Where to start...few days camino from Porto

[kermit]

We unfortunately only have 1 week in October and would love to spend a few of the days walking a little stretch of the camino. We really dont know where to start and whether to do the true pilgrim adventure of backpack on and finding accommodation en route OR booking somewhere central to commute to each day by public transport. We have no doubt we will be back to do the remaining of the route in style but for now, how would you suggest we make the most of our few days flying into Porto and the route to take? Whilst we do want this to be around the walking, we also want to have a day mooching around doing nice things before coming back to work the day after.. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Phoenix]

I walked the CP from Porto to SdC last October. The litoral/coastal route from Porto to Caminha (5 or 6 days) is a great path to spend most of a week. The Portuguese coast with many boardwalks and the ocean crashing in my ear as I walked was one of my best Camino experiences. The town of Vila Praia de Ancora, a few kilometers before Caminha, is a nice place to spend some beach time.

 

[fred4ski]

I am on Portuguese. Coastal right now... You can take metro red line as far north to Pavo do Neira and walk 7 days on beautiful coastal trail and then take bus back to Porto. There was a couple I walked with for 2 days that also had only 1 week and that is their plan. Bom Camhino

 

[kermit]

Thank you both very much. Can I ask if public transport on this route is fairly straightforward? Considering 2 options - clearly one is the proper pilgrim experience, the other not quite so! We will either book a central point to stay and commute one way by public transport or find accommodation as we walk. Is booking a must along the way or will we find it easy enough? Also, if we go for the first option, where would you advise as a point to stay - I notice you say Vila Praia de Ancora, would that be a good option? Just waiting for those retirement years where we can take off with our backpacks and not worry about all this in order to get back to work a week later!

 

[fred4ski]

I have not done a single reservation,nor am I using a guidebook... I have the 'Camino tool' app..but all lodging has come from fellow pilgrims, and asking innkeepers what good lodging is next. Let the Camino take care of you...easy to say..not always easy to let go to.
Porto metro is straightforward. Buses a little more involved.. Alburgue hosts are your best guides.

 

[Bisnick]

I walked the Cp Litoral last May with a friend who wasn't able to entertain long daily walks. We had both been to Porto before and our plane landed at 22.00hrs so caught the metro into the Carolina Michaelis stop and it is a 2 min walk to the auberge. You are able to book directly with them. Next morning with used metro into Sao Bento and obtained our first stamp at the Cathedral and walked the path round to Matosinhos. We then used metro back to Carolina Michaelis and spent our second night there.
Tip, they have lockable lockers so leave any unwanted weight there for your first days walk. In the morning back on the metro to Matosinhos. we continued on hugging the coast and it is an easy introduction to to your Camino with spectacular coastal views and plenty of Albergues on the way. Use gronze to locate them all.
Welcome to the forum, you will find so much helpful info.

 

[Phoenix]

Thank you both very much. Can I ask if public transport on this route is fairly straightforward? Considering 2 options - clearly one is the proper pilgrim experience, the other not quite so! We will either book a central point to stay and commute one way by public transport or find accommodation as we walk. Is booking a must along the way or will we find it easy enough? Also, if we go for the first option, where would you advise as a point to stay - I notice you say Vila Praia de Ancora, would that be a good option? Just waiting for those retirement years where we can take off with our backpacks and not worry about all this in order to get back to work a week later!

If you pick a central spot to travel to and from, consider Viana do Castelo. It is a bit more than halfway between Porto and Caminha and is larger than other places along the coastal route. I rode a bus from the central route into Viana do Castelo; there appeared to be several transportation options to go north or south.

 

[David Tallan]

If you have a week and want a day at the end, I would start walking in Valenca on the Portuguese side of the Portugal/Spanish border. It should be easy to get to from Porto. From there, it won't be hard to get to Santiago in five days (first day to Redondela, second to Pontevedra, third to Caldas de Reis, fourth to Padron, fifth to Santiago). That leaves you an extra day in Santiago and another to get back to Porto for your flight home.

As a bonus, you will have completed a Camino and qualified for a Compostela.

 

[Canada Wanders]

My wife and I did Porto to Santiago in 2018. We started first day on the coastal route, then day 2 cut into the central route. The little cut in was a busy traffic and cobblestone fest, which was really the only down side.
We took 6 days to walk to Santiago, and a 3 hour bus ride back to Porto to really enjoy such a beautiful city.