The 3 routes of the Portuguese Camino out of Porto
The Portuguese Camino from Porto has different routes; the Central, the Coastal Route, and the Litoral Way. All routes start at Se Cathedral in Porto. All three routes merge in Redondela, Spain, 85 km before Santiago de Compostela. It's possible to combine all three routes or choose one and walk it from the start to the end. In this post, I describe the first stage of each of the three Camino de Santiago routes from Porto.
For many pilgrims, the Portuguese Camino starts in Porto. The route is much longer because it starts in Lisbon. The Lisbon to Porto part of the Camino has very few pilgrims. You can read more about the pros and cons of starting the Portuguese Camino in Lisbon, Porto, and Tui.
For more information read my post where I compare different routes of the Portuguese Camino.
Affiliate disclosure. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Portuguese Camino planning tool
You can use our new free planning tool to get a customized itinerary with the desired daily distances and recommended places to stay for any route of the Portuguese Camino (including combined and Spiritual Variant).
How many routes does the Camino from Porto have?
There are 3 routes on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago from Porto; the Central Route, the Coastal Route, and the Litoral Way (Senda Litoral). The Litoral Way is the one that goes along the coast from Porto. The first stage of the Central and the Coastal routes is inland.
I walked out of Porto for 3 consecutive days following the 3 different routes of the Portuguese Camino. The Litoral Way is by far my favorite as it goes along the coast and offers spectacular scenery. It is one of our favorite Camino de Santiago routes.
The Coastal Route from Porto is my least favorite because it goes through some industrial areas and past the airport. I wouldn’t say the walk on the Coastal Route was ugly or unpleasant it was ok I just liked it the least. Especially the middle part where you walk through the industrial area and next to the airport.
Find out more about the differences between the Central and the Coastal Routes.
The map of the three Camino routes from Porto
Best places to stay in Porto before the Camino
The best is to stay near the Cathedral so on your first day on the Camino you can start the walk right from your hotel and don't have to take the metro or a bus to get to the Cathedral first.
- Lost Inn Porto Hostel is a budget option to stay in Porto near the Cathedral
- Best Guest Porto Hostel is another budget option not far from the Cathedral
- GuestReady - San Sebastian Studio 1 is a mid-range apartment close to Se Cathedral
- Na Travessa Suítes is a high-end guesthouse near the Cathedral
Albergue de Peregrinos de Porto is 3 km/1.8 mi away from the Cathedral on the Central/Coastal Camino routes. If you want to stay there you can do the first 3 km from Se Cathedral to Albergue the day before you start your walk. The next day you can walk out of the Albergue and continue on the Camino. If you're going to walk the Litoral Way then you'll have to get from the albergue to the Cathedral by public transport or taxi and then start walking.
Which route out of Porto is the best?
It depends on which route of the Portuguese Camino you want to walk. If you plan to walk the Central Route I’d suggest following it from the start. You can also walk out of Porto following the Senda Litoral, but in that case, you’ll have to switch to the Central Route in Vila do Conde which adds one extra day to your itinerary.
If you want to walk the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino I recommend walking out of Porto following the Litoral Way. In my opinion, it’s a more beautiful route and it makes more sense to walk along the coast from the start. The Litoral Way and the Coastal Route merge in Vila do Conde. From there they follow more or less the same trajectory. The Litoral Way sticks more to the sea while the Coastal Route sometimes goes through towns and forest.
The walk from Porto to Vila do Conde on the Litoral Way is 4 km/2.4 mi longer than on the Coastal Route; 33 km/20.5 mi vs 29 km/18 mi. You don’t have to walk it in one day. Even 29 km/18 mi in my opinion is too much for the first day on the Camino.
As an option, you can combine the routes of the Portuguese Camino. Walk out of Porto following the Litoral Way, then continue combining the Coastal and Litoral routes from Vila do Conde to Caminha. From Caminha walk to Valença and continue on the Central Route. You can add to your itinerary the Spiritual Variant of the Portuguese Camino from Pontevedra to Padrón.
What is the most scenic route out of Porto?
The Senda Litoray (Litoral Way) is in my opinion the most scenic first stage of the Portuguese Camino from Porto. The Coastal and the Central routes have beautiful parts as well but it’s not as impressive as the Litoral Way. I especially enjoyed the last 10 km/6.2 mi to Vila Cha which were along the coast past several beautiful beaches. All routes have many amazing towns to visit.
Comparing the 3 routes (1st stage); Central Route vs Coastal Route vs Litoral Way
Distance
- Central Route - 27 km/16.7 mi (Porto to Vilarinho)
- Coastal Route - 29 km/18 mi (Porto to Vila do Conde)
- Litoral Way - 26 km/16 mi (Porto to Vila Chã)
Total ascent/descent
- Central Route - 336 m/355 mi
- Coastal Route - 255 m/320 m
- Litoral Way - 242 m/273 m
Walking surface
On both the Central and Coastal routes, you walk only on hard surfaces with almost half of the route being on cobbled stones which are known to be tough on your feet.
On the Litoral Way, half of the route goes on boardwalks which are easier on your feet. There are no cobbled stones on the route.
- Central Route - 14.5 km/9 mi – asphalt and tar road; 12 km/7.4 mi – cobblestones; 500 m/0.3 mi – footpath.
- Coastal Route - 17 km/10.5 mi – asphalt or tar road; 12 km/7.4 mi – cobblestones.
- Litoral Way - 15 km/9.3 mi – asphalt; 1 km/0.6 mi – cobbled; 10 km/6.2 mi – boardwalks.
Walking on or along busy roads
Again, the Litoral Way is the winner. You don’t walk on roads at all, not even 100 m. On the Central and Coastal routes you do walk on or next to busy roads with a lot of traffic.
Easy to navigate
In my opinion, the Litoral Way is the easiest route to walk out of Porto despite the lack of marking on the first 10 km from the Cathedral. It’s very straightforward. You don’t need a map, signs, or GPX. First you walk along the river and then along the coast.
On the other hand, the Central and the Coastal routes are marked but the first two kilometers through the historical center are confusing due to many road and other signs and ads in the city. It’s difficult to spot Camino signs. After the first 2 km, both routes are quite easy to follow.
Scenery
For me, the Litoral Way is by far the most beautiful first stage of the Portuguese Camino from Porto. Sandy beaches, blue sea, small villages, and wildflowers in spring months are the perfect scenery to start the Camino with.
The first 2 km on the Central and the Coastal routes through the historical center of Porto are impressive. You get to see some of the highlights of the city. On the Central Route, I enjoyed the last 5 km through a quiet rural area and the forest. The Coastal Route has its beauty too; you can see some countryside and forest.
How busy are the routes?
To me it looked like the Litoral Way was the busiest route out of Porto. I walked all three routes in July so I believe that time of the year people prefer walking along the coast. The Central Route had a decent amount of pilgrims too. On the Coastal Route out of Porto, I saw only 3 pilgrims. Mind, that July overall is a less busy month than May or September. I walked some parts of the Portuguese Camino in May and there were a lot more people than in July.
Where in Porto does the Camino start?
All 3 routes start at Se Cathedral in the historical center of Porto. To be honest I find route marking from the Cathedral confusing and not very clear. The Litoral Way despite being not marked at all was the easiest to follow because it goes along the river and the coast.
The Central and the Coastal Route
The Central and Coastal Routes start at the stairs (Calçada de Don Pedro Pitões) across the square from the main entrance to the Cathedral. There is an official sign and a couple of yellow arrows pointing down. There is a tourist information office down the stairs on the right where you can get a map of Porto and inquire about the Camino route.
Once down the stairs keep left you'll see two yellow arrows painted at the bottom of the wall pointing in opposite directions. I took the right route but I believe both routes end up at the same place R. das Flores, a pedestrian street. Once there it's very tempting to follow this street but you have to take the first left turn to Rua do Ferraz. From there it's a bit easier to follow the arrows.
If at some stage you lose the route the best will be to find Igreja do Carmo on Google.Maps and walk there. From the church (Igreja do Carmo) the route is easy to follow. You can find a yellow arrow on the wall on the right side of the church (facing it).
Note!!! There are a couple of metal planks with arrows at the Cathedral pointing right I tried to follow them but they don't go any further than the square in front of the Cathedral.
The Central Route and the Coastal Route follow the same trail for the first 7 km/4.3 mi from the Cathedral. At 7 km/4.3 mi (in Padrão da Légua) they split; the Central Route goes straight and the Coastal Route turns left.
The Litoral Way
The Litoral Way from the Cathedral goes along the river out of Porto to Matosinhos and from there continues along the coast. The easiest way of finding the route is to walk from Se Cathedral down to the river and continue along it. The route is not marked and if you try to follow yellow arrows they might lead you towards the Central/Coastal Route.
Are the routes well-marked?
All three routes are marked with traditional yellow arrows painted on the ground, walls, poles, etc. From time to time you see official route markings such as wooden or stone signs, and metal plaques on the ground.
The Coastal and the Central Routes (the first 7 km/4.3 mi it’s the same route) are marked quite well starting from the Cathedral. The first 2 kilometers through the historical center of Porto are a bit confusing because there are many ads, cars, people, etc. You have to be careful not to miss a yellow arrow.
The first 10 km/6.2 mi of the Litoral Way are not marked. The route marking starts at the information office in Matosinhos. From there on you can follow traditional Camino signs. Despite not being marked the Litoral Way is the easiest route to walk out of Porto. From the Cathedral you go down to the Douro River and follow it for 10 km/6.2 mi. It’s a very straightforward route.
The Central Route - Porto to Vilarinho, 27 km/16.7 mi
- Distance - 27 km/16.7 mi
- Time - 6 hours
- Ascent - 336 m
- Descent - 355 m
- Walking surface - 14.5 km/9 mi - tar road and asphalt; 12 km/7.4 mi - cobblestones, 500 m/0.3 mi - footpath
The first 7 km/4.3 mi the Central and the Coastal route are on the same trail.
For the first 15 km/9.3 mi, there are many restaurants, cafes, and shops to stop for breakfast or coffee. After that there are places to stop but not as many as in the first half.
PDF files of the route
- Portuguese Camino Central Route places to stay PDF
- Portuguese Camino Central Route walking stages PDF
The Central Route description
The first 2 km/1.2 mi are through the historical center of Porto from Se Cathedral to Igreja (church) do Carmo. It is the most difficult part to navigate especially the first 700 m from the Cathedral. If you lose the trail find Igreja do Carmo on Google Maps and walk there. From the church follow Rua de Cedofeida (the street on the right facing the church). From there the Camino route is quite easy to follow it goes straight to Vilarinho.
Between 2 km/1.2 mi and 5 km/3.1 mi, you walk through the residential area of Porto.
2.8 km/1.7 mi - Albergue de Peregrinos de Porto. If you’re going to stay in the Albergue and planning to walk the Central or the Coastal Route you can walk the part from the Cathedral to the Albergue a day before so in the morning you can walk out of the Albergue and continue on the Camino. Otherwise, you have to take the metro to go to the Cathedral and then walk past the Albergue.
Between 5 km/3.1 mi and 11 km/6.8 mi, the route goes through quiet neighborhoods.
6 km/3.7 mi - a couple of big supermarkets (LIDL, Continente) where you can get a well-priced meal.
7 km/4.3 mi - the split (on the left side of the street) in Padrão da Légua at the intersection of R. Nova do Seixo and R. Fonte Velha.
8.4 km/5.2 mi - a supermarket (ALDI)
11-12 km/6.8-7.4 mi - along the road (sidewalk) through the forest
12-14.5 km/7.4-9 mi - through towns along the busy roads
14.5 km/9 mi - a couple of big supermarkets (LIDL, Pingo Doce)
15-16 km/9.3-10 mi - industrial area but not a very busy one
16-16.4 km/10 mi - on a road
17 km/10.5 mi - a shop and a bar
18.5 km/11.4 mi - Mosteiro, a small town with a cafe
20 km/12.4 mi - Vila, a small town with a cafe and a shop
21-21.5 km/13-13,4 mi - on the road
21.5 km/13.4 mi - Gião, a small town with a restaurant. You can stamp your Pilgrim’s Passport at a stand with a stamp on the left side of the street.
22.4 km/14 mi - a small supermarket
23 km/14.2 mi - at the Doce Giao cafe there is a route split. I’d recommend following the alternative route that turns right and goes through a quiet area. The left route is on a busy narrow road it’s not a safe walking option. There is a very nice guesthouse Casa Mindela, 800 m from the Camino route. You can stop there instead of walking to Vilarinho. We stayed there for a couple of days and we liked it.
24 km/15 mi - a bar and a shop
25 km/15.5 mi - an ATM and a cafe
26 km/16.1 mi - Municipal Albergue do Mosteiro do Veirão.
26.5-27 km/16.4-16.7 mi - a footpath through the forest
27 km/16.7 mi - Vilarinho, a small town with a shop, a cafe, and a private albergue/guest house.
Places to stay in Vilarinho
- Casa Mindela Farmhouse (4 km/2.4 mi before Vilarinho, 600 m from the Camino)
- Municipal Albergue do Mosteiro do Veirão (1 km/0.6 mi before Vilarinho)
- Casa/Albergue Family Vidal de Vilarinho (at the entrance to Vilarinho)
- Casa da Laura (500 m from the entrance to Vilarinho)
- Refugio de Peregrinos de Vilarinho (700 m from the entrance to Vilarinho). Ask at Farmacia Rey, bar Companhia do Pão, or Cafe Central for the key. It is supposed to be free.
The Coastal Route - Porto to Vila do Conde, 29 km/18 mi
- Distance - 29 km/18 mi
- Time - 6-7 hours
- Ascent - 255 m
- Descent - 320 m
- Walking surface - 17 km/10.5 mi - asphalt or tar road; 12 km/7.4 mi - cobblestones
PDF files of the route
The Coastal Route description
The first 7 km/4.3 mi on the Coastal Route from Porto is the same as on the Central Route. For more info on that part check the section above.
Between 7 km/4.3 mi and 9 km/5.6 mi, you walk through a very quiet neighborhood of Porto with small houses lined up along the street.
9-11 km/5.6-6.8 mi - the Camino route goes through a rural area.
11-12 km/6.8-7.4 mi - through an industrial area with many trucks. I walked it on Sunday so it was quiet I think that on weekdays it is busy.
13 km/8 mi - a shop and a cafe
13.5 km/8.3 mi - a town with an ATM, cafe, and shop. The next place to stop for food will be at 22 km.
15.8-17.5 mi/9.8-10.8 mi - walking next to Porto Airport
21-22 km/13-13.6 mi - a quiet road through the forest
22 km/13.6 mi - a big shopping mall (Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet)
24 km/15 mi - Mindelo, a small town with a shop and a cafe
26 km/16 mi - a shop, a cafe, and a bar
29 km/18 mi - Vila do Conde
Places to stay in Vila do Conde
- Municipal Albergue Santa Clara
- HI Vila do Conde Poosada de Juventude
- Residencial Princesa do Ave
- Laranjal Guesthouse
The Litoral Way (Senda Litoral) - Porto to Vila Chã, 26 km/16 mi
- Distance - 26 km/16 mi
- Time - 5-6 hours
- Ascent - 242 m
- Descent - 273 m
- Walking surface - 15 km/9.3 mi - asphalt; 10 km/6.2 mi - boardwalks; 1 km/0.6 mi - cobbled
The first 10 km/6.2 mi on the Litoral Way from the Cathedral in Porto to Matosinhos are not marked. It doesn’t mean it’s difficult to find the route in fact the Senda Litoral is the easiest route to follow out of Porto. From Se Cathedral get down to the Douro River and follow it till you are out of the city.
The route from the Cathedral to the river described in Brierley’s guidebook is the shortest way but you don’t have to follow any trail just walk to the river and continue along it towards Ponte da Arrabita (Arrabita Bridge) and the Atlantic Ocean. Mind, the guidebook says to follow orange arrows but, there are no arrows maybe there were in the past.
As an option, for the first 5.5 km/3.4 mi, you can take the famous yellow tram (#1 and #18). It pretty much follows the same route as the Camino. Passeio Alegre is the name of the tram stop where you get off.
For the entire 26 km/16 mi, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to stop at.
The PDF files of the Litoral Way
The Litoral Way route description
For most of the first 6 km/3.7 mi, you walk next to the Douro River except for a short part just before Jardim do Passeio Alegre. You don’t have to worry about finding the way just follow the same street and it will take you back to the river.
6 km/3.7 mi - São João Baptista da Foz Fortress and Barra do Douro Lighthouse
10.5 km/6.5 mi - Tourist Information Office in Matosinhos. From there the Litoral Way is well-marked with traditional yellow arrows and official Camino signs. Some pilgrims take a bus/metro train from Porto to Matosinhos and start walking from there. Bus #500 and metro line A go from Porto to Matosinhos.
10.5-13 km/6.5-8 mi - the Camino goes through the city (Matosinhos). It is the only part of the Litoral Way where you have to pay attention to the Camino signs.
11.7 km/7.2 mi - go over the bridge Ponte móvel de Leça to the other side of the river. From there walk back to the coast.
13 km/8 mi - the information office where you can get a stamp. They told me there that you can buy a Credential (Pilgrim's Passport) at one of the newspaper (tabaco) kiosks nearby. If you still don't have it you can inquire there and buy your Credential on the way.
From 13 km/8 mi you walk along the coast to Vila Cha. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants and some supermarkets along the way.
15 km/9.3 mi - the beginning of the boardwalks. From there on you walk almost entirely on boardwalks.
20 km/12.4 mi - a big supermarket (ALDI, 400 m away from the boardwalks)
24 km/15 mi - Labruge. There is a private albergue 900 m away from the Camino route.
26 km/16 mi - Vila Cha. The municipal albergue in Vila Cha is about 800 m away from the coast and the Camino route.
Places to stay in Vila Cha
- Parque de Campismo Orbitur (3 km/1.8 mi before Vila Cha)
- Blue Beach Apartment - Caminhos de Santiago (3 km/1.8 mi before Vila Cha)
- Casa da Praia Labruge (2 km/1.2 mi before Vila Cha)
- Municipal Albergue de S.Tiago in Labruge (2 km/1.2 mi before Vila Cha, 900 m away from the Camino)
- Municipal Albergue de S.Mamede in Vila Cha
Portuguese Camino from Porto planning resources
- The Portuguese Camino de Santiago – a detailed guide
- Portuguese Camino routes - explained
- The Central Route of the Portuguese Camino
- The Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino
- The Litoral Way of the Portuguese Camino
- The Central vs Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino
- The Litoral Way vs Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino
- How to switch from the Coastal/Litoral Way to the Central Route in Vila do Conde?
- Switching from the Coastal/Litoral Route to the Central Route in Caminha
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 am planning to do just a short section of the Coastal Route in May from Porto - maybe 3-4 days and your site is really an excellent resource on the route itself ! However once we finish we will need to get back then to Porto airport - do you have any information on public transport or transfer options once we finish walking - do you know if there are there easy bus/train connections ?
Hello Rowena. Thank you for the comment. If you walk 3-4 day on the Coastal Route from Porto you'll end up in Viana do Castelo which is a big town. From there you can take a direct train to Porto. The travel time is between 1 and 2 hours depending on the train. There are several daily departures.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads, thanks 😊
Hi i am planning to the Portuguese Camino port to Santiago late January. is it ok to do at that time of year. Seems to be plenty of accomadion on booking .com..any advice would appreciated.
Hello Sarah. If you don't mind cold and rainy/snowy weather then it's fine to walk the Portuguese Camino in January-February. Just be ready and pack the right gear (warm clothes, waterproof shoes, etc.). I'm sure many private accommodation places will be open, hotels will be cheaper than in summer so you don't have to stay in dormitories. The only thing is that there won't be many people I'd say there will be almost no pilgrims on the Camino.
Buen Camino
Hi, thanks for the great info on the Coastal Camino from Porto. is April a good month for the walk?
Thanks, Mike
Hello Mike. Thank you for the comment. The second half of April is usually warn and sunny. It's before the peak season which is May so there won't be too many people on the Portuguese Camino.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads, thanks for reply and feedback
Hi,
thank you very much for the valuable information. I intend to do the Portuguese Camino, from Porto starting on November 12 with two friends. Do you think that albergue are open during this period?
Hello Vali. Thank you for the comment. I believe many albergues are still open in November.
Buen Camino
Thank you for your detailed information. Very generous of you to share your incredible knowledge.
We are thinking of doing the Litoral way from late February. Is the weather still pretty cold and wet at this time of year?
Thank you
Louise
Hello Louise. Thank you for the comment. February is the coldest month here in Portugal. In the north it'll be cold and rainy. To be honest it's not the best time for walking along the coast.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads, would it be any better walking the central one late feb/march?
Hello Mariano. The weather is pretty similar on both route as they are just 10-29 km apart. It might be windier and more humid along the coast the Central Route might be a better option that time of the year.
Buen Camino
Hello from Arizona, USA
First of all, thank you so much for a detail info on the Camino.
I haven't done anything like this before. Although, I am somewhat fit, I love to hike here in my home town, I also workout regularly. I really want to do the Camino. I have 14 days to spend. I really done even know where to start. Where to fly into how to get to the starting point. I need to research all of these. I was told from the camino group that Porto to Santiago is about 14 days. Is this correct? I plan to go next year either June or September.
Thank you so much.
Juliet
Hello Julie. Thank you for the comment. 14 days is enough to compete the Portuguese Camino from Porto. The best would be to fly to Porto. I'm sure you'll be able to find flight to Porto from Arizona with one connection. The starting point is Se Cathedral in Porto it can be reach by metro from anywhere in the city. If you stay in the center you might be able to walk there from your hotel.
The Camino route is marked with yellow arrows you can just follow them. I'd say June is a better month because there are fewer people on the Camino route. If you want to walk along the coast then choose the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino. If you prefer inland then the Central Route is a better option. The Coastal Route is very flat with barely any hills. The Central Route has more ascents and descents. You can combine both routes and walk from Porto to Caminha following the Coastal Route and then walk to Tui and continue on the Central Route. We have many posts on the Portuguese Camino as we've done it more than once. You can find them here https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-resources/#The_Portuguese_Camino_de_Santiago_resources.
If you have more questions we'll be happy to answer them.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads,
Thank you so much.
do you think december would be an ok the to walk the litoral way? Both weather wise and in terms of albergues being open?
thank you 🙂
Hello Clara. Thank you for the comment. I don't think December is a good month for walking any route of the Portuguese Camino. You're very likely to get a lot of rain and low temperatures. Many places including albergues will be closed. From mid-December many places close down for Christmas holiday.
Cheers
Hello from Canada
I hope to walk the Camina in the next month or so starting in Porto. I don't want to carry any kind of baggage. I understand that it is possible to arrange to have one's items transported from place to place. Where can I arrange this before leaving Porto and can you recommend some reputable companies?
Thank you. Foe your great blog.
Hello Jules. Thank you for the comment. You can find companies that offer lugged delivery services and links to their websites here https://stingynomads.com/camino-portugues-stages/#Luggage_delivery_service_on_the_Camino_Portuguese
Buen Camino
HI this is the most informative site I have seen - thank you. Would it be possible to walk 15km to 18km max per day on any of the Portuguese caminos? I find that over 20 km leads to a different weariness! Would there be accomodation available ? We will start early in May.
Hello Karon. I'd say yes, most of the days it's possible to walk 15-18 km. We have detailed posts on the different routes of the Portuguese Camino (https://stingynomads.com/camino-portugues-stages/ and https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/) where you can find downloadable PDF files with places to stay in distances between them. You can plan your itinerary using it.
Buen Camino
This is very helpful. Is cycling in the boardwalks allowed on the littoral way?
Hello Nana. Thank you for the comment. I didn't see any signs indicating that cyclists not allowed but most cyclists I saw were were cycling on the sidewalk that goes along the coast as it's easier to get past people and there are fewer people walking. On boardwalks you might have to stop and get off your bicycle quite a lot especially during summer months.
Buen Camino
Hi,
I love your site - thanks for all the excellent information. I will be walking the Litoral Way mid April- early may of next year with 2 friends (60-65 years old). While we are in good shape we want to take our time to make sure we stay healthy! We are planning on walking 10 miles a day - give or take. Is there a way to walk the Litoral Way and break up the 16 miles into two days? Could you recommend a good itinerary for us taking into consideration our daily mileage? We would like to stay in higher end lodging as we have been saving for this trip for awhile - any lodging or restaurants recs would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks
Hello Karen. Thank you for the comment. We have a detailed post on the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/ where you can find a downloadable PDF file with a list of accommodation and distances between them. You can use it to check if there are suitable places to stay on the route every 10 miles and plan your itinerary based on that.
Buen Camino
Hi Sam
Wonderful info. I guess there is no way whatsoever to avoid cars/traffic on the Porto walk? Is a walk around 270km that will not have cars, it can be more difficult. Any routes can be recommended. The reason for the distance is amount of time I can be away. Thanks
Hello Peter. There is no way to completely avoid traffic on any Camino route as it goes through towns and cities it's not a hike in wilderness. On the Portuguese Camino from Porto here and there you'll get a stretch of walking on or along the road.
If you want to completely avoid traffic and road on a multi-day route I can suggest looking at the Fishermen's Trail. It's a 230-kilometer coastal route in the south of Portugal https://stingynomads.com/fishermens-trail-rota-vicentina-itinerary/. It has nothing to do with the Camino de Santiago though.
Out of all the Camino routes we've walked (9 in total) I'd say the Camino Primitivo has the least traffic and road. https://stingynomads.com/camino-primitivo-stages/
Buen Camino
Thanks for a great post with lots of information. I have never done anything like this or planned a trip like this-can you recommend a good travel agent or tour if i wanted the benefits of this trip with a little more structure and support? thanks
Hello Sam. We have never used any agency to plan our Camino walk. I can't recommend any based on our experience. There are thousands of people who walk it every year and the majority do it independently. It's not difficult to plan it yourself. All most companies do is to book accommodation on the route for you which is not always great because you want to be flexible with your itinerary in case you need an extra rest day, get blisters, etc.
Buen Camino
Hello, I've found your site so helpful in planning my upcoming trip in late September. I'm starting on the Littoral but do want to cross over into the Central route. Someone else referred to a river crossing - can you elaborate on exactly where that is?
Thanks so much!
Hello Sue. Thank you for the comment. I believe you mean the River route from Vila do Conde to Rates that connects the Litoral/Coastal Route with the Central Route of the Portuguese Camino? If so we have a detailed post and a video on that route https://stingynomads.com/vila-do-conde-to-rates-routes/. You walk out of Porto following the Litoral Way till Vila do Conde and from there you walk to Rates where you can continue on the Central Route.
Buen Camino
@Sue,
Hi Sue! I'm planning on doing the same in Sept 2024 for my first Caminho ever. How was your experience? Would you mind sharing re crowds, ease of getting accommodations etc.? What did you use to map your route?
Hello! Thanks for all the info. I'm an experienced traveler but haven't done something like this in Europe before. Do you know how best to find a momentary walking partner?
I haven't planned extensively but I'm currently in Europe and thinking about just riding down and attempting a portion of it.
Hello Adhanet. Thank you for the comment. If you're going to walk the Portuguese Camino in September there will be plenty of pilgrims on the route. You surely can find a walking partner on the Camino. It's better that way because then you'll see if your walking pace is similar. We've seen many time people who meet on the Camino ending up walking together the entire route.
Buen Camino
I'm arriving in Lisbon Sept 13 and will stay a few days before taking a train or bus to Porto to start my Camino. I will be 80 then, so walking slowly (don't worry, I've already done the Camino Frances). Do you think I will need reservations then for accommodations? I've heard conflicting reports of this and I really don't want sleep on the ground. My current plan is to start on the Littoral then switch to Central using the river crossover. I'm really glad I found your site for planning my walk.
Hello Allen. Thank you for the comment. September is a busy time on the Portuguese Camino an this year it is more busy than ever. In bigger places e.g. Vila do Conde, Caminha, where there are many places to stay you should be fine without booking. In smaller places with one private albergue it's better to book in advance to make sure you get a bed to sleep. We usually don't book accommodation unless we want to stay in private but we walk very fast and always arrive among the first people.
Buen Camino
Hello.
Thank You so much for all your Camino Info.
I am planning on doing the Camino from Lisbon next year.
From Porto I would like to follow the The Litoral Way route.
I am a little confused in that the info I have read on the three routes from Porto say that the first stop is at Porto to Vila Cha.
The PDF for the Coastal Route Stages states the first stop is in Labruge. And it then gives all the stages of the Coastal Route.
Is there a specific document that explains the suggested stops and accommodation on the Litoral Way?
Thanks again.
Kind Regards
Eddie
Hello Eddie. Thank you for the comment. You can stop in Labruge or Vila Cha. The first time we walked the Camino we stopped in Labruge which is 24 km from Porto on the Senda Litoral. The last time when I walked the routes out of Porto I wanted to have similar distances for all routes so I decided to walk to Vila Cha which is 26 km from Porto. The itinerary is just a suggestion you can stop anywhere you want as long as you can find a place to stay. You can see in the PDF for the Coastal Route in the second day part the first stop after Labruge is Vila Cha it is only 2 km away.
I hope it helps to understand.
Buen Camino
Thank You for your detailed description of the various routes. This is helping me decide which route will be the best for me.
Hello Donna. Thank you for the feedback. I'm glad our post is helpful.
Buen Camino
Love all the info. It really helped me decide which route to take.
Hello Margareth. Thank you for the comment. I'm glad you have found the post helpful.
Buen Camino
Thank you so much for your well written information. Which route would you recommend for cycling from Porto?
thanks Helen
Hello Helen. Thank you for the comment. The Litoral Way out of Porto in my opinion is the best one for cycling especially if after Vila do Conde you're planning to continue along the coast. You can cycle on sidewalks pretty much all the way. On the Coastal and the Central Routes you'll have to cycle on the road from time to time.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads,
Hi,
thank you very much for the valuable information. I intend to do the Portuguese Camino, from Porto starting on November 12 with two friends. Do you think that albergue are open during this period?