The Portuguese Camino - your 2026 guide
The Portuguese Camino is one of the spiritual routes to Santiago de Compostela. It is the second most popular Camino de Santiago route after the Camino Frances. According to the Pilgrim's Reception Office in 2025 more than 34% of all pilgrims who arrived in Santiago de Compostela walked it. Every year more and more people choose the Portuguese Camino. It's my favorite Camino route.
You can find a complete list of our posts dedicated to the Portuguese Camino on our Portuguese Camino de Santiago resource page.
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Portuguese Camino planning tool
You can use our free Portuguese Camino planning tool to get a customized itinerary with recommended places to stay.
The Portuguese Camino - downloadable PDF files
To make your Portuguese Camino planning easier we created free downloadable PDF files. Two files for each route; one contains walking stages and one places to stay along the route including public albergues with contact details and booking information.
Central Route
- Central Route Portuguese Camino - walking stages PDF
- Central Route Portuguese Camino places to stay PDF
Coastal Route
- Coastal Route Portuguese Camino - walking stages PDF
- Coastal Route Portuguese Camino - places to stay PDF
Litoral Way
- Litoral Way Portuguese Camino - walking stages PDF
- Litoral Way Portuguese Camino - places to stay PDF
Portuguese Camino overview
- Distance - from Lisbon: between 613 km/381 mi and 650 km/403 mi depending on the route from Porto. From Porto: 243.5 km/151 mi - Central Route; 274 km/170 mi - Coastal Route; 280 km/173 mi - Litoral Way. From Tui - 117 km/72.7 mi.
- Number of days – 25-30 days from Lisbon; 12-15 days from Porto; 5-7 days from Tui.
- Starting points - the Church of Santiago in Lisbon; Sé Cathedral in Porto; Cathedral de Santa Maria in Tui (for the last 100 km to Santiago).
- Finishing point - Obradoiro Square in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Walking surface - asphalt, cobblestone, footpath, gravel road, boardwalks (on the coastal routes).
- Average cost - 35-55 Euro per person per day
- Accommodation - public and private Albergues, hostels, hotels, guesthouses, and campsites.
- Route marking - yellow shells and arrows, metal shells and arrows on the ground, stone distance poles.
Travel insurance for the Camino
Walking like any other outdoor activity involves a risk of getting an injury or losing some of the gear. Camino travel insurance can offer you coverage. The Portuguese Camino de Santiago is not a high-altitude wild hike through remote areas but it's still a physically challenging experience that involves a long walking distance with a heavy backpack. It's not rare for pilgrims to get injuries from small blister problems to knee or shin splint issues. It makes the walk less stressful when you know you're covered in case of any unpredictable emergencies.
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Where does the Portuguese Camino start?
The Portuguese Camino like other Camino de Santiago routes has several starting points. In fact one can start walking from any place on the route. The most popular starting points are Lisbon (the actual start of the Portuguese Camino), Porto (where most pilgrims start), and Tui (the last 100 km to Santiago).
In Lisbon the Camino starts at the Church of Santiago, a small church 400 m away from Se Cathedral. Many people think the route starts at the Cathedral but it doesn't. The church is closed most of the time. If you need a pilgrim's passport (Credential) you can buy it at Se Cathedral in Lisbon (from the church the Camino goes to the Cathedral).
In Porto the Portuguese Camino (all 3 routes) start at the Se Cathedral in the historical center.
In Tui (Spain) the route starts at Cathedral de Santa Maria de Tui. The reason many people start walking the last 100 km from Tui is to get the Compostela, a pilgrimage certificate. It's granted only to pilgrims who have walked at least the last 100 km to Santiago de Compostela on any Camino route.
Vigo is another starting point to walk the last 100 km on the Coastal/Litoral route of the Portuguese Camino. You can start the walk at the Church of Santa Maria de Vigo in the historical center.
How long is the route?
The distance of the Camino Portugues depends on where you start walking. As you can see in the above section there are several starting points.
If you start the Portuguese Camino in Lisbon your total distance will be between 613 km/381 mi and 650 km/403 mi depending on the route from Porto. It takes 25-30 days to complete it.
If you start in Porto and walk the Central Route it's 243.5 km/151 mi. It takes on average 10 to 12 days to complete.
The Coastal Route from Porto is 274 km/170 mi. It takes 12 to 14 days to complete.
The Litoral Way from Porto is 280 km/173 mi. It takes 12 to 14 days.
The combination of the Litoral and Central routes from Porto is 262 km/163 mi. It takes 12-14 days.
The Portuguese Camino from Tui is 119 km/74 mi. It takes 5 to 7 days to complete on average.
How difficult is the walk?
The Portuguese Camino is a challenging multi-day walk. It requires preparation and training especially if you're not an experienced hiker and have never done a long-distance walk. You walk 20-25 km a day on average with a backpack for weeks. You can imagine that by the end of the Camino, you'll be quite tired. You can always take rest days and stay in one of the beautiful towns on the Portuguese Camino.
The difficulty level depends on the chosen route and starting point. If you start in Lisbon and walk to Santiago de Compostela it's a demanding walk, especially the part from Lisbon to Porto. The distances between towns are greater and there are fewer places to stop in between.
If you walk the Central Route from Porto you can expect steep ascents and descents. Some people might find it challenging. The route is well-marked and has good infrastructure for pilgrims. There are plenty of places to stay along the route so you can walk shorter distances.
The Coastal Route from Porto is well-marked and has fewer hills than the Central Route but it's a bit longer. During winter months it gets very windy, cold, and wet. It's not the best route to walk outside the spring/summer months.
The Litoral Way is my favorite route of the Portuguese Camino. Most of the time it goes next to the sea. It has no hills, the distance is the same as on the Coastal Route. The lack of route marking is the main challenging part of it. You'll need some sort of navigation to stay on the track.
If you decide to take the Spiritual Variant (the optional route of the Portuguese Camino from Pontevedra to Pontecesures/Padrón) be prepared for a challenge as the route has a very steep ascent and descent.
Camino with a company
We often get questions from our readers about using a company to plan their Camino walk. We have never done it so I can't recommend it from my personal experience.
It's easier to plan the Camino through a company because they do all the booking and planning for you. The main drawbacks (in my opinion) are that it's more expensive and it doesn't give you much flexibility as your accommodation and luggage delivery are booked in advance.
Download the Camino Portuguese Walking Routes map
Different routes of the Portuguese Camino
The Portuguese Camino de Santiago has different routes. You can combine the routes from Porto in one walk.
The Lisbon to Porto part has only one route. The Porto to Santiago part has three routes: Central, Coastal, and Litoral. The last two are similar they merge and split every day.
The Central Route is a 243.5 km/151 mi inland route from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. There are several interesting historical towns along the way. The scenery is countryside, forest, and fields.
The Coastal Route is a 274 km/170 mi partially coastal partially inland route from Porto to Santiago. It goes close to the coast till Vigo. From there is goes inland to Redondela where it merges with the Central Route. If you are choosing between the two above routes read my post where I compare the Central and Coastal Route. As an option you can combine the Coastal and Central routes in one walk.
The Litoral Way (Senda Litoral) is a 280 km/173 mi coastal route. From Porto, it goes along the Douro River and the Atlantic Coast. The main difference of the Litoral Way compared to the Coastal Route is that the first is 80% next to the sea. Like the Coastal Route, it merges with the Central Route in Redondela.
There are two connecting routes that you can use to switch from the Coastal/Litoral Way to the Central Route. First is from Vila do Conde to Rates (after the first stage) and second from Caminha to Valença/Tui.
The Spiritual Variant (Variante Espiritual) is an optional route from Pontevedra to Padron (Pontecesures). It includes 2 walking days and 1 day on the boat. It's a scenic and quite challenging route due to a steep ascent on the first day and a long descent on the second day.
The best time for walking
September and May are the most popular months for the Portuguese Camino. Good weather for walking is one of the reasons. It's warm and sunny but not too hot. It's not the peak holiday season so flights and hotels are usually cheaper. Expect to see a lot of pilgrims on the route. It's better to book accommodation and luggage transfer in advance.
If you want to have good weather and fewer people, the end of April and the first half of October are the best months to walk the Camino.
June is the beginning of the summer season; the weather is good and there are fewer people on the route compared to May and September.
July and August are the hottest months and the peak holiday season. Finding private accommodation on the coastal routes might be difficult without booking in advance and prices are a higher.
Winter months are not the best for walking in Northern Portugal and Spain it gets cold, rainy, and windy, and some albergues are closed.
What is the accommodation like?
Albergue is a special hostel for pilgrims with dormitories and shared facilities don’t expect any luxury.
There are two types of albergues on the Camino; municipal (public) and private albergues.
Municipal albergues are cheaper (10-12 euros pp.), they can’t be booked in advance, and most of them don't accept luggage delivery. One requires a Credential (a pilgrim's passport) to stay there. Usually can be paid only cash.
Private albergues are more expensive (around 20 euros pp.). They have better facilities, can be booked in advance online or over the phone, and accept luggage delivery. Usually accept cards and cash.
Most Albergues (private and public) have dormitories with bunk beds, shared bathrooms/toilets, and a kitchen, some have washing machines. Most (if not all) private albergues and some public have wi-fi.
For more details on accommodation on the Camino, the pros and cons of staying at albergues, tips, etc. check our detailed post Albergues on the Camino de Santiago.
The best guidebook
For us, Camino de Santiago guidebooks by John Brierley are the best. We used his Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino Portugués Lisbon – Porto – Santiago: including Camino Central, Variente Espiritual, Camino da Costa, & Senda Litoral on the Portuguese Camino.
Want to read a fun, entertaining book about the Camino? Some fun and informative novels take place on The Way. Campbell read a few of the most famous books written about the Camino. See our reviews of a couple of the Top Novels on the Camino de Santiago.
Best Camino apps
We don't use apps for walking the Camino but I know many people do. So we've tried different apps for the Portuguese Camino to see how they work. I used for a couple of days Wise Pilgrim and Buen Camino on the different stages and routes of the Portuguese Camino. I used Camino Ninja (I know many pilgrims like it) when I walked the Litoral Way and it was quite accurate most of the time.
Overall my experience with Camino apps was good. I didn't need apps for walking the Central and Coastal Routes as they are well-marked. For the Litoral Way I used it for a couple of stages. I didn't like walking attached to my phone so unless you walk a not-well-marked route I don't think having an app is crucial.
Luggage transfer on the Camino
If you want to make your walk easier or have some back issues and can’t carry a heavy bag every day you can use a backpack delivery service. Several companies offer this service on the Portuguese route. Pilbeo (Central Route), Tui Trans (Coastal, Central, and Spiritual Routes) and Correos (Central, Coastal, and Spiritual Route). You can use it for the entire route or some stages. One stage costs 7 Euros per backpack.
It's important to remember that public albergues on the Camino usually don't allow luggage delivery. These albergues can't be booked in advance and they won't keep a bed for you even if your backpack is delivered there. Private albergues and hotels along the route have no problem with luggage delivery.
The cost of walking the Portuguese Camino
The cost of accommodation and food in Portugal and Spain is similar. Eating out and hotels are a bit cheaper in Portugal than in Spain.
If you stay in public albergues and buy food in supermarkets your average Camino cost will be around 25 Euros per person per day. If you stay in private albergues and eat in a restaurant at least once a day, go out for a beer, or stop a couple of times for coffee be ready to spend daily 35-40 Euros per person. If you stay in hotels, eat out twice a day, and use luggage transfer service be ready to spend 55+ euros per person per day. You can find a detailed breakdown with prices in our Portuguese Camino cost post.
Prices in Portugal
- Accommodation - municipal albergues - 10-12 Euro per person, private albergues - 20 Euro pp. Hotels from 30 Euros pp. (if sharing a budget double room), from 45 euros for a single budget room.
- Eating out - Menu do Dia, a set lunch that includes a starter, main dish with sides, drink and coffee or dessert - from 12 Euro pp.
- Food shopping - 10 Euro pp per day
- A cup of coffee (Americano) - 1.5-3 euros
- A beer in a bar - 2 Euro.
- Laundry - washing 4 Euro per load.
- Backpack delivery service (optional) - 7 euros per backpack per stage.
Prices in Spain
- Accommodation - municipal albergues - 10 euros per person, private albergues - 20-25 euros pp. Hotels from 35 Euro pp. (if sharing a double budget room), from 50 euros for a budget single room.
- Eating out - Menu del Dia; starter, main dish, drink (usually house wine), coffee or dessert - from 12 euros.
- Food shopping - 10 euros pp per day
- A cup of coffee (Americano) - 1.5-3.5 euros
- A beer in a bar - 2-3 euros
- Laundry - washing - 4 euros per load
- Backpack delivery service (optional) - 7 euros per stage
Food on the Camino is a part of the experience even if you're on a tight budget I'd suggest going out sometimes to try traditional Spanish and Portuguese dishes.
What to pack for the Camino?
Make sure not to pack too much and bring only the necessary stuff. We've met many people who had to reconsider their backpack content after the first day on the Camino. You don't need much and you always can buy anything you need way there are shops, supermarkets, and pharmacies along the way.
What you will need for the Camino are a pair of good walking shoes and a comfortable backpack. These two items will make a big difference to your walk.
If you're planning on using a luggage delivery service then it doesn't matter you can pack as much as you want.
We have a detailed Portuguese Camino packing list post where you can find our recommendations on what to pack for the Camino for men and women for different seasons.
Portuguese Camino planning resources
- The three routes of the Portuguese Camino from Porto
- The Central Route of the Portuguese Camino
- The Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino
- The Litoral Way of the Portuguese Camino
- The last 100 km on the Portuguese Camino from Tui
- Portuguese Camino packing list
- The Spiritual Variant of the Portuguese Camino
- The Portuguese Camino from Lisbon
- Best towns on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago
Questions or Comments?
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
Hi -- I just discovered your site and have been enjoying all of the detailed information as I get ready for my first camino. I've decided to walk from Porto instead of from Lisbon (after doing a LOT of research) starting mid-September. I have six weeks in total, and am interested in your opinion on where to walk after spending two weeks doing the walk from Porto? I'm a 62yo recently retired woman, relatively fit, and feel that the Portuguese route will provide a good base level of fitness and prepare me for another month or so of walking! I'd love your opinion!
Hello Tracy. Thank you for the comment. I would suggest finishing one Camino route first to see how it goes and if you feel like walking more you can decide afterwards. I don't know many long-distance walks you have done. Walking for 2 weeks is quite challenging if you have never done such walk you might be surprised how tired you get by the end of it. If you feel like walking I would suggest doing the Camino Finisterre. It's a 4-5 day route that starts in Santiago de Compostela. In total it will give you 3 weeks of walking. Maybe just take it easy for the first time. There are plenty of interesting things to do in Spain and Portugal besides walking the Camino.
If you really want to walk more I'd suggest looking at the Fishermen's Trail https://stingynomads.com/fishermans-trail-portugal-guide/. It's not the Camino route but it's a beautiful coastal hike in the south of Portugal. October is a good time for doing it.
Buen Camino
Hello, planning on the Sarria to Compostela route and was wondering how steep the route from Portomarín to Palas de Rei? My knees are fine for flat and mild ascent/descents, but I'm reading that there is a decent elevation increase/uphill climb, thanks in advance for sharing all of your experiences with the Camino
Hello. We have a detailed post on the Camino de Santiago from Sarria https://stingynomads.com/camino-frances-sarria-santiago-walk/. There you can find a lot of information on the walk including elevation profiles and total ascents and descents for each stage.
Buen Camino
Thank you for all the extremely useful information.
My son and I are planning to do the camino the last few days of September and first weeks of October of this year ( 2023 - 14 days beginning in Porto). I'm writing to ask about any weather considerations for this late in the season. I also wonder about switching from the coastal route to the central route at Caminha. Is this a wise move?
Hello Steve. Thank you for the comment. End of September is a good time for walking the Portuguese Camino. We're going to walk the last part from Tui around that time. Maybe see you on the Camino. You might get some rain in Galicia but overall the weather should be good.
In my opinion, switching to the Central Route in Caminha is a great option. That way you get the best of both routes. You get to walk along the coast in the first half and to see historical towns and countryside in the second half of your walk. We have a detailed post on that stage https://stingynomads.com/caminha-valenca-stage-portuguese-camino/.
Buen Camino
Hello! Is it safe for a woman alone to travel this route in September? Thinking of walking the whole route from Lisbon to Santiago!
Hello Jennifer. I've done a lot of walking in Portugal solo including some parts of the Portuguese Camino and never felt unsafe. Overall Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world so I'd say it's quite safe to walk through the countryside and small towns for a single female. The Lisbon to Porto part doesn't have as much infrastructure for pilgrims as the Porto to Santiago part. There are a lot fewer pilgrims on the route as well. It might be a bit challenging to walk as the first Camino route. Most pilgrims start walking from Porto that part of the Portuguese Camino has better infrastructure for pilgrims.
Buen Camino
Hello, I have just come across your website, it's great. Myself and my wife are thinking of riding the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon in April/May 2025. Do you know what the weather is like in Apr/May and should we book our accommodation? Is there a coastal route from Lisbon?
We rode the Northern route in July 2018 and loved it...
Thank you,
Julian
Hello Julian. Thank you for the comment. The weather should be warm and sunny at least in the part between Lisbon and Porto. You might get occasional rains as well. I don't think you it's necessary to book accommodation on the Lisbon to Porto part because you'll be doing it in April and not many people cycle or walk that part of the Portuguese Camino. On the contrary for the section from Porto to Santiago I'd suggest booking accommodation in advance because it's a popular part of the Portuguese route and May is one of the busiest months on the Camino.
There is no coastal route from Lisbon only from Porto.
Cheers
Thank you for all the information. I walked the costal 6 years ago with my daughter and her husband. We are going to walk the central in September and my daughter asked if there is any way we can avoid the hill, which she found harsh on her knees, on the way into Santiago. Many thanks.
Catriona
Hello Catriona. Thank you for the comment. Unfortunately, there is only one route on the Portuguese Camino to Santiago. To be honest pretty every Camino route we walked has a steep ascent at the end just before Santiago de Compostela because the city sits at around 300 m above sea level. The Central Route of the Portuguese Camino has more ascents then the Coastal Route there are no very steep hills but you do go up and down sometimes.
Buen Camino
Hello and thank you for all your work and the brilliant descriptions. This really helps me, deciding on the best options for my Camino Portuguese in September.
I was especially interested in the differences between the „river route“ and the aquäduct-route from Vila do Conde to Rates - so thanks allot for walking and describing both 🙂
In your blog you write, that the Camino is quite crowded this year (was like that on the Frances last year!), so I want to make reservations at some of the places.
Do you think it is possible, to just walk in to the municipal albergue in Rates? They don’t accept reservations and I am always a bit anxious. I thought, maybe there are not so many people crossing over from the coastal route, but I might be wrong…
Regards, Petra
Hello Petra. Thank you for the comment. Based on what I saw in May this year many pilgrims who walk the Central Route don't stay in Rates because it's an overnight stop in the suggested itineraries for the Portuguese Camino. Even some of those who walk from Vila do Conde keep walking on because it's a very short day. I don't think getting a bed in a municipal albergue will be a problem.
Buen Camino
Thank you Stingy nomads for all your tips on this Portuguese Way. I have a question - as i have a issue with pain in my knee and hip, how easy is it to hail a taxi along the way (i'll be attempting the route from Vigo through Pontevedra, onto Padron and then Santiago) if my joints decide to give way?
Hello Wai. Thank you for the comment. Overall there are taxi services along the Portuguese Camino that canter for pilgrims. The last 100 km of the route are quite popular I don't think finding a taxi will be a problem. You can always ask at the place where you stay if they don't have a contact for a taxi. Uber works quite good in Portugal and Spain. As an option you can install the app and use it when you need a taxi. It's usually cheaper and easier to arrange you don't have to phone and try to explain where you are which might be difficult if you don't speak Spanish.
Buen Camino
@Wai, I finished the route two days ago. There were 2 times I took a taxi. There are some places where it is easy to get a taxi. Other places, you are walking through an area that cars cannot access. So, if you can get yourself to the next bar/cafe, they can probably call a taxi for you. If you think you might have problems mid-walk, it would be good to look at the route ahead of time, so that you can decide if you want to stop before the walks through the woods.
Love your info!
Hello Rosemary. Thank you for the comment.
Buen Camino
Hi
I am planning to do 7-8 days in the Portuguese Camino from Porto with some friends in 2024. My plan is to walk 7-8 days and travel by bus or train twice:
1. Barcelo to Valença
2. Porriño to Pontevedra
I am looking for luggage transportation companies. Any recommendation will be appreciated
Hello Liz. Thank you for the comment. I just want to worn you that if you want to get a Compostela Certificate for completing the Camino you have to walk at least the last 100 km to Santiago. For the Portuguese Camino it's from Valença/Tui. If you take a bus from Porriño to Pontevedra you are not eligible for getting it. If you are not to worried about getting the Compostela then it's all find to take buses.
There are a couple of companies that do luggage delivery on the Portuguese Camino. You can find them here https://stingynomads.com/camino-portugues-stages/#Luggage_delivery_service_on_the_Camino_Portuguese.
Buen Camino
Thank you for the great information. My daughter and I are walking the Portuguese route at the end of this month (June). I decided to try and make reservations last week and found many of the private albergues you mention are already booked. We are slow walkers and I am a bit concerned the public hostels will be full by the time we arrive, so I went ahead and made reservations at private hotels/B&Bs. Was this a wise decision?
Also, we plan to take your suggestion and start out on the coastal route and turn inland at Vila do Conde to meet the central route. The Pilgrim's guide suggests it can be confusing to find where the trails meet up. Is this true? Your discussion makes it seem straight forward.
A last question, is it fairly easy to find water and bathrooms along the way? I don't hear too many people mention the last point.
Looking forward to seeing other Pilgrims along the path.
Thank you!
Hello Ted. Thank you for the comment. I'd say it's a wise decision to book places in advance and don't count on public albergues. This year the Camino is very busy. We just came back from the Portuguese route and we did see many pilgrims. You get much better rest staying in private anyway. We got several comments from people in May saying that everything was full and booked out. Knowing that you have a place to stay makes your walk more enjoyable you don't have to worry about finding accommodation, getting up very early and chasing for a bed.
I just walked the route from Vila do Conde to Rates two days ago. There are two routes one is called the River route and one is the Aqueduct route. I'll published a detailed post with maps on both routes this week as well as a YouTube video. Please, check our blog next week I'm quite sure the post will be up.
As for finding bathrooms and places to refill water it's not a problem. The Portuguese Camino from Porto goes through towns and villages pretty much all the time. In some places you an find water fountains. If you run out of water and are very thirsty you always can ask locals to refill your bottle. People are usually very helpful towards pilgrims.
You'll definitely meet pilgrims along the Camino route.
Buen Camino
Hello Friends and thank you for your work of sharing the Camino experience and preparation. I have benefitted trendously by your work. And, I am sure many of us have.
I will begin the pilgrimage in Lisbon on June 13. I've been told that the first stage route out of Lisbon was being changed so that one can walk along the river on a boardwalk and will therefore not pass through Alpriate and that the Alpriate albergue is closed. Has this new route along the Tagus been completed and is it in use?
Thank you.
John Bailes
Hello John. Thank you for the comment. We haven't been recently on that part of the Portuguese Camino so unfortunately, I can't comment on this from our experience. Usually if the official route has been changed they change the route marking as well so people don't get lost. I just checked on the FB page of the albergue in Alpriate and it does say it's permanently closed.
Buen Camino
Best time of year to do the Portuguese route starting at Porto?
Hello Emily. Thank you for the comment. In our experience May and September is the best time to walk the Portuguese Camino from Porto.
Buen Camino
Hey,
Love this site !!
I am planning to walk the Portuguese Camino from the 4th of Sept from Porto and I see you say that it is one of the most popular time of years to do this.
When I walked the Camino del Norte 10 years ago in July , because of the amount of people on the route (mainly students on their summer holidays) , it almost turned into a race each day to get to the MA.
Could it be as bad on the Portuguese Camino in early Sept ? I was hoping it wouldn't be the same.
Regards,
Brian
Hello Brian. Thank you for the comment. September is a popular time to walk the Portuguese Camino so there might be many pilgrims on the route. Luckily there are more albergues on the Portuguese Camino than on the Camino del Norte I think you won't have to race but it might be better to book accommodation in advance in small places with limited options. The Portuguese Camino has two routes the Central and the Coastal not everybody walks the same route which makes it less crowded.
Buen Camino
Hello The Stingy Nomads,
Just wanted to say thank you for this amazing blog. My cousin and I are walking the Camino from Porto to Santiago next week and your blog has been invaluable in helping plan the route and find places to stay! We are doing it slightly more luxuriously by having our bags transferred every day and using your suggestion of Caminofacil.
Ten years ago I did the Camino Frances and carried all my stuff, never again!!!
We arrive in Santiago on my birthday so will be going again with your suggestion of tapas bar hopping on the Rua do Franco to celebrate.
Thank you again and good luck with all your future trips.
Kind regards,
Carmel.
Hello Carmel. Thank you for the feedback. We're planning to walk the Portuguese Camino with our 2-year-old daughter later this year and might use luggage transfer as well. Have a great walk and enjoy your Birthday in Santiago.
Buen Camino
Hi, I'm planning to walk from Tui to Santiago starting on 7th May. My flight arrives in Santiago at 11am on the Sunday. The only public transport down to Tui seems to be by bus to Valenca (depart 18:00 and arriving at 18:44). Is this the only bus or is there other public transport? Alternatively do you know if there is any company that offers shared or group transfers that I could join?
Hello Dawn. I see on the ALSA website a bus from Santiago to Valença that leaves at 13.30 on the 7th. It arrives in Valença at 14.14. It might be a better option. If you arrive at 11 am in Santiago and take a taxi to the bus station I think you'll make it in time to catch a bus. Remember there is 1 hours difference between Spain and Portugal, and Portugal is 1 hour behind. The journey is 1h45min. Valença is on the other side of the bridge from Tui. It's not far to walk. There are no direct trains from Santiago to Tui or Valença.
Buen Camino
Hi ! Thank you for this amazing, explicative article ! I am going to solo backpack from Porto to Santiago first week of May and I am wondering what kind of shoes do you recommend and how big of a backpack to take with me ? I have a lot of experience hiking so I have already got so many options at home and cannot decide. I was thinking of some trail running shoes with Gore-tex and a Backpack of 50 L for 3 weeks as I want to stay longer days both in Porto and Santiago and maybe do the Finisterre Camino as well if I still have time. Also, should I expect temperature going below 10 degrees at night ?
Hello Silvia. Thank you for the comment. We walked the Portuguese Camino in trail running shoes and had some problems. The Camino route is not a trail or a footpath most of the time 90% of it goes on hard surfaces like a tare or cobblestones which are quite tough on your feet. I would recommend hiking shoes with thicker soles over trail runners. As for a backpack, 50l is way too much. All you have to carry is your clothes, water, and miscellaneous. I'd say a 35l backpack would be fine for 3 weeks.
I don't think it will go below 0C at night in May but sometimes it does get colder and rainier at the beginning of May in Northern Portugal and Spain.
Buen Camino
Thanks for your lovely website! So informative and up to date.
We are South Africans doing our first short Camino in the first half of June, starting at Porto! What sort of temperatures can we expect (we are doing coastal)?
Also, was wondering how difficult is it to bus out from the various stop-over points if we need to get back? Just in general, that is - is there a fairly active public transport network, or can one wait a day or more for transport if one is in a smaller place?
Hello Suzanna. Thank you for the comment. In June on the Portuguese Camino, you can expect daily temperatures between 20C and 25C. Early mornings and nights are cooler. You might get some fresh sea breeze on the Coastal Route. What do you mean by getting back from stop-over points? Do you mean if at some stage you decide to stop walking and get back to Porto? There are buses and trains between the towns in Portugal and Spain I'm quite confident you'll be able to get a bus from any town on the Portuguese Camino. There might not be direct buses to Porto or Santiago from smaller towns but you'll be able to get there with one switch. Overall public transport is good in both countries.
Buen Camino
@Suzanna,
we are from Namibia and want to do the Camino in September but cannot decide which route.
Did you do the Coastal one or decided on another route?
Staring in Porto.
Would love to do the Spiritual way as well but I think we are running out of time.
Maybe we can phone you and get some info.
Thanks a lot
Regards,
Bettina
Hello Bettina. I'm not sure why you're asking one of our readers to give you tips on the Camino de Santiago instead of asking us. We have walked all routes of the Portuguese Camino some parts more than once and have quite a lot more knowledge. I'm not even sure that person you're asking will see your question. You can find plenty of information on our blog about the Camino de Santiago including on the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino and on the Spiritual Variant.
Buen Camino
Hi - love the detailed advice on this site.
We want to walk for a week in May on the Coastal Route. Which stops could we skip or leave for another visit or should we just start in Tui?
Thanks
Hello Tilda. Thank you for the comment. We liked the first part of the Coastal Route from Porto to Caminha. If you want to walk next to the coast it's the best part to do and it'll take you about a week. If you want to arrive in Santiago and get your Compostela certificate then it's better if you start walking in Tui and walk the last 100 km (100 km is a required minimum for getting the Compostela certificate).
Buen Camino
Hola - do you have any suggestions of where to store luggage in Porto while I walk solo from Porto to Santiago? I plan to return to Porto after the walk to retrieve the stored bag and continue a vacation in Portugal with my partner.
Thanks for your fantastic website and the PDF resources!
Hello Patrick. I would suggest trying to arrange luggage storage with your hotel in Porto. We did so when we walked the Portuguese Camino. We stored our luggage in our hostel in Lisbon and picked it up on the way back. It might be the easiest and safest way.
Buen Camino