GR5
Description
- Name GR5 (GR5)
- Length of trail 2,600 km, 1,616 miles
- Length in days 130 days
- Start of trail Bergen op Zoom (Nl)
- End of trail Nice (F)
- Traildino grading MW, Moderate walk, backpacking trail
- Hut tour grading T1, Walk


Northsea - Riviera, three months
The GR5 is one of the most popular long distance hikes in Europe. And with reasons: the trail connects the North Sea with the Mediterranean and crosses some of the best and most varied mountain ranges of the continent. If you want, you can continue the GR5 north into Great Brittain: the E2.
Along this trail, friendships were coined and hiking clubs were born... Not surprisingly, a lot of information can be found on the world wide web.
The trail starts in the Netherlands, Bergen op Zoom. Soon the path enters Flanders and its sandy grounds and typical villages. The GR5 again enters the Netherlands, the old and interesting city of Maastricht. Next is the Ardennes region of Belgium, the romantic and forested hills with its grey houses and farms. Third country is Luxembourg. The path follows the border with Germany, along the meandering river Moselle and its castles.
In France the GR5 explores the Vosges, then the Jura, sometimes crossing the border with Switzerland, and finally, after crossing the lake of Geneva by ferry, it follows the length of the Alps. Highlight here is the Mont Blanc. But also the Vanoise, Écrins, Queyras and Mercantour. The trail ends in Nice, good place for a refreshing bath and good meal before returning home.
Many hikers made a life experience of this hike, often returning year after year to tag another section on the record. Nowadays the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostela is probably more popular, highlighting the spiritual needs people probably have.
Map
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

United Kingdom
2018
- The GR5 Trail - Benelux and Lorraine
- The North Sea to Schirmeck in the Vosges mountains Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2018
- Wandelgids The GR5 Trail Benelux and Lorraine | Cicerone
- Guidebook to walking the northern section of the GR5 - 1000km starting in Hoek van Holland and passing through the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Lorraine to Schirmeck in France. A long-distance route covering a variety of cultures and landscapes. The full GR5 from the North Sea to the Mediterranean is one of the world's greatest trails. Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
- Vuoristovaellus Chamonix'sta Nizzaan
- Kirjassa kuvataan kesalla 2014 tehtya vaellusta Chamonix'sta Nizzaan. Kyseessa on Ranskan Alppien yli kulkeva kuuluisa GR5-reitti, jolla on pituutta useita satoja kilometreja. Talla reissulla siihen kaytettiin kolmisen viikkoa. Kirjassa kuvataan matkan varrella eteen tulevia tilanteita seka reitilla tavattujen ympari maailmaa tulleiden... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Vuoristovaellus Chamonix'sta Nizzaan
- Kirjassa kuvataan kesalla 2014 tehtya vaellusta Chamonix'sta Nizzaan. Kyseessa on Ranskan Alppien yli kulkeva kuuluisa GR5-reitti, jolla on pituutta useita satoja kilometreja. Talla reissulla siihen kaytettiin kolmisen viikkoa. Kirjassa kuvataan matkan varrella eteen tulevia tilanteita seka reitilla tavattujen ympari maailmaa tulleiden... Read more

Netherlands
2021
- Wandelgids 265 Vogesen - Durchquerung: GR53 GR5 | Rother Bergverlag
- In 37 etappes over de Lange Astands Wandelingen GR 53, GR 5 en GR 531 van Wissembourg naar Giromagny en Masevaux door de prachtige Vogezen. Goed alternatief voor de langverwachte maar nog steeds niet uitgekomen Crete des Vosges wandelgids van FFRP. Duitse samenvatting: Die Vogesen sind nicht nur eines der urwüchsigsten Mittelgebirge in unseren... Read more

Netherlands
2013
- The GR5 Trail
- The final section of the GR5, also known as the Grande Traversee des Alpes, runs from the shores of Lac Leman, over the French Alps, to reach the Mediterranean coastline at Nice. The route measures 674 kilometres (420 miles) and can be covered in a month, or split over a series of summer trips. This guidebook also includes some great variant... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2013
- The GR5 Trail
- The final section of the GR5, also known as the Grande Traversee des Alpes, runs from the shores of Lac Leman, over the French Alps, to reach the Mediterranean coastline at Nice. The route measures 674 kilometres (420 miles) and can be covered in a month, or split over a series of summer trips. This guidebook also includes some great variant... Read more

Netherlands
2006
- Schwarzwald - Vogesen
- Die schönsten und spannendsten Wanderberge im Schwarzwald und in den Vogesen präsentiert dieser Führer in einer Auswahl von 50 Wandervorschlägen für jede Kondition. Vom alpinen Steig am Feldberg, der höchsten Erhebung der deutschen Mittelgebirge, spannt sich der Bogen bis zum Grand Ballon, dem höchsten Berg der Vogesen, vom Belchen als dem... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Belgium
2006
- Schwarzwald - Vogesen
- Die schönsten und spannendsten Wanderberge im Schwarzwald und in den Vogesen präsentiert dieser Führer in einer Auswahl von 50 Wandervorschlägen für jede Kondition. Vom alpinen Steig am Feldberg, der höchsten Erhebung der deutschen Mittelgebirge, spannt sich der Bogen bis zum Grand Ballon, dem höchsten Berg der Vogesen, vom Belchen als dem... Read more

Netherlands
2006
- Wandelgids Schwarzwald - Vogesen | Rother Bergverlag
- Uitstekende wandelgids van het Zwarte Woud en een deel van de Vogezen. Nauwkeurig beschreven met praktische info per tocht. De ‘Rother Wanderbücher’ behandelen telkens de 50 mooiste wandelingen, die variëren van eenvoudige kindvriendelijke wandelingen tot routes die aanzienlijk meer ervaring vereisen. Uitvoerige routebeschrijvingen, een... Read more

United Kingdom
2011
- Trekking in the Alps
- An inspirational guidebook to 20 classic treks in the Alps. As well as introducing new hiking areas in the Alps, classics such as the Tour of Mont Blanc, and Chamonix to Zermatt are included. Trekking in the Alps is immensely satisfying, and this book celebrates the rich and scenic diversity for which this great mountain range is renowned. Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2011
- Trekking in the Alps
- An inspirational guide to the delights of Alpine multi-day hikes. With 20 hikes described, including classics such as the Tour of Mont Blanc and the Tour of the Vanoise as well as new multi-day routes like the Traverse of the Slovenian Alps, this guide celebrates the rich scenic diversity for which the Alps are renowned.The eight talented... Read more

Belgium
2011
- Trekking in the Alps
- An inspirational guide to the delights of Alpine multi-day hikes. With 20 hikes described, including classics such as the Tour of Mont Blanc and the Tour of the Vanoise as well as new multi-day routes like the Traverse of the Slovenian Alps, this guide celebrates the rich scenic diversity for which the Alps are renowned.The eight talented... Read more

Netherlands
2019
- Wandelgids Trekking in the Alps | Cicerone
- An inspirational guidebook to 20 classic treks in the Alps. As well as introducing new hiking areas in the Alps, classics such as the Tour of Mont Blanc, and Chamonix to Zermatt are included. Trekking in the Alps is immensely satisfying, and this book celebrates the rich and scenic diversity for which this great mountain range is renowned. Read more

Netherlands
2009
- Wandelgids GR 5 Mer Du Nord-Mediterrannee Noordzee - Middellandse Zee deel Ardennen (Maastricht - Diekirch ) | Grote Routepaden
- LET OP: deze wandelgids van dit deel van de GR5 is alleen nog maar in het Frans leverbaar. De Nederlandstalige versie is geheel uitverkocht, niet meer te bestellen en er komt naar alle waarschijnlijkheid geen nieuwe versie in het Nederlands! Uitstekende routegids met gedetailleerde kaarten en een routebeschrijving. Fout lopen wordt op deze... Read more
Maps
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 07 Mercantour & Alpi-Maritieme | Didier Richard
- Mercantour National Park and the Maritime Alps on a large, double-sided, contoured and GPS compatible map from Editions Didier Richard highlighting local walking trails and long-distance hiking routes including the GR5. Coverage extends from well north of Col de Larch to Sospel, Levens and Roquestéron in the mountains north of the French... Read more

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 04 Vanoise - Beaufortain | Didier Richard
- Vanoise National Park and the Beaufortain Massif in the French Alps at 1:60,000 on a contoured and GPS compatible map from Didier Richard with a base derived from IGN Read more

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 02 Outdoorkarte FR Elsass, Vogesen - Alsace / Elsass - Mulhouse - Basel | Kümmerly & Frey
- The southern part of Alsace around Mulhouse and Guebwiller on a GPS compatible, double-sided map at 1:50,000 from K Read more

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 05 Outdoorkarte FR Elsass - Colmar - Sélestat - Elzas | Kümmerly & Frey
- The central part of Alsace around Colmar and Sélestat on a GPS compatible, double-sided map at 1:50,000 from Kümmerly+Frey printed on sturdy, waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic paper; contoured, with hiking and cycling routes, sites for other recreational activities, various accommodation options, restaurants and ferme-auberge locations,... Read more

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 07 Outdoorkarte FR Elsass, Vogesen - Alsace, Strasbourg Elzas - Vogezen | Kümmerly & Frey
- The central part of Alsace around Strasbourg and Saverne on a GPS compatible, double-sided map at 1:50,000 from K Read more