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?
Got any questions or comments? We would love to help! All questions and comments will be answered by us personally in Buy Me a Coffee. Click below and ask away.
Feel free to support our site by buying us a coffee!
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 Chris. I'm late to this blog. Happened to come across it a few days got. Fab info on the routes. Wondering if you personally know any of the biking companies that will do the whole booking( bike rental, accommodations, luggage transfer ect). So so many to choose for and it's overwhelming.
I appreciate any help.
Kind regards
Sarah
Hello,
I'm a noob but eager to do the Litoral Way. When you say "Stage 1", does this mean "Day 1"? Does it mean that Litoral Way is doable for 13 days? Can it be shortened? Thank you so much and more power!
Hello Mark. Thank you for the comment. Stages one the Camino are standard walking days. It's possible to complete the Litoral Way from Porto to Santiago in 13 days. Yes, you can make your walk shorter if you want.
You can find more information on the Litoral Way including PDFs and GPX files in this post https://stingynomads.com/litoral-way-portuguese-camino/
Buen Camino
Hello,
My wife and I are planning our first Camino in Jun 25. We are starting in Porto and plan on doing the Sendal Littoral. I had found a schedule that you had published with towns, distance and other resources. It was a PDF and was a great planning tool. Unfortunately, I didn't save it and now I can't seam to locate it. Can you help me? Thanks again for all of the great resources! Buen Camino!
Hello James. Thank you for the comment. You can find the PDFs for the Coastal Route following this link https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/#Portuguese_Camino_Coastal_Route_PDF_files. We are planning to write a separate post on the Litoral Way with a new PDFs for the route. It should be published by November.
Buen Camino
Hello!
Thank you for this amazing resource!
Can I please ask one question: I am flying into Porto, arriving at 10am, getting a cab to the Cathedral and will start the walk on the same day. However, I would like to get a stamp when I get to the Cathedral to mark the start of my journey. Do you know where I might be able to obtain one before I begin?
Thank you so much!
Hara 🙂
Hello Hara. Thank you for your comment. You can get a stamp in Se Cathedral. As of now it is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm. If for some reasons you won't be able to get a stamp there you can get it at one of the tourist information offices. There are two in Matosinhos on the Litoral Way. On the Central Way you can get a stamp at Pilgrim's Albergue do Porto. It's on the route, around 3 km from the Cathedral.
Buen Camino
Hello, I am flying into Porto to start the Camino. What is the best option to get my additional luggage transferred to Santiago de Compostela?
I don't need daily transfers. I want to give my luggage to a company/someone in Porto then when I arrive at Santiago de Compostela pick up my luggage and continue on my journey across Spain.
Seems like I remember reading about a place I could mail/ship my luggage to in Santiago de Compostela but I really don't want to ship it if I don't have to.
Thanks for the help!
Hello Wayne. Thank you for the comment. The same companies that offer daily luggage transfer offer luggage transfer to Santiago and keep it in a storage till your arrival. I'd suggest to check with Tui Trans and Pilbeo.
Buen Camino
Great blog! I'm planning to hike from Porto at the end of June and per your post, I'm interested in the Litoral Way for the most scenic views. However, I may be limited to 10-12 days total so wondering what the reco to shave off 1-2 days - do I switch over to the Coast? Also, are there any inexpensive options to ship luggage from Porto to Santiago? Thank you!
Hello Chris. Thank you for the comment. Just to make it clear the Litoral Way and the Coastal Route are different only at the start from Porto to Vila do Conde. After that both routes follow pretty much the same trajectory and have the same stages. I just walk the Coastal Route again and switched between the two routes in one walking day. If you stick to the standard itinerary 12 days will be just enough to complete the route. If you have 10 days then you can skip 2 days but not on the last 100 km to Santiago (on the Coastal/Litoral Way it's from Vigo) if you want to get a Compostela certificate. You can maybe skip the stages to A Guarda to Vigo it's 2-3 walking days and then continue from Vigo to Santiago.
As for luggage transfer you can use Tui Trans. They can deliver your luggage from Porto to Santiago. I believe they have a storage facility to keep it till your arrival.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads, Thanks for help! If the total Camino Portuguese averages 12 days then how many more days are needed to include the Spiritual Variant? Thanks again! 🙂
Hello Chris. Thank you for the comment. The Spritual Variant adds one extra day (the boat ride to Pontecesures on the 3rd day of the route). It's possible to do the boat ride and from Pontecesures walk to Santiago on the same day (around 29 km) in that case it'll take you the same 12 days to complete the Portuguese Camino.
Buen Camino
Which 30km stretch of any of the Portuguese Caminos do you think is the most beautiful?
Hello Keala. Thank you for the comment. If you want to walk only 30 km on the Portuguese Camino I'd suggest the first stage of the Litoral Way from Porto to Vila do Conde. It's about 33 km and the entire route goes along the coast. It's a beautiful trail and one of our favorite parts of the Camino.
Buen Camino
Two 70 yr old females planning on walking the central route mid Sep or start the second week of Oct. Would you suggest one time vs the other? And not tied to that route, willing to walk the coast.
Hello Doreen. Thank you for the comment. From our experience on the Portuguese Camino (we've done it several times) the weather is good till mid-October and then in one day it changes to rainy and cold. I'd say September is a better time to start the route from Porto. The Coastal Route is very flat with barely any ascents and descents. The Central Route has some hills. Both have beautiful scenery and interesting towns. The Central Route is a bit shorter. It takes 12 days on average to complete it. The Coastal might take a bit longer 14 days or so. We like the combination of both; start walking from Porto along the coast to Caminha and from the switch to the Central Route (walk to Tui). That way you get the best of both worlds. Buen Camino
Thanks for a great blog, I am do the Spiritual Camino next week, is there a app or something that gives me the Camino route linked via google maps ?
Regards Clive
Hello Clive. Thank you for the comment. We have a detailed post on the Spiritual Variant where you can find GPX file for the route. You can download them and use on your phone or your watch https://stingynomads.com/spiritual-variant-portuguese-camino/. The route is well-marked even if you don't have a route map you'll easily find the way.
Buen Camino
Thanks so much for this wonderfully informative site on the Camino! I start my 1st Camino in mid-May and am walking the Litoral Way and the Spiritual Variant. I think I may be over packing. Your packing list says two pairs of walking/yoga pants or shorts will be sufficient. Are there laundromats in the larger towns or are washers and dryers in the hotels or guesthouses available to use?
Many Thanks!
Hello Marie. You can find laundromats in many towns on the Portuguese Camino, albergues and hostels, and some hotels often have washing and drying machines that you can use for extra fee.
Buen Camino
Thank you for creating such an informative blog! My 11 year old son and my parents are going to walk the Portuguese Camino, beginning in Porto, in mid June and we are looking for guidance. My parent have walked the Camino a few times so they are experienced, but never in Portugal.
Based on what I’ve read on your site, for the best of both worlds, it’s recommended to begin on the Litoral Way, connect to the Coastal Route (where do we do this) and then once in Caminha, switch to the Central Route. Please advise if this is correct or you have other suggestions.
Wondering if you have any suggested towns for a mid way break. Or any towns with a hotel with a pool that you’d suggest. I’m going to need to balance the walking and reflection with hopefully some “fun” for my 11 year old. Perhaps there are some recommended beach town stops for the Coastal Route and a couple ideas for the Central Route?
thank you so much! Katie
Hello Katie. Thank you for the comment. The Litoral Way and the Coastal Route connect in Vila do Conde and from there you just continue following the Camino signs. Switching from the Coastal to the Central route in Caminha is a good idea if they want to combine the both routes.
As for fun things to do for your son on the Coastal Route I'd suggest Vila do Conde might be a good place for the second day. It's a nice town at the beach with an interesting Science Museum (Ciência Viva). He might enjoy staying at Albergue Casa do Sardao near Viana do Castelo. It's a big old house in a small town with a large outside area, horses, etc.
On the Central Route I recommend Valença. The fortress there is quite interesting. Tui (on the opposite side of the river from Valença) has a nice play area by the river (O Penedo Park). We were there with our 2 year old but I think some slides a ropes might be fun for an 11-year-old too. Pontevedra is quite a big town there might be some fun things to do as well.
As for places with a pool you can search in booking.com using a filter "pool" and it'll show you all the hotels in the chosen area that have a pool. You can find more details and lists of places to stay (PDF files) for the Coastal Route in this post https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/ and for the Central Route here https://stingynomads.com/central-route-portuguese-camino/
Buen Camino
Hello,
I am grateful to have found such a good site with descriptions and recommendations.
I intend to go on the Camino - Litoral route.
Please, can you tell me how many kilometers the route Porto-Santiago de Compostela is in total and do you think I can cover it in 14 days (an average pilgrim)?
Also, Vila Cha is the first place to stay overnight after Porto?
Thank you.
Hello Klara. Thank you for the comment. The Litoral Way is around 270 km from Porto to Santiago. The standard itinerary for the route is 12-14 days. It's very similar to the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino except for the first day out of Porto. You can find a detailed itinerary in this post https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/.
Vila Cha is where most pilgrims stop on the first day but if you want you can stop before or after. There are other towns and places to stay along the route. You can find a PDF file with places to stay in the above mentioned post.
Buen Camino
Hi there, I’m about to start the Camino (starting with SL route) from the Porto (late Feb) and am deciding which option would be best:
- go to Vila de Conde and swap to central
- go to Caminha and head to Valença
- Stay on the SL/Coastal route (this was the initial plan though I’ve been advised against it due to the weather
Also, just out of interest if the weather was nice for both routes which route would you say is the nicest / most interesting in terms of location/scenery/terrain? Thanks! Eddy
Hello Eddy. Thank you for the comment. I'd suggest walking on the Coastal Route to Caminha and from there switching to the Central Route. This way you get the best of both; the coastal scenery in the first half and nice historical towns in the second half. I'd say it's my favorite combination.
Giving the time of the year it might be better to decide which route to choose and where to switch once you're on the route. If it's cold and windy then rather take the Central Route. If the weather is nice then the Coastal trail.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads,
Hello! Ment már valaki április elején Porto- Santiago között? Melyik utat javasoljátok? Köszönöm ! Vali
Hello. Thank you for the comment. You might get rain and wind in April for that reason it might be better to walk the Central Route. You can switch between the routes twice along the course. If you want to walk the Litoral Way you can start following it from Porto and if it's too windy or wet you can switch to the Central Route in Vila do Conde or later in Caminha.
I prefer the Litoral Way but only when the weather is nice.
Buen Camino
Hallo! if I wanted to go along the senda litoral way, how much longer is it then the costal way? Is it possible to make it in 10-12 days?
Hello Akvile. Thank you for the comment. The number of walking stages on the Coastal Route and the Litoral Way is the same. The stages start and end in the same places. The only difference is that the Litoral Ways goes along or on the beach when the Coastal Route sometimes goes through towns. You need about 12 days to complete it if you stick to the standard itinerary.
Buen Camino
Hi,
I'm planning to walk the central route from Porto, and I like your central route stages via the litoral route. You mentioned this more scenic. I'm worried about Day 2 - Labruge to Sao Pedro de Rates. Is this stage back to the central route well marked? I believe you mention to stay near the river. Could you put my mind at ease with this portion?
Thanks
Hello Nancy. Thank you for the comment. There are two connecting routes from Vila do Conde to Rates. I walked both of them. You can find detailed information on the routes in this post https://stingynomads.com/vila-do-conde-to-rates-routes/
Buen Camino
Hi! Thank you for all this information. I’m planning to go solo from Porto on late April. But as much I read info, as much I get stressed and afraid to miss something.
Do you think it is a good idea not to create the map before, but just go forward using the signs and hope not to get lost? Also not to choose the rout before and decide which way to go already on the way?
As much I read as much I’m afraid to get lost.
Hello Helen. Thank you for the comment. We have never used any maps or navigation for walking the Portuguese Camino. Both routes the Central and the Coastal are well-marked and easy to follow. April is the beginning of the season I don't think you need to book accommodation in advance which means you can be quite flexible with your itinerary and routes. There will be other pilgrims on the Portuguese Camino just not as many as in the peak season.
Buen Camino