Portuguese Way from Tui in 8 days

To do the Camino de Santiago from Tui, the first thing to do is to get to this border town. You can do it on your own, or hire the transfers that we offer as an optional service.

The first day is for sightseeing in this small town that was once one of the capitals of the Kingdom of Galicia. If you are lucky enough to arrive in time, Tui has a lot to offer. From its historic centre and its promenade on the banks of the Miño river to the cathedral-fortress of Santa María, epicentre of a bishopric that extended for centuries beyond the Miño river, in what is now part of Portugal and was once a county within the Kingdom of Galicia.

And why not come closer? Only the river separates you from Valença do Minho and its magnificent fortress full of life.

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

On the second day the adventure begins. The Camino starts from Tui, on the banks of the river, perhaps joining the pilgrims who have already been walking for days from Oporto, Braga or even Lisbon. After crossing the historic streets 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, Galicia's largest city.

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

The second stage of your Portuguese Way to Santiago, which begins by turning your back on O Porriño and passing quickly into the town of Mos. The path 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 in a hard but short climb. 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: the coca.

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, this third stage of the Way of St. James from Tui will take you to the O Viso pass, 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 laden with gold from America lie at the bottom of the sea.

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 of Pontesampaio over the river Verdugo and begin your descent towards Pontevedra, a city 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 Camino 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.