N2 (Estrada Nacional 2)
Portugal, europe
738 km
1,993 m
moderate
April to October
The Estrada Nacional 2 (EN2) is Portugal's longest road, running 738 kilometers from Chaves on the northern Spanish border to Faro on the Algarve coast in the south. Often called Portugal's Route 66, it traverses the entire length of the country through its rural heartland, passing through 35 municipalities and 11 districts, including some of the most remote and undiscovered landscapes in Western Europe.
The road winds through the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, the cork oak forests of the Alentejo, the granite villages of the Serra da Estrela (mainland Portugal's highest mountain range at 1,993 meters), and the rolling plains of the southern interior. Much of the route follows roads that have served as trade and pilgrimage paths for centuries. Unlike the modern motorways that connect Portugal's coastal cities, the EN2 passes through a slower, traditional Portugal of small towns, family-run restaurants, and landscapes largely unchanged for generations.
Where is it?
N2 (Estrada Nacional 2) is located in North to South Portugal, Portugal (europe). Coordinates: 39.5000, -7.9000
Driving Tips
Allow 3-5 days to drive the full route. The Douro Valley section is particularly scenic. Fuel stations are sparse in the Alentejo, so fill up regularly. The road is poorly signposted in places.
Road Surface
Paved asphalt, variable quality
Road Details
- Country
- Portugal
- Continent
- europe
- Region
- North to South Portugal
- Length
- 738 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,993 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Surface
- Paved asphalt, variable quality
- Best Season
- April to October
- Coordinates
- 39.5000, -7.9000
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