The Camino Portugues

From Lisbon and Porto to Santiago - Central, Coastal and Spiritual Caminos

CICERONE 2023

A guidebook to walking the Camino Portugues (Portuguese Way), 620km from Lisbon in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The book gives stage-by-stage directions for the Central Camino, starting from Lisbon, Porto or Tui, the Coastal Camino between Porto and Redondela, and the Spiritual Variant route from Pontevedra to Padrón. It also describes link routes that can be used to swap from one route to another.

Detailed route guidance and maps are accompanied by fascinating information about historic and religious sites passed along the way. It is packed with essential information for pilgrims, with advice on getting there, when to go, where to stay and equipment. An indispensable facilities table showing the availability of accommodation, refreshments, supermarkets, ATMs and pharmacies along the route, and a handy glossary, make this the complete guide to the Camino.

Since 1211 Santiago de Compostela has been a place of holy pilgrimage and the Camino Portugués is the second most travelled pilgrim route. The largely rural journey takes in four UNESCO World Heritage Areas - the Knights Templar Castle at Tomar, Portugal's oldest University at Coimbra, and the old towns of Porto and Santiago - culminating at the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela.

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

St James and the beginnings of Santiago de Compostela

Portuguese history and the Camino

Choosing your Camino

Essential pilgrim information

Getting there and getting away

When to go

Accommodation

Food and drink

Useful information

Language

Preparation and training

What to take

Waymarking and GPS

Using this guide

Leave no trace

Central Camino

Stage 1 Lisbon to Alpriate

Stage 2 Alpriate to Vila Franca de Xira

Stage 3 Vila Franca de Xira to Azambuja

Stage 4 Azambuja to Santarém

Stage 5 Santarém to Golegã

Stage 6 Golegã to Tomar

Stage 7 Tomar to Alvaiázere

Stage 8 Alvaiázere to Rabaçal

Stage 9 Rabaçal to Coimbra

Stage 10 Coimbra to Sernadelo

Stage 11 Sernadelo to Águeda

Stage 12 Águeda to Albergaria-a-Velha

Stage 13 Albergaria-a-Velha to São João da Madeira

Stage 14 São João da Madeira to Grijó

Stage 15 Grijó to Porto

Stage 16 Porto to Vairão

Stage 17 Vairão to Barcelos

Stage 18 Barcelos to Ponte de Lima

Stage 19 Ponte de Lima to Rubiães

Stage 20 Rubiães to Tui

Stage 21 Tui to Mos

Stage 22 Mos to Pontevedra

Stage 23 Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

Stage 24 Caldas de Reis to Padrón

Stage 25 Padrón to Santiago de Compostela

Coastal Camino

Stage 1 Porto to Vila do Conde

Stage 1A Porto to Vila do Conde (via the Senda Litoral)

Stage 2 Vila do Conde to Esposende

Stage 3 Esposende to Viana do Castelo

Stage 4 Viana do Castelo to Caminha

Stage 5 Caminha to Mougás

Stage 6 Mougás to A Ramallosa

Stage 7 A Ramallosa to Vigo

Stage 8 Vigo to Redondela

Stages 9–12 See Central Camino Stages 22–25

Link routes

Link route 1 Vila do Conde to São Pedro de Rates

Link route 2 São Pedro de Rates to Esposende

Link route 3 Caminha to Tui

Spiritual Variant

Stage 1 Pontevedra to Armenteira

Stage 2 Armenteira to Vilanova de Arousa

Stage 3 Vilanova de Arousa to Padrón

Appendix A Facilities tables

Appendix B Glossary

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Further reading