18 Best Algarve Hiking Trails

Did you know there are some great hiking trails to explore in southern Portugal? These are the best Algarve Hiking Trails.

Table of contents hide

1 Best Algarve Hiking Trails: day hikes

2 Best long-distance trails in the Algarve

3 Best time to go hiking in the Algarve

4 Book a trip to the Algarve

Best Algarve Hiking Trails: day hikes

What are the best day hikes in the Algarve? These are the best hikes that can be easily completed in a couple of hours.

Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

You’ll find this trail on every list with Algarve hiking trails because it’s the most popular day hike in the Algarve! The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspenso in Portuguese) is very centrally located in the Algarve, between Praia do Vale de Centeanes and Praia da Marinha.

You’ll pass some of the Algarve’s most beautiful beaches and the famous Benagil Cave. If you have extra time, make sure to go on a boat trip at Benagil Beach to explore the sea caves, they’re spectacular!

Read more: Seven Hanging Valleys Trail: the best hiking trail in the Algarve

Length: 6 kilometers one way
Difficulty: Average
Trailhead: Marinha Beach
More information and GPX

Carvoeiro Boardwalk

This is by far the shortest hike on this list, but when you visit the beautiful coastal town of Carvoeiro you just have to go for a walk on the boardwalk. It is so scenic and located on some of the most beautiful golden cliffs of the Algarve. At the far end, you can even go through some tunnels and explore a few caves!

Length: 570 meters one way
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Carvoeiro Beach

Caminho dos Promontórios

The Caminho dos Promontórios follows the same coastline as the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. It runs from Praia do Molhe near Ferragudo to Carvoeiro. Expect to see a lot of beautiful rock formations and golden cliffs. While hiking, you’ll see many species of birds and pass some interesting historic buildings like the Torre da Lapa from the seventeenth century.

Length: 6 kilometers one way
Difficulty: Average
Trailhead: Praia do Molhe (near Ferragudo)
More information and GPX

Percurso da Falésia

During the lockdown, I was living for a few weeks in the beach town of Quarteira. Since everything was closed, the only thing I could do was go hiking! Luckily, right next to Quarteira, you’ll find some of the most beautiful bright red cliffs in all of the Algarve. Praia da Falésia is a perfect place to go hiking. You can hike kilometers on the beach, or climb on top of the cliffs. Both options are great to explore!

Length: up to you!
Difficulty: Average, climbing to the top of the cliff can be quite hard, but once you’re up there it’s easy.
Trailhead: Parking Rocha Baixinha

Percurso de Interpretação da Praia Grande

The Praia Grande Interpretation Trail is located close to Armação de Pêra (near Albufeira) and a beautiful short hiking trail around the Lagoa dos Salgados. This is a wetland and a fantastic area for birdwatching. If you have some extra time, make sure to also visit the beautiful long sand beach Praia Grande de Pêra.

Length: 5.2 kilometers round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Parking Praia Grande Nascente
More information and GPX

Ponta da Piedade, Lagos

Ponta da Piedade is one of the most spectacular views in the Algarve. It’s a rock formation in Lagos with a lighthouse on the tip. From here, you have fantastic ocean views everywhere you look. On and around Ponta da Piedade, there are many wooden boardwalks and footpaths for you to explore. There’s not a dedicated hiking trail, but you can just make your own and explore. It’s a great area to spend an hour or two.

Length: make your own!
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Farol da Ponta da Piedade

Rocha da Pena Trail

The Rocha da Pena Trail is one of my personal favorites and is one of the most beautiful hikes that has barely been discovered by any tourists. Rocha da Pena is a nature reserve, north of Albufeira and Loulé. It’s basically a big rock with steep cliffs, that’s why it’s quite popular with climbers. In addition, it’s also a great place to hike. The starting point is Bar das Grutas and from there you just follow the signs. From the highest point, you have some great views. On a clear day, you can even see the ocean!

Length: 6.4 kilometers round trip
Difficulty: Average
Trailhead: Parking Rocha da Pena
More information and GPX

Passadiços de Alvor

Alvor is a small fishing town between Lagos and Portimão. It has a very long sandy beach surrounded by dunes. This makes it a great place to go hiking, especially since there are many boardwalks to explore. If you go early in the morning, you’ll see many people looking for shellfish in the river. And yes, they’re delicious!

Length: make your own!
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Praia de Alvor

Trilho da Fóia

Do you like hiking in the mountains? There are not many high mountains in the Algarve, but if you really want to hike along some mountain ranges, then you should definitely head out to Fóia. This is the highest mountain in the Algarve (902 meters). The Fóia Trail is a circular route around the mountain, offering some amazing views of the Algarve. Make sure to visit the top and climb the rocks to the highest point, it’s totally worth it!

Length: 6.9 kilometers round trip
Difficulty: Average
Trailhead: Parking at Miradouro da Fóia
More information and GPX

Tip! Combine Fóia with a visit to Monchique, one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve.

Ludo Hiking Trail & São Lourenço Trail

Did you know that there are a few fun hiking trails right next to Faro Airport? There are two trails you can easily combine together: Percursos do Ludo and Trilho São Lourenço. You’ll pass through some of the wetlands of Parque natural da Ria Formosa. This is one of the best trails if you enjoy bird-watching since there are so many to see here!

Length: about 9 kilometers if you combine both
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Parque de estacionamento da Praia de Faro (right behind the airport)
More information and GPX Ludo Trail and the São Lourenço Trail

Odeceixe-ao-Mar

Odeceixe is a small, but beautiful town in the far northwest of the Algarve, and here you’ll also find some beautiful hiking trails. The Odeceixe to the sea trail shows you the best of the countryside and a stunning part of the coastline. One of the prettiest parts of the hike is near Praia de Odeceixe, where the Ribeira de Seixe flows into the sea.

Length: 15 kilometers
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Largo 1 de Maio in Odeceixe. If you arrive by car, use the parking lot along the Variante de 19 Abril.
More information and GPX

Pontal da Carrapateira

Carrapateira is a small village in the Aljezur municipality and is surrounded by natural beauty. Here, you’ll find several beautiful trails that are part of Rota Vicentina. One of my personal favorites is the Pontal da Carrapateira (Carrapateira Cliffs). This is a circular trail to the coast and back. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the Algarve coast, so it’s highly recommended to visit this area.

Length: 10.5 kilometers round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Largo do comércio (the main square) in Carrapateira
More information and GPX

Amado

Another beautiful part of the Rota Vicentina! The Amado trail will show you two of the most gorgeous beaches in the Algarve: Praia do Amado and Plaża Murração. This is a quiet and more rural section of the Algarve, you will not pass any towns. However, it’s quite hilly, making it a more difficult hike. The views however are totally worth it!

Length: 8 kilometers round trip
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: Amado Beach
More information and GPX

Barão de São João Lilac Trail

Barão de São João is a very cute and artistic town a little north of Lagos. Every year in November, the town is home to the Walk and Art Fest. During this weekend, you can join multiple group hikes to explore the beautiful area and see several artworks along the way.

But Barão de São João is a great place to visit other times of the year as well, since it’s surrounded by beautiful hiking trails through Mata Nacional do Barão de São João, a national forest. The Lilac Trail is one of them and this is one of the best trails to get to know the forest and the hilly landscape.

Length: 12 kilometers round trip
Difficulty: Average
Trailhead: Centro Cultural de Barão de S. João
Map of the trail

Best long-distance trails in the Algarve

The best way to explore the Algarve is by hiking a long-distance trail. These are the best long-distance hikes in the Algarve.

Via Algarviana

Would you like to explore the countryside of the Algarve? Try the Via Algarviana! It’s one of the most famous long-distance hikes in the Algarve region and it is a perfect trail if you want to escape the crowds. You’ll wander over dirt roads through forests full of cork trees, pass the highest mountains in the Algarve, and many small authentic Portuguese villages.

Length: 300 kilometers
Start: Alcoutim (on the Spanish border)
Finish: Cabo de São Vicente
Sections: 14, ranging between 14 and 32 kilometers.
More information and GPX

Read more: Hiking Via Algarviana: explore the interior of the Algarve, Portugal

Fishermen’s Trail

The Fishermen’s trail is by far the most famous trail of Rota Vicentina. According to the well-known Condé Nast Traveler magazine, the Fishermen’s Trail is one of the most beautiful coastal hikes in the world. And it’s really that beautiful! It runs from São Torpes (in Alentejo) to Lagos (in the Algarve) and follows the old trails of the fishermen. It’s an incredibly scenic trail with gorgeous views every single day.

Read more: Fishermen’s Trail: the best coastal trail in Europe

Length: 226.5 kilometers
Start: São Torpes, Alentejo
Finish: Lagos, Algarve
Sections: 13, ranging between 10 and 22 kilometers.
More information and GPX

Historical Way

The second long-distance trail of Rota Vicentina is the Historical Way. This is not a coastal walk, but it’s a better way to explore Portugal’s countryside. During the hike, you’ll pass many cork tree forests, valleys, and rivers. In addition, you get to see a glimpse of the local life in Portugal.

Length: 263 kilometers
Start: Santiago do Cacém, Alentejo
Finish: Cabo de São Vicente, Algarve
Sections: 13, ranging between 12 and 33 kilometers.
More information and GPX

Best time to go hiking in the Algarve

You can hike the beautiful Algarve hiking trails all year round, but it’s best to avoid hiking the trails during the summer months. It can get very warm in the south of Portugal, and there is not a lot of shade, especially not around the coastal trails. I myself did most of the hikes between October and March and those months are absolutely perfect to explore the Algarve on foot.

Book a trip to the Algarve

Looking forward to exploring the Algarve and all these beautiful hiking trails? Here are some useful websites to book your trip:

Plane tickets – Faro Airport is the international airport of the Algarve region. Check WayAway to find the best deal for your flight.
Rental car – Although there are buses and trains in the Algarve, public transportation is usually slow and irregular. Having a rental car is the easiest way to get around. Check Rental Cars to find the best deals.
Accommodation – Finding a place to stay is usually easy in the Algarve, especially in the south. Check Booking.com for all possibilities and prices.
Tours & Activities – There are many fun tours and activities to do in the Algarve. Check Viator for all the options.
Travel insurance – Having travel insurance makes it easier to travel with some peace of mind. Check Insubuy to find the travel insurance that fits your needs.

18 Best Algarve Hiking Trails