FAQs

Yes, 516 Arouca is an inclusive infraestructure. Visitors with special needs should contact the Arouca Geopark Interactive Tourism Store in advance (contact information: turismo@cm-arouca.pt | +351 256 940 258) to ensure that the necessary accommodations are made. Visitors with special needs, particularly those with limited mobility, must enter through the Alvarenga entrance. Only duly authorized vehicles may access the area surrounding 516 Arouca.

Yes, you must be at least 6 years old, so children under age cannot enter.

Yes, there is no impediment to the visit for elderly people, as long as their physical condition allows it.

Anyone can cross the 516 Arouca Bridge, provided they follow the rules for its use. People with mobility issues, heart conditions, or vertigo should assess whether they meet the necessary conditions to cross the 516 Arouca Bridge.

During the visit there will always be the presence of a guide who can either clarify any doubts about the bridge and its surroundings, or help a visitor in case of emergency. You can always ask for help from the guide, contact Bombeiros Voluntários de Arouca (256 944 122) and/or call the national emergency number – 112.

Yes, there is a mobile phone network all the way.

Yes, each visitor is the beneficiary of a civil liability insurance that will cover any eventuality that occurs during the visit, provided that this has not occurred due to violation of the established rules or the visitor’s sole fault.

The floor of 516 Arouca is made of a metallic grid, which gives it transparency. If you have vertigo, you should think carefully about your visit.

During the construction process of 516 Arouca, several tests were carried out, even after it was completed. So, yes, it is 100% safe to cross 516 Arouca.

On the Canelas side, Areinho, the closest WC is next to the river beach of Areinho, which is located about 1200 meters away (45 minutes on foot). On the Alvarenga side, the closest WC is next to the Alvarenga cemetery, which is located about 1000 meters from the bridge (15 minutes on foot). There are no toleits near the entrances to 516 Arouca.

Yes. If you want to start your route on the Canelas side, Areinho entrance, you must use the parking lots identified for users of the Paiva Walkways; if you choose to start the visit to 516 Arouca on the Alvarenga side, there are 2 possible parking lots: 1) next to Campo Reinaldo Noronha, in Santo António, 2) in Albisqueiros. Parking on the Alvarenga side presupposes that you walk along the identified trails, with access to 516 Arouca on foot. The use of any of these parking lots is free. More information here.

No, the parks are not supervised and the Arouca Municipality is not responsible for any damage or theft in the vehicles. Please protect your goods.

No. Any intention of collective action or other type of manifestation in 516 Arouca depends on the approval of the Municipality of Arouca. For this purpose, please send an email to comunicacao@cm-arouca.pt

You can obtain more information about 516 Arouca on the official website and social networks or through the Interactive Tourism Store of Arouca, located at Rua Abel Botelho, no 4. (Telephone: +351 256 940 258 | E-mail: turismo@cm-arouca.pt). The Interactive Tourism Store is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm; and on weekends and holidays, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

Any drone shooting is prohibited. For this purpose, prior authorization must be requested from the Municipality of Arouca, the bridge’s managing entity, by e-mail: comunicacao@cm-arouca.pt. All the requests received during the weekend or holidays will be answered in the following business day.

Yes, there are catering and accommodation establishments around 516 Arouca. You can find more information on the website https://aroucageopark.pt/en.

The visit to 516 Arouca is always accompanied by a guide, who will give an introduction to the building you will visit and will be able to clarify any doubts you may have during the visit. Additionally, you can get in touch with local tourist entertainment companies that will be able to complement your stay by visiting other points and attractions in the territory.

To get to 516 Arouca you should choose the following accesses:

• Coming from the North (via A1): Exit Santa Maria da Feira >  Arouca > Areinho > Alvarenga
  • Estimated travel time: 60 minutes (Areinho) or 1h15 (Alvarenga)
• Coming from the North (via A32): Exit São João da Madeira / Feira > Arouca > Areinho > Alvarenga
  • Estimated travel time: 50 minutes (Areinho) or 1h05 (Alvarenga)
• Coming from the South (via A1): Exit Estarreja>Oliveira de Azeméis>Vale de Cambra > Arouca > Areinho > Alvarenga
  • Estimated travel time: 60 minutes (Areinho) or 1h15 (Alvarenga)
• Coming from the Interior (via A25): Exit Porto A1 > Oliveira de Azeméis > Vale de Cambra > Arouca > Areinho > Alvarenga
  • Estimated travel time: 65 minutes (Areinho) or 1h20 (Alvarenga)
• Coming from Cinfães/Castelo de Paiva/Castro Daire: Estrada Nacional 225 > Alvarenga > Areinho
  • Estimated travel time: 10 minutes (Areinho)

The visit takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The guide will meet the visitors at the place identified for this purpose and will accompany the group to the entrance at 516 Arouca. A briefing will be given about the infrastructure and landscape and information will be given regarding the rules and precautions to be taken during the visit.

516 Arouca operates exclusively with guided tours, so visiting hours must be observed. Visiting hours are:

• November through March: 9:30 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | 3:30 p.m.
• April and October: 9:30 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m.
• May through September: 8:30 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:30 p.m.

Tours begin 30 minutes after opening time and end 1 hour and 30 minutes before closing. Therefore, admission will not be permitted after the start of the last tour.

When purchasing tickets for access to 516 Arouca, you will have to choose a time to make your visit. You must appear at the meeting point, defined for this purpose, 15 minutes before the selected time. The visit will start at the scheduled time. If you are late, and if there is availability, you can join a next visiting time on the day the visit is scheduled. In case that it is not possible to join a group on the same day, you will have to purchase a new ticket for another day and time.

Yes, if it turns out that it is not safe to cross the 516 Arouca, due to storm, wind or other reasons, it will be closed. In these cases, the closing notice will be given on the website and official social networks and all visitors who have purchased tickets will be duly informed by email and text message. These visitors may 1) reschedule their visit at no additional cost, within a period of one year, on a date of their choice (subject to availability) or 2) request a full refund, up to 10 days after the date of the visit. It is recommended to check the official website and social networks beforehand, on the day you intend to visit.

516 Arouca is open all year round, except on Christmas Day. Adverse weather conditions may dictate its closure. In these cases, the closing notice will be given on the website and official social networks and all visitors who have purchased tickets will be duly informed by email and text message. These visitors may 1) reschedule their visit at no additional cost, within a period of one year, on a date of their choice (subject to availability) or 2) request a full refund, up to 10 days after the date of the visit.

516 Arouca guides are prepared to carry out visits in Portuguese and English.

As visitas à 516 Arouca são sempre guiadas e tem início a horas concretas, não sendo possível adquirir as entradas para entrar em hora indefinida.

O visitante deverá escolher o horário que prefere, entre as seguintes opções:

• Novembro a março (inclusive)
  9h30 | 11h00 | 14h00 | 15h30
• Abril e outubro
  9h30 | 11h00 | 13h00 | 14h30 | 16h00 | 17h30
• Maio a setembro (inclusive)
  8h30 | 10h00 | 11h30 | 14h00 | 15h30 | 17h00 | 18h30

The entity responsible for the management and maintenance of 516 Arouca is the Municipality of Arouca.

Yes, children under 6 years of age are not allowed to enter the 516 Arouca. Visitors aged between 6 and 17 years (inclusive) must be accompanied by adults. Upon entering 516 Arouca, you may be asked to present identification to verify your age. If you don’t provide the required identification and there are doubts regarding your age, and in order to ensure your safety, you may be denied entry to the facility, and no refund will be issued.

No, smoking is not allowed during the visit.

It is not allowed to run on 516 Arouca. It is an infrastructure built with the aim of enjoying a unique construction work and landscape, in a calm environment, for leisure and recreation.

We do not know what will be the reaction of each animal to the bridge’s height during its crossing. In order to avoid stressful situations for the animals, their entry is not allowed. Furthermore, the infrastructure floor makes it impossible for animals to cross safely. Guide dogs are, however, permitted.

Yes, at each time there is a limit on entries on the bridge.

Yes, you should bring comfortable clothing and shoes, preferably sneakers or non-skid hiking boots. You are not allowed to enter 516 Arouca in slippers or high heels or other footwear that is not suitable to travel through this infrastructure.

Yes, you can. However, as 516 Arouca has a specific entry time and, starting at the Paiva Walkways in Espiunca, it is located almost at the end of the route, we advise you to start your visit on the bridge, so that you are not late. Starting the visit by the bridge, you will be able to enjoy the visit Paiva Walkways more calmly, without the pressure of the arrival time at the bridge.

If you choose the last tour time for the bridge and plan to visit the Paiva Walkways, you must visit the walkways before the bridge tour.

It is not possible to access by car around 516 Arouca. You must leave your car in the car parks for this purpose and walk to the bridge. Depending on the car park where you leave the vehicle, it can take between 20 (Parking in Alvarenga – Albisqueiros; level of difficulty in accessing the bridge on foot: low) to 60 minutes (Parking in Areinho; level of difficulty in accessing the bridge on foot: high; you need to climb about 500 steps) to reach 516 Arouca. Make sure you have time to get to the 516 Arouca meeting point at the time of your tickets. You will find more information about how to get there and about parking here.

It is not mandatory to walk the bridge in both directions. You can cross the bridge in one direction only and, at the end, continue your visit to Alvarenga, through a marked path or, on the Canelas side, follow the Paiva Walkways, either towards Areinho or towards Espiunca.

As its name indicates, 516 Arouca have 516 meters long and the highest point, towards the river, is at 175 meters.

The access ticket to 516 Arouca includes the visit to the Paiva Walkways. You will not have to purchase additional tickets for the walkways, unless you wish to visit them on a different day of the visit to the bridge.

If you choose the last tour time for the bridge and plan to visit the Paiva Walkways, you must visit the walkways before the bridge tour.

Each group can have a maximum of 35 people. At each visiting time, up to 70 people can enter, 35 at each entrance.

You may bring a backpack, but it must not exceed the following dimensions: 40 cm x 20 cm x 25 cm. Backpacks or bags larger than these dimensions will not be allowed inside.

Residents of the Arouca Municipality can obtain a card that allows access to 516 Arouca (upon reservation), as well as to the Paiva Walkways. You can apply for this card in person by presenting your national ID card and proof of address at the Arouca Geopark Interactive Tourism Store. Each card costs €5 and is valid for 3 years.

To obtain the resident card, you must prove your address in Arouca.

Yes, you can. The card is attributable to residents in Arouca as well as to direct ascendants and descendants (first degree).

Yes, you can go any day, but it is mandatory that you book the date and time of your visit.

You will have to go through the normal purchase process, at the reservations center, www.516arouca.pt, and write your card number in the space provided for this purpose. Will be sent to you a ticket, as is the case for other visitors.

You must show both. Showing the ticket is mandatory and the card proves your identity as a resident. You should have both with you when entering 516 Arouca.

There are family packs, namely:

• Family pack A (2 adults + 1 child) = 30€
• Family pack B (2 adults + 2 children) = 40€
• Family pack C (2 adults + 3 or more children) = Family pack B + €5 for each additional child
• Family pack D (1 adult + 2 or more children) = 30€ + 5€ for each additional child
• In addition, for visits organized through schools, a 10% discount applies to “Student” tickets. For more information, visit turismo@cm-arouca.pt | +351 256 940 258.

Yes, it is necessary to purchase tickets, through the infrastructure’s official website, to visit 516 Arouca. Tickets are not sold at the entrances.

516 Arouca Price List:

*10% discount for organized school visits

Tickets to visit 516 Arouca can be purchased exclusively online through the bridge’s official website: https://516arouca.pt. There is no ticket sales on site. Each ticket has a cost of 12 euros and also gives access to the Paiva Walkways. Make reservations in advance. Make sure you can do the visit. If you have any questions, please contact the Arouca Geopark Interactive Tourism Store by email at turismo@cm-arouca.pt or by phone at +351 256 940 258.

You may cancel your visit and request a refund, but a penalty of 50% of the charged fee will apply. Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before the day of the visit. In other words, cancellations are not accepted on the day before the visit. To request a refund, please contact the Interactive Tourism Store at +351 256 940 258 or turismo@cm-arouca.pt.

Rescheduling is permitted upon payment of an additional 25% of the admission fee, subject to availability. Rescheduling must be done at least 48 hours before the originally scheduled date. In other words, rescheduling requests made on the day before the originally scheduled date will not be accepted. A reservation may be rescheduled only once, and the fee paid for the rescheduling is non-refundable. Changes to the time or entry gate at 516 Arouca can be made free of charge, subject to facility availability. This free change may only be made once and must be for the same day. To request any changes to your reservation, please contact the Interactive Tourism Store at +351 256 940 258 or turismo@cm-arouca.pt.