the wine cellars of Porto and taste the local tipple, the famous Port wine.

Or perhaps you are looking to simply relax on your Portugal hiking holiday. Gentle hikes interspersed with a train journey through the Portuguese countryside, admiring the frescoes of Azulejos that adorn the facades of the stations as you pass, and a river cruise where you just sit back and enjoy the view as the boat slowly makes its way along the River Douro. As for the time of travel, well, that really is up to you. As we love to say, walking in Portugal is doable all year round!

 
Why book a Portugal hiking trip with us?

We have an office in the south of Portugal where 2 of our colleagues, experts of the destination, are based. They know Mainland Portugal like the back of their hand. They are our track finders who not only walk and create the itineraries, but handpick the accommodations, restaurants, wine cellars and taxi drivers to ensure that your Portugal walking tour goes as smoothly as possible.

We also include our roadbooks. Your walking days are written out, step by step, with estimated walking times, points of interest and cultural snapshots. Our track finders have walked the trails and thus, our walk notes are precise and thorough. We also send you the GPS files for all the walks, ensuring that you find your way safely and confidently. And that is not all… we also provide an emergency telephone number, available 24/7 throughout your trip. Any obstacle that comes your way, any doubts you may have whilst out on the trail, just call us and we’ll help. Walking in Portugal with Intura means peace of mind and a stress-free holiday.

 
Walking in Portugal: tips and advice

We have some useful information to help you best prepare for your walking in Portugal tour. Portugal is part of the Euro zone with a GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) time zone. No vaccine is required upon entering the country. The health system is satisfactory but please check that you have valid health insurance before traveling. There are cash distributors in all major cities and towns. Tipping is not obligatory and is dependent on good service. Most shops close between 1pm and 3pm.