Starting off, On, The Camino Portuguese

[Celtic]

Hi,
Is it possible to walk from lisbon to Vila Franco de Xira in one day.
At the start of the Camino Portuguese.

 

[dougfitz]

Hi,
Is it possible to walk from lisbon to Vila Franco de Xira in one day.
At the start of the Camino Portuguese.

The question I would have would be are you capable of walking a marathon with whatever pack you intend to carry, and doing another half-marathon or marathon the next day. If you have prepared for that, and the weather isn't too debilitatingly hot, you might be fine.

I am curious. How many such days are you thinking of doing? There are ultra distance athletes who could probably do this day after day, but they generally have a support crew. Walking alone might be a different matter, but that doesn't make it impossible.

There are many questions I have - are you prepared to reveal why you are thinking of doing this?

 

[thejoker]

Hi,
Is it possible to walk from lisbon to Vila Franco de Xira in one day.
At the start of the Camino Portuguese.

This pilgrim has very recently done it and vlogged his day. I reckon he puts something special in his large glasses of beer.

Personally, I wouldn't be able to do this as a few years ago walking there from Parque das Nacoes was a day I still remember as one of the toughest days on any Camino I've had (accommodation was a challenge to find between this stretch). However, as dougfitz mentions, maybe you are capable of it, just like the entertaining vlogger.

 

[Celtic]

Hi Joker.
Thanks for the video, and understand on this stretch
Its a challenge for accommodation..
Hense, Gonna try and get to Vila Franco de Xira in a day.
Where there is acomodation, and getting out of Lisbon and built up areas. I won't be doing until March /April next year.
when it is cooler..

 

[dougfitz]

Hense, Gonna try and get to Vila Franco de Xira in a day.
Where there is acomodation, and getting out of Lisbon and built up areas.

I know that this was a concern for me in 2022, when I walked, and Alpriate was the only place with an albergue. There was no way that I was going to walk to Vila Franco de Xira - that was a two day activity for me. The first day, I took the train back into Lisbon from Povoa, and returned the next day. I had considered taking the train forward, which I did later to break up the long stretch before Santarem.

I don't recall walking in built up areas much after Oriente. How the new alignment of the section from Oriente to the area around Alverca will change how much is in urban areas will be interesting to see. It should be open by the time you walk, with even more of the first few days staying close to the Rio Tejo.

 

[motero99]

There are at least 3 albergue/working person's hotels in Verdelha de Baixo. That would give you 21.5 KM for a break-in day, probably less with the new trail start.I think the places were about 20E for a single room with shared bath. There was a very nice restaurant on the same street with meals for 11 or 11.5 E.

 

[Celtic]

Hi Motero99,
Thanks for the info on the Albergue's and hotels at Verdelha de Baixo around the 21klm mark.
Much appreciated.

 

[abraxian]

Slow down and smell the roses

 

[motero99]

The exit for Verdelha de Baixo Is before Alverca. If you arrive at the Alverca train station, you have gone too far. Elle Biellingelle (elle@pilgrimagetraveler.com) in her ebook Lisbon to Porto describes back tracking from the Alverca train station. I used Organic Maps and it showed where to leave the Camino for Verdelha. I would assume Wise Pilgrim does the same thing. As you exit the Camino and cross over the train tracks and I think a road, look for a sign for Auchan. It is a great market, has a fresh OJ machine and a good spot for fresh fruit. The street with the places to stay is just beyond that. Gronze lists a couple of them as in Alverca, but they are actually in Baixo. The location is where the two areas meet. I stayed at Hospedaria Alfa 10. There is a very good restaurant on the same street. It is called A Lanterna. I loaned out the guidebook with the names of the other places to sleep. I think Elle lists them in her guide.

 

[Pathfinder075]

If you want to do a 37km opener (which is very possible), you need to be walking for at least a week before you get boots on the ground in Lisbon. Get used to 30km days back to back for a week. Then when you hit the path in Lisbon you only need to worry about the heat.

 

[Celtic]

Hi Pathfinder,
Thanks
for the positive info on the first leg..
I won't be doing it until March /April next year,
When it will be cooler.
Buen Camino..

If you want to do a 37km opener (which is very possible), you need to be walking for at least a week before you get boots on the ground in Lisbon. Get used to 30km days back to back for a week. Then when you hit the path in Lisbon you only need to worry about the heat.

 

[trecile]

Hi Pathfinder,
Thanks
for the positive info on the first leg..
I won't be doing it until March /April next year,
When it will be cooler.
Buen Camino..

Next year the new exit from Lisbon should be open. Here's a thread about it - note that the opening of this new way has been delayed.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/finally-we-can-start-to-imagine-the-new-exit-of-lisbon-may-2023.58763/

 

[Celtic]

Hi,
Thanks you.
For this link.
Let's hope it is...
As the research, I've been doing..
It isn't well sign posted getting out of Lisbon..
Much appreciated.

 

[trecile]

Hi,
Thanks you.
For this link.
Let's hope it is...
As the research, I've been doing..
It isn't well sign posted getting out of Lisbon..
Much appreciated.

I walked from Lisbon last year and had no issues leaving the city, but I also used a Camino app with GPS. Of course when the route changes it will be different, and hopefully even better!

 

[Celtic]

I walked from Lisbon last year and had no issues leaving the city, but I also used a Camino app with GPS. Of course when the route changes it will be different, and hopefully even better!

HI,
What was the Camino App you used?.

 

[trecile]

I use both Wise Pilgrim and Buen Camino apps.

A Complete Guide to the Caminos to Santiago de Compostela

A complete guide to the Camino de Santiago, including accommodation on the Camino Francés, Camino del Norte, Camino Portugués, Camino Primtivo, Vía de la Plata, Camino de Invierno, Finisterre & Muxía, San Salvador, Camino Olvidado, Caminho Nascente, Camino da Geira, Camino Inglés, Vía Podiensis...

wisepilgrim.com

Buen Camino de Santiago App - Apps on Google Play

Full professional guide for pilgrims. Way of St James Route - Camino de Santiago

play.google.com

‎Way of St James (Buen Camino)

‎This App provides you with useful guides to the Way of St James by Carlos Mencos, a journalist and a well-known pilgrim himself! His guides have helped tens of thousands of pilgrims on their Way to St James. The guides have now been adapted to the App layout – and are even more comprehensive...

apps.apple.com

 

[Celtic]

Thank you...
What I've seen on you tube.
Once you get to Vasco de Gama bridge it is sign posted from there.

 

[dougfitz]

Thank you...
What I've seen on you tube.
Once you get to Vasco de Gama bridge it is sign posted from there.

It's signposted from the Igreja de Santiago, where it starts, although I think many people start at the Se Catedral de Lisboa, just down the hill from the Igreja de Santiago. I found it useful to be using OSMAnd+ with the walking tracks layer enabled. This displays all the Camino routes, and their variants. Any app with the map enabled should be very helpful while getting out of the old city.

The route out of the city avoids the main roads where it can, and by the time you reach the area of Oriente, it follows the Rio Tejo into Sacavem. The new route appears to turn back to the river there, rather than going inland towards Alpriate.

 

[Celtic]

Hi, Thanks.

 

[Lleslie]

Started from.Lisbon May 13 - mostly well signed from the Sè cathedral, just need to look around for arrows and small camino stickers on walls, lamp/sign posts etc at each intersection. The tile museum is well worth stopping at - the church/chapel inside is amazing.

 

[Celtic]

Hi,
Thank you.

 

[dick bird]

Apparently it is a distance of 37 km. Have you ever, before now, walked 37 km carrying a backpack? The easiest way to find out if it is possible is to do it. Find a spot 37 km from where you live, load up a backpack, get a train or a bus there, and walk home.

 

[Celtic]

Thanks..