Camino Portugues in March/April

[Gene Reinecke]

Hello
Thinking of starting in Lisbon March 15th.
Can anybody give me insight into weather/wind/albuerges or hotels this time of year?
Thanks in advance

 

[robproct]

I just completed the Portuguese from Lisbon yesterday in 24 days. Loved it. Very quiet. For the first 7 days I saw no one. Perfect for solitary contemplation. Most albergues will be open but the first one at Alpirate may not be. STRONG recommendation... do stay at Fernando’s at Lugo past Porto. My best night on the Portuguese. It’s a good idea to call ahead and book as it’s a small Albergue. Fernando speaks good English. If Alpirate is closed you can walk on to Alhandra and sleep in the fire station. I rather suggest catching the train out of Lisbon to Sacavém and start there as the walk is mostly through industrial areas. North of Porto it gets busier and north of Tui it’s even more so but still quiet compared to the Francis. Lots of walking on cobble stones which is hard going.

 

[gerardcarey]

I left Lissie in early April. The weather was perfect.
Two weeks before that a fellow pilgrim messaged me that he had just left Lissie and it was cold, windy and raining.
You take your chances I guess.
I'd check an online weather site with monthly climate records to give a perspective on what you are in for, then compare that with current forecasts.
Get some good quality, spongy innersoles to deal with the cobbles.
Good travelling & bom Caminho,
Gerard

 

[Francis Naohiro Mori]

robproct, could you please tell me about details of Fernando’s ?
I am walking camino Portugues next April.

 

[peregrina2000]

I just completed the Portuguese from Lisbon yesterday in 24 days. Loved it. Very quiet. For the first 7 days I saw no one. Perfect for solitary contemplation. Most albergues will be open but the first one at Alpirate may not be. STRONG recommendation... do stay at Fernando’s at Lugo past Porto. My best night on the Portuguese. It’s a good idea to call ahead and book as it’s a small Albergue. Fernando speaks good English. If Alpirate is closed you can walk on to Alhandra and sleep in the fire station. I rather suggest catching the train out of Lisbon to Sacavém and start there as the walk is mostly through industrial areas. North of Porto it gets busier and north of Tui it’s even more so but still quiet compared to the Francis. Lots of walking on cobble stones which is hard going.

Hi, robproct,
I will throw in a dissenting view on the walk out of Lisbon. I don’t think Lisbon to Sacavém is mainly through industrial areas. The route starts at the cathedral, winds through the Alfama (old moorish district), past the tile museum, through the old port area with some gorgeous modernist buildings, and gets to the Parque das Naçoes with its long river walk. There are some busy, not pretty parts, but I wouldn’t call them industrial. From Sacavém to Alpriate is actually more of a slog, I think, but I liked the part before Sacavém.

I was interested to hear that the bombeiros in Alhandra are still taking in peregrinos. I know many of them have had to close their doors to pilgrims just because of all the numbers. Did you sleep in the bombeiros frequently? Bom caminho, Laurie