October 12, 2026
The Portuguese Camino: routes, stages and how to choose
The Central route from Lisbon, Porto or Tui, the Coastal Way, the Spiritual Variant and the Inland route: distances, stages, when to go and how to choose.
The Portuguese Camino is the second most walked Camino de Santiago. In 2025 more than 190,000 pilgrims walked its two main routes. You can start in Lisbon (~620 km), in Porto (~240-270 km) or in Tui, right on the border (~115 km, the minimum for the Compostela).
The routes of the Portuguese Camino
| Route | Starts in | Approx. distance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Lisbon | ~620 km · 25-28 stages | Those with a month who want to see real Portugal |
| Central | Porto | ~240 km · 10-12 stages | The most popular choice for 2 weeks |
| Central | Tui / Valença | ~115 km · 5-6 stages | A first Camino or one week |
| Coastal | Porto | ~270 km · 11-13 stages | Those who want the sea |
| Spiritual Variant | Pontevedra | ~70 km to Padrón · 3 stages | Adding 1-2 different days to the Central route |
| Inland | Viseu | ~387 km · joins the Sanabrés at Verín | Those looking for solitude |
Central Portuguese Way
It runs inland: Lisbon, Santarém, Tomar, Coimbra, Porto, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, Valença. It crosses the Minho river into Tui and continues through the province of Pontevedra to Padrón and Santiago.
- Lisbon to Porto: fewer pilgrims, more tarmac in places and fewer albergues. Beautiful around Tomar and Coimbra.
- Porto to Tui: fields, vineyards and villages of the Minho. The climb up the Labruja, after Ponte de Lima, is the hardest of the route.
- Tui to Santiago: the busiest stretch, with services in every village.
Portuguese Coastal Way
It leaves Porto along the Atlantic: Vila do Conde, Esposende, Viana do Castelo, Caminha. You cross into Spain by boat to A Guarda and continue through Baiona and Vigo to Redondela, where it joins the Central route.
A very popular variant, the Senda Litoral, runs almost entirely along wooden boardwalks beside the beach.
Spiritual Variant
It leaves the Central route in Pontevedra. It climbs to the Armenteira monastery, follows the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga (old watermills along a river) down to Vilanova de Arousa, and from there you continue by boat up the estuary to Padrón, following the arrival of the Apostle by sea. Note: the boat section doesn't count for the Compostela, so make sure you have enough kilometres on foot beforehand.
Stages from Tui to Santiago (the most walked)
| Stage | Approx. distance |
|---|---|
| Tui → O Porriño | 16 km |
| O Porriño → Redondela | 16 km |
| Redondela → Pontevedra | 20 km |
| Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis | 22 km |
| Caldas de Reis → Padrón | 18 km |
| Padrón → Santiago | 25 km |
| Total | ~117 km |
Some people do it in 5 stages, joining two short ones, and others stretch it to 7 to take it easy. → Stage-by-stage guide from Tui to Santiago
Suggested stages from Porto to Tui (Central)
Porto → Vilarinho → Barcelos → Ponte de Lima → Rubiães → Valença/Tui. About 5-6 stages of 18-34 km, depending on where you sleep.
When to go
- Best time: from April to June and in September and October. Good weather and less heat.
- July and August: lots of people, especially from Tui, and even more in the 2027 Holy Year. Book ahead.
- Winter: it's possible, because it's a low-altitude route, but it rains a lot in the Minho and in Galicia, and some albergues close.
Good to know
- Two countries, two time zones: Portugal is one hour behind Spain.
- Waymarking: yellow arrows the whole way, in both countries. In Portugal you'll also see blue arrows, which go to Fátima, in the opposite direction.
- Albergues: public ones (fixed price, mostly no bookings) and private ones (bookable). Portugal has fewer public albergues than Galicia.
- Difficulty: easy to moderate. No big mountains, except the Labruja. On the Coastal Way, lots of boardwalk and some sand.
- Compostela: from Tui or from Baiona you already have more than 100 km. → How to get the Compostela
- Getting there: Porto and Lisbon have international airports; Tui is easy to reach from Vigo and from Porto.
Central or Coastal?
| Central | Coastal | |
|---|---|---|
| Scenery | Inland, forests, vineyards, villages | Sea, beaches, fishing towns |
| People | More | Somewhat fewer (but growing every year) |
| Services | More albergues | Somewhat fewer, especially in winter |
| Difficulty | The Labruja climb | Flatter, some sand |
| Pilgrims in 2025 | 100,835 | 89,509 |
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Portuguese Camino?
About 620 km from Lisbon, 240 km from Porto on the Central route, about 270 km on the Coastal Way and about 115 km from Tui.
How many days does it take?
From Tui, 5-6 days. From Porto, 10-13. From Lisbon, 25-28.
Is it easier than the French Way?
Generally yes: less climbing and shorter stages. But from Tui it's almost as busy as the French Way from Sarria.
Where should I start to get the Compostela?
From Tui (Central) or from Baiona (Coastal). From Valença, across the bridge, works too.
Central or Coastal?
If you want the sea, Coastal. If you want more atmosphere, more albergues and inland scenery, Central. They meet in Redondela.
Related: All the Caminos de Santiago · How to get the Compostela · Holy Year 2027 · What to pack
Sources: Pilgrim's Office (2025 statistics), Gronze, Associação dos Amigos do Caminho Português. Approximate distances; reviewed on 12/10/2026.
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