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Hi Delta, I walked from Lisbon to Santiago in September and I did not see too many pilgrims while walking, at least until you reach Porto, then it is busier, once you get to Valenca / Tui, it is as busy as on the Camino Frances. I enjoyed the peacefulness.This will be my first time on the camino and May cant come fast enough! I'm going solo but I'm anticipating on meeting people along the way. Anyone else starting from Lisbon in May 2017?
Hi Delta, I walked from Lisbon to Santiago in September and I did not see too many pilgrims while walking, at least until you reach Porto, then it is busier, once you get to Valenca / Tui, it is as busy as on the Camino Frances. I enjoyed the peacefulness.
Bom Caminho!
Delta,Anything I shouldn't miss along the way? I'm thinking of following the coastal route on the way out of Porto and link back up with the normal route at Ponte de Lima, would you know any about that? I've been told it's a better exerpeince leaging porto since the first 20km are busy and full of traffic.
Delta,
A word to the wise, do NOT take the route from Vila do conde to Rates that follows the aquaduct, take the road to the right just after crossing the bridge as you come into town.
Likewise, like Anemone, I took the metro out of Porto to Matosinhos and started walking. It was a beautiful day and a lot of surfer riding the waves. The walk is on boardwalk, so very pleasant and there all kinds of little cafés along the coast. After Vila do Conde I walked to San Pedro de Rates, not via the aquaduc. Be careful there are quite a few narrow roads and very fast drivers and no shoulder... Of course I stayed an extra day to visit Porto, and prior, to Porto I took a bus in Santarem to go an visit Fatima, also an extra day to vist the castle in Tomar, well worth the time. Then in Barcelos, I took a day to visit Braga, I highly recommend it, if you have enough time. Also you need to reserve a bed at Casa Fernanda, in Lugar, beautiful memories of my evening with Fernanda!!Anything I shouldn't miss along the way? I'm thinking of following the coastal route on the way out of Porto and link back up with the normal route at Ponte de Lima, would you know any about that? I've been told it's a better exerpeince leaging porto since the first 20km are busy and full of traffic.
Likewise, like Anemone, I took the metro out of Porto to Matosinhos and started walking. It was a beautiful day and a lot of surfer riding the waves. The walk is on boardwalk, so very pleasant and there all kinds of little cafés along the coast. After Vila do Conde I walked to San Pedro de Rates, not via the aquaduc. Be careful there are quite a few narrow roads and very fast drivers and no shoulder... Of course I stayed an extra day to visit Porto, and prior, to Porto I took a bus in Santarem to go an visit Fatima, also an extra day to vist the castle in Tomar, well worth the time. Then in Barcelos, I took a day to visit Braga, I highly recommend it, if you have enough time. Also you need to reserve a bed at Casa Fernanda, in Lugar, beautiful memories of my evening with Fernanda!!
Hi Daniel, I will be walking from Lisbon beginning May 4...At least that's the plan. A friend of mine, whom I met in 2015 on the Frances, will be walking also. When do you begin?
Suzanne
Hi Zoula, I'm doing my first Camino from Porto in August. I'm also solo and am concerned about being alone. I'm thinking of going on the coastal route. Any suggestions?Hi Delta, I walked from Lisbon to Santiago in September and I did not see too many pilgrims while walking, at least until you reach Porto, then it is busier, once you get to Valenca / Tui, it is as busy as on the Camino Frances. I enjoyed the peacefulness.
Bom Caminho!
We decided to begin our walk in Coimbra and are now two days in. We've seen multitudes of walkers going south to Fatima. You will not be alone!Hi Suzanne, I arrive in Lisbon on the 9th and don't plan on starting my Camino until the 11th. I plan to detour to Fatima once I arrive in Tomar and again in Porto but I'm still figuring out those details. I most like will have a general idea and then just figure it out on the way.
Daniel
Hi Cila, from Porto, you might be walking alone, but there will be pilgrims either in front or behind you, not a problem. I only did the coastal to Villa do Conde, which was soooo beautiful. Lots of cafés and restaurants, then I continued on the interior route. Also in August there are a lot of surfers and tourists, so you really won't be alone.Hi Zoula, I'm doing my first Camino from Porto in August. I'm also solo and am concerned about being alone. I'm thinking of going on the coastal route. Any suggestions?
Thank you!Hi Cila, from Porto, you might be walking alone, but there will be pilgrims either in front or behind you, not a problem. I only did the coastal to Villa do Conde, which was soooo beautiful. Lots of cafés and restaurants, then I continued on the interior route. Also in August there are a lot of surfers and tourists, so you really won't be alone.
I wish you a wonderful caminho! I loved the coastal route.I am most likely starting from Porto around May 22, and taking the coastal route out of Porto.
Lainey, did you have any problem with finding the route? I just was reading the Brierley book and it said that the coastal route was well waymarked.I wish you a wonderful caminho! I loved the coastal route.
thanks. Brierley's book actually gives no descriptions for the coastal route, just a list of tourism offices, hostels, etc. no directions.I found the signage on the route to be very good mainly.I started from Porto by taking the metro to Matosinhos and then walking over the huge bridge and following the signs to Vila do Conde. You can walk from Porto cathedral and follow the river out of the city. I adored the boardwalk walking for the first part of the journey! I found it a bit difficult going from Baiona to Vigo but I think I missed some signage and ended up doing several miles of urban walking into Vigo, so hopefully Brierley's book will give you good directions for this part.
As has been said many times on this forum about the Portuguese coastal route - as long as you have the sea on your left, you are going in the right direction!