Vineyards above the Douro Valley Looking down towards Pinhao The stunning town of Porta Cruz, Madeira | <i>Janet Oldham</i> Trekking the Pico Ruivo Circuit | <i>Tali Emdin</i> The beautiful village of Provesende Relaxing on the River Douro Madeira | <i>David Holmes</i> Walking through the vineyards near Vilarinho

Self Guided Walking Holidays in Portugal

Explore the spectacular scenery of Portugal on a self guided walking tour

Portugal's varied landscapes provide unrivalled opportunities for memorable walking holidays. The lush landscape of Portugal's north is rich agricultural and viticultural country. The central and southern regions are less green, yet they support olive groves, vineyards, and citrus trees.  In spring they are a sight to behold when the almond blossoms are in full bloom.

Right in the middle of the Atlantic, the island of Madeira is a haven of natural beauty. The exotic colours of the flowers stand out from among the blue sea and the emerald green vegetation; this is an archipelago where two thirds are a protected area and where the largest Laurisilva forest in the world is located. Our self guided walking holidays in the Douro Valley offers beautiful scenery, fascinating history and tours of wine estates.

Our self-guided Portugal walking holidays are fully flexible which means you can normally start your walk on any day during the season and customise by adding extra days for resting or sightseeing. As you're walking independently, you're free to set your own pace as you are not limited by the constraints of group travel. 

You are free to shorten or lengthen your walk as the terrain permits and can even take a day off, although you may need to travel onto your next accommodation by taxi or public transport in order to do so. As long as you are reasonably active you will be able to find a suitable tour and all of our tours are graded to help you choose the right walk for you.

Find your Portugal trip

Popular self guided walking holidays in Europe

Why travel with us

Self Guided Walking Specialists in Portugal

We have have been operating active self guided walking holidays for over 45 years. We handle all the necessary logistics so that you can relax and explore Portugal at your own pace. Many of our tours depart daily, giving you even greater flexibility.

Great Value & Quality Trips in Portugal

Our well priced trips offer great value for money. Included in your package are comprehensive route notes, maps & guidebooks along with bag transfers and locally run accommodation. We take the stress out of organising your self guided walking holiday in Portugal.

Personal Experiences

We've been walking and cycling the planet for over four decades and are passionate about delivering exceptional service. Combined, we’ve travelled to virtually every corner of Europe, and are eager to share the many benefits of travelling on foot.

Responsible travel

Walkers' Britain is committed to responsible travel and true sustainability. We take travellers to many countries which are home to challenging wilderness, rich biodiversity, and fragile environments. It is the travel choices we make while visiting these environments that reduce the negative impact. This is the essence of responsible and sustainable travel - something we take very seriously. View our award winning Responsible Travel Guidebook here.

Accommodation

Hotels

Often family run, these charming hotels range from 2 to 4 stars and provide access to local living thanks to your hosts. The hospitality is generous and their local knowledge is invaluable. Where possible, we choose locations that add to your experience.

Bed & breakfasts (B&Bs)

Simple yet rich in local character, the B&Bs chosen are clean, comfortable and run by hosts that help add to your experience.

Guesthouses

Similar to bed & breakfasts, these family-owned accommodations are clean and comfortable. Rooms with en suites generally have a shower but no bath due to space. There may be a separate room with a bath tub.

Meals

Breakfasts are included on all our trips and usually consist of breads, meats, cheeses, fruit, tea, coffee & juice. Evening meals that may be included will normally be a set 3 course menu with a choice of 2 to 4 menu items.  Many regional dishes across the country include fish, meat, olive oil, breads, tomato and herbs. Try Caldo Verde, a hearty traditional soup,  freshly grilled sardines or bacalhau which is dried and salted cod . You also cannot go to Portugal without enjoying a few pastelis de nata or custard tarts.

Trip reviews

Country information

Currency

Euro

You will find cash points / ATM machines (“caixa eletrônico”) at airports and in larger towns and villages. There are different networks. Using a cash point from your own network (e.g. Cirrus) will help avoid extra charges for withdrawals.

The most common credit cards are: Visa and MasterCard. American Express and Diners Club cards are sometimes accepted.

IMPORTANT: Credit cards are not always accepted in small shops and restaurants, so always ask in advance if you can pay by credit card. Travellers? cheques are generally accepted at banks, but the charge for changing them can be quite high. Personal cheques are not accepted.

International Dialing Code

+351

Electricity
Type C plug

Electricity in Portugal is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Visas

In the first half of 2025 it is expected that the ETIAS travel authorisation will be introduced requiring online application before travel. See https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en for more details.

Until then, visas not required for citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days for all Schengen countries (see https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy_en . Please ensure your passport is stamped on arrival in the Schengen area – note that a new entry/exit system will be introduced in 2025. See https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en for more information. For all other nationalities and for longer stays in countries covered by the Schengen Agreement (Australian New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders), please contact the relevant embassy. Stays of longer than 90 days in the Schengen area require a long stay visa for the country you are spending most time in. However long stay visas are unlikely to be issued unless there is a valid reason (eg. studying in country). Unfortunately we cannot assist in obtaining visas for long stays due to individual country visa requirements.

Safety

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.