Vila do Bispo to Sagres Hike, the Fishermen´s Trail Portugal – STINGY NOMADS

A Wild Coastal trail at the Edge of Europe

Walking from Vila do Bispo to Sagres is a standout stage of the Fishermen’s Trail (Trilho dos Pescadores). The route links the quiet, traditional town of Vila do Bispo with Sagres, a popular surfing hub offering a wide range of services. In between, hikers cross tranquil rural landscapes and exposed coastal cliffs with spectacular ocean views, passing Cabo de São Vicente, the south-westernmost point of mainland Europe.

Vila do Bispo to Sagres Hike, the Fishermen´s Trail Portugal – STINGY NOMADS — Spectacular scenery hiking on the cliffs towards Sagres on the Fisherman’s trail in Portugal.

ocean next to the cliffs, high drop — Spectacular scenery hiking on the cliffs towards Sagres on the Fisherman’s trail in Portugal.

Vila do Bispo to Sagres Hiking Trail Overview

Route distance – 21.4 km/13.29mi
Time – 5 to 6 hours
Total ascent – 294 m
Total descent 247 m
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Terrain: Dirt tracks, sandy paths, rocky clifftop trails, short road sections
Key Highlight: Cabo de São Vicente
Route Markings – well-marked with green and blue stripes and red and white stripes visible in both directions
Walking route – Vila do Bispo, Praia da Ponta Ruiva, Praia do Telheiro, Cabo de Sao Vicente, Praia do Beliche, Sagres

Navigate Vila do Bispo to Sagres Trail

Find below a Google Maps track we created by following the trail from Vila do Bispo to Sagres. This Google maps trail can be used on a mobile phone for navigation.

The link can only be opened while online (with Wi-Fi or data), but navigation on the track works even when offline. Make the map full screen, zoom in and keep the blue dot on the trail.

For complete offline navigation download the Vila do Bispo to Sagres GPX file here. Check here how to navigate with a GPX file on your phone.

Vila do Bispo to Sagres Trail Distance

The complete distance from Vila do Bispo to Sagres via Cabo Sao Vicente is 21.4 km/13.29mi.

Walking this trail takes most people between 5 and 7 hours to complete. The trail can be walked in 5 to 6 hours at an average walking pace. Walking at a relaxing pace and making stops for photos and spending some time on the beautiful beaches, 7 hours is a good time to estimate.

Pack enough water and a snack. Food, drink and toilet facilities at Sao Vicente Spot, 12.6 km and Cabo de Sao Vicente 14.2 km (not always open out of season).

steep cliffs going into the ocean — Cabo de São Vicente (Cape Saint Vincent) is the southwesternmost point of mainland Europe, 7 km from Sagres.

The Fishermen´s Trail

The Fisherman’s Trail is a 230 km/143 mi walking route in the south of Portugal and is considered one of the most beautiful coastal hiking routes in the world. The trail can be conveniently divided into 12 stages. The spectacular route takes you past rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, stunning lookout points, charming towns, and the amazing views of the Atlantic ocean never stops. Part of the Rota Vicentina network it is one of the best hikes in the Algarve.

You can find a detailed trail itinerary in THIS POST

Day 1. Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes 19 km/12 mi	Day 2. Vila Nova de Milfontes – Almograve 16 km/10 mi	Day 3. Almograve – Zambujeira do Mar 22,5 km/14 mi
Day 4. Zambujeira to Mar – Odeceixe 19 km/12 mi	Day 5. Odeceixe – Aljezur 23 km/14,2 mi	Day 6. Aljezur – Praia da Arrifana 19 km/12 mi
Day 7. Praia da Arrifana – Carrapateira 20 km/12,4 mi	Day 8. Carrapateira – Vila do Bispo 15 km/9 mi	Day 9. Vila do Bispo – Sagres 21 km/13 mi
Day 10. Sagres – Salema 20 km/12,4 mi	Day 11. Salema – Praia da Luz 12 km/7,4 mi	Day 12. Praia da Luz – Lagos 10,5 km/6,4 mi

Detailed breakdown, navigation and info on the walking stages of the Fisherman’s Trail

Trail Markings

The Vila do Bispo to Sagres route is very well-marked with red and white stripes for the Historical Way and blue and green stripes for the Fishermen’s Trail painted on rocks, wooden poles, and trees. There are also several markers for the cycling route on the way.

Vila do Bispo

Vila do Bispo is a small, authentic Portuguese village. It has plenty of coffee shops and cafe’s. This is a nice town to stay for a night and is near several popular surf beaches. The Bus nr 47 local bus route from Lagos stops in Vila do Bispo and does the route several times a day. It is easy to get an Uber here and cost around EUR 7 to Sagres. I often grab a coffee and something to eat at the Zig Zag Snackbar in Vila do Bispo when I go surfing in the area.

green fields with lots of yellow daisys — Walking out of Vila do Bispo you are immediately in the countryside, a short paved stretch turns into gravel road.

Sagres

Located on the extreme south-western tip of mainland Europe, Sagres is well-known for surfing and the town is filled with surf shops. With very nice beaches, coffee shops and restaurants it is a great town to take an extra day, walk to the Sagres Fort and go and watch the surfers at Tonel beach.

Café Espresso and D’Italia Pizzeria next door is a good place to end the day and is next to the beautiful Maretha Beach with several great guesthouses very close by.

Fort on the cliffs above the ocean — Sagres Fort in the distance during the last stretch for the day.

Difficulty of the Vila do Bispo to Sagres walk

This is a fairly easy stage with a total ascent of about 300m over a stage of 21 km, so there are not any significant hills. The walking surface mostly makes for easy walking with not too much sand. The distance of the stage can be challenging if you are not used to walking long distances, so we rate the stage easy to moderate.

Elevation profile of our hike from Vila do Bispo to Sagres, created with Garmin Fenix 7 watch. The flat profile shows it was a fairly easy hike with very few hills.

The Trailhead (start) of the Vila do Bispo to Sagres.

The start of the trail is in the small town Vila do Bispo at the bus stop, walk past the circle left out of town passing the Snack Bar Zig Zag.

Where Does the Trail End?

The trail Vila do Bispo to Sagres ends in Sagres town. I stopped walking at the circle in front of Espresso Cafe at Mareta Beach. Here I got a coffee and caught an Uber back to the start of the route in Vila do Bispo

Two Walking Routes from Vila do Bispo to Sagres.

There are two trail options from Vila do Bispo to Sagres, coastal or inland. At 6.3 km/3.9 mi from Vila do Bispo the first green and blue Fishermen´s trail markers can be seen. Here the route splits one trail goes to the coast, another continues inland. The coastal route is marked with green and blue stipes, the inland route is marked with red and white. The distance is about the same, both routes are around 14 kilometers.

pole with a red and white cross and blue and green stripes — The Fishermen’s Trail continues toward the ocean, the traditional way does not go this way.

Can the route be walked in both directions?

This trail can be walked in either direction; from Vila do Bispo to Sagres or from Sagres to Vila do Bispo. It is fairly flat so direction does not matter to much and getting back to your starting point is easy with an Uber.

Highlights of the Vila do Bispo to Sagres Walk

The beautiful route mostly hugs the coast offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Exploring the rugged cliffs and dramatic drops offer stunning lookout points on the coastal route.

Torre de Aspa -stunning viewpoint 4km from Vila do Bispo where the route meets the ocean. You have to walk away from the trail.
Praia da Ponta Ruiva, translates to Red Tip Beach, secluded, beautiful beach popular for surfing. About 15 minute walk from the trail.
Praia do Telheiro, beautiful beach, popular surf spot, steep walk down to the beach
Cabo de S.Vicente – a cape with a lighthouse and a fortress and impressive scenery, cafe and toilets that is open in season, several vendors outside.
Praia do Beliche, beautiful beach, popular surf spot. Nice viewpoint from the cliffs. Nice beach, long walk with the stairs down to the beach.
Amazing cliff views from Beliche beach all the way to Sagres, don´t walk on the road.

coastal scenery from cliffs — Reaching the coast brings a sudden shift in scenery. The land drops away into high cliffs that fall directly into the ocean, with waves pounding far below.

When is the best time for walking this route?

With more than 300 sunny days per year in the Algarve you can hike this route all year round. Here is an overview of different hiking conditions at different times of the year.

Spring (April and May) – great time for hiking in the Algarve, warm and sunny days along the coast, many flowers, this is also a good time for birdwatching.

Winter months (November to March) are nice for walking because it doesn’t get too hot and the weather is still pleasant most of the day. You can be unlucky and get a couple of rainy and windy days. In our experience the worst weather is February and March.

Hiking in the summer, (July, August), and the first half of September it can be very hot, don´t forget water, a hat and sun cream. These months are the peak tourist season in the Algarve expect many people and higher prices.

June, the second half of September and October (shoulder seaon) are excellent months for the Fishermen´s trail. Little rain, mostly warm, and sunny conditions with and not too crowded.

cliffs dropping into the ocean — Spectacular scenery of this rugged coastline between Cabo Sao Vicente and Sagres.

How to get to Vila do Bispo?

Vila do Bispo can be reached by public bus from Lisbon or Lagos.

Lagos – Bus #47 (Vamus Bus) a direct bus from Lagos departs several times per day. From Lagos to Sagres EUR 5, travel time 47 minutes.
Lisbon – Direct buses from Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon to Vila do Bispo. Lisbon to Travel time by bus about 4h30min. Cost around 15 -25 euros per person. See Rede Expressos website.

Route Description Vila do Bispo to Sagres hike

Starting point – Leaving Vila do Bispo at the bus stop, walk past the circle left out of town passing the Snack Bar Zig Zag and Aldi Supermarket
800m – turn off – follow red and white Rota Vicentina markers.
3.6 km/2.2 mi – Dramatic cliftop walking Cabo Sao Vicente sign, trail starts following the coastline with dramatic cliffs, hidden coves and secret beaches.
6.3 km/3.9 mi –First green and blue Fishermen´s trail marker Route split; one route goes to the coast, another continues inland. The coastal route is marked with green and blue stipes, the inland route is marked with red and white.
7.5 km/4.6 mi – The trail starts following the edge of the cliffs more closely with spectacular ocean views.
9.5 km/5.9 mi – More challenging section, narrow single track, rocky, ups and downs.
11 km/6,8 mi – Sandy stretch, loose sand for about 500m.
12.6 km/7.8 mi – Sao Vicente Spot, Coffee shop, cafeteria, toilets
12.6 km/7.8 mi – Fort de Beliche, historic fortress
14 km/8.7 mi – Cabo de São Vicente, the south-westernmost point of mainland Europe. Shop and stands selling food in souvenirs open in summer. Can get a bus or Uber from here.
17.2 km/10.7 mi – Praia do Beliche, beautiful beach, popular surf spot. Nice viewpoint from the cliffs. Nice beach, long walk with the stairs down to the beach.
17.5 km/10.9 mi – arrow pointing to the cliffs, trail goes from the road to follow the cliffs. Don’t miss the turn, there are some spectacular views of the ocean in these last few kilometers and the walk is much more pleasant than walking on the road.
20.5 km/12.7 mi – The trail is back on the road for the last kilometer.
21.4 km/13.29mi – Route ends in Sagres at the circle in front of Espresso Cafe looking over Mareta Beach.

Places to stay in Vila do Bispo

Places to stay in Sagres

What to pack for hiking?

Carry enough water. Wear sufficient sun protection. Pack for the weather.

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