Where to Start Portuguese Way

[Willdtrout]

Buen Camino good people,

I arrived in Fisterra today having walked from Saint Jean. Off to Muxia tomorrow.

I’m still not done with Camino though and will head to the Portuguese Way. I’m not sure where to start though. Lisbon will be too much but I would like a little more than starting in Porto. I was thinking Coimbra but reports here are that the section Coimbra-Porto are not very nice.

Is there another place to start from? Maybe not on the Portuguese way but another Camino that goes through Porto?

Or, are there extensions or side trips I could do between Porto and Santiago? Enough to give me an extra five days of walking?

I may just just fill my time with a few more days walking back to Santiago from Muxia.

Another thought….. I’ve considered walking from Santiago towards Porto. What are your thoughts on this? I’ve dismissed it because walking away from Santiago just doesn’t sit right but I know that’s just a thought in my head.

Any advice appreciated

 

[Flog]

Walking the Portuguese in reverse has gotten popular last few years so you might find others along the way, though it's still a bit early in the year. On the central way, it's not too hard following the blue (Fatima) arrows. Not as many of them, but enough to manage without nav aids.

 

[Lindsay53]

The Coimbra - Porto section does have quite a bit of road/industrial walking, but also some nice walks through the forest as well. Also, the Albergue Casa Catolico, a small and basic dontaivo in Branca, was one of the best I stayed at on the Way.

 

[trecile]

If you do start in Coimbra the Watermill Moinho Garcia albergue in Pinheiro da Bemposta between Albergaria-a-Velha and Sao Joao da Madeira is a great out of the beaten path place to stay. It's a 29 km walk from Águeda.

Watermill Moinho Garcia Portugal

Nature Hostel / Albergue Moinho Garcia is an oasis to relax. Lovely restored watermill in rural Portugal along the Camino Santiago and Fatima trails. A river meanders through the 200 year old refurbished grain mill, a perfect place to refresh.

www.watermillmoinhogarcia.com

​

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Buen Camino good people,

I arrived in Fisterra today having walked from Saint Jean. Off to Muxia tomorrow.

I’m still not done with Camino though and will head to the Portuguese Way. I’m not sure where to start though. Lisbon will be too much but I would like a little more than starting in Porto. I was thinking Coimbra but reports here are that the section Coimbra-Porto are not very nice.

Is there another place to start from? Maybe not on the Portuguese way but another Camino that goes through Porto?

Or, are there extensions or side trips I could do between Porto and Santiago? Enough to give me an extra five days of walking?

I may just just fill my time with a few more days walking back to Santiago from Muxia.

Another thought….. I’ve considered walking from Santiago towards Porto. What are your thoughts on this? I’ve dismissed it because walking away from Santiago just doesn’t sit right but I know that’s just a thought in my head.

Any advice appreciated

I liked meeting people walking back the other way from Santiago last year. Deep on the Portugues I saw people walking to Fatima. Now that would be bad ass. Not quite the path to lisbon. So might work.

 

[JR9162]

Start in Porto. The Lisbon to Porto leg isn't that wonderful. But if you want a credential stating you did the complete route, then Lisbon forward. I did it in October 2021. Took 24 days. Two stages were 40 km.

 

[Silencio Por Favor]

If seeing as much of Portugal as possible is what you would like, why not take transit to Lisbon then walk to the pilgrim shrine that is Fatima and then take transit again to Porto and walk back to Santiago.

 

[lt56ny]

Maybe you should seek some advice from @jungleboy he is probably our resident expert on all things Camino in Portugal.

 

[Joeninho]

Start in Lisbon if possible, and if you have the opportunity, take the detour to Fatima. Absolutely beautiful with not so many pilgrims, if that's your thing. You see the whole of the country pretty much, and it obviously gets busier after Porto. There's plenty of accommodation, and the Portuguese really look after pilgrims (big shout out to the Bombieros in Sao João de Mediera). It's a very historical route with beautiful churches along the way. But of course, it's up to you. I did it in 29 days, but that included 2 rest days and the detour to Fatima which added another 2. Either way, Lisbon or Porto, I adore the Camino Portuguese. So my opinion is obviously biased.

Bom Caminho.

 

[Enzed]

The Coimbra - Porto section does have quite a bit of road/industrial walking, but also some nice walks through the forest as well. Also, the Albergue Casa Catolico, a small and basic dontaivo in Branca, was one of the best I stayed at on the Way.

I plan to stay at casa catolico in April, Glad to hear I made a good choice.
I'm looking at the donativo options when I can.