Dangerous parts from Lisbon to Porto ?

[Barbara06]

Hello,

I will be walking on the camino leaving from Lisbon around 21st of august (passing by Santarem, Coimbra,...).

I heard there are some quite dangerous places due to busy roads and with not much room for pilgrims to pass.
If possible I would like to avoid walking on these stages and take the bus instead.
Could any one, tell me which are the most dangerous / disagreable stages on this part of the camino (from Lisbon to Porto) ?

Is anyone else leaving Lisbon around this period ?

Thanks so much !!

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Hi Barbara!
Check out my web site for diary, plus photos of this camino. Hope they may help!

 

[Barbara06]

Thanks Albertinho and Stephen for your very useful answers

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Lisboa friends, Didn't Diogo post something about a new off-road route on that stretch? I have tried a few searches but can't find it -- I'm sure some of you are more adept than I, or maybe I was imagining it. Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[treefrogtoes]

Hello,

I will be walking on the camino leaving from Lisbon around 21st of august (passing by Santarem, Coimbra,...).

I heard there are some quite dangerous places due to busy roads and with not much room for pilgrims to pass.
If possible I would like to avoid walking on these stages and take the bus instead.
Could any one, tell me which are the most dangerous / disagreable stages on this part of the camino (from Lisbon to Porto) ?

Is anyone else leaving Lisbon around this period ?

Thanks so much !!

 

[treefrogtoes]

I was supposed to be leaving Lisbon at that same time but had to move my trip to September. We could have joined together! As a result of have to move my trip further back, I also needed to cut a few days off in order to get back home in October. I will be starting my Camino in Tomar instead-that is five days off the trail, I'm taking a train from Lisbon and will begin in Tomar. Maybe this is a consideration for you as well? I wish you a soulful and safe Camino.

 

[Norma Jablonski]

Hello,

I will be walking on the camino leaving from Lisbon around 21st of august (passing by Santarem, Coimbra,...).

I heard there are some quite dangerous places due to busy roads and with not much room for pilgrims to pass.
If possible I would like to avoid walking on these stages and take the bus instead.
Could any one, tell me which are the most dangerous / disagreable stages on this part of the camino (from Lisbon to Porto) ?

Is anyone else leaving Lisbon around this period ?

Thanks so much !!

I will be leaving about that time and would like to have a walking companion
Norma Jablonski I will arrive in Lisbon on Aug 5 and staying till Aug 11 and at that time I was planning on getting on the camino.

 

[Barbara06]

I was supposed to be leaving Lisbon at that same time but had to move my trip to September. We could have joined together! As a result of have to move my trip further back, I also needed to cut a few days off in order to get back home in October. I will be starting my Camino in Tomar instead-that is five days off the trail, I'm taking a train from Lisbon and will begin in Tomar. Maybe this is a consideration for you as well? I wish you a soulful and safe Camino.

Hello treefrogtoes,
I should be in Tomar around 24th august so it will be difficult for us to meet.
Not a bad idea to start in Tomar, but maybe also Santarem.
Bom caminho to you !

 

[Barbara06]

I will be leaving about that time and would like to have a walking companion
Norma Jablonski I will arrive in Lisbon on Aug 5 and staying till Aug 11 and at that time I was planning on getting on the camino.

Hello Norma,
Thanks for your answer.
The problem is as you are leaving on August 11th from Lisbon and I will leave around the 21st so a little difficult to walk together, unless I jump many steps, which could be possible but I don't yet know in advance.
Hope for you that you meet walking companions on your way !
Bom Caminho !!

 

[Anniesantiago]

For us, the worst parts were before Pereira.
Not sure about a bus.
We tied orange kerchiefs onto our poles to warn motorists.
It was quite hairy!

 

[Barbara06]

Woaw !! Is Pereira after Porto ?

 

[Anniesantiago]

Woaw !! Is Pereira after Porto ?

Yes.

 

[Rayne Stroebel]

I was also considering walking feom Lisbon, starting in Sept 25th, but having read a few blogs it does sound as if the first eight days out of Lisbon are really awful. Any ideas/suggestions on an alternative route? Maybe a different starting point inland to get to Porto?

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Rayne,
I have walked from Lisbon to Porto, and I think "really awful" is an overstatement. The first 8 days include some very nice stretches of walking and some nice towns along the way. There is actually a wide range of opinion, as there is on most Camino topics. Some didn't like that part, and some forum members recommend taking a train to skip a short segment or two between Lisbon and Azambuja, but others have walked the whole way and enjoyed it. I personally think that the walk from the cathedral, through the Alfama, the old port, and then to the Parque de Nacoes is a great start of a great camino. I may have been lucky with traffic but I never encountered any of the hair-raising situations that others did.

Check out the videos of several forum members: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/why-start-in-lisbon.29651/

Wherever you start, com caminho! Laurie

 

[Rayne Stroebel]

Dear Laurie, thank you so much for your reply! I must say, after have read some more blogs yesterday it seems a matter of "some many people, so many opinions". I am not keen on walking aling highways, and will try and avoid those! Thanks again!

 

[amorfati1]

I was also considering walking feom Lisbon, starting in Sept 25th, but having read a few blogs it does sound as if the first eight days out of Lisbon are really awful. Any ideas/suggestions on an alternative route? Maybe a different starting point inland to get to Porto?

i took the train out from lisboa for about 30min and walked from there to Azambuja for about 11km - mostly along highways that were very busy and it was blasting hot.
but still, 'really awful' i would not consider it - that would be reserved for walking through perhaps the slums of Dacca or any IS territory.
walking out of Azambuja the next day was a treat ... as were many many roads and sections on the portuguese. yes, one needs to really take care well of ones feet due to the walking on cobblestones for many stretches, etc ... but nonetheless ... it was a very blessed experiene, a gift that keeps giving.
enjoy.
bom caminho!

 

[treefrogtoes]

I was also considering walking feom Lisbon, starting in Sept 25th, but having read a few blogs it does sound as if the first eight days out of Lisbon are really awful. Any ideas/suggestions on an alternative route? Maybe a different starting point inland to get to Porto?

I am taking a train from Lisbon to Tomar and starting there September 7, originally I was leaving from Lisbon but circumstances arose and I had to change it. You could also take a train and start from Santarem.