Camino Portugués
From Porto to Santiago through Portuguese lands: gentle, Atlantic, and growing fast.
Why choose the Camino Portugués
It's the second most popular route to Santiago, and it keeps growing. It starts in Porto (or Lisbon, if you want the full ~610 km challenge) and crosses northern Portugal and Galicia with a much gentler profile than the Camino Francés: few demanding climbs, good signage, and an increasingly lively atmosphere.
It comes in three flavours: the Central Route (the classic, through the interior), the Coastal Route (Atlantic coastline, flatter and with more beaches), and the Spiritual Variant (the final stretch by boat and on foot to Padrón, following the Translatio of the Apostle). Many pilgrims mix Coastal and Central sections for the best of both worlds.
Choose your variant
All three converge in Redondela or Pontevedra before continuing together to Santiago.
Central Route
From Porto, through the interiorThe most walked and best-signposted variant. Passes through Barcelos, Ponte de Lima and Tui, with more hostels and pilgrim atmosphere at every stage.
Coastal Route
From Porto, along the coastHugs the Atlantic through Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo and A Guarda. Ideal if you love the sea and prefer to avoid elevation gain.
Spiritual Variant
From PontevedraIncludes a boat crossing along the ría de Arousa and the río Ulla to Pontecesures, recreating the arrival of the Apostle's remains.
Central Route from Porto (11 stages)
The most common breakdown of the Porto–Santiago stretch. You can shorten it by starting in Tui if you only need the last 100 km for the Compostela.
| Stage | Section | Distance | View guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto → Vilarinho | 18 km | View stage → |
| 2 | Vilarinho → Barcelos | 26 km | View stage → |
| 3 | Barcelos → Ponte de Lima | 34 km | View stage → |
| 4 | Ponte de Lima → Rubiães | 18 km | View stage → |
| 5 | Rubiães → Tui | 19 km | View stage → |
| 6 | Tui → O Porriño | 16 km | View stage → |
| 7 | O Porriño → Redondela | 15 km | View stage → |
| 8 | Redondela → Pontevedra | 20 km | View stage → |
| 9 | Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis | 21 km | View stage → |
| 10 | Caldas de Reis → Padrón | 19 km | View stage → |
| 11 | Padrón → Santiago | 25 km | View stage → |
Distances are approximate and may vary by a few kilometres depending on the exact variant and start/end point in each town. We'll be publishing a detailed guide for each stage — for now these links point to pages we'll be creating.
The essentials for the Camino Portugués
The Atlantic climate calls the shots: expect more humidity and rain than on the meseta. The links are affiliate links; they cost you nothing extra.
🧥 Lightweight rain jacket
Portugal and Galicia get plenty of rain. Look for breathable and packable.
🥾 Footwear with good grip
Stretches of Portuguese cobblestone: slippery when wet.
🧦 Technical socks
Long stages (up to 34 km) call for socks that won't let you down.
🎒 Waterproof backpack cover
Cheap, light, and saves your gear in a sudden downpour.
Also available at Decathlon [ENLACE_AFILIADO_DECATHLON] and Trekkinn [ENLACE_AFILIADO_TREKKINN].
Accommodation along the route
The hostel network is somewhat sparser than on the Francés, especially through Portugal: book ahead in high season.
Public and private
Present in almost every stage town, more abundant from Tui onwards.
Extra comfort
Affordable private rooms, very common along the Portuguese stretch.
Farmhouses
The Camino Portugués has a great network of rural stays, especially near Ponte de Lima.
View the full route
The map above, next to the hero, shows all three variants: Central, Coastal and Spiritual, all converging on Santiago.
⬆️ Scroll up to see the map
Everything about the Camino Portugués
How many days does the Camino Portugués take from Porto?
Where can I start to earn the Compostela?
Is it easier than the Camino Francés?
Central Route or Coastal Route?
What is the Spiritual Variant?
What's the best time of year to walk it?
Can it be done by bike?
Is this route crowded?
Ready to walk to Santiago?
Choose your variant, plan your stages, and when you arrive, come celebrate with us at Bonsai Café: brunch, specialty coffee and cocktails right in the centre of Santiago.