Hiking in Spain

On average, Spain is 660 m above sea level and is the European country with the most mountains and elevations after Switzerland. Hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts will therefore get their money's worth here. The most important mountain ranges in Spain are the central plateau Meseta Central, which covers the entire interior of the peninsula; the Iberian Central System (Sistema Central) in the center of Spain; the Pyreneeson the border with France; the Cantabrian Cordillera, which runs parallel to the entire northern Spanish Atlantic coast; the Sierra Morena and the Sistema Bético in Andalusia, which also includes the Sierra Nevada near Granada with the 3.479 m high and thus the highest mountain on the Spanish mainland, the Pico Mulhacén, as well as the Sistema Ibérico in the east.

On the Balearic Islands, the Sierra de la Tramuntana on Mallorca is the most important mountain range. With the exception of the two eastern islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, the Canary Islands, which have volcanic origins, have a distinctly mountainous landscape. Tenerife is home to Spain's highest mountain, the 3,715-metre-high Teide.

Spain is a paradise for outdoor sports activities. Here you have a wide range of opportunities to practice your favorite sport in beautiful natural areas. Put on your hiking boots and follow in the footsteps of history on the Way of St. James and other kilometers of routes.

With more than 60,000 km of designated hiking routes and a mild climate, Spain is one of the best destinations for this sport. The long routes of a "Gran Recorrido" (GR) are marked in red and white, while shorter routes of a "Pequeno Recorrido" (PR) are marked in yellow and white. Finally, the small local circuits with distances of less than ten kilometers of the "Senderos Locales" (SL) have green markings and are particularly suitable for excursions with children or people with less physical fitness or for shorter hikes.