Advice needed on travel from Tomar to Porto

[Vermont Pat]

We are flying into Lisbon, then taking a train to Tomar for a couple nights, which looks pretty easy. What is less clear is the best way from Tomar to Porto. Have you done this? What do you recommend? Thanks!

 

[trecile]

We are flying into Lisbon, then taking a train to Tomar for a couple nights, which looks pretty easy. What is less clear is the best way from Tomar to Porto. Have you done this? What do you recommend? Thanks!

Walking?
If not walking I would probably take the train, but I'm not that well versed in Portuguese transport options. Hopefully @jungleboy will see this post. He lived in Portugal for a number of years.

 

[jungleboy]

There are trains but they’re not direct, and many require two changes. This is the website of CP (the Portuguese train operator).

A bus might be more convenient. Rede Expressos and Flixbus are the main operators in Portugal. Flixbus doesn’t do Tomar-Porto but does do Fátima-Porto.

Good luck!

 

[kenwilltravel]

Jungleboy is right. I just checked the CP app and found that Tomar to Porto generally takes about 4 hours and involves two changes of train, at Lamarosa and Coimbra. If you can find a direct bus, that's the preferred option I would think.

 

[Paintboy2]

I took the train from Tomar a couple of years ago because the temps were over 100. You need to go South a short way to Entroncamento and then up to Porto. You might consider a day in Tomar. It's beautiful there and the Castle is one of the best and most beautiful I've seen. Have fun.

 

[motero99]

Fatima is a fairly quick bus ride from Tomar, ha hour and a half or so if I remember correctly. Fatima is worth seeing. They do not charge see the church as many other places do. The gigantic plaza between the other buildings is a great sight. Just imagine it full of pilgrims. I did not stay for the candlelight procession, but people tell me it is beautiful and touching. I did walk by the area where people light candles and pray. The amount of wax flowing is incredible. They have vacuums to pick up what has missed the drain.
If you are walking from Tomar to Porto, to me that was the worst day of my Camino from Lisbon to Santiago. I did not start until 10 as I wanted to walk to the Templar castle in Tomar first. The walk from Tomar to Cortica was hot and hilly. I think there should be a plenary indulgence awarded for walking through eucalyptus forests on a hot day. They suck the air out of you as you are trying to breathe it in. Also, a lot of the path skirts the towns, so there is not much water available. I saw a firend eating a popsicle at a bar at the top of the first steep climb out of Tomar. I kept going which was a big mistake. I finished my water and figured I would pass a town. The trail was always on the outskirts of them. I was literally staggering when I saw a man working on a house. He offered me water. He did tell me that he was making the house into an albergue since there were such long distances there without water. After that, the next place to get a drink was a gas station about 150 meters away from where the camino crosses a highway. If you are walking, take plenty of water.

 

[LesR]

We are flying into Lisbon, then taking a train to Tomar for a couple nights, which looks pretty easy. What is less clear is the best way from Tomar to Porto. Have you done this? What do you recommend? Thanks!

I strongly recommend walking - relaxing, improves fitness and physical and mental health...

 

[Vermont Pat]

There are trains but they’re not direct, and many require two changes. This is the website of CP (the Portuguese train operator).

A bus might be more convenient. Rede Expressos and Flixbus are the main operators in Portugal. Flixbus doesn’t do Tomar-Porto but does do Fátima-Porto.

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Vermont Pat]

Oops! Thank you so much.

 

[jimmyc]

Why not walk. The best of the Portuguese is before Porto.

 

[jungleboy]

Why not walk. The best of the Portuguese is before Porto.

I dare say most people would not agree with that.

My personal view is that Tomar-Coimbra is nice but Coimbra-Porto much less so.

 

[jimmyc]

Jungleboy, with respect your statement "most people would not agree with that" does beg the question. Walking the caminos is a very personal thing and each person looks for different experiences.
All the people in my group loved to enjoy the Portuguese culture experience along the way, not just the major cities.
I suppose we must agree to disagree.

 

[Enzed]

Why not walk. The best of the Portuguese is before Porto.

The more time in Portugal the better!

So many hidden treasures too, if you go choose to deviated from the path. My Irish pilgrim friend spent a a rest day exploring a forest/nature area not far from Coimbra.

And I found the delightful town of Santa maria de feira with its castle, and old main street.