Short Break on the Camino Portugues from Porto 3 days

Rate:
Price: 4 nights from €352pp
  • Activity Walking or Easy Walking or Cycling or Easy Cycling
  • Distance 71 km
  • Duration Up to 13 nights
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Tour Type Self-Guided Caminos
  • Time To Go March to October

Short Break on the Camino Portugues Coastal

If you’re short on time but want to maximise your Camino experience, a short break on the Camino Portugues is just what you need. Walking from Porto to Viana do Castelo, this 4-night tour is a wonderful way to spend a few days on the Portuguese Way, taking in all the sights, sounds and tastes.

A quieter route than the French way, this tour starts in the Unesco World Heritage city of Porto. From here, you will journey across Porto, Póvoa do Varzim, Esposende, and Viana do Castelo. This section of the Camino de Santiago is 75km long, and each turn is a surprise, with traditional fishing villages greeting you on your journey.

In Porto, get lost in the riverside quarter with streets so narrow that cars can’t drive on them! Be sure and take a photo from the viewpoint at the cathedral (you can also collect your pilgrim passport here) and cross the D. Luis bridge designed by one of the associates of Gustave Eiffel to taste a Port wine in one of the many famous cellars. To top it off, try Francesinha, a signature sandwich from Porto, considered by many the best sandwich in the world.

On this Short Break along the Camino Portugues Coastal from Porto to Viana, you can observe fishermen going into the ocean to fish in the old way and, at the end of the day, bargain to get the best piece of the catch of the day.

Relax at beach bars on golden sandy beaches and enjoy some freshly caught fish in one of the many fish restaurants with ocean views. Enjoy the sunset from old forts, a testimony to the era of the pirates, and visit a full-size replica of a discovery ship docked in one of the most important ports during the discoveries.

At the end of the evening, stroll around Viana do Castelo with its many Roman remains and a lively city centre where in August, the biggest fair in the north takes place, and women parade with necklaces with kilos of gold.

*Note that the Caminho da Senda Litoral goes along the seaside. The Caminho da Costa follows inland along with coastal towns and follows the same way as the Senda Litoral in some parts. If you choose the Caminho da Costa, the trail will always take you to the same finishing point.

Map of the Camino Portugues Coastal Short Break

Itinerary of the Camino Portugues Coastal Short Break

Porto

Stage: Porto

You arrive in Porto.

25 km

Povoa de Varzim

Stage: Povoa de Varzim

Start your Camino de Santiago journey in gorgeous and colourful Porto, with its UNESCO-listed old town, picturesque river front and home to Port wine. Discover the best of Portuguese hospitality before your walk on the Portuguese Coastal Way!

Today you should take the Metro to Matosinhos to avoid the outskirts of Porto and reach the coast to start your Camino walk. Get off at the ‘Mercado’ stop. You will walk following the coastline, passing fishing villages, forts and chapels, the prehistoric castro of San Paio and of course, beautiful sandy beaches.

*If you choose to cycle the Camino, the route will start from the city center, so the distance for this stage will be 40km.

22 km

Esposende

Stage: Esposende

Enjoy a stroll along the pretty Póvoa de Varzim harbour and explore its medieval district before you continue your Camino. Walk up to the Convento de Santa Clara to discover the best views of the town and the surrounding coast. On your way to Esposende you will pass the popular seaside town of Póvoa de Varzim with its sandy beachfront and cross the Coastal Natural Park, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte.

24 km

Viana do Castelo

Stage: Viana do Castelo

Today you will continue your Camino coastal walk from Esposende, across the Coastal Natural Park, on your way to Viana do Castelo. Take the opportunity to taste the local cuisine, explore the historic center of town and take the funicular to the Basílica de Santa Luzía for great views. Legend has it that the Romans were so impressed by Viana’s beauty when they reached the town in the first century BC that they thought they had reached the paradise.

Accommodation

Country Cottages

Country Cottages or  'Casas Rurales' are beautifully restored country homes and farmhouses in the heart of peaceful rural communities. Our Country Cottages are renowned for their exceptional food, unique settings and personal touch. Rest assured when you select Country Cottage you will enjoy the full experience of our collection of beautiful Casa Rurales when and where this option is available, however, bear in mind, that sometimes due to location factors, only our choice of standard collection hotels and guesthouses may be available. All rooms are en-suite.

Country Cottages

Standard Hotels

We have hand-picked hotels and guesthouses along the Camino for their character and warm hospitality. Up to 3-stars, you will be staying in the centre of town and close to your Camino trail. All rooms are en-suite with bathroom. For our family packages, we have hand-picked establishments with outdoor space and swimming pools where possible. Where accommodation with private outdoor space is not available, we have selected comfortable hotels with spacious common areas as well as a convenient location close to recreational areas and sights. As your comfort is our priority, we try to book hotels located within walking distance of the Camino. Despite our effort, on rare occasions your accommodation can be located a few kilometers away from the trail, so we organise transportation to/from your accommodation.

Standard Hotel & Guesthouse

Superior Collection

Stay in very special hotels and unique properties along the Camino.  We have selected luxurious 4 and 5-star hotels, boutique guesthouses, relaxing country homes and stunning heritage ‘Parador’ hotels so you can feel pampered. Rest assured when you select Superior Collection, you will enjoy the full experience of our best hotels and top guesthouses when and where this option is available, however, bear in mind, that sometimes due to location factors, only our choice of standard collection hotels and guesthouses may be available. All rooms are en-suite.

Superior Collection

Access

How to Get There

Live information on Rome2Rio. We can also arrange private transfers if you prefer, just ask us.

Porto

Porto Airport 12km: The easiest connection between Porto airport and the city center is by metro. The purple metro line (line E) has regular departures; frequency between 5-9 minutes approx. See: metrodoporto.pt.

Baiona

Vigo Airport 30km: From Vigo you can take a bus to Baiona. There are buses every 30 minutes from Vigo on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays there are buses every hour. See Rome2Rio for more information.

Santiago de Compostela Airport 129km: From Baiona to Vigo you can take a bus, taking about 40 min (http://www.vigobus.com/)  You can catch a bus from Vigo Bus Station to Santiago (about 2 hours, see www.monbus.es) or a train (1 hour and 30 min approximately, see: www.renfe.es). From Santiago, you can take the shuttle bus to the bus station or the train station.

Porto Airport 160km: From Baiona take a bus to Vigo (http://www.vigobus.com/). Best option is to get from Vigo to Porto by either by train (www.cp.pt) or bus (www.autna.com).

 

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela Airport 12km: There is a shuttle bus from/ to the city to Santiago airport, departing every 30min. Bus stops include the city centre (Praza de Galicia), the bus station (Estación de Autobuses) and the train station (Estación de Ferrocarril). See www.empresafreire.com.

A Coruña Airport 70km: From Santiago you can take a train to A Coruña (30 min approximately) and then take a bus from Alfonso Molina (line 4051) to the airport (every 30 min, takes 20 min approximately). Monbus has services from Santiago to A Coruña Airport (every 3 hours), see monbus.es/en for details.

Vigo Airport 90km: From Santiago you can take a train to Vigo Guixar (see www.renfe.com) or a bus to Travesia de Vigo (every hour). You should then take a city bus from Travesia de Vigo to Vigo Airport (every 30 min).

Porto Airport 210km: There is a direct bus connection between Santiago (Estación de Autobuses) and Porto Airport once or twice a day (taking 4h or 6h resp.). See www.alsa.es.

Whats Included

  • Included: Selected accommodation with private bathrooms, Holiday Pack on your mobile phone (Route ebook and Google Maps) and a 24/7 support number providing assistance during your trip, for instance organising a support vehicle if needed.
  • Not included: Flights, drinks, city tax, Travel Insurance (Recommended)
  • Optional: Luggage transfers (On by default. One bag up to 20kg per person), dinners (On by default, where available), bike rental (On by default) and airport transfers, etc…

 

Note on Accommodation: We aim to book you into each of the towns listed on the itinerary, however in case of low availability we may book you 2 nights in the same town with provided transfers. If you are booking Superior collection or Country cottages, please note it is subject to availability and therefore cannot be guaranteed. Superior/Country cottage accommodation may be away from the route with included transfers. More details.

Specialist:juanma

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juanma

Specialist:juanma

Juanma grew up near Vigo and moved to Ireland just 2 days after his graduation. his passion is discovering new places around the world on his bike. He has walked the Via Francigena in Tuscany and m...

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