The Arouca Bridge - An adventure in the Sky

Today's story on Gingers Aventuras is for those who love to go on an adventure high above the ground.

Say hello to the Arouca Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world!

View of the 516 Brdge and of the Arouca Geopark.

You get butterflies in your stomach just looking at it, right? 🫣 Well, come with us on this breathtaking adventure!

It all started in 2021, when I saw on TV a report about the inauguration of one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world, which just happened to be close to Porto. And of course I couldn't miss the opportunity to visit a monument so cool!

In 2022, as soon as I met Tom, I told him about the bridge. Tom, who loves engineering, was also keen to see this iconic work of the municipality of Arouca. And so it was... after a few dates, we decided to go on our first adventure together!

The bridge is 516 metres long, just 1.20 metres wide and sits 175 metres above the Paiva river. The Arouca Bridge, or also as it is known, the 516 Bridge, is a mandatory stop for lovers of adventure and also for those who are mesmurised by true engineering works.

The Bridge is accessible from both sides. For those who prefer an easier route or have limited time, we recommend travelling to the village of Alvarenga where you can park and start the roughly 1km walk to the entrance of the Bridge.

If you look carefully you can see in the middle of the image the entrance to the Bridge, the V-shaped structure.

For those who like to explore nature and have more time to enjoy the tour, it is recommended to take the entrance for the Paiva Walkways (more specifically via Areinho), where the path, considered high difficulty, offers an unique experience through a charming landscape in the middle of the Arouca Geopark, Unesco Heritage Site.

Entrance from Areinho.

The ticket costs 12 euros per adult and must be purchased in advance through the website https://bookings.cm-arouca.pt/. It is important to emphasise that tickets are not sold on site and, given that visits are limited, buying in advance really is essential if you don't want to miss out on this incredible attraction.

Crossing the bridge can be made in either direction: Alvarenga-Areinho or Areinho-Alvarenga. The starting point and departure time must be chosen when you buy the ticket.

The ticket also includes access to the Paiva Walkways (which consists of an 8.7km walk along the valley of the Paiva river), provided that the visit takes place on the same day. However, if you choose the last available time to cross the Bridge, be aware, as you must first take the walk through the Walkways and then, at the time provided on the ticket, start the visit to the Bridge.

View of the river Paiva.

Tom and I opted for the last crossing of the day, at 3:30 p.m., starting at the Pórtico of Alvarenga, but the

truth is that I didn't know that the ticket also included entry to the Walkways, otherwise we would have first walked along these incredible walkways.

The crossing is made with a guide, at set times and at a chosen point of entry (Pórtico de Alvarenga or de Areinho). Therefore, be sure to check all the information sent by email and arrive in advance, because if you are late you won't be allowed to cross the Bridge alone.

Tom and I arrived at Pórtico de Alvarenga 20 minutes before the scheduled time of the visit and took the opportunity to admire all that stunning nature around us. Some people were already there, while others arrived shortly after.

Before we started the crossing, the guide provided us with some very interesting information about the construction of the Bridge, answered some questions and, soon after, we began our journey through that extraordinary walkway built in the air.

Do you think Tom was a bit scared? 🤪

Quite the opposite! He was super excited, while I was... let's say, a little bit worried. Although I really enjoy to take risks and push my limits, I'm scared of heights! But the truth is from beginning I felt super safe. All that robust structure gave me the necessary security to continue along the path, observing all the details of that giant steel construction and enjoying all the beauty around me.

Every step a new discovery, a new perspective. It's funny how nature and human beings are able to create such incredible things. Nature, with the strength of its waters and the wind, carved for years, all that magnificent valley, and man, with all our knowledge and intelligence, created that majestic Bridge, which simply seems to hover over the air.

Aguieiras Waterfall

I imagine that at this moment you must be wondering: But Dani, does the Bridge move? Well...the truth is that during the crossing you feel a slight oscillation, but honestly, I expected that the vibration would be much stronger, specially given how windy it was that day and also the size of all that metal structure.

The tour is relatively short. It takes about 50 minutes - 20 minutes to cross the Bridge in one direction, 10 minutes to enjoy the other side a little and another 20 minutes to walk back.

And after all, what is our final verdict on this tour in the sky? Truth be told, I was surprised by the grandeur of the Bridge. Crossing it, walking through its seemingly endless narrow path and enjoyig the beauty of the valley, was indeed an unforgettable experience. The Arouca Bridge definitely gets the Gingers Aventuras seal of approval. 😂

NOTE: for those who suffer from vertigo, or who still do not have the courage to face this route over the air, we recommend a walk to the entrance of the Bridge so that they can at least get a close look at this magnificent construction, built across the valley of the Paiva river.