flying home from Porto or Madrid?

[JustJack]

All things being equal, would you choose flying back to western Canada from Porto or Madrid? Seems prices are similar, and both can be easily reached by train from Santiago.

Porto isn't a city that has ever been on my radar, but perhaps this would be a good opportunity to see it.

As an aside, I spent a few days in Madrid many years ago, so I have had a chance to see a little bit of it, but barely remember. Never been to Portugal at all.

I understand it's a subjective choice, but wondering if there are any practical reasons that I might not be aware of for choosing/avoiding one over the other. My schedule will likely allow me to stay a few extra days if I choose to.

 

[Tincatinker]

For me any opportunity to spend time in either is the chocolate biscuit, with extra chocolate. Porto is a wonderful city and a few days to engage in its charms won’t be enough. Madrid has so much to offer that even a month won’t give you sufficient time. The Prado is worth a week.
Sorry, not being very helpful am I

 

[Jodean]

Bus ride to Porto may be a lot cheaper and faster than taking a train to Madrid and the bus stops right at the airport. For me, Porto is prettier and more interesting than Madrid, and a lot smaller.

 

[Vacajoe]

Porto, no question. Spend a few days walking around, eating sardines and Bifanas, drinking port. Very easy to reach the airport from the central city.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Porto, no question. Spend a few days walking around, eating sardines and Bifanas, drinking port. Very easy to reach the airport from the central city.

Madrid is wonderful, but if you are a bit tired and burnt out from your Camino, my choice would definitely be Porto. It is very walkable, not overwhelming, and beautiful.

 

[JustJack]

Thanks all - I'm starting to see the merit in choosing Porto over Madrid, considering it will be the end of my camino, and a smaller city will likely be more conducive to my state of mind... And who doesn't like a nice glass of port!

 

[naplesdon]

Porto!

 

[Mariy]

Porto over Madrid.

 

[PrayerPose25]

Porto! Charm, quaintness and friendliness itself.

 

[aerialobserver]

Flew in and out through Madrid for the Camino Frances and heading to Porto for the Portuguese. Why not both? From Santiago, I took a bus to Salamanca to spend a couple of days in that lovely ancient university town. Back in Madrid, besides enjoying the museums and public gardens, there were day tours to Toledo and Segovia. Granted, I'm retired and not constrained so much by time, but my goal is to have enough leisure in a place to feel I've really seen it. Easy for me to say, but the whole purpose of a camino is to slow way down and absorb. If, like me, you really enjoy your first camino, don't rule out another.

 

[Vince Rollason]

All things being equal, would you choose flying back to western Canada from Porto or Madrid? Seems prices are similar, and both can be easily reached by train from Santiago.

Porto isn't a city that has ever been on my radar, but perhaps this would be a good opportunity to see it.

As an aside, I spent a few days in Madrid many years ago, so I have had a chance to see a little bit of it, but barely remember. Never been to Portugal at all.

I understand it's a subjective choice, but wondering if there are any practical reasons that I might not be aware of for choosing/avoiding one over the other. My schedule will likely allow me to stay a few extra days if I choose to.

Hi
I spent 5 days in Porto before walking Camino da Costa in 2019 and found it to be a fabulous city to visit. The Douro Valley is also well worth seeing and you can do this from Porto by coach or river cruise. A couple of friends I made on that trip returned to Porto from Santiago by bus to fly home and found it a simple option.
Buen Camino
Vince