How long is the butterfly route in Porto?

The butterfly covers 8.6 km with 77 m of ascent and 77 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 56 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 1.6 km east to west and 1.5 km north to south across Porto.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 41.17591, -8.6628 — roughly 3.5 km north-west of the centre of Porto. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

Portugal › Porto › GPS art route

Butterfly GPS Art Running Route in Porto — 8.6 km

A 8.6 km loop through Porto that draws a butterfly when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 77 m in total, and covers a footprint about 1.6 km wide by 1.5 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance8.6 km

Elevation gain77 m

Elevation loss77 m

Estimated time56 min

DifficultyModerate

Average gradient0.9%

Route map

Start point: 41.17591, -8.6628 — about 3.5 km north-west of the centre of Porto. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Elevation profile

Measured from the elevation data in the GPX file: 77 m of ascent and 77 m of descent across 8.6 km, an average gradient of 0.9%.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs south-east	0 m	65–69 m
km 2	Runs east	+2 m	67–70 m
km 3	Runs south-south-east	-1 m	68–72 m
km 4	Runs south-east	-7 m	61–71 m
km 5	Runs south-west	-4 m	58–68 m
km 6	Runs west-north-west	-13 m	45–58 m
km 7	Runs north-west	+7 m	44–54 m
km 8	Runs north-north-east	+2 m	51–58 m
km 8.6	Runs north-north-east	+14 m	54–68 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.06 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
0.19 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
0.84 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
1.04 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.
1.23 km — turn sharp right, then continue south-south-west.
1.39 km — turn left, then continue south-south-east.
1.53 km — turn right, then continue south.
1.66 km — turn left, then continue north.
1.79 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
1.91 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
2.07 km — turn sharp left, then continue south-south-west.
2.33 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.
2.46 km — turn left, then continue south-west.
2.59 km — turn sharp left, then continue west-north-west.
2.73 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
2.95 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
3.07 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
3.20 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
3.33 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
3.49 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
3.65 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
3.81 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
4.11 km — turn right, then continue west.
4.23 km — turn right, then continue west-south-west.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 8.6 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

Surface: Wooden ocean walkways, paved riverfront routes, and steep stone streets inland.

Safety: Avoid slick cobblestones after rain; choose riverside asphalt for speed sessions.

Best months: May to July and September for the best balance of wind, temperature, and daylight.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the butterfly appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in Porto

All 14 GPS art routes in Porto

Questions about this route

How long is the butterfly route in Porto?: The butterfly covers 8.6 km with 77 m of ascent and 77 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 56 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 1.6 km east to west and 1.5 km north to south across Porto.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 41.17591, -8.6628 — roughly 3.5 km north-west of the centre of Porto. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.