Portuguese Way from Oporto in 11 stages

Starting the Portuguese Way from Oporto - Porto, in Portuguese -, offers us the possibility of getting to know one of the most important cities in Portugal and a must for all those who visit the north of the country. Not in vain has it been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Its many attractions, from the Torre dos Clérigos to the Ribeira district, or from the Cathedral to the famous Livraria Lello & Irmão, have made it a tourist destination of reference in Portugal. And for this reason, without a doubt, it is also one of the best places to start the Portuguese Way.

Hostel: Porto Lounge Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Poveira or similar
Charming accommodation: Porto Coliseum Hotel or similar
Premium accommodation: The Clover Act or similar

Distance: 27 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Vilarinho

More than a third of this first stage is urban. And no wonder. Porto has the second largest metropolitan area in the country. This means that most of the route will be on asphalt and pavements, which leads some pilgrims to skip this stretch using the metro to Araújo. We don't recommend it, because the Camino de Santiago is not just about rural areas and beautiful landscapes. It is also its cities and its people. And sometimes its industrial parks, like the one in Maia, which you will also pass through on this stage.

The journey continues through small villages such as Mosteiró, Gião and Vairão before reaching the day's goal: Vilarinho.

Hostel: Casa da Laura or similar
Standard accommodation: Mindela Guesthouse or similar
Charming accommodation: Santana Hotel & Spa or similar
Premium accommodation: Villa C Boutique Hotel or similar

Distance: 26.6 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Barcelos

The second stage of this Portuguese Way from Porto is radically different from the first and rural and agricultural areas dominate the entire section, which runs along dirt tracks and local roads without traffic, connecting small villages relatively close to each other.

The stage ends in Barcelos, an interesting town that is at the base of one of the Portuguese symbols par excellence: the cockerel. It is only 20 km from Braga, once the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia and now known as the Portuguese Rome.

Hostel: InBarcelos Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Bagoeira or similar
Charming accommodation: Casa da Ana Boutique Guesthouse or similar
Premium accommodation: Art'Otel Barcelos or similar

Distance: 32.9 km
Difficulty: ●●●○○
Accommodation: Ponte de Lima

From Barcelos to Ponte de Lima is the longest stage of this programme: almost 35 km which, depending on your time availability, we recommend you to start in the middle, spending the night in Balugães.

The entire route passes through the beautiful wine-growing lands of the Vinhos Verde region, a type of young wine that is highly appreciated in Portugal and perfect for accompanying light meals.

At the end of the stage you will reach the wonderful town of Ponte de Lima. A perfect place to rest and imagine the scene of its main legend: that of the river of oblivion during the conquest of Gallaecia.

Hostel: O Caminheiro Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Império do Norte or similar
Charming accommodation: Hotel Mercearia da Vila or similar
Premium accommodation: Hotel Paço de Vitorino or similar

Distance: 18.3 km
Difficulty: ●●●○○
Accommodation: Rubiães

The fourth stage is one of the most interesting and of greatest scenic and natural value in this programme.

It runs mainly through a wooded and very pleasant environment, with almost no difficulties except for the climb to the Portela Grande de Labruja, with a steep slope.

It should also be noted that between Codeçal and Rubiães (9.2 km) there are no services for pilgrims. However, the whole stage is much shorter than the previous one and the destination, Rubiães, is the prelude to Tui.

Hostel: Alojamento Local Ninho or similar
Standard accommodation: Repouso do Peregrino or similar
Charming accommodation: Quinta das Águias or similar
Premium accommodation: Quinta do Crasto or similar

Distance: 19 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: Tui

Last Portuguese stage of this route. However, the Portuguese Way continues towards Santiago, passing the border (which was not always the case) of the river Minho. You will reach the old medieval city of Tui, whose bishopric extended, in the Middle Ages, on both sides of the river. You will first have to pass through Valença do Minho, where we recommend a stop at the fortress. It is one of the best preserved in Portugal, and one of the liveliest.

At the end of the day, much more heritage awaits you in Tui. Its splendid cathedral-fortress and intricate medieval streets. Many people end their journey here to continue on to Santiago on another occasion. But in this programme we will continue.

Hostel: Pilgrim Ideas or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Villa Blanca or similar
Charming accommodation: A Torre do Xudeu or similar
Premium accommodation: Tui Parador or similar

Distance: 16.1 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: O Porriño

The seventh day is the first completely Galician day of this Portuguese Way. You will start your journey in Tui, on the banks of the river, perhaps joining the pilgrims who have decided to take Tui as the starting point of their Camino, as it is one of the most popular starting points.

After crossing the historic street you will begin a gentle ascent towards Ribadelouro, passing by the sanctuary of San Bartolomeu, one of the oldest in Galicia.

From there, you'll descend towards O Porriño, capital of the municipality of the same name, which is in the metropolitan area of Vigo, the largest city in Galicia.

To get to O Porriño, when you reach the village of Orbenlle you have two well-signposted options: you can take the official road, which crosses the industrial area of As Gándaras, or the alternative route that runs through the natural area of As Gándaras de Budiño and Río Louro. Our recommendation is to opt for the latter, because it avoids the asphalt and the industrial area and, in addition, both variants are 7.9 km long.

Hostel: Senda Sur or similar
Standard accommodation: Accommodation Central or similar
Charming accommodation: Casa Rural O Corzzon or similar (with transfer)
Premium accommodation: Tui Parador (with transfer) or similar

Distance: 15.6 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Redondela

On leaving O Porriño you will quickly pass the town hall of Mos.

The route crosses the small village that serves as the capital, passing by the church of Santa Eulalia and the manor house of the Marquises of Mos, and then begins the climb to the top of Enxertade. There you can find the Roman milestone of Vilar de Infesta and follow the old Roman road XIX that linked Braga and Astorga.

From there you reach the town of Redondela, another of the towns in the Vigo metropolitan area, known for the enormous railway viaducts that cross the town between its houses, and a perfect place to spend the night.

If you are lucky and your visit to Redondela coincides with the Corpus Christi festivity, you will be able to enjoy the magnificent COCA FESTIVALThis festival, which has been celebrated since the Middle Ages as a pre-Christian reminiscence, brings to the streets of the town a being from Galician mythology in the form of a dragon or serpent that inhabits rivers and seas.

Hostel: Hostel Santiago de Vilavella or similar
Standard accommodation: A Marisma Hostel or similar
Charming accommodation: Alvear Suites or similar
Premium accommodation: Torres Agrelo Manor House or similar

Distance: 19.1 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Pontevedra

After leaving Redondela, a new effort will take you to the top of O Viso, which offers one of the best views over the famous Vigo estuary - the one portrayed by Jules Verne in his 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, where Spanish galleons loaded with gold from America rest on the seabed.

After a gentle descent, you will reach Arcade, a town famous for the oysters produced on its banks. Further on, you will cross the historic Roman bridge over the river Verdugo and start your descent towards Pontevedra, a town with an impressive historic quarter that is well worth a visit, taking advantage of the shorter-than-usual stage design.

In addition, you can't miss the church of the Pilgrim Virgin and discover its history. Take a look at the ground plan of the building and you'll see that it stands on an unusual but very appropriate scallop shape.

Hostel: Acolá Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Avenida or similar
Charming accommodation: Hotel Boa Vila or similar
Premium accommodation: Parador de Pontevedra or similar

Distance: 21 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: Caldas de Reis

On the fifth day of your experience on this Portuguese Way from Tui you will leave Pontevedra by the historic bridge of Burgo, where the river Lérez turns into an estuary. This stage of the Portuguese Way of Saint James is for nature lovers. You will be accompanied by wonderful landscapes dotted with small villages that will allow you to enjoy the charms of the Rías Baixas.

You can have lunch at the Barosa River Nature Park, enjoy the thermal waters of Caldas de Reis or do a wine tasting of D.O. Rías Baixas as part of this section. Just ask us and we will prepare it for you.

The end of the day will be in Caldas de Reis, a thermal village on the banks of the Umia river, perfect for recharging your batteries.

Hostel: GBC Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel O Cruceiro or similar
Charming accommodation: Via XIX Hotel Accommodation or similar
Premium accommodation: Hotel Torre do Río or similar

Distance: 18.5 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Padrón

After leaving Caldas, the Portuguese Way continues through rural areas, with small towns and villages. Almost reaching the end of the stage you will cross the river Ulla, one of the most important rivers in Galicia and one of the main channels of the largest and most productive estuary in Galicia: the Ría de Arousa.

On the other side of the bridge, you will find Padrón, the point where, according to tradition, the boat carrying the body of the Apostle James docked when his disciples Theodore and Athanasius brought him back to Gallaecia.

In Padrón you will also discover that the "national poet" of Galician literature is a woman: Rosalía de Castro.

Hostel: Murgadan Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Rosalia or similar
Charming accommodation: Garden Guesthouse or similar
Premium accommodation: Hotel Pazo de Lestrove (with transfer) or similar

Distance: 24.3 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Santiago de Compostela

You are approaching the finish line. Passing through small villages, always climbing moderately, you will reach Santiago passing through Iria Flavia, where the bishopric of Teodomiro was located at the time of the discovery of the apostle's tomb.

You will also pass through O Milladoiro, which today functions as a dormitory town of the capital of Galicia, but whose name probably comes from the Latin humiliatorium - a clear reference to the pilgrimage and the fact that from its top it was possible to see, at last, the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago.

Keep walking and you will enter the city from the south, through the Porta Faxeira of the old wall and the rúa do Franco, a name related to the pilgrims, who were called francos indistinctly, even if they came from Portugal or from the south of Galicia. Congratulations, pilgrim! You have reached your goal. The journey continues.

Hostel: The Last Stamp or similar
Standard accommodation: Hospedería San Martín Pinario or similar
Charming accommodation: Hotel Costa Vella or similar
Premium accommodation: Hotel Monumento San Francisco or similar

After a well-deserved rest, you finally have time to visit the city that you have reached on foot after more than a hundred kilometres. Its historic centre, its university, its market and its countless parks, its surroundings...

And, if you have time, the End of the World awaits you. We bring it to you on a full day trip to Muxía, Fisterra and the Costa da Morte.