The Camino Portuguese – also known as The Portuguese Way – is one of the Camino Santiago Routes.
It officially starts in Porto – the capital of Portugal – and leads over the border into Spain and finishes at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
With a total length of just 240 km the Camino Portugues is quite short in comparison to other popular Ways of St James.
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Camino Portugues – the trending Portuguese Way from Porto to Santiago
As oficial pilgrim statistics from 2024 show, the Camino Portugues is the second most popular Camino at the moment after the Camino Francés.
There are a few reasons why the Portuguese Way is so trending at the moment and attracts more and more pilgrims:
- it has a coastal route (Camino Portugues de la Costa)
- the profile of the stages is rather easy with not many mountains which makes it a good start for camino beginners and new pilgrims
- the whole portuguese way can be done in 2 weeks (14 days) what makes it attractive for people who cannot get 5 or 6 weeks holidays in a row
In the following text I will answer some basic typical questions about the Portuguese Camino Route:
What are the highlights?
The start in Porto is already a highlight. The town at the river with the houses on the hills and and old part of the city is worth one or two days to visit. Then the stages along the ocean are a feast for the eyes. Crossing the border into Spain is exciting, and of course the “finish” in front of the cathedral in Santiago.
Is there a map of the Caminho Portugues?
Yes, we show you a map of the Camino de Santiago through Portugal here:
Where does the Camino Portugues start?
Not hard to guess if you’ve already read this far: The Caminho Portugues starts in the beautiful city of Porto.
How long is this Way of St. James in Portugal?
The Portuguese Camino is “only” 250 kilometers long – making it rather short compared to the other routes.
Who is this Camino suitable for?
Due to its comparatively short distance and mild profile, the Way of St. James in Portugal is the ideal route for many people. Both new pilgrims and people who only have two weeks‘ vacation at a time opt for this route.
Who is it not for?
Those who would like to make a pilgrimage for longer than two weeks must either choose the little-known variant from Lisbon – or simply choose another Camino. There are enough paths.
What stages does the Camino Portugues have?
There are around a dozen stages to complete on the Caminho Portugues. You are free to choose whether you prefer to walk along the Atlantic coast or take the inland route.
What is the elevation profile?
There is a small mountain to climb on the way, if you can even call it that. Otherwise, the altitude profile of the Portuguese Way of St. James is very mild and largely flat – just beginner-friendly.
What is the accommodation like?
The fact that the route has become much more popular in the last five years is also due to the fact that there is more and more good accommodation along the way. There is no need to worry here, the coastal variant of the Caminho Portugues now also has a well-developed infrastructure.
When should you walk the Portuguese Way?
The ideal time to travel the Way of St. James in Portugal is from spring to fall. After that it gets fresh, windy and rainy. In summer it can get (more) crowded.
Which travel guide is good?
- The digital camino guide “Camino Portugues for beginners” by Christoph Erkens and Dominik Albrech is recommended as preparation.
- For the time during the pilgrimage, you could consult John Brierleys camino guide book „A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino Portugués„.
What equipment should you take with you?
The best way to do this is to follow the packing list, which we will soon publish here on the blog in a separate article. You should pay particular attention to
- good footwear
- good socks
- a light, well-fitting rucksack
- protective rainwear
- Onion principle
Where can I get the pilgrim’s pass?
You can get the pilgrim’s pass for the Camino de Santiago from a number of places on the Internet. No distinction is made here between the Portuguese and Spanish Camino.
How do I get to the starting point?
As the route begins in Porto at the cathedral, the vast majority of pilgrims fly directly to Porto Airport. A few fly to Santiago de Compostela and take the bus from there to Porto (approx. 4 hours). If you come from far away, you may travel via Lisbon or Madrid and continue to Porto from there.