Camino Portugese from Lisbon: How challenging is it?

[Finnie]

I am planning to walk this route from Lisbon to Santiago in the spring of 2016. I have heard that the stage from Lisbon to Porto is poorly signed and largely through industrial areas. Does anyone have up to date info on this route?

 

[MichaelSG]

I had some trouble with the signage at places between Lisbon & Porto last year but it's not that bad in most places. Also, I would not ever consider that section as "largely through industrial areas". I remember only a very few short bits in industrial areas unless you count farm land as industrial.

Overall, the part from Lisbon to Porto can be challenging physically but the longer stretches can be shortened with a little work. That section also has what I consider the best parts of the Caminho, i.e., Lisbon, Coimbra, Tomar and Santarem. These places are not to be missed, IMHO. There are fewer pilgrims before Porto but it helps in forming closer friendships with those who are there and you certainly appreciate more the pilgrims who start in Porto. If it helps, feel free to have a look at my blog below. I tell the good and the bad. I recommend walking from Lisbon if you have the time and resources.

 

[Finnie]

Thanks for this encouraging reply, Michael. I will certainly read your blog.

 

[Magwood]

I agree with @MichaelSG. I walked from Lisbon last year. There is a lot of beautiful scenery to walk through - many woodlands and farmland and an incredible amount of wild flowers in spring time. You can lessen the effect of the industrial areas by planning to walk through them at the weekend when they are practically deserted.

I would recommend that you give the soles of your feet some good protection against the cobble stones you will enciunter. And if you find the length of some stages a bit daunting, look in the resources section of this forum where you will find a document listing various ways to break up the longer distances.

I thoroughly enjoyed this camino last year. Give yourself an extra day or two in Lisbon if you can - it is a beautiful city, and as @MichaelSG says, there are some really interesting places to discover along the way.

I also blogged about my experience, posting every day live from the camino. If you would like to take a look, see the link below.
Bom caminho

 

[Anniesantiago]

Do either of you have an approximate cost of walking this route from Lisbon?
I'm mostly interested in lodging costs?
Thanks.

 

[CaminoKate0214]

[/QUOTE] If it helps, feel free to have a look at my blog below. I tell the good and the bad. I recommend walking from Lisbon if you have the time and resources.[/QUOTE]

Can't wait to read this! I had anticipated doing yet another Camino, very possibly the CP. Thank you!

 

[Finnie]

I agree with @MichaelSG. I walked from Lisbon last year. There is a lot of beautiful scenery to walk through - many woodlands and farmland and an incredible amount of wild flowers in spring time. You can lessen the effect of the industrial areas by planning to walk through them at the weekend when they are practically deserted.

I would recommend that you give the soles of your feet some good protection against the cobble stones you will enciunter. And if you find the length of some stages a bit daunting, look in the resources section of this forum where you will find a document listing various ways to break up the longer distances.

I thoroughly enjoyed this camino last year. Give yourself an extra day or two in Lisbon if you can - it is a beautiful city, and as @MichaelSG says, there are some really interesting places to discover along the way.

I also blogged about my experience, posting every day live from the camino. If you would like to take a look, see the link below.
Bom caminho

Thanks, Magwood. I'll read your blog if only to find out how to protect my feet from the cobble stones. My feet resembled hamburger after finishing the Camino Frances.

 

[MichaelSG]

Do either of you have an approximate cost of walking this route from Lisbon?
I'm mostly interested in lodging costs?
Thanks.

My wife and I chose to spend most of our nights in pensions / B&Bs / casa rurals / cheap hotels where the usual cost was about 40€ per night. In one or two places we stopped, we had to spend as much as 70€ but we could have planned to avoid those places if needed. Porto definitely needs planning or advance reservations. You would faint if you heard what we paid there. The albergues where we stayed had a normal cost of 10€ per bed so we usually paid double for the luxury of a private room and bath. Albergues are not always an option south of Porto but frequent to the north.

 

[katdavis]

Do either of you have an approximate cost of walking this route from Lisbon?
I'm mostly interested in lodging costs?
Thanks.

Hi Annie,

I just stumbled across this thread and thought I might be able to help with the costs from my experience in June 2014. I stayed in albergues/hostels wherever possible and my total for accommodation was about 230 Euros (including donativos):

Vilafranca de Xira: Pensao Ribatejana (€10 for a 4 bed dorm)
Azambuja: Flor da Primavera, (€20 for a private room)
Santarem: Santarem Hostel, €15 for a female dorm
Golega: Solo Duro (€10 euros, dorm)
Tomar: Hostel Tomar 2300 (€15 in a female dorm)
Alvaiazere: Albergaria Pinheiro, €10 euros for a private room and shared shower
Rabacal: Casa de Turismo do Rabacal, €15 for a private room
Coimbra: Hotel Larbelo, €25 for a double bed
Mealhada: Albergue Hilario (€10 for a mixed dorm)
Agueda: Albergue Residencial Celeste (€10 for a dorm)
Oliveira de Azemeis: Bombeiros, €5
Grijo: Grijo Albergue (€5 for a dorm)
Porto: Yes! Porto Hostel (€19 for a dorm)
Vilarinho: Casa Laura, €10 for a dorm
Barcelos: Albergue Cidade de Barcelos, donativo
Ponte de Lima: Albergue Casa do Arnado Municipal (€5 for a dorm)
Valenca: Albergue de Sao Teotonio Municipal, €5
Mos: Albergue Casa Blanca, €8
Pontevedra: Municipal Albergue, €5
Caldas de Reis: Municipal Albergue Posada Dona Urraca, €6
Herbon: Convento de Herbon Albergue, donativo

I found Portugal to be slightly cheaper for eating out than in Spain (except in Tourist towns like Valenca), but as there aren't many albergue options between Lisbon to Porto, the accommodation for this stretch is more expensive.

I hope this helps.

Kat

 

[Anniesantiago]

Thank you so much!