Portuguese Way

The Portuguese road is a beautiful Jacobean route that connects Portugal with Santiago de Compostela. With approximately 610 kilometers from Lisbon or 240 kilometers from Porto, this historical route crosses lovely Portuguese cities before crossing the border to Galicia, Spain.

This route, which was used by Portuguese kings and nobles for centuries, offers a tour full of cultural wealth, historical monuments, delicious gastronomy and spectacular landscapes that combine the Atlantic coast with green valleys and vineyards of northern Portugal and Galicia.

The Portuguese road is the second most popular route after the French road, but remains less massified, allowing you to enjoy a quieter experience. Some of the advantages of this route are:

• Perfect balance: Good balance between the number of pilgrims and the accessibility of the route.
• Diversity of options: You can choose between the inner route or the variant on the coast, which will allow you to live a more personalized experience.
• Excellent infrastructure: Especially in the Spanish part, which facilitates the organization of the trip and ensures a good level of services.
• Spectacular landscapes: Highlighting forests, rivers and green areas, ideal for nature lovers.
• Low level of difficulty: With routes suitable for beginners or people who prefer a less demanding tour.

The Tour of the Portuguese road covers 8 Portuguese districts (Lisbon, Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra, Avero, Porto, Braga and Viana do Castelo) and 3 Galician provinces in Spain (Pontevedra, A Coruña and Orense).

Unlike the French road, the profile of the Portuguese road is more flat and without great slopes, which makes it ideal for those looking for an accessible route or for those who move by bicycle.

Throughout the tour, the pilgrim will pass through charming villages such as Coimbra or Pontevedra, as well as historical monuments such as the Sampaio bridge or the church of Santa María de O Cebreiro.

As for infrastructure, the Portuguese road is well prepared, especially from Porto, where more developed shelters and services are found. Although in the section of Lisbon Oporto the shelters are more limited, the route crosses populated areas where it is easy to find accommodations and services.

The signaling is clear and adequate, improving as Galicia progresses, where the cairns indicate the exact distances to Santiago. However, some sections cross main roads, such as the N-550 between Vigo and A Coruña, which requires attention from the pilgrims.

The duration of the Portuguese road depends on the starting point, but in general, the route from Lisbon can be done in 6 days, while from Santarem is required about 8 days. The stages vary in difficulty, but in general, the route is accessible to most pilgrims. Some of the stages include:

• Lisbon - Santa would go from Azoia (19 km)
• Porto - Fajoze (11 km)
• Padrón - Santiago de Compostela (11 km)

Regardless of the available time, you can always adapt the route to adjust to the needs of each pilgrim.

The central Portuguese road, like all the routes of the Camino de Santiago, has numerous wonders along its route. Some of the outstanding points of interest in this route are:

• Cities of interest:
  • Lisbon (stage 1)
  • Santarem (stage 4)
  • Coimbra (stage 10)
  • Porto (stage 16)
  • Pontevedra (stage 26)
  • Santiago de Compostela (stage 28)
• Loom with charming:
  • Golegã, the town of José Saramago (stage 5)
  • Take, Templar City (stage 6)
  • Rabaçal, Roman Villa (stage 9)
  • San Pedro de Rates (stage 19)
  • Barcelos (stage 19)
  • Tui (stage 22)
  • Padrón, famous for its peppers (stage 26)
• Other wonders:
  • The Ruins de Conimbriga (stage 9)
  • Roman bridges and roads
  • Lush forests
  • Galician Rías Views

The Portuguese road on the coast begins in Porto and follows the Portuguese coast until you reach Santiago de Compostela. It is one of the least busy routes, with less than 5% of pilgrims choosing it every year.

• Stages of the tour: The full tour covers 12 stages, starting in Porto and ending in Santiago de Compostela. The stages are:

  • Stage 1: Porto to Povoa de Varzim (30.6 km)

  • Stage 2: Povoa de Varzim a Esposende (20,2 km)

  • Stage 3: Spose to Viana do Castelo (25.1 km)

  • Stage 4: Viana do Castelo A Ancora (18.3 km)

  • Stage 5: Ancora a Guarda (12.8 km)

  • Stage 6: Save Baiona (30.7 km)

  • Stage 7: Baiona Vigo (25.3 km)

  • Stage 8: Vigo A Redondela (16 km)

  • Stage 9: Round to Pontevedra (19.2 km)

    It crosses the central Portuguese road

  • Stage 10: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis (23 km)

  • Stage 11: Caldas de Reis A Padrón (18.6 km)

  • Stage 12: Padrón to Santiago de Compostela (25.2 km)

• Main characteristics:

  • It crosses three districts of Portugal and two Galician provinces

  • It offers beautiful views of the Portuguese coast and cliffs

  • Includes enigmatic monasteries and places with mysterious legends

  • Provides magnificent views about Galician estuaries

• Services and Infrastructure:

  • Accommodation:

    Varied offer, from road shelters to lodgings in marine villages

  • Signaling:

    More than enough, following the coast it is almost impossible to get lost

  • Services:

    Broad services available in tourist villas

The low influx of pilgrims can be an inconvenience for those who seek more activity and company like the one on the French road.

During your pilgrimage on this route, you can enjoy various places of interest, including:

• Porto Prominent city at the beginning of the road
• routes/portugues.routes_shared_faq_8_list_item_2_title Important port city on the route
• Pontevedra Historical city where road routes converge
• Santiago de Compostela Final Pilgrimage Destination
• Ruins of Castro Sao Paio (stage 1)
• Mindello Ornithological Reserve (Stage 1)
• Arenales and beaches along the route
• Castelo do Neiva (stage 3)
• Viana do Castelo (stage 3)
• Baiona (stage 6)
• Monastery of Santa María de Oia (stage 7)
• Views from the Cíes Islands (stage 7)
• Padrón (stage 11)

Each of these places offers a unique and enriching experience for the pilgrim, combining nature, history and culture.

The Portuguese path attracts pilgrims for several reasons:

• Discovery of two countries: Tour Portugal and northern Spain on a single route.
• Economic experience: Portugal offers more affordable prices than Spain.
• Easy Tour: The central Portuguese road crosses the main cities of Portugal.
• Ideal for bicycle: Portuguese routes are simple and perfect for pilgrimage by bicycle.
• Less massified: Compared to the French road, it offers a quieter experience.
• The coast: For those who enjoy walking by the sea, but without the difficulty of the Northern Way.

These characteristics make the Portuguese path an attractive and versatile option for different types of pilgrims.

Each season of the year offers a unique experience on the Portuguese road:

• Spring: Unstable climate but with less pilgrims, facilitating the search for accommodation.
• Summer: Stable climate ideal for walking. Although it is the time with more pilgrims, the Portuguese road is not as massive as other routes.
• Autumn: It offers beautiful landscapes and pleasant temperatures, although with greater climatic instability.
• Winter: It presents beautiful landscapes, although with cold and rains, which adds a special touch to the experience.

The choice of the time will depend on your climatic preferences and your tolerance to share the path with more or less pilgrims.

These are some places that you cannot miss on the Portuguese path:

• Cathedral of Santa María de Tui: An impressive Romanesque-Gothic building of the twelfth century located at the top of the city.
• San Simón Island: Located in the Vigo estuary, it was an important medieval religious center.
• River and garden of Caldas de Reyes: A beautiful botanical garden on the river of the Umia river.
• Census: Famous for its peppers, but also with a lot of history and landscape beauty.

Each of these places offers an enriching pause during your pilgrimage.

The Portuguese road offers various types of accommodation, from hostels and shelters to rural houses and charming hotels, such as those offered by Good Way Santiago.

• A Table da Pedra (Pontevedra): It offers high quality local products.
• The Argentine (Cabamelas): Specialized in traditional Galician stews.
• A BAROLA (Santiago de Compostela): Excellent Galician specialties.

Gastronomy on the Portuguese road is very rich and varied, allowing you to enjoy both traditional Portuguese and Galician dishes.

The Portuguese road has its origin in the discovery of the remains of Santiago in the ninth century. Although in the Middle Ages it was not the busiest route, it acquired importance since the 12th century, being an axis for trade and cultural exchanges.

Kings, nobles and famous characters such as Santa Isabel de Portugal (s. XIV) and Don Manuel I of Portugal (S. XVI) toured this route, leaving an important historical legacy.

The Portuguese road retains hermitages, symbols and sculptures that recall the importance of this route in European history.

The appearance of the Virgin of Fatima to three shepherds in the twentieth century caused the sanctuary in Fatima to gain prominence, although the Portuguese path is still very busy by pilgrims around the world.

A famous legend tells that a Galician pilgrim, unfairly condemned to gallows in Barcelos, was saved by a rooster that he sang before his execution, demonstrating his innocence. This rooster is now a popular symbol of Portugal.

According to the legend, the pilgrim invoked Santiago affirming his innocence, and said that as proof, the roast rooster who was at the judge's table would sing at the time of his hanging. Miraculously, this happened.

The "Galo de Barcelos" has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Portugal and Portuguese folklore, representing faith, justice and good luck.

Good Way Santiago offers everything you need to enjoy a unique experience on the Portuguese path:

• Quality accommodation: In carefully selected hotels and rural houses.
• Luggage transfer: So you can walk without additional weight.
• 24 -hour assistance: Always available for any unforeseen.
• Personalized planning: Adapted to your needs and preferences.
• Complete documentation: All the necessary information for your pilgrimage.

With Good Way Santiago, your only concern will be to enjoy the way and live an unforgettable experience.

Numerous pilgrims have lived an unforgettable experience with Good Way Santiago, highlighting the care in the details and quality of the service, making this path one of the most rewarding experiences of life.

"My experience with Good Way Santiago was simply perfect. From planning to the last day of the Portuguese road, everything was organized impeccably. The accommodations were lovely and the transfer of luggage worked without problems. I would recommend this service to any pilgrim."

- María L., Madrid

"Making the Portuguese path from Tui with Good Way Santiago was a successful decision. The team was always available to solve any questions or need. The accommodations exceeded my expectations and I could enjoy the way without worries."

- Roberto C., Buenos Aires

These experiences reflect Good Way Santiago's commitment to offer a quality service that allows pilgrims to focus on what really matters: living the way.