The Portuguese Way Portuguese Way

Lisbon is Portugal’s bright and dazzling city. Lisbon has a privileged location, where the River Tejo and the Atlantic Ocean join, so you can relax by the seaside and soak in the famous Lisbon ‘light’. The city is also home to beautiful buildings, cobbled streets and busy squares you can explore on foot or hopping on one of the city trams. Visit the São Jorge castle and if you get a chance head to Belém to see the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Your walk on the Portuguese Way will take you out of Lisbon on the shortest stage of this section, following part of the famous Caminho de Fátima. As the trail follows the river Tejo through the Parque das Nações, it is quite an easy walk. From here you will soon enter the countryside by a lush valley. The change in landscape will make Lisbon seem like a distant memory!

Today you will leave Santa Iria de Azoia along an a trail gradually climbing before descending again into Póvoa de Santa Iria. From here, the Camino will take you along the River Tejo once again along a national road to beautiful Vila Franca de Xira, home to a famous bullfighting festival every year.

From Vila Franca de Xira, the Camino continues through a region famous for bullfighting and horse breeding. The River Tejo continues to guide you, as you head inland to today’s destination: Azambuja. The town is famous for its bull run, taking place in the streets of town in May every year.

Today’s walking day on the Camino will take yo through vineyards, orchards, groves and crop fields on your way to one of the highest points of the entire route: the town of Santarém. However at just 110 metres high this should not be too difficult. Santarém, is an old Moorish city of narrow cobbled streets. We recommend you visit the ‘Sun Gate’ (Porta do Sol), a beautiful look-out point where you can watching the sun set and soak in the magnificent views.

You will leave Santarém along tranquil country lanes by the banks of the Río Tejo, as you head North-West. You will pass beautiful little villages and farmland, as well as many horses and bulls (the region is famous for horse and bull breeding). Today’s Camino stage is quite long but quite flat so it should be a relatively easy walking day.

Today you will leave the pretty little town of Golegã and head towards ‘Quinta da Cardiga’, one of the most beautiful manor houses in the country. From here you will continue through peaceful villages. nestled in between rolling hills. Your finishing point for the day is the centre of the historic city of Tomar, at the wonderful Praza da República.

Today, you will enjoy a change of landscape as you travel through lovely woodland, valleys and along ancient Roman roads and farm tracks. Today’s walk is one of the most challenging on this section of the Camino however it is also very rewarding.

The trail from Alvaiázere begins with a sharp climb, followed by a gradual descent. The rest of the day’s walk will take you over rolling hills and through olive groves and crop fields, on the way to today’s destination of Ansião.

On your walk out of Ansião you will cross the 17th century bridge of Ponte da Cal as you make your way to Netos. There are lots of trees along today’s stage of the Camino, such as eucalyptus, pine and olive, offering plenty of opportunities for shade. Today’s stage finishes in Condeixa a Nova.

On this walking day you will pass beautiful countryside, dotted with vineyards, olive groves and forests. The final part of the stage takes you over the climb of Alto de Cruz de Mourocos, at 190m, before dropping down into Coimbra. Coimbra itself is a pretty and energetic city, with one of the oldest universities in Europe, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2013.

Coimbra is an energetic city, once the capital of Portugal. It is home to a magnificently preserved Gothic cathedral and a university from the 13th century, making it one of the oldest in the world. Coimbra’s University was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2013. There are many things to see and do and as it is a university city, there is always some cultural events happening!

Today on the Camino Portugués takes you along valleys and also some urban areas along a relatively flat trail. There is an initial climb as you leave Coimbra up to Cioga do Monte. Throughout the day you will see remains of the old Roman road. Your stop for the night is Mealhada, located in an area famous for its vineyards and wine making.

Today the Camino trail takes you through more pretty vineyards on a fairly easy trail. The route will take you to the city of Avelas de Caminho, with a strong historic connection to the Camino de Santiago hence its name. Your stop for the night will be Águeda, on the banks of the Certima river.

Today’s Camino stage is relatively easy and short, with only one climb at the very end of your day. This particular section of the Camino follows the ancient Roman road known as ‘Via Romana XVI’, through eucalyptus and pine forests. You will also cross a lovely Roman bridge over the Rio Marnel on your way to Albergaria A Velha.

From Albergaria A Velha, the Camino takes you across more woodlands and gradually into more urban areas, in the northern part of the Beira Coast. You will pass the lovely historic town of Oliveira de Azeméis, where you should visit the Matriz de São Miguel church. From here the Camino trail heads across rolling hills, with the climb to São João da Madeira being the highest point of the day, at 220m.

Today’s stage of the Camino Portugués is relatively short and travels through urban areas but also follows a section of the original Roman road. You will pass the town of Arrifana with its distinctive blue church before making your way onto the preserved cobbled Roman road. The last stretch of the stage will take you gradually downhill by O Mosteiro de São Salvador de Grijó, dating back to the 13th century (here you will be picked up and transferred to your accommodation for the night in Porto).

In the morning, you will be transferred back to Grijó to continue your Camino. Today you will enjoy the refreshing breeze of the Atlantic Ocean as you make your way to Porto, world capital of Port wine. You will also follow another well-preserved Via Romana in Perosinho. You will then head to Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river Douro from Porto. Cross the fantastic Ponte Luiz I into Porto, to arrive in the historic city centre.

The old city centre of Porto has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. There is plenty to amaze you in Porto, from the colourful riverfront and the Douro river with its period Port wine boats, to the friendly locals and the tasty local cuisine. Did you know there are 365 cod dishes in Portugal? one for each day of the year.

As you start your Camino from Porto, we recommend you take the metro to Maia (not included), so you can skip the suburbs of the city (walking 11km). If you choose to walk from the centre of town, you will walk 25km. From Maia, you will be walking on a quiet country route with many interesting churches along the way, for instance the 12th century monastery: Mosteiro de Leca do Balio. Your stop for the night is the village of Fajozes.

Today’s walking day on Camino starts in Fajozes and heads North East, away from the coast. Shortly after the start you will cross the magnificent Dom Zameiro bridge and enter lush pine and eucalyptus woods, offering plenty of shade.

his stage of the Camino takes you across gentle rolling hills, woodland and lovely little villages. If you like, you can climb up to the Chapel of Santa de Franqueira, at 290m, to enjoy the fantastic views. You will cross an old stone bridge as you make your way to the market town of Barcelos, famous for its ‘galo’, the iconic Portuguese cockerel.

After you leave Barcelos, the landscape will start to change gradually, as you approach Galicia and green hills become more prominent. Today is the most challenging walking day on this Camino section, mainly due to the shortage of villages along the way, as well as some short, sharp climbs. The scenery is fantastic however, so your effort will be rewarded with wonderful views.

There is a fair amount of climbing to be done again today, with the highest point being Alto da Portela Grande, at 410m. However once again you will be rewarded with fantastic views. The Camino de Santiago also takes you past a number of small churches and crossings with cairns, where pilgrims to Santiago have traditionally placed stones to mark their journey and remember their loved ones.

Today you will leave Portugal and cross the River Minho into Galicia. Your day will kick start with a descent to the Río Coura, across lush green hills; then followed by a long, gradual climb to Alto Sao Bento da Porta Aberta. From here there is a sharp descent to Fontoura and the Rio Minho, separating Portugal and Spain. You will cross the international bridge from Valença do Minho to your destination: Tui, in Galicia.

Take time to explore the charming town of Tui, overlooking the River Minho. Stroll down the lovely streets to the Plaza de San Fernando, where you’ll get fantastic views of the magnificent 12th century cathedral. Ask the team if you’d like to upgrade to a Parador or if you would like to book additional nights to explore this beautiful part of Galicia

This section of the Camino Portugues starts from the old port of Tui and makes its way up through the old town along the Camino de Barca. From here you will pass through the Túnel das Monxas and begin a sharp climb up to the pretty bridge of San Telmo. After this, the terrain becomes slightly easier on the way to O Porriño. Please note: an alternative route has been signposted in 2013 to bypass the industrial estate in the outskirts of town.

From O Porriño you continue your Camino journey along the Louro valley. On your way to Redondela you will spot the bay in the distance. A short climb takes pilgrims to the chapel of Santiaguiño (Little St James) de Antas, a lovely place where you can rest your legs and feet for a while. After the chapel, the Camino route enters pine forests. Before you reach Arcade, famous for its oysters and your stop for the night, you will pass the village of Setefontes.

Today, you will cross the Verdugo River over Ponte Sampaio. It is in this bridge is where Napoleon’s army suffered one of its greatest defeats in Galicia. From Ponte Sampaio the Camino continues along a cobbled road taking pilgrims to the 13th century Church of Santa María, where you can enjoy magnificent views over the Bay of Vigo while walking towards Pontevedra.

Today, starting in the city of Pontevedra, the Camino will take you through chestnut groves and pine and eucalyptus woods. In the village of Ponte Cabras, take a minute to admire the rectory of Santa María de Alba. At Lombo da Maceira you will spot a statue of Saint James with his walking stick, showing pilgrims the way. On your way to Caldas de Reis you will pass the hamlet of Tivo with its lovely fountain and public washing area. You will be staying in the spa town of Caldas de Reis for the night.

From the spa town of Caldas de Reis, the Camino Portugués takes you across the river Umia and the hot springs that have given the town its name since Roman times. The Camino trail takes you once again to forests, gradually climbing to the village of Santa Mariña. After a descent you will cross the river Fontenlo before making your way through pine forests to today’s final destination: the town of Padrón, believed to be arrival point of the body of Saint James when it was brought to Santiago de Compostela by ship.

4h30 | +268m / -285m
From Caldas de Reis you will cross the river Umia and encounter the hot springs giving the town its name. The Camino trail once again takes you into forests and gradually climbs to the village of Santa Marina. After a descent you will cross the river Fontenlo before making your way through pine forests to today’s final destination of Padrón. It is here where the boat carrying the body of Saint James first landed when it was brought to Compostela.

Santiago de Compostela is a gem of a city: small enough to be explored and be discovered on foot but always vibrant and lively. Wander the cobbled streets of its UNESCO-listed old town, go for a stroll in the Alameda Park and discover regional flavours in the local market (Mercado de Abastos) and the many restaurants and bars.