The National Road 2 (EN 2) is the longest road in Portugal. Surprisingly, considering the size of the country, it’s the third longest in the world, after Route 66 in the USA and the Rota 40 in Argentina. It runs from Chaves, in the northeast end of the country, all the way to Faro.
It has a total length of 738 km and goes through 35 councils Chaves, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Vila Real, Santa Marta de Penaguião, Peso da Régua, Castro Daire, São Pedro do Sul, Viseu, Tondela, Santa Comba Dão, Mortágua, Penacova, Vila Nova de Poiares, Lousã, Góis, Pedrogão Grande, Sertã, Vila de Rei, Sardoal, Abrantes, Ponte de Sor, Avis, Mora, Coruche, Montemor-o-Novo, Viana do Alentejo, Alcácer do Sal, Ferreira do Alentejo, Aljustrel, Castro Verde, Almodôvar, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and Faro.
Its historical roots go back to the late 16th century although some of its segments go back to the Roman age. In the 19th century, as the king saw it as an essential backbone to the integrity of the inland areas of the country, it was known as Royal Road. On the 11th May 1945 it was named EN 2.
For a long time, the EN2 was nothing more than a road. But in the last years it became popular as a traveling route. Guides were published, dozens of blog posts were written and a whole new subculture developed around this long route.
The route is especially popular amongst the motards whose presence is common in the Km 738 Roundabout, where they stop for a brief moment and take some snapshots.
You might want to drive at least a part of the EN2. Perhaps in a future trip you may do the whole thing. But for now you can just walk to the spot where it ends as it’s not that far from the historical center of Faro. From the marina to the roundabout it’s an easy hike of 1,2 km.
The ending spot of the EN2 as been there since ever, so to say, but the roundabout itself was built in 2020. Before, the intersection was a regular one, with traffic lights. eters, paved with the characteristic Portuguese cobblestone. In its center, was placed the old milestone which marked the end of the road. Also, in black cobblestone, were marked the numbers 738.
Although it’s debatable whether the new roundabout improved the flow of traffic, it’s definitely nicer than the previous crossroad. It’s a circle with a diameter of 10 m
Interested? You might want to read a great article about EN 2 published in the Irish Sun on the 10th June 2020 under the title Dive N2 Portugal: Explore a great European alternative to Route 66.
