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
|
1 |
Albergue de peregrinos Porto Municipal
Barão de Forrester, 954
24 12€ |
|
2 |
Gallery Hostel Private
Miguel Bombarda, 222
40 22*€ Booking.com |
 |
|
3 |
Downtown Hostel Private
Praça Guilherme Gomes Fernandes, 66
37 15€ Booking.com |
 |
|
4 |
Porto Lounge Hostel Private
Almada, 317
17*€ Booking.com |
 |
|
5 |
Tattva Design Hostel Private
Cativo 26-28
116 15*€ Booking.com |
 |
|
6 |
Spot Hostel Private
Gonçalo Cristovão, 12
42 17€ Booking.com |
 |
|
7 |
Oporto Sport Hostel Private
Santa Catarina, 313
Booking.com |
 |
|
8 |
The Poets Inn Private
Caldeireiros, 261
10 No dormitories€ Booking.com |
 |
|
9 |
Albergue do Peregrino Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Vilar Parochial
Arcediago Vanzeller 50
12 23€ |
|
10 |
Refúgio de Peregrinos ViaPortuscale Association
Vasco Santana, 264
20 Donativo€ |
|
11 |
AHBV Porto Bombeiro
Rodrigues Sampaio, 153
2 Donativo€ |
|
12 |
Residencial Belo Sonho Pension
Passos Manuel, 186
Booking.com |
 |
|
13 |
Antas Ville Hostal
Vigorosa, 736
30 13€ Booking.com |
 |
|
14 |
Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Infante Dom Henrique, 1
Booking.com |
 |
|
15 |
Hotel Peninsular Hotel
Sá da Bandeira, 21
Booking.com |
 |
|
16 |
Hotel Universal ⭑⭑ Hotel
dos Aliados, 38
Booking.com |
 |
|
17 |
Hotel do Norte ⭑⭑ Hotel
Fernandes Tomas, 579
Booking.com |
 |
Accommodation in Foz do Douro
|
1 |
Pousada de Juventude Porto Private
Paulo da Gama, 551
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
|
1 |
Pensão Central Pension
Brito Capelo, 599
Booking.com |
 |
|
2 |
Hostal del Rei Hostal
Brito Capelo, 843
Booking.com |
 |
|
3 |
Hotel Porto Mar ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Brito Capelo, 169
Booking.com |
 |
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
|
1 |
Camping Orbitur Angeiras Camping 8+€ Booking.com |
 |
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
|
1 |
Albergue de S. Tiago Municipal
Labruge, 1720
24 |
|
2 |
Casa da Praia Guest House Casa Rural
Liberdade, 439
Booking.com |
 |
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
|
1 |
Albergue de S. Mamede Municipal
Sol, 4485-743
10 8€ |
|
2 |
Pensão Café Sandra Pension
Facho, 34
|
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
|
1 |
Albergue Santa Clara Municipal
5 de Octubre, 221
25 8€ |
 |
|
2 |
Erva Doce Guest House Casa Rural
Cais das Lavandeiras, 39
Booking.com |
 |
|
3 |
Pensão Patarata 3 Pension
Cais das Lavandeiras, 18
|
|
4 |
Hotel Brazao ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Dr. Joao Canavarro
Booking.com |
 |
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
|
1 |
Albergue São José de Ribamar Parochial
Mouzinho de Albequerque, 11
36 Donativo€ |
|
2 |
Hostal Sardines and Friends Hostal
da Ponte, 4
Booking.com |
 |
|
3 |
Hotel Luso Brasileiro ⭑⭑ Hotel
dos Cafés, 16
Booking.com |
 |
|
4 |
Grande Hotel de Povoa ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Alegre, 20
Booking.com |
 |
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
|
1 |
Estalagem Santo Andre ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Avenida de Santo André
Booking.com |
 |
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
|
1 |
Aguçadoura Guest House Hostal
Guizos, 120
Booking.com |
 |
|
2 |
Mar Rosa Apartment
Praia, 390
Booking.com |
 |
|
3 |
Pé na Areia Apartment
Praia, 540
Booking.com |
 |