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Trips and Adventures
Explore the Mondego walkways with the guide we’ve prepared for you
If you're into nature and hiking, the Mondego Walkways (Passadiços do Mondego) should be on your list. It's a 12 km trail between waterfalls, centuries-old bridges, ruins, and more than a few spots you'll want to photograph.
It's one of the most popular trails in central Portugal, and outside the busiest summer weeks, the weather is far more comfortable for walking it. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
Everything you need to know about the Mondego Walkways
The Mondego Walkways are a short drive from the city of Guarda, connecting the Caldeirão Dam to the village of Videmonte. Of the 12 km trail, 6.5 km run along wooden walkways, with the rest following existing rural paths. There are three entrances - Caldeirão Dam, Vila Soeiro and Videmonte - located 7 km, 12 km and 16 km from Guarda, respectively.
How to get there
Public transport to the Mondego Walkways is limited, so driving is by far the most practical way to get there. If you're travelling in Portugal without a car, this is one of those places where renting one makes a real difference.
Driving from the north: Take the A1 to exit 16 (Viseu), then the A25 to exit 29 (Guarda), heading toward the city centre via road N16, exiting toward Pêro Soares and the Caldeirão Dam.
Driving from the south: Take the A1 to exit 7, then the A23 (toward Torres Novas/Abrantes/Castelo Branco) to exit 35 (Guarda South), heading toward the hospital and road N16, exiting toward Pêro Soares and the Caldeirão Dam.
Free parking is available at all three entrances, so you can start the walk wherever suits your plans best.
The trail: distance, duration and difficulty
The Mondego Walkways run 12 km (24 km round trip), with roughly 800 metres of accumulated elevation gain. It's a linear trail, and it's recommended to walk it from the Caldeirão Dam toward Videmonte.
The full walk takes around 5 hours, and it's rated moderate difficulty. You don't need technical hiking skills, but you should be used to walking.
If you'd prefer something shorter, or you're travelling with kids, there's a family-friendly section between Videmonte and Açude dos Trinta, just 2 km, also linear.
Spring and autumn are the best times of year to visit, thanks to milder temperatures, which is exactly why the weeks after summer are such a good window for this trail.
You can also use the trip to explore Guarda and the Serra da Estrela mountains, both right nearby.
Tickets and opening hours
Entry costs €2.50 per person, free for children up to 12. Tickets can only be bought online or at the Guarda Welcome Center. There's a daily entry limit, so it's worth booking ahead, especially on weekends. There are no ticket booths at the entrances themselves, so make sure you have your confirmation with you before you arrive.
In September, the walkways are open from 8 AM to 6 PM. To avoid the heat and busier periods, the best times to start are early morning, right after opening, or later in the afternoon.
Highlights along the way
Beyond the walk itself, there's plenty worth stopping for:
Caldeirão Reservoir: located in the northeast of Serra da Estrela Natural Park, formed when the Mondego's waters were diverted here in the late 1980s.
Ribeira do Caldeirão Waterfall: visible from a viewpoint, the result of an erosion process that's been shaping the rock for millions of years.
Mizarela Bridge: a medieval granite bridge with three arches, crossing the Mondego river.
Ribeiro dos Moinhos: still home to the ruins of more than a dozen old watermills, alongside three waterfalls.
Videmonte metasediment site: sedimentary rock over 541 million years old, formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean.
Along the trail, you'll also pass through dense riverside vegetation, including alder, ash and willow trees.
What to bring and practical tips
Before you set off, it's worth preparing properly:
- Comfortable walking shoes;
- Enough water for the full trail;
- Sunscreen and a hat (much of the route is exposed to direct sunlight);
- Check the opening hours in advance, and plan your visit with enough time to finish before closing;
- Stick to the marked trail, and never walk it alone;
- Bring a basic first aid kit, and call 112 in case of an emergency.
Make the most of it: Guarda and the Serra da Estrela
Since you'll already be in the area, it's worth exploring beyond the Mondego Walkways. The city of Guarda is just minutes from any of the three entrances, and the Serra da Estrela mountains are right next door, with landscapes and viewpoints that change completely from one season to the next.
This is where having a car makes a real difference: with public transport limited in this part of the country, a car gives you the freedom to time your visits to the walkways, manage the different entrances, and combine the trip with nearby villages and viewpoints, all at your own pace.
Exploring inland Portugal? Xtracars makes it flexible
If you're planning to explore inland Portugal - Guarda, the Serra da Estrela, and everything in between - for longer than a weekend, a traditional rental isn't always the best fit. Xtracars' subscription-based car rental is built exactly for this: subscribe to a car for as long as you need it, from 1 to 12 months, with a fixed monthly fee and no upfront payment.
Choose your car, complete a 100% digital booking, pick it up, and you're set. The subscription already includes third-party and own-damage insurance, 24h travel assistance, maintenance, road tax (IUC), and even a replacement vehicle if something goes wrong. Returning the car earlier than planned isn't a problem either: the fee is adjusted to the period you actually used it for (except for subscriptions of 1 month or less).
It's simple: you focus on the route, we handle the rest. Decided last minute? No problem! Once you subscribe, your car is ready at the station in about 6 hours.
With more than 35 stations across mainland Portugal and the islands, there's always one nearby to get you started on your next trip.
