Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[Ewald Schmidt]

Hi dear friends, if everything goes according to plan, I will be arriving at Santiago de Campostelo (via the French Route) on 15 June 2011. I plan to continue on to Finisterre. But when my journey finishes there, I wondered if it would be possible to see a bit of Portugal on the way back to Madrid. I have booked a hotel in Madrid on 20 June, and will fly back home on 21 June.

I even thought of going to Lisbon by the night train, stay the day, and return the next evening. (Madrid: Lisbon: Madrid)

Any suggestions by you who have gone before?

[markss]

This may be a bit of off your direct question. When on Camino last year someone who was from Portugal recommended a visit to the coastal city of Porto, Portugal (Also referred to as "Oporto"). As I too had extra time after Finisterre I went back to Santiago from where it was easy to catch a train through Vigo and on to Porto. After several days in Porto, including a day's excursion to Fatima, I returned back to Santiago then onward with a flight to Madrid. It all worked out well logistically and economically. Going instead to Lisbon would have been a bit more difficult due to my particular circumstances with flights and further travel from Madrid back to the United States. Flights between Santiago and Madrid were inexpensive; Sanitago to Lisbon to Madrid considerably more expensive and with less convenient timetables.

I had been to Lisbon in the past. Indeed it is a beautiful city, but Porto is equally charming and every bit as much worth a visit.

Buen Camino!

[Ewald Schmidt]

Thanks Markss, I will really try to do that, Porto sounds like the way to go, then!