How to start your Camino Portugues in Porto

Starting Your Camino in Porto: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you are starting your Camino de Santiago walk in Porto, it can sometimes be a little tricky trying to figure out where exactly this Porto Starting Point is located.

To help make things a bit clearer for pilgrims walking the Camino Portugués, I followed the trail to the beginning of the Camino in Porto, utilising Google Maps and yellow arrows and I’m going to take you through the whole process now.

Part 1: Getting on the Right Train

It’s very easy to get to the coastline from the centre of Porto. I travelled from the Bolhão metro station and boarded the train on platform 1. The destination of the train you want is A: Senhor de Matoshinhos.

If you have a contactless debit card, you can pay with that and this also means that you don’t have to queue to get a ticket.

I tested this route on a Saturday morning between 11 and 11.30 am and the train appears to come every 15 minutes. The train departed Bolhão at 11.33 am and arrived at Mercado just after noon at 12.07.

Part 2: Crossing The Bridge

Once you disembark at Mercado, you will see a cafe and a set of stairs. You will see a yellow arrow on the left of the staircase (see photo above). Go up the staircase opposite the cafe and walk on the bridge as it takes you across the river from Matosinhos to Rua Hintze Ribeiro.

You will already be seeing yellow arrows to guide you on your way as you enjoy a lovely sea breeze from the bridge.

Once you cross the bridge, you will immediately see a yellow arrow directing you to the left. This road will take you down to the coast.

Part 3: Following The Yellow Arrows To The Coast

As you walk to the coastal starting point, you will pass a few cafes on the way. If you walk on the footpath on the left side of the road, you will see the yellow arrows every few hundred metres.

It’s a completely straight road though so it’s unlikely you’d get lost. The street name to look out for is R Hernez Riberiao. Another bonus is that it’s a nice and shaded walk for the most part which is great if you’re walking in the sun.

Don’t worry if you don’t come across an arrow for a while, just keep walking straight on this road and you’ll be fine. On this road, you will pass a pharmacy in case you’re in need of more suncream, blister plasters, etc and you will also pass a shop where you can get a stamp for your Pilgrim Passport.

Part 4: Reach The Coast And Begin Your Walk

Soon you’ll notice the road start to gradually slope downwards and you’ll see the sea in the distance (but not far away). You’re almost on the coast and the sea breeze will be most welcome.

As you walk towards the sea, you will notice a lot of the yellow arrows are on poles over bins on the street so make sure to keep your head up if you’re confused.

Once you reach the coast, you will be met by a bright blue sea with rich rolling waves and arrows directing you to turn right and walk along the Camino Portugués towards Santiago de Compostela with the sea on your left. There’s also a tourist office located here in case you’re in need of any information.

The Camino From Porto

Starting in colourful UNESCO-listed Porto, the Camino Portugues from Porto to Santiago will take you through charming seaside towns and villages in northern Portugal, along the superb Atlantic coast.

Over at least 12 days, you will stay in small picturesque cities and visit the most charming towns and villages from the coast to the mountains.

From Caminha, you will journey to A Guarda, in Galicia, and the heart of the Rías Baixas, to continue this memorable journey as it veers inland to more countryside landscapes towards Santiago.

Discover the wild Atlantic beauty and sandy beaches of northern Portugal and southern Galicia, through the Full Camino Portugues Coastal.

For more information about the Camino Portugues or any of the Camino routes or if you would like some help planning your very own Camino experience, please don’t hesitate to contact us.