E9 European Coast Path

The E9 European Coast Path is a long distance walking trail in Europe.

Understand

The trail is part of the network of long distance walking trails in Europe.

This path is planned to connect Tarifa in Spain, the southern-most point of continental Europe (until 2019: Cape St Vincent, Portugal) to Russia (see map to right). Not all sections are completed.

While much of the route can be completed by bike, there are pedestrians-only sections.

Prepare

The trail mostly follows national or regional paths, and conditions will vary along the trail, not only due to climate, but also regarding accommodations and other services, and the trail itself. Do your research.

From Tarifa in Spain to Braniewo in Poland, and through the Baltic states, all countries on the Coast Path are in the Schengen Area and the EU, so any border crossing should be smooth: usually no controls whatsoever. However, from Braniewo to Nida in Lithuania the Coast Path passes through Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. As of 2024 the relations between the EU and Russia are frosty (to say the least) and you may have to use an alternative route around Kaliningrad.

Get in

Tarifa is in Andalusia, Spain. It is the endpoint of trails E4 and E12. The airports of Málaga, Jerez de la Frontera and Tangier are an hour or two away. If you are in the region already, you can come by coach.

Tallinn on the Gulf of Finland is one possible endpoint. The route should continue to Russia, but with the current (as of 2024) relations between the EU and Russia, you may want to skip that part. Tallinn is well-connected by plane and road, and by ferry from Helsinki in Finland and Stockholm in Sweden. There are also trains to Tallinn, but the connections from outside the country are more complicated.

Walk

Tarifa to Sanlúcar de Guadiana

Tarifa is a small historic town by the Strait of Gibraltar, at the southernmost point of mainland Europe.

The Coast Path section in southern Spain is still under construction as of 2023.

There is a connection by boat from Sanlúcar de Guadiana in Spain to Alcoutim in Portugal, across the Guadiana River.

Alcoutim to Cape St Vincent

The Coast Path follows the Grande Randonnée trail GR 13 Via Algarviana from Alcoutim to Cape St Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente), which is Europe's south-western corner.

Cape St Vincent to Santiago do Cacém

The Coast Path continues northward to Santiago do Cacém along GR 11, the Vicentine Route – Historical Way, designated a "Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe". You will mainly follow rural trails in varying landscapes. Where the trail leads through private lands, only pedestrians are allowed.

Santiago do Cacém to Valença

The trail from Santiago do Cacém northward to Spain is not yet developed. It leads by the Portuguese coast, perhaps along the Camino Portuguese Coastal Way.

The Portuguese legs end in Valença. Across the river Miño and the Spanish border is the Galician town Tui. The old bridge is from 1878.

Tui to Santiago de Compostela

The route goes to Santiago de Compostela via Vigo. You could use the Portuguese Way (the coastal and central route rejoin in Redondela near Vigo).

Santiago de Compostela is a pilgrimage destination with a magnificent cathedral, the endpoint of the Way of St. James, and the capital city of Galicia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the cathedral and the old city centre.

Santiago de Compostela to Gijón

The route leads to Asturias, via Navia to Gijón.

In Asturias the route is incomplete, as of 2023.

Gijón to San Sebastián

The route continues through Asturias, via the coastal resort town Llanes to the Basque Country, via Zumaia to San Sebastián.

San Sebastián to Hondarribia

Hondarribia is a fishing town in the Basque Country, on the Bay of Txingudi, by the border with France. Hendaye is across the border river.

Hendaye to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

The first leg in France is in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques along GR 10, to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the inland, one of the most important starting points for the Way of St. James.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Saint-Palais

The Coast Path continues in the Pyrénées-Atlantique to Saint-Palais along GR 65, which forms part of the Le Puy route of the Way of St. James.

Saint-Palais to Royan

From Saint-Palais the coast route follows GR 655 to Belin-Béliet in Gironde. It continues along GR 6 towards the coast, to Arcachon by the Archachon Bay of the Atlantic and onwards by GR 8 to the village Contaut at the north end of Lac d’Hourtin.

From Contaut you need to pass over the Garonne and the Gironde (or the mouth of the Gironde estuary) by your own, probably by ferry over the estuary mouth from Le Verdon-sur-Mer (near Soulac-sur-Mer), or via Bordeaux. The trail continues in the beach resort Royan on the north shore of the estuary, in Charente-Maritime.

Royan to Rochefort

In Charente-Maritime you follow GR 4 from Royan to Saint-Agnant and GR 360 onwards to Rochefort. Here there is another break in the Coast Path, until you enter Loire-Atlantique of Pays de la Loire.

To Saint-Nazaire

After the border between Vendée and Loire-Atlantique you are again on GR 8, which leads to Saint-Nazaire.

Saint-Nazaire to Morlaix

From Saint-Nazaire you follow GR 34 via Vannes, Lorient, Concarneau and Brest to Morlaix.

In Morlaix you have the option of taking a ferry to Plymouth to walk the English fork of the Coast Path.

Plymouth to Dover

The English section leads from Plymouth along the South West Coast Path. It continues along the Bournemouth Coast Path and the Solent Way. You can visit the Isle of Wight and take the ferry from there to Portsmouth, where you'll end up regardless. If you skip the first leg, you can take a ferry from Saint-Malo and join here.

The Coast Path leaves the Solent Way in Havant, turning inland to avoid the urban sprawl by the coast.

The last sections are along the 1066 Country Walk, commemorating the Battle of Hastings, and the Saxon Shore Way, commemorating earlier invaders.

From Dover, you take the ferry to Calais.

Morlaix to le Tréport

The GR 34 in France continues from Morlaix via Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Malo, still in Brittany, on to Mont-Saint-Michel in Manche and GR 223 via Cherbourg to Honfleur in Calvados. These latter departments are in Normandy, like Eure and Seine-Maritime onward. GR 23 leads to Trouville-la-Haule, GR 2 on to Tancarville and Harfleur, and GR 21 to le Tréport.

Hauts-de-France

GR 120 leads from le Tréport through Hauts-de-France via Le Touquet, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais and Dunkerque to Bray-Dunes at the Belgian border.

Poland

Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

Stay safe

Go next

Walking in the United Kingdom

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