Gibraltar – Pyrenees – Lake Constance – Balaton – Rila – Kreta - Cyprus

With 10.450 km (11.773 km including all detours and alternatives) the E4 is by far the longest European trail, although there is a substantial gap in construction in Romania/Bulgaria. The alternative through Serbia is ready waymarked. Starting off in the southern tip of Spain in Tarifa, it leads northeast, across the Pyrenees through France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia (alternative Romania under construction), Bulgaria and Greece. The Peloponnes part (260 km) has been renovated in 2012 and 2013. Several ferry rides lead across to the island of Crete and finally Cyprus.

After leaving Switzerland, the route offers a choice between the alpine route, for experienced mountain hikers only, and a less demanding subalpine alternative. They converge again before leaving Austria.

Spain (2.034 km)

• First village is Ceuta, enclave in Morocco
• Boat Ceuta - Tarifa
• GR7 Andorra - Tarifa, Ceuta / Tarifa - La Mussara, 1804 km
• Andalucía-Norte alternative, Villanieva del Cauche - La Puebla de Don Fadrique, 356 km
• GR172 Bellprat - Montserrat - La Mussara, Bellprat - Monastir de Montserrat, 50 km
• GR4 Puigcerdà - Montserrat, Monastir de Montserrat - Puigcerdà, 163 km
• Last village is Puigcerdà (border with France)

Books:

• MOLINA ABRIL, Antonio: GR 7. Senda granadina. Tramo Valle de Lecrín: Nigüelas-Albuñuelas, Ed. Proyecto Sur de Ediciones, 1998. ISBN: 84-8254-059-9, 112 págs.
• VVAA.:GR 7. Senda granadina. Tramo Almijara-Sierra Tejeda. Ed. Proyecto Sur de Ediciones SL, 1999
• CRUZ, Mariano, et AL: GR 7. Senda granadina. Tramo alpujarreño: Laroles- Lanjarón. Ed. Proyecto Sur de ediciones S.L, 1999. ISBN: 84-8254-930-8, 204 págs
• MOLINA SANCHEZ, David y SÁNCHEZ SÁNCHEZ, Antonio Joaquín: GR 7 ( E-4) Andalucía. Sendero Andaluz. Provincia de Cádiz. Ed. Federación Andaluza de Montañismo, Córdoba 2006
• VVAA.: GR 7 Provincia de Córdoba: Sierras Subbética. Ed. Federación Andaluza de Montañismo y Diputación Provincial de Córdoba, 72 págs
• VVAA: GR 7. Caminos del Campo de San Juan. Ed. Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo- Natursport, Murcia 2000
• TARRAGA, José et AL: GR 7 Murcia. Ed. Naturesport, 2009
• CUELLAR, E. : GR 7 (E-4). Fredes - Pinoso. Ed. Iniciativas Rurales Valenciana, Valencia 2002, 300 págs.
• Senders de Catalunya: GR 4, GR 5, GR 176, GR 179 and GR 241. Ed. Muntanya, S.L: Barcelona 2008
• AGUADE, Enric y EMBODAS, Jordi: GR 7, GR 171, GR 172, GR 174. Ed. FEEC, Barcelona 1998.ISBN: 84-920595-5-1

France (1.337 km)

• First village is Bourg Madame (border with Spain)
• GR36, Bourg Madame - Motagne Noire
• GR7, GR71, GR72, GR68 - Tour du Mont Lozère, Montagne Noire - Villefort
• GR44, GR4, GR42, GR429, Villefort - Vallée du Rhone
• GR9, BL Balcon du Léman, Vallée du Rhone - Saint-Cerque
• Last village is La Cure (border with Switzerland)

Books:

• Topoguides from FFRP

Switzerland (425 km)

• First village is Saint-Cerque (border with France)
• Jura Höhenweg, Saint-Cerque - Dielsdorf, 239 km
• Own track, Dielsdorf - Eglisau
• Via Rhenana, Joint track with E5 on south border of Bodensee, Eglisau - Kreuzlingen, 176 km
• Own track, Kreuzlingen - Rheineck
• Last village is Rheineck (border with Austria)

Books:

• Many books about Jura Höhenweg

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Main Way, Northern Branch

This alternative traverses the Northern Limestone Alps in Germany and the Pre-Alpes in Austria.

Austria (35 km)

• First village is Rheineck (border with Switzerland)
• Bodensee Rundweg, Rheineck - Bregenz
• Bregenz – Lingenau, bus
• Maximiliansweg, Lingenau - Hittisau / Hölfele Alm
• Last village is Hittisau / Hölfele Alm (border with Germany)

Germany (472 km)

• First village is Staufner Haus am Hochgrat (border with Austria)
• Maximiliansweg, Staufner Haus – Bad Reichenhall
• Last village is Bad Reichenhall / Bayerisch Gmain (border with Austria)

Austria  (729 km)

• First village is Großgmain (border with Germany)
• Voralpenweg, Weitwanderweg 04, Großgmain – Gersten
• Variant Wienerwald North, Gersten - Vienna / Kahlenberg
• Variant Wienerwald South, Gersten - Vienna / Kahlenberg
• Ostösterreichischer Grenzlandweg, Weitwanderweg 07, Vienna / Kahlenberg - Frauenkirchen - Mattersburg (Marzerkogel), 173 km
  Continue with Main Way

Publication:

• Voralpiner Weitwanderweg 04, Wienerwald – Salzkammergut – Berchtesgaden – Bodensee. Überarbeitete Auflage 2011, 158 Seiten, Eigenverlag der OeAV-Sektion Weitwanderer. Erhältlich über die Sektionsadresse sowie bei Freytag & Berndt, www.freytagberndt.at

• Ostösterreichischer Grenzland-weg 07, Eigenverlag der OeAV-Sektion Weitwanderer, 2011, 131 Seiten, erhältlich über die Sektionsadresse und bei Freytag & Berndt, www.freytagberndt.at.

Maps, 1:50.000, Freytag & Berndt:

• WK 364 Bregenzerwald – Rheintal
• WK 104 Chiemgauer Alpen – Lofer – Leogang – Steinberge
• WK 391 Mattsee – Wallersee – Irrsee – Fuschl – Mondsee – Oberndorf
• WK 282 Attersee – Traunsee – Höllengebirge – Mondsee – Wolfgangsee
• WK 081 Pyhrn – Priel – Eisenwurzen – Grünau im Almtal – Steyrtal – Nationalpark Kalkalpen
• WK 051 Eisenwurzen – Steyr – Waidhofen an der Ybbs – Hochkar
• WK 031 Ötscherland – Mariazell – Erlauftal – Lunzer See – Scheibbs
• WK 012 Hohe Wand – Schneebergland – Gutensteiner Alpen – Piestingtal – Lilienfeld
• WK 013 Nationalpark Donauauen – Lobau – Hainburg – Marchegg – Gänserndorf
• WK 271 Neusiedler See – Leithagebirge – Rust – Seewinkel Nationalpark
• WK 023 Forchtenstein – Rosaliengebirge – Thermenregion – Bucklige Welt – Wiener Neustadt

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Alpine Way, Southern Branch

This alternative traverses the entire Northern Limestone Alps in Austria and does not enter Germany.

Austria (1.030 km)

• First village is Dornbirn / Bregenz (border with Switzerland)
• Nordalpenweg, Weitwanderweg 01, Bregenz - Kufstein - Spital - Mattersburg (Marzerkogel), 1.030 km
• Continue with Main Way

Publication:

• Publications for the E4 alpin: »Nordalpiner Weitwanderweg 01«, Verlag Styria, 192 Seiten, ISBN 3-222-11798-5.

Maps, 1:50.000, Freytag & Berndt:

• WK 364 Bregenzerwald – Rheinthal
• WK 351 Lechtaler Alpen – Allgäuer Alpen
• 352 Ehrwald – Leermoos – Reutte – Tannheimer Tal
• 322 Wetterstein – Karwendel – Seefeld – Leutasch – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• 321 Achensee – Rofan – Unterinntal
• 301 Kufstein – Kaisergebirge – Kitzbühel
• 104 Chiemgauer Alpen – Lofer – Leogang – Steinberge
• 103 Pongau – Hochkönig – Saalfelden
• 392 Tennengebirge – Lammertal – Osterhorngruppe
• 281 Dachstein – Ausseer Land – Filzmoos – Ramsau
• 081 Phyrn – Priel Eisenwurzen – Grünau – Steyrtal – Nationalpark Kalkalpen
• 063 Gesäuse – Ennstaler Alpen – Schoberpass
• 041 Hochschwab – Veitschalpe – Eisenerz – Bruck an der Mur
• 022 Semmering – Rax – Schneeberg – Schneealpe
• 023 Forchtenstein – Rosaliengebirge – Thermenregion – Bucklige Welt

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Main Way

The Northern Branch and Southern Branch (Alpine Way) join in Mattersburg (Marzerkogel) and continue south to Rattersdorf.

Austria (60 km)

• Start in Mattersburg (Marzerkogel)
• Mattersburg (Marzerkogel) - Rattersdorf, 60 km
• Last village is Rattersdorf (border with Hungary)

Hungary (1.388 km)

• First village is Köszeg (border with Austria)
• National Blue Trail, Irottkoe Mountain, Köszeg - Sátoraljaújhely, 1.063 km
• Great Plain Blue Trail, Sátoraljaújhely – Nagykereki, 260 km
• Own track, Nagykereki – Ártánd, 6 km
• Last village in Hungary is Ártánd (border with Romania)

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Eastern branch

Romania

• There were rumours that the first 150 km had been marked. However, as of 2013, this is not correct. We will have to wait, and hope this project will get started soon.

Bulgaria

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Western branch

Hungary

• Continuing from Great Plain Blue Trail, Sátoraljaújhely – Nagykereki
• Great Plain Blue Trail / E7, Nagykereki - Mindszent
• E4 / E7 combined, Mindszent - Szeged
• Last village in Hungary is Szeged / Iala (border with Serbia)

Serbia (1.240 km, 1.482 including detours)

• First village is Krstur (border with Hungary)
• Iala (Hungary)/Krstur (Serbia) - Kanjiža – Senta - Kikinda– Arača – Novi Bečej – Melenci – Elemir - Zrenjanin- Carska bara – Kovačica - Farkaždin – Idvor – - Uzdin - Vladimirovac – Alibunar - Deliblatska peščara(devojački bunar) – Dolovo - Pančevo – Beograd – Kumodraž – Avala – Zuce – Leštane – Vinča – Ritopek – Brestovik –Smederevo Šalinac – Lipe – Radinac – Mihajlovac – Osipaonica – Požarevac Viminacijum (Kostolac) – Drmno - Ram – Zatonje – Veliko Gradište – Vinci – Usije – Golubac fortress – Kučevo – Ravništarka Brnjica – Dobra (Koznica) – Šomrda – Lepenski vir – Boljetinska reka (deviation: Požarevac – Toponica – Veliko selo – Crljenac – Vitovnica – Melnica – Ravništarka)- Štubej – Vukan – Gornjak – Krupajsko springhead – Beljanica – Žagubica – Milatovac – Selište – Kupinova glava – Jasikovo - Debeli lug – Majdanpek – Oman (loop: Boljetinska river – Lepenski vir – Pesača – Sokolovac – Kurmatura –Boljetin) – Liškovac – Mosna – Miroč – Veliki Štrbac – Golo brdo (Tabulum Traiani) – Kladovo -Brza Palanka - Vratna – Štubik –Plavna - Šarkamen – Negotin – Rajačke pimnice – Brusnik – Salaš - Sikole – Luka – Bor – Brestovačka spa – Zlot – Malinik – Boljevac – Mali Izvor – Rtanj (settlement) (deviation: Zlot – Šarbanovac Borski – Gamzigradska spa – Gamzigrad Rtanj settlment) - Šarbanovac Sokobanjski – Sokobanja - Devica – Beli potok – Tresibaba – Mučibaba – Kalna – Balta Berilovac – Crni vrh – Babun zub - Topli Do (Mrtvački most) - Zavojsko jezero – Basarski kamen – Visočka Ržana – Slavinja – Smilovci - Bačevo – Gradina - Kalotina (Bulgaria)
• Last village is Gradina , border with Bulgaria

The Serbian Mountain Organisation, Planinarski Savez Srbije, currently has information and maps available, but the trail is only partly finished (as of 2013). You will be one of the first.

Maps Serbia:

• Stari Begej – Carska Bara, 1:25.000, Geokarta, Belgrade, 2005
• Beograd, Turistička karta područja, 1:100.000, Geokarta, Belgrade, 2008.
• Stara planina, Nature Park, Mountain Touristic Map, 1:50.000, Geokarta, 2006.
• Djerdap National park, 1:70.000, 2 maps, Touristic Map, JP Nacionalni park Djerdap, Donji Milanovac, 2005.
• Avala, Mountain Touristic Map, 1:10.000, PSD „Avala“, belgrade, 2007.

Bulgaria (350 km starting from Sofia)

• First village is Kalotina (border with Serbia)
• Kalotina - Sofia, no trail
• Sofia (residential district “Dragalevsi”) - Vitosha mountain, Verila, Rila, Pirin, Slavyanka, Gotsev (mountain)
• Last village is Slavyanka near the state border to Greece.

Greece (1.832 km)

• First village is Kulata (border with Bulgaria)
• Kulata - Promochon - Florina, 308 km
• Florina - Litohoro - Kalambaka, 400 km
• Kalambaka - Karpenisse - Delphi - Itea, 480 km
• Egio - Tripoli - Sparta - Githeon, 324 km
• Boat to Crete
• Crete: Kastella - Zakros, 320 km
• Boat to CypruGuidebook in German: Griechenland: Trans- Kreta E 4. Outdoorhandbuch by Dagmar Wahlen and Rainer Lencer (Conrad Stein).

Guidebook:

• In German: Griechenland: Trans- Kreta E 4. Outdoorhandbuch by Dagmar Wahlen and Rainer Lencer (Conrad Stein).

Maps:

• 1:50,000 maps for sections over Olympos (Dion-Livadi), from Meteora to Karava and from Pitimaliko to Delphi published by Greek National Tourism Organisation
• 1:50,000 maps for section from Diakopto to Daras published by Greek National Tourism Organisation

Cyprus (539 km)

• Boat from Crete
• Pafos - Lanaka, 539 km

Books:

• Local E4 brochure