The Camino Portugués: Coastal route from Porto to Redondela
Camino Portugues Map 13
Porto is half the size of Lisbon, and twice as wonderful. It sits perched on the hillside on the north bank of the Rio Douro and has a historic center that would take two days minimum for only a casual stroll. If you plan on having a rest day, this is the town to do it in. If you had not planned on a rest day but had a long walk into Porto keep in mind that they way out of town is an arduous one too.
In Porto the buildings to see are the Igreja do São Pedro dos Clerigos and it's adjoining tower (5€, but the view from the top is unparalleled...
Porto has a nice nickname among Portuguese historians, who call it The Unvanquished City for having resisted the unlawful siege by King Miguel I. He wasn’t too keen on implementing the liberal constitution that was drafted after a local rebellion but after 18 months of...
Before you set off be certain to pick up a pilgrim’s credencial if you have not already done so. It can be found at the Sé Cathedral. This accordion-fold booklet is your passport to the camino and will become your most cherished souvenir of the trip. It is a required document in most pilgrim-...
Between Porto and the border with Spain, the camino splits into three distinct routes. They are known as the Central Way, the Coastal & Litoral Ways, and the Braga Way. Additionally, there are several paths that connect each of these options, creating a network of trails that can...
Accommodation in Porto - Along Coastal Route
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Albergue de peregrinos Porto Municipal 40 12€ |
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The Poets Inn Private 10 Booking.com |
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Porto Lounge Hostel Private 17*€ Booking.com |
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Gallery Hostel Private 40 22*€ Booking.com |
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Oporto Sport Hostel Private Booking.com |
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Tattva Design Hostel Private 116 15*€ Booking.com |
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Downtown Hostel Private 37 15€ Booking.com |
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Spot Hostel Private 42 17€ Booking.com |
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Albergue do Peregrino Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Vilar Parochial 12 23€ |
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Refúgio de Peregrinos ViaPortuscale Association 20 10€ |
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AHBV Porto Bombeiro 2 Donativo€ |
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Residencial Belo Sonho Pension Booking.com |
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The Passenger Hostel Hostal Booking.com |
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Porto Wine Hostel Hostal Booking.com |
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Antas Ville Hostal 30 13€ Booking.com |
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Being Porto Hostel Hostal Booking.com |
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Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Hotel Peninsular Hotel Booking.com |
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Hotel Universal ⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Hotel do Norte ⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Foz do Douro
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Pousada de Juventude Porto Private 148 10/12*€ |
The Metro of Porto Line A (Linha de Matosinhos) ends at Matosinhos and is a convenient way to bypass the least exciting scenery when leaving Porto. It is also possible to arrive here via the Porto Airport with only one transfer, if you do not plan to see Porto.
The camino enters town along the beach-front, and turns inland when it reaches the harbor, making a zig zag path to the bridge over the Río Leça. At the end of the bridge you will turn left at the large roundabout, to follow the Rua Hintze Ribeiro back towards the waterfront.
Accommodation in Matosinhos
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Pensão Central Pension Booking.com |
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Hostal del Rei Hostal Booking.com |
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Hotel Porto Mar ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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There is a bar at the group of buildings near the lighthouse, as well as the Capela de Boa Nova.
Passing the lighthouse, keep your gaze to the left, where you can enjoy a sea view far superior to the oil refinery to your right. Between here and the Obelisk you will follow off and on a walkway, passing several food options.
From the Obelisk, keep on the beach-side walkways straight ahead. You will pass several bar/restaurants along the way to the Angeiras Sea Houses. The camino follows a pedestrian promenade alongside the sea.
At the start of town are the Angeiras Sea Houses. If niche museums are your thing, these fisherman cottages are for you. Angeiras has a long history as a fishing village.
At the end of town, leave the road and rejoin the familiar wooden boardwalk, it will soon cross the Río Onda to rejoin the road into Labruge.
Accommodation in Angeiras
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Camping Orbitur Angeiras Camping 8+€ Booking.com |
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Labruge is a small seaside town, and most services (including the albergue) are located off the camino.
At the end of town is the Avenida Da Libertade, turn right here to get to the albergue or continue straight along the beach walk. Arrows are sparse, but a few point the way to the Castro of Sampaio.
Accommodation in Labruge
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Albergue de S. Tiago Municipal 24 |
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Casa da Praia Guest House Casa Rural Booking.com |
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The camino leaves the familiar beach setting but follows close to the shore while it climbs to reach the chapel and castro of San Paio. From here follow the walkway along the dunes to reach Facho - Vila Chã.
At the start of town the camino turns away from the shore and passes through the village, gone is the wooden boardwalk. It will stay some distance from the shore until Povoa de Varzim.
Accommodation in Vila Chã
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Albergue de S. Mamede Municipal 10 8€ |
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Pensão Café Sandra Pension |
There are two ways from Gafa to Ávore, one along the waterfront and one inland.
From Ávore the walking is entirely along paved roads.
The Metro of Porto Line B (Linha da Póvoa) passes through Azurara. To stop here, disembark at the Azurara station, but note that one more stop takes you to Vila do Conde’s Santa Clara station.
Between Azurara and Vila do Conde flows the Rio Ave. Once over the bridge, turn left and walk along the park and Plaza de la Republica. At the end of the park follow straight (along the waterfront) until the next side street (the Rua do Lidador) where you turn right and...
Vila do Conde is the first town along the coastal route which merits an extended visit. It is a popular destination for the Portuguese, though it is somewhat out-sized by the larger Póvoa de Varzim to the north.
Its Bronze Age discoveries aside, the more contemporary sights to see are the Aqueduct of Santa Clara (17th and 18th century), whose 999 arches carry water some 4km to reach the Convent of Santa Clara (14th century), the Igreja Matriz in the city center, and the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (a fortress which often goes by ...
Vila do Conde is among the oldest known settlements in Portugal, with discoveries in and near the city which date to more than 100,000 years ago. More recently it was a sea port that played a critical role in Portugal’s 16th century Age of Discovery. King Manuel I passed through on...
The Metro of Porto Line B (Linha da Póvoa) passes through Vila do Conde. To stop here, disembark at the Santa Clara station.
If you are hungry, and have 9 days to spare, the Feira de Gastronomia is held during the 3rd week of August.
A well known crafts fair, the Feira Nacional de Artesanato, is held between the last week of July and runs through the first week of August.
Friday is market day, held next to the church.
From the Igreja Matriz you have two options, the one indicated by the signs takes you through the center of this large town and carries on straight past the church. It is well marked.
The other option is to follow along the Litoral route which is unmarked but easy...
Accommodation in Vila do Conde
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Albergue Santa Clara Municipal 25 8€ |
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Erva Doce Guest House Casa Rural Booking.com |
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Pensão Patarata 3 Pension |
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Hotel Brazao ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Camino Portugues Map 15
Povoa is one of Portugal’s most popular seaside resorts, with plenty of hotels, shopping and even casinos to show for it. All were built to support tourists who flock to the nearly 12km of beaches. A rich collection of artifacts relating to Povoa’s rich seafaring history are on display at the Ethnography and History Museum of Póvoa de Varzim.
The Metro of Porto Line B (Linha da Póvoa) terminates here.
The entirety of the walk between Póvoa and A Ver-o-Mar can be done along the coast, following the shoreline. Shortly before arriving in A Ver-o-Mar the signs are unclear. If you get to a large soccer field (no grass) you want it to be on your right, but it will likely be on...
Accommodation in Povoa de Varzim
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Albergue São José de Ribamar Parochial 36 Donativo€ |
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Hostal Sardines and Friends Hostal Booking.com |
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Hotel Luso Brasileiro ⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Grande Hotel de Povoa ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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At the far end of town, the camino turns right, and then left again to follow the road. A short distance ahead it turns right once more, on the very last street in town. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT HERE. Rather turn right and then left again on the first street. This street will curve sharply left at the...
Santo André is the chapel located up the first street on your right-hand side. There is a bar at the hotel and another on the way to the chapel.
The camino splits once more at the start of Santo André. You can either follow the coast or turn right towards the chapel, and then left at the first roundabout onto the Rua Santo Andre de Cima. The latter course will take you through quiet residential areas interspersed with...
Accommodation in Santo André
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Estalagem Santo Andre ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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Follow the camino along the coast. Shortly before arriving to Apúlia the camino splits, and this time the preferred route (for being more direct) takes you away from the beach.
Accommodation in Aguçádoura
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Aguçadoura Guest House Hostal Booking.com |
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Mar Rosa Apartment Booking.com |
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Pé na Areia Apartment Booking.com |
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