Which part to choose between Lisbon and Porto

[Totu]

Dear all, I have done Camino Frances, Norte and Primitivo and would like to ask about Portuges. I have some soul-searching to do and would love to walk a part of it, unfortunately only a part because of work commitments. I will have about 8-9 days in May and would prefer to walk between Lisbon to Porto, as I have been to Galicia a lot. I would love to walk in the nature as much as possible (not next to highways) but as a woman walking alone, I would also like to see some other pilgrims ahead or behind me, as it is on other Caminos (mostly on Frances). I read that Tomar to Coimbra is beautiful? How crowded is this section in May - I read that many people join it only after Porto? Thank you!

 

[Corned Beef]

I did this section in January and only saw 1 other pilgrim going to Santiago. Saw lots and lots going to Fatima though. Pilgrim statistics show less than 3000 pilgrims start at Lisbon for Santiago compared with 10 times this amount from SJPP and many, many more at Sarria.

Starting at Porto is a good idea.

Statistics | Pilgrim's welcome office

oficinadelperegrino.com

 

[BarbaraW]

I walked the Tomar to Coimbra section last May and there were very few pilgrims. Had I not teamed up with another pilgrim I'd have been walking alone. I estimate that there were only about 20 people a day walking this bit. We met in albergues at night.

 

[Steve57]

Dear all, I have done Camino Frances, Norte and Primitivo and would like to ask about Portuges. I have some soul-searching to do and would love to walk a part of it, unfortunately only a part because of work commitments. I will have about 8-9 days in May and would prefer to walk between Lisbon to Porto, as I have been to Galicia a lot. I would love to walk in the nature as much as possible (not next to highways) but as a woman walking alone, I would also like to see some other pilgrims ahead or behind me, as it is on other Caminos (mostly on Frances). I read that Tomar to Coimbra is beautiful? How crowded is this section in May - I read that many people join it only after Porto? Thank you!

I walked in May last, about max of 12 other pilgrims. Some beautiful towns including Santarem , Tomar and Coimbra. There is quite a bit of walking on asphalt and some areas of nature, but not like in Galicia. Bom Camino!

 

[surya8]

Dear all, I have done Camino Frances, Norte and Primitivo and would like to ask about Portuges. I have some soul-searching to do and would love to walk a part of it, unfortunately only a part because of work commitments. I will have about 8-9 days in May and would prefer to walk between Lisbon to Porto, as I have been to Galicia a lot. I would love to walk in the nature as much as possible (not next to highways) but as a woman walking alone, I would also like to see some other pilgrims ahead or behind me, as it is on other Caminos (mostly on Frances). I read that Tomar to Coimbra is beautiful? How crowded is this section in May - I read that many people join it only after Porto? Thank you!

I walked between Santarem and Porto in late Oct, started on my own but then met friends on the way and we walked together later. There were between 3 and 8 people there on a stage out of season when I walked, and if you walk in May there will be plenty of those walking to Fatima and some going to Santiago as well, not sure if they'd be clearly visible in both directions all the time though. In terms of safety I felt all right there, the road was marked and the locals were very helpful. In terms of nature I mostly enjoyed the stretch between Santarem and Coimbra: i loved the cork oaks and eucalypus forests there, and the wild strawberry tree fruit were abundant and delicious, I enjoyed exploring the authentic small towns on the way there as well. If you decide to walk further then Agueda is pretty colourful and there is a one of a kind donativo albergue further on in Branca - with communal meals - I think it's the only one like that between Lisbon and Porto, check it out - Casa Catolico. Bom Caminho!

 

[Jo H]

Dear all, I have done Camino Frances, Norte and Primitivo and would like to ask about Portuges. I have some soul-searching to do and would love to walk a part of it, unfortunately only a part because of work commitments. I will have about 8-9 days in May and would prefer to walk between Lisbon to Porto, as I have been to Galicia a lot. I would love to walk in the nature as much as possible (not next to highways) but as a woman walking alone, I would also like to see some other pilgrims ahead or behind me, as it is on other Caminos (mostly on Frances). I read that Tomar to Coimbra is beautiful? How crowded is this section in May - I read that many people join it only after Porto? Thank you!

I loved walking from Tomar to Coimbra in 6 days in April 2023. As a solo female staying at albergues and guesthouses I met lots of other people and lots of pilgrims to walk with or alone. I also went to Luso to walk in the National Park there.