Albergues - The Best & The Worst

[KatWanderlust]

Hi everyone,

After a lot of searching on the forum I've found a number of recommendations for good places to stay on the Portuguese Camino, and only a few places to avoid!

I'm walking from Lisbon - Finisterre in October with my Dad and would love any suggestions you have to add to both lists!

Thank you and Buen Camino.
Kat

 

[robventures]

Albergues - The Best & The Worst

recommendations... Yes! hostel in Lisbon, Casa da Laura in Vilarinho, everyone else always recommends Casa da Fernanda, and Pontecesures for a peaceful last night in a brand new albergue (the crowd all goes to Padrón - you might even be on your own in there.)

 

[mikevasey]

If you are going at quite an easy pace then north of Porto you are spoilt for choice between vilarhino and Rubiaes, you have a good albergue at Sao Pedro do Rates, the place after Barcelos- Tamel? Fernandas place at lugar, the very beautifully situated one in Pont de Lima, the Albergue at Rubiaes. Other places north of them are Mos 25km past Tui. The municipal one in Redondela, i did not stay here but stopped of for a few minutes on my way through and there was a little wow factor to the interior. The one in Briallos, good, clean and quiet. Hebron, this one is said to be a bit special its run by the galician amigos, there is a communal meal in the evening. If the thought of a busy Padron puts you off or a long 28km last day walk into Santiago, then stop in Teo, you could spend some time in Padron on the way through and in Teo you have the nearby hill fortress to wander up to.

South of Porto stay at any albergue you can, there is only a few so take the opportunity when you spot one.

Good luck.

 

[Me Fein]

Recommendations:-The Santarem Hostel in Santarem, Casa da Tia Guida in Golega, Hostel 2300 in Tomar, Albergue Peregrinos Hilario in Mealhada, Albergue Casa Azul in Agueda, Poets Hostel in Porto, Casa Familia Vidal in Vilarinho. All information on Facebook. Had no bad expierence when I walked April/May

 

[KatWanderlust]

Wow thank you so much this is great advice! I'm looking forward to checking these places out

- Kat

 

[Finisterre]

Tui.
It felt like it had been in use for centuries. The little courtyard on the roof was particularly charming, looking over the rooftops and listening to the voices below. I liked it.


Redondela,
less so. the bunks were so close together that you had to climb over the ends of them. A nice building containing the black hole of Calcutta.


Finisterre,
was disappointing, full of half stoned hippys.

 

[Diogo92]

We slept the first night in Porto, in Oporto Poets Hostel, which is a great place; they also serve homemade dinners, and breakfast is excellent! They also have a Hostel in Lisbon, and if you stay in Lisbon and book through them for a space in Oporto, they will give you a discount.

Than we took the Metro until Póvoa do Varzim, and started walking there until Barcelos.

Barcelos - We slept in Hotel do Terço, because we didn’t know that there was a very good Albergue in Barcelos. I'll try it next year;

Ponte de Lima - My first Albergue experience! It is great, very comfy, the only problem it's one emergency LED light that they have over the door, that at night could be a headache for people who aren’t so comfortable with light in a dark ambience. Ohhhh, and pay attention, if you do wash your clothes in there, see where you leave them drying, because the irrigation system starts working at 5AM, and you could get your clothes wet has it happened to me;

Valença - When we arrived there, we couldn’t find anyone responsible in there, and because of the conditions of the bathrooms (which was the only one that had shared bathrooms and showers);

O Porriño - This was a surprise, because we were supposed to stay in Mós (12km ahead), but in O Porriño we talked with a Portuguese couple who were heading to Pontevedra, and that told us that Mós was already complete. So we stayed in one of the best Albergues that I slept in. Very comfy, with a large community room and a very well equipped kitchen!;

Pontevedra - Very good Albergue also, with vending machines (which is good, because the nearest supermarket it's a little bit far from the Albergue);

Caldas de Reis - Probably the best Albergue where I stayed! I've stayed in Dona Urraca, a private Albergue (in Caldas de Reis, all Albergues are private ones), but that practice the same price has the public ones (6€). They have laundry service for 4 or 6€, all clothes will be washed and ironed! The Albergue its run by the people of the bar/pub/restaurant nearby called 5 Jotas (great bocadillo!);

Padrón - This one was important because it's located in an old monastery. The only bad things about it, is that it could be a little bit cold (it's made in stone) and the bathrooms are very small.

Santiago de Compostela – We slept in Albergue Seminário Menor, big, comfortable, and with Single Rooms. Very nice one.

Best Regards
Diogo