Camino Portugués
Beginning in Porto, this inland variant follows old roads and cobbled village lanes through the Minho region of northern Portugal before entering Galicia. Small stage towns such as Vairão, Rubiães, and O Porriño break up the longer distances with pilgrim hostels and simple services, while larger hubs like Barcelos, Pontevedra, and Padrón offer more accommodation, restaurants, and rest days. The path mixes rural farmland, riverside sections, and eucalyptus woodland, ending in the busy pilgrim streets of Santiago de Compostela.
- ~232 kmtotal distance
- 11stages
- ~11-12 days at roughly 20-25 km/daytypical days
- Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September)best season
Highlights
- The medieval bridge and riverfront at Ponte de Lima
- Barcelos, long associated with the famous rooster legend
- The fortress-like cathedral of Tui as you enter Galicia
- The stone-paved old town and squares of Pontevedra
- Padrón, tied to the legend of Saint James
Stages
| # | Stage | Distance | Elevation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto → Vairão · guide → | 24.1 km | ↑35 ↓50 m | Moderate |
| 2 | Vairão → Barcelos · guide → | 27.8 km | ↑110 ↓146 m | Moderate |
| 3 | Barcelos → Ponte de Lima · guide → | 32.2 km | ↑192 ↓224 m | Moderate |
| 4 | Ponte de Lima → Rubiães · guide → | 17.2 km | ↑300 ↓111 m | Moderate |
| 5 | Rubiães → Tui · guide → | 18.6 km | ↑80 ↓253 m | Moderate |
| 6 | Tui → O Porriño · guide → | 16.7 km | ↑31 ↓21 m | Easy |
| 7 | O Porriño → Redondela · guide → | 14.8 km | ↑151 ↓170 m | Easy |
| 8 | Redondela → Pontevedra · guide → | 19.3 km | ↑164 ↓166 m | Moderate |
| 9 | Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis · guide → | 20.1 km | ↑76 ↓54 m | Easy |
| 10 | Caldas de Reis → Padrón · guide → | 17.8 km | ↑108 ↓134 m | Easy |
| 11 | Padrón → Santiago de Compostela · guide → | 23.8 km | ↑254 ↓43 m | Moderate |
Mostly moderate walking on gentle terrain, with the main climb around Labruja before Rubiães and long stretches of quiet road and forest track.
Distances and elevation come from real OpenStreetMap footpath geometry. In the planner you can split or merge any stage to match your pace.
Where to stay — Camino Portugués
- Vairão 3 albergues · 1 hotels · book
- Barcelos 4 albergues · 9 hotels · book
- Ponte de Lima 3 albergues · 7 hotels · book
- Rubiães 4 albergues · 1 hotels · book
- Tui 8 albergues · 14 hotels · book
- O Porriño 8 albergues · 8 hotels · book
- Redondela 11 albergues · 4 hotels · book
- Pontevedra 10 albergues · 17 hotels · book
- Caldas de Reis 10 albergues · 12 hotels · book
- Padrón 11 albergues · 11 hotels · book
- Santiago de Compostela 21 albergues · 40 hotels · book
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Camino Portugués?
About 232 km, usually walked in 11 stages (~11-12 days at roughly 20-25 km/day).
When is the best time to walk the Camino Portugués?
Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September)
How hard is the Camino Portugués?
Mostly moderate walking on gentle terrain, with the main climb around Labruja before Rubiães and long stretches of quiet road and forest track.