Treks / Countries
Hikes and treks in Spain
We cover 8 routes in Spain: 4 day hikes and 4 multi-day treks. The gentlest is Caminito del Rey (easy); the toughest is Mount Teide (hard, 1,400 m of climbing). The highest point is 3,715 m on Mount Teide.
Compare the routes
| Route | Type | Distance | Days | Highest point | Difficulty | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caminito del Rey | Day hike | 8 km | 1 | varies | Easy | All year |
| Peñalara | Day hike | 10 km | 1 | 2,428 m | Moderate | May to November |
| Montserrat: Sant Jeroni | Day hike | 12 km | 1 | 1,236 m | Moderate | All year (avoid summer midday) |
| Mount Teide | Day hike | 17 km | 1–2 | 3,715 m | Hard | All year |
| Camino Portugués (Coastal) | Multi-day | 280 km | 10–13 | varies | Moderate | April to October |
| GR 221 Dry Stone Route | Multi-day | 140 km | 7–8 | 1,100 m | Demanding | March to May, October to November |
| Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés | Multi-day | 780 km | 30–35 | 1,505 m | Demanding | April to October |
| Mulhacén | Multi-day | 25 km | 1–2 | 3,479 m | Hard | June to October |
The routes in detail
Day hike
Spain · near Málaga
Caminito del Rey
A boardwalk pinned to the walls of the Gaitanes gorge, once called the world's most dangerous path and now safe and spectacular.
≈ 8 km
Day hike
Spain · near Madrid
Peñalara
The highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama, an easy escape from Madrid with glacial lakes and wide views.
≈ 10 km
2,428 m high
Day hike
Spain · near Barcelona
Montserrat: Sant Jeroni
A day hike from the Montserrat monastery through saw-toothed rock towers to the highest point of the massif.
≈ 12 km
1,236 m high
Day hike
Spain (Canary Islands) · near Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Mount Teide
Spain's highest mountain, a volcano rising from Tenerife's moon-like caldera. Many walkers stay at the Altavista refuge for sunrise.
≈ 17 km
3,715 m high
10–13 days
Portugal · Spain · near Porto
Camino Portugués (Coastal)
The coastal version of the Portuguese Way to Santiago, following the Atlantic from Porto before turning inland through Galicia.
≈ 280 km
7–8 days
Spain (Mallorca) · near Palma
GR 221 Dry Stone Route
A walk through Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana on old mule tracks built with dry stone walls, between mountain refuges and olive groves.
≈ 140 km
1,100 m high
30–35 days
France · Spain · near Pamplona
Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés
The world's most famous pilgrimage walk, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela.
≈ 780 km
1,505 m high
1–2 days
Spain · near Granada
Mulhacén
The highest mountain in mainland Spain, in the Sierra Nevada above Granada. A long day or an overnight at a refuge.
≈ 25 km
3,479 m high
Before you go
- Check if you're fit enough with the two-minute readiness quiz.
- Travel insurance for trekking: altitude limits and what rescue really costs.
- Packing list and the gear budget calculator.
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