Camino Portuguese Lisbon to Porto Route: Guide, Stages, and Map

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Although the Portuguese Camino Lisbon to Porto route is the first section of the Camino, far fewer pilgrims walk it compared to the coastal and central routes that start in Porto and end in Santiago de Compostela. This has resulted in less infrastructure and albergues for pilgrims, as well as longer stages. But don’t let that put you off from walking this route.

I actually really enjoyed the walk from Lisbon to Porto because there were less pilgrims. Seeing the same people over and over again created a strong sense of community. I was also able to walk with a group the entire time, because having less flexibility in how you break up this route results in everyone roughly following the same plan.

To help you have a great time walking this less popular path, this Camino Portugués Lisbon to Porto guide shows you how to break up the stages, provides a map of the route, and lists your best accommodation options.

Overview of the Camino Portugués Lisbon to Porto route

• Distance: 374.29 km or 232.57 miles
• Number of days to complete: 13 to 14 days
• Starting point: Lisbon, Portugal
• End point: Porto, Portugal
• Terrain: Farmland, vineyards, roads, towns, forests
• Accommodation: Public and private albergues, hostels, guesthouses, and hotels

The distance for the Lisbon to Porto section of the Camino Portugués is 374.29 kilometers or 232.57 miles, and it takes 13 to 14 days to complete.

Should you start the Camino Portugués in Lisbon?

When deciding on where to start the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, there are three popular starting points: Lisbon, Porto, and Tui. Here are four questions to ask yourself that will help you figure out whether starting in Lisbon is right for you.

Do you have the time?

The first thing you should consider is simply if you have enough time to start from Lisbon. Beginning in Lisbon adds 13 to 14 days to the overall time that you’ll need to arrive in Santiago de Compostela. It already takes about two weeks to go from Porto to Santiago and few people have an additional two weeks to spare. So if you’re not able to take roughly a month for the Portuguese Camino, then you’ll need to either start in Porto or only walk the Lisbon to Porto section.

I walked the Camino Portugués during a 7.5-month solo trip, so I wasn’t in any rush. I had a lot of flexibility with the number of days I could take, and I didn’t have a date when I needed to reach Santiago de Compostela. Given that, I was confident that I could complete the entire route starting from Lisbon, even if anything unexpected happened during my walk, like injuries or sickness, that would extend the duration of my Camino.

How much do you care about the scenery?

I’m gonna be honest – the Lisbon to Porto route is not particularly scenic. And if you’re walking during the summer, parts of it can be sweaty and grueling. This stretch of the Camino Portugués mostly consists of walking through farmland, vineyards, industrial areas, and towns. The long dusty roads with little or no shade are the least enjoyable part of the Portuguese Camino.

The most breathtaking parts of the Portuguese Camino are past Porto on the coastal or central routes. As it sounds, the coastal route follows the northern coast of Portugal, giving you cooling ocean breezes and white sand beaches. The central route is filled with historic and charming towns, rolling hills, and lush forests. So if landscapes and views are a priority to you, you might want to skip straight to Porto.

Do you prefer to do the entire Portuguese route?

Everyone who does the Camino de Santiago is on their own journey, so there’s really no “right” or “best” way to do it. While Lisbon is the proper start of the Camino Portugués, most pilgrims actually don’t start walking from there. But if doing the full route is important to you, then you’ll need to begin in Lisbon.

If you don’t have enough time to walk from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela in one go, you can also break it up across multiple trips. When I walked the Camino Portugués, I met a pilgrim who had already gone from Porto to Santiago de Compostela another year and came back to complete the full route by going from Lisbon to Porto. Likewise, there are also pilgrims who walk from Lisbon to Porto one year and then eventually return to do Porto to Santiago.

I really wanted to do the full Portuguese route in one go, without any interruptions. As I mentioned above, I also had plenty of time. For those two reasons, I decided to start in Lisbon.

Have you walked the Camino de Santiago before?

Since I started the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon, I noticed some interesting differences between the Lisbon to Porto and Porto to Santiago sections. From Lisbon to Porto, the vast majority of the pilgrims had done at least one Camino before. This was my first Camino and I only met two other first-timers.

While this could be because very few people can take enough time off to do the entire Camino, I suspect that it might also be due to the fact that the Lisbon to Porto section is more challenging. With fewer pilgrims walking this part, there’s less infrastructure for them. Most notably, there are fewer towns to stay in, which means you’re forced to walk farther and have less flexibility to break up your walk into shorter stages. (When you look at the stages, you’ll see that there are many towns separated by more than 5 kilometers and lots of days where you’ll be walking more than 30 kilometers.) There’s also fewer accommodations available and no luggage transfer.

If you’ve never done the Camino, don’t let this deter you though. Plan ahead, do your research, always carry more than enough water if you’re walking during the summer, and you’ll be able to easily tackle this part of the Portuguese route.

Late spring (May – June) and early fall (September – October) are the best months to walk the Lisbon to Porto section of the Camino Portugués. These are the shoulder seasons, when there’s slightly less pilgrims and the weather is the most enjoyable.

You’ll most likely want to avoid walking during the winter (December – February). Weather actually isn’t a concern at this time, since Portugal has mild winters. In Lisbon, the average high in winter is 58°F (14.5°C), and the average low is 47°F (8°C). The problem is that many albergues and some other accommodations on the Camino shut down during this time. With the Lisbon to Porto route already having less infrastructure than the rest of the Portuguese Camino, walking during the winter can make it even more challenging.

The summer also isn’t ideal, since this is the busiest time on the Camino. Students are on summer break and many people take time off from work. It can also get very hot as you head up north and away from the coast. Certain places, like Santarém, reach 90°F (32°C) or higher.

Where does the Portuguese Camino start in Lisbon?

Although most websites say that the Camino Portugués starts at the Lisbon Cathedral or Sé de Lisboa, that actually isn’t the true starting point. Instead, the Camino really starts at the Church of Saint James or Igreja de Santiago. Standing in front of the Church of Saint James, you’ll see a sign next to the front door that indicates you’re 610 km from Santiago de Compostela. You’ll also see a yellow arrow that’s been spray painted on the bottom-right of the front gate.

Follow the yellow arrow and you’re off! The Camino does bring you to the Lisbon Cathedral, where you can pop in and get the first stamp in your pilgrim’s passport. At the cathedral, you might even see other pilgrims starting their own journey.

Stages

Day 1: Lisbon/Lisboa to Alverca do Ribatejo (32.08 km)

Distance	Town
7.31 km	Parque das Nações
5.40 km	Sacavém
7.65 km	Granja
1.97 km	Alpriate
3.78 km	Póvoa de Santa Iria
5.97 km	Alverca do Ribatejo

Your first day on the Camino Portugués is a brutal 32 km. There isn’t a great way to split this up into shorter stages due to the lack of accommodation between Lisbon and Alverca do Ribatejo. Your only option is to walk 7.31 km to Parque Nações first and then walk 24.77 km to Alverca do Ribatejo the next day. Only doing 7 km isn’t enough to make it worth an entire stage in my opinion, so if you can, head straight to Alverca do Ribatejo on your first day instead.

Getting out of Lisbon can be difficult, as you’ll need to deal with narrow sidewalks, tourists, and Camino arrows that aren’t obviously placed. If you have time, I recommend going to the start of the route the day before and walk the first 2 or 3 km so that you can take your time in looking for arrows and make mistakes without the added weight of your backpack.

I did this walkthrough and was glad I did because I got lost the first time and had to backtrack a few times. When I officially started the Camino the next day, I didn’t have any issues.

Where to stay in Alverca do Ribatejo

• Alojamento Sol Rio D’Alverca (hotel)
• Silvina Ferreira Guesthouse (guesthouse)

Day 2: Alverca do Ribatejo to Azambuja (28.28 km)

Distance	Town
3.06 km	Sobralinho
2.37 km	Alhandra
3.86 km	Vila Franca de Xira
7.27 km	Estación de Carregado
4.27 km	Vila Nova da Rainha
7.45 km	Azambuja

There are a few interesting things that you’ll come across on your way to Azambuja. The first is going up and through the Alverca train station. You can grab a coffee and pastel de nata here to kickstart your day if you’d like. From there, the stretch until you reach Alhandra is all on the side of roads.

At Alhandra, you’ll pass by the municipial swimming pool and move onto a rubbery, track-like path. I really enjoyed this part, since you have views of the Tagus River on one side and there are some cool murals that line the other side.

Vila Franca de Xira is a cute town with cobblestone sidewalks and roads and elegantly tiled buildings. This is likely too early in the day to stop for lunch, but Vila Franca de Xira is a great place to take a break. There are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores to choose from, and the town’s green spaces along the river are a lovely place to rest.

From there, you’ll pretty much follow the rail line to Azambuja, walking on paved roads and dusty, dirt paths.

Where to stay in Azambuja

• Albergue Abrigo do Peregrino Azambuja (public albergue)
• Residencial Flor da Primavera (guesthouse)
• Casa da Rainha (guesthouse)

Day 3: Azambuja to Santarém (32.53 km)

Distance	Town
10.70 km	Reguengo
2.60 km	Valada
3.40 km	Porto de Muge
13.87 km	Omnias
1.96 km	Santarém

Your day starts with expansive farm fields and brings you through a few small towns where you can get drinks and food, before finally dumping you back on to wide dirt roads. You’ve now traded corn fields for vineyards, but you’ve still got wide open landscapes with little shade.

When I walked the Portuguese Camino de Santiago in September, this stage was one of the most difficult because of how hot and sunny it was. If you’re walking during the warmer months, it’s really important that you take every opportunity to refill your water. There aren’t any services in the last 15 km, so you need to have enough water to reach Santarém.

As if the lack of shade wasn’t enough, Santarém is also located on a steep hill. Just when you’ve had enough, you’ll need to mentally prepare yourself for the climb into town. But once you reach it, it feels amazing. At this point, I recommend taking a seat at the first café or restaurant that you see and treating yourself to a drink before checking in at your accommodation.

Where to stay in Santarém

• Villa Graça Hostels and Apartments (hostel)
• N1 Hostel Apartments and Suites (hostel)
• Tagus Host – Alojamento Local (guesthouse)

Day 4: Santarém to Golegã (30.96 km)

Distance	Town
1.54 km	Ribeira de Santarém
9.94 km	Vale de Figueira
11.97 km	Azinhaga
7.51 km	Golegã

Expect another day of dirt trails, albeit with more shade, when going from Santarém to Golegã. Getting out of Santarém is a nice downhill where you’ll walk through the Porta de Santiago, which is part of the city’s historic fortress. Enjoy the short, quiet walk through a lush forest, since the majority of today is through more fields.

After Azinhaga, the walk to Golegã mostly takes place on the slim shoulder of busy roads where Portuguese drivers zoom by. Be careful during this part, as the Portuguese drive fast. While some drivers will drift into the opposite lane if it’s empty so they can give you more room, not all will. If you’re with others, walk in a single-file line.

As you get closer to Golegã, you’ll pass through a tree-lined street with some seating and a kiosk on the side. If there’s good weather, you’ll most likely see groups of people hanging out under the shade. As long as you’re not in a rush to get to your accommodation, this is the perfect place to stop for a drink before you check in, shower, and do your laundry.

Where to stay in Golegã

• Albergue Solo Duro (private albergue)
• Inn Golegã (hostel)
• Quartos do Lagar (hotel)

Day 5: Golegã to Tomar (30.33 km)

Distance	Town
5.97 km	São Caetano
2.93 km	Vila Nova da Barquinha
1.93 km	Atalaia
6.92 km	Grou
1.51 km	Asseiceira
2.58 km	Guerreira
3.46 km	Casal Marmelo
5.03 km	Tomar

Day 5 marks a pretty significant change in scenery. So if you’ve gotten tired of endless fields, this day will feel like a breath of fresh air. The landscape from Golegã to Tomar is an interesting mix of beautiful yet slightly creepy abandoned buildings, Portuguese suburbs, and woodland filled with eucalyptus trees.

Where to stay in Tomar

• Hostel 2300 Thomar (hostel)
• Thomar Story Guest House (guesthouse)
• Family House Cup (hotel)

Day 6: Tomar to Alvaiázere (32.19 km)

Distance	Town
3.22 km	Ponte de Peniche
4.38 km	Casais
1.00 km	Soianda
2.33 km	Calvinos
1.29 km	Chão das Eiras
1.36 km	Ceras
0.75 km	Escoural
1.64 km	Espanha
0.47 km	Portela de Vila Verde
2.76 km	Vila Verde (Areias)
3.00 km	Tojal
3.29 km	Cortiça
0.50 km	Outeiro da Cotovia
0.80 km	Outeirinho
1.66 km	Feteiras
1.15 km	Farroeira
2.59 km	Alvaiázere

The walk out of Tomar is incredibly peaceful. You’ll walk along a pebbly, dirt trail that runs alongside a small river. While you’ll go through some more forests this day, the majority of this stage is made up of quiet Portuguese neighborhoods. You’ll see the variety of produce that the Portuguese grow in their own yards. Some houses even raise animals, including chickens, sheep, and cows.

Although there is a lot of road walking this day, there are few cars.

Where to stay in Alvaiázere

• Albergaria Pinheiros (private albergue)
• Residencial O Brás (guesthouse)

Day 7: Alvaiázere to Rabaçal (31.58 km)

Distance	Town
2.38 km	Laranjeiras
1.13 km	Vendas
3.01 km	Venda do Negro
2.86 km	Casal Soeiro
1.42 km	Empeados
1.94 km	Ansião
3.93 km	Netos
2.31 km	Venda do Brasil
0.45 km	Casais da Granja
1.65 km	Junqueira (Alvorge)
1.61 km	Alvorge
5.11 km	Ribeira de Alcalamouque
3.78 km	Rabaçal

As you can see in the table above, you’ll walk through many towns to get to Rabaçal, which keeps this stage pretty interesting and well-serviced with multiple opportunities to stop for food, drinks, and bathrooms.

The highlight for me on this day was Restaurante O Lagareiro, where I had my first proper pilgrim’s meal. For only €8, this was one of the best meals I ate on the entire Portuguese Camino. It started with a vegetable soup and basket of bread, followed by a hearty plate of rice, pork, and beans, and ended with chocolate mousse and coffee. Everything was delicious, and the three-course lunch gave me the opportunity to take a proper rest.

Where to stay in Rabaçal

• Albergue O Bonito (private albergue) – Albergue O Bonito is the only place to stay in Rabaçal, but you’ll be perfectly happy to spend a night here. The albergue is more spacious than most, has an attached café, a pool and outdoor lounge area, and a laundry machine. These features, along with the albergue’s cleanliness, create a pleasant rest stop for pilgrims. Read my full review on staying at Albergue O Bonito.

Day 8: Rabaçal to Coimbra (28.90 km)

Distance	Town
3.82 km	Zambujal
2.17 km	Fonte Coberta
1.91 km	Poço
3.12 km	Conímbriga
1.10 km	Valada (Coneixa-a-Nova)
0.77 km	Atadoa
0.90 km	Avessada
1.47 km	Orelhudo
0.69 km	Ribeira de Casconha
1.45 km	Cernache
1.42 km	Pousada
3.14 km	Palheira
1.27 km	Quinta do Limoeiro
1.05 km	Cruz dos Morouços
1.70 km	Bordalo
2.92 km	Coimbra

Remember that long walk with little shade into Santarém on day 3? You haven’t left that behind. Day 8 is similar, although there’s more walking on pavement. This day isn’t particularly exciting until you get closer to Coimbra, which is when you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous view of the city that used to be Portugal’s capital. Since you’ll be descending into Coimbra, you can’t miss it.

In my opinion, Coimbra is the best part of this day. The city is filled with history and endearing cobblestone streets. Among its many attractions, Coimbra is most famous for its university, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Having half a day there and tired legs meant I didn’t do any sightseeing, but Coimbra is one of several places on the Camino Portugués that I’d love to come back to.

Where to stay in Coimbra

• Albergue de Peregrinos Rainha Santa Isabel (public albergue)
• Change the World Hostels – Coimbra (hostel)
• Olive Street House (guesthouse)
• Hotel Larbelo (Residencial Larbelo) (hotel)

Day 9: Coimbra to Sernadelo (24.83 km)

Distance	Town
5.92 km	Adémia de Baixo
1.96 km	Fornos
1.27 km	Trouxemil
0.92 km	Adões
1.12 km	Sargento Mõr
1.86 km	Santa Luzia
4.27 km	Mala
1.29 km	Lendiosa
1.28 km	Vimieira
3.26 km	Mealhada
1.68 km	Sernadelo

Although this day starts out promising, with quiet roads flanked by fields, the occasional meadow of sheep, and some dirt trails, it eventually turns into all pavement and sidewalks. The best moments were the sunrise, which hit the morning mist just right, and the freshly made personal pizza that I had at Padaria Nossa Senhora das Candeias. It took 10 minutes for the bakery to make it, but it was worth the wait.

Where to stay in Sernadelo

• Residencial Hilário (private albergue)

Day 10: Sernadelo to Águeda (23.40 km)

Distance	Town
1.78 km	Alpalhão
1.47 km	Aguim
3.45 km	Anadia
0.85 km	Arcos (Anadia)
0.95 km	Alféloas
3.38 km	Avelãs de Caminho
2.00 km	São João da Azenha
2.03 km	Aguada de Baixo
0.75 km	Landiosa
4.47 km	Brejo
1.39 km	Sardão
0.88 km	Águeda

In my opinion, day 10 is largely uninteresting. The hills at the beginning give you a nice view of the surrounding area, which is made even nicer by sunrise. Aside from that, the rest of the stage consists of industrial areas, small towns, and roads that seem to never end.

Where to stay in Águeda

• Albergue de Peregrinos Santo António (private albergue)
• Residencial Hotel Celeste (hotel)
• XPT Águeda (hotel)

Day 11: Águeda to Outeirinho/Branca (25.90 km)

Distance	Town
0.58 km	Paredes
0.64 km	Vale da Erva
3.80 km	Mourisca do Vouga
1.71 km	Pedaçães
1.84 km	Lamas do Vouga
1.41 km	Lameiro
0.95 km	Serém de Cima
5.20 km	Albergaria-a-Velha
1.72 km	Urgueiras
5.04 km	Albergaria-a-Nova
1.89 km	Laginhas
0.51 km	Escusa
0.61 km	Outeirinho (Branca)

Day 11 is another day with a lot of road walking, although it’s broken up by a few segments of dirt paths with towering trees. In Lamas do Vouga, you’ll come across the Ponte Velha do Marnel, a medieval arched bridge, and walk under it.

After that, you’ll need to cross the Vouga River by walking across a long bridge with a yellow railing. This is a very busy road with fast-driving cars and enormous trucks. Fortunately, there’s a guardrail that protects the sidewalk so I didn’t feel unsafe.

Serém de Cima is your first opportunity to get something to eat and drink. There aren’t many options, but Casa Leonel was sufficient and had a cute wall of pictures of pilgrims. However, the best place to take a break is Albergaria-a-Velha, which has many more food and drink options.

Where to stay in Outeirinho (Branca)

• Albergue Casa Católico (private albergue) – Even though Albergue Casa Católico is the only place to stay in Outeirinho/Branca, it was by far the best albergue that I stayed at on the Lisbon to Porto route. Despite being donation-based, the albergue provided the most, including a family dinner and one of the most complete breakfasts I had on the Camino. See my full review of Albergue Casa Católico here and discover other amazing albergues on the Camino Portugués.

Day 12: Outeirinho (Branca) to São João da Madeira (18.88 km)

Distance	Town
0.75 km	Coche
1.93 km	Pinheiro da Bemposta
2.52 km	Besteiros
2.02 km	Póvoa (Travanca)
3.00 km	Oliveira de Azeméis
2.29 km	Santiago de Riba-Ul
2.70 km	Cucujães
1.60 km	Faria
2.07 km	São João da Madeira

Day 12 is the only stage where you’ll walk less than 20 km. You’ll need it, since tomorrow is the longest distance you’ll walk in one day. Luckily, it’s also the day that you’ll finally arrive in Porto.

Although it’s a short day, it’s also almost exclusively on cement, which is not fun.

Where to stay in São João da Madeira

• Acogida da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de São João da Madeira (public albergue)
• Central Suites (hotel)

Day 13: São João da Madeira to Porto (34.43 km)

Distance	Town
1.99 km	Arrifana
2.36 km	Infestas (Escapães)
2.71 km	Malaposta
1.25 km	Airas
0.89 km	Souto Redondo
1.44 km	Ferradal
2.51 km	Lourosa
1.52 km	Vergada (Mozelos)
1.28 km	Goda
3.62 km	Grijó
3.60 km	Sergueiros
1.19 km	Perosinho
4.17 km	Rechousa
4.20 km	Vila Nova de Gaia
1.70 km	Porto

The first half of this stage is a continuation of yesterday, with lots and lots of pavement that can be tough on your feet and knees. After Grijó, the terrain takes an interesting and unexpected turn as you’re brought into the middle of a lush trail. This eventually spits you out into a town, and from here on out, you’re on the home stretch to Porto.

As you get closer, you’ll notice more people, livelier streets, and tourists. It can be difficult to navigate around all the foot traffic, but this is the time to slow down and take it all in. I stopped multiple times to play tourist and take photos. Once you cross the Luís I Bridge into Porto, head to the Porto Cathedral or Sé do Porto to get your pilgrim passport stamped.

How to break up day 13 into two stages

If you’re dreading covering 34 km in one day, you can break up the distance into two days instead. Unfortunately, most of the towns between São João da Madeira and Porto don’t have accommodations. Your only option is Grijó. This makes it a manageable 19.57 km from São João da Madeira to Grijó and then 14.86 km from Grijó to Porto.

Albergue de Peregrinos São Salvador de Grijó is the only albergue here and the cheapest. However, I don’t recommend it. It was by far the dirtiest place I stayed at during my one month walking the Portuguese Camino. The dorm room floors looked like they hadn’t been swept and there were questionable brown flecks on the beds. I was concerned about bed bugs when staying here, but after checking the mattress, confirmed that there were none. That’s not to say there aren’t other bugs though. The only thing that I did like about this public albergue is how spacious the bathroom was.

My experience at Albergue de Peregrinos São Salvador de Grijó is based on staying there in 2022. Based on recent Google reviews though, it seems like parts of the albergue have been redone and are now new and clean.

Unfortunately, your only other option in Grijó is the much more expensive CoutoRural. It’s also about 1 km off of the Camino. However, it could be worth it if you want to treat yourself. CoutoRural has a gorgeous garden, a small pool, and nicely maintained facilities.

Where to stay in Porto

You may have gotten used to booking accommodation one day in advance or not at all, but you should plan further ahead for Porto. The city attracts many travelers, so accommodations can book up quickly. I made my reservation three to four days before arriving in Porto and would recommend that you do the same. Porto has a lot of accommodations, so it won’t be difficult to find a place. However, the longer you wait, the fewer options you’ll have that fit your criteria.

Albergues and hostels

• Albergue de Peregrinos do Porto (private albergue)
• Best Guest Porto Hostel (hostel)
• Nice Way Porto Hostel (hostel)
• Being Porto Hostel (hostel)
• The Passenger Hostel (hostel)
• Travel & Live Porto Hostel (hostel)
• Hostel Market (hostel)
• Supernova Hostel (hostel)
• PILOT Design Hostel & Bar (hostel)
• Porto Lounge Hostel & Guesthouse (hostel)
• Wine Hostel (hostel)
• Rivoli Cinema Hostel (hostel)

Guesthouses and hotels

• Boavista Guest House (guesthouse)
• Zero Box Lodge Porto (hotel)
• Lusitana Hotel (hotel)
• HaoBo Porto Center (guesthouse)

More resources for the Camino Portugués

• Best Albergues on the Camino Portuguese
• Ultimate Camino de Santiago Packing List for Women
• Camino Portuguese Coastal vs. Central Route: How to Choose
• Camino Portuguese Central Route: Guide, Stages, and Map
• Camino Portuguese Coastal Route: Guide, Stages, and Map