The Portuguese Way: from Porto, from Tui or along the Coast

The Portuguese Way is the second most walked Camino in the world after the French Way, and people usually choose it for one precise reason: it is the gentle one. Soft gradients, villages that follow one another without hurry, the ocean a short detour away. But "Portuguese Way" is really three different roads, and choosing between Porto, Tui and the Coast changes the whole journey.

We have walked all three, more than once. Below you find the stages told one by one, by people who have actually walked them.

The three variants of the Portuguese Way

The Central route is the historic one: from Lisbon or, far more often, from Porto or Tui, inland through eucalyptus woods, vineyards and spa towns. The Coastal route follows the Atlantic north from Porto, with the ocean beside you for days. The Interior is the least walked variant, for those who want Portugal with nobody around.

From Tui onwards the final stretch is the same for everyone: the last 100 km that earn you the Compostela.

The Portuguese Way from Porto: the classic starting point

Porto is the perfect start if you have two weeks: you leave from the city of port wine and reach Santiago in 12 to 15 days, choosing between the Central and the Coastal route. The Coastal Way from Porto is our most requested Portuguese itinerary: Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, the mouth of the Miño, then the Galician rías.

Bruna, back from the Coast, put it this way: "I finished my Portuguese coastal camino through places of breathtaking beauty. The ocean has entered my heart and it will stay there forever."

The itineraries, with prices

Itinerary	Days	Km	Serenity from
From Tui, the last 100 km	8	115	€1,090
Coastal, from Vigo	8	102	€1,130
Coastal, from A Guarda	11	157	€1,340
From Tui to Finisterre	13	235	€695
Interior from Porto	13	240	€1,660
Coastal from Porto	15	280	€1,955

Serenity line prices, our reference proposal, per person in a double room: hand-picked accommodation, your credencial posted to your home in a gift box, app with GPS tracks, sports medical insurance and support; luggage transfer on request. Each route page also shows the simpler Minimal and Essence lines. What the price covers, and what a do-it-yourself trip really costs, is in our guide to how much the Camino de Santiago costs.

The stages from Tui, day by day

Six stages from the Spanish border to Santiago, told in our walking diary, starting with stage 1, from Tui to O Porriño.

The Coastal stages, day by day

Eight stages with the Atlantic beside you, starting with stage 1 from Porto.

If you would like to see what your own Camino could look like, tell us about it here: we reply with a proposal built on your dates, with no commitment.

Frequently asked questions about the Portuguese Way

Central or Coastal Portuguese Way: which is better?

The Central route is more historic and more shaded, through woods and spa towns. The Coast gives you the ocean for whole days and is a little breezier in summer. With the same services, it is a choice of landscape: inland or Atlantic.

How many days does the Portuguese Way from Porto take?

From 12 to 15 days depending on the variant and your pace. If you only have a week, start from Tui or Vigo: the last 100 km are enough for the Compostela.

Is the Portuguese Way suitable for a first Camino?

It is one of the most suitable: gentle gradients, clear waymarking, frequent services and fewer crowds than the French Way. Starting from Tui is, together with Sarria, the most popular choice for a first Camino.

How much does an organised Portuguese Way cost?

With the Serenity line, from €1,090 per person in a double room for the last 100 km from Tui, up to €1,955 for the full Coastal route from Porto in 15 days. Always included: accommodation, credencial posted home in a gift box, app with GPS tracks, sports medical insurance and support; luggage transfer on request. The Minimal and Essence lines cost less and are shown on each route page.

Where do I need to start to earn the Compostela on the Portuguese Way?

From Tui or Vigo onwards: both cover the last 100 km required by the Cathedral, with two stamps a day on your credencial.

How do I get to Porto or Tui?

Porto has direct flights from most European cities. For Tui: fly to Porto, then train or bus to the border, about an hour and a half. We point you to the right connection for your dates.

If the Portuguese Way is calling but you do not know where to start, that is our favourite part of the job: +39 391 75 13 937, ten minutes and we work it out together. Or start from the Portuguese Way itineraries.