Your adventure will start in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital of the yellow streetcars is one of the most charming cities in the country.

In Lisbon you can relax near the sea or stroll through its narrow stone streets and enjoy its busy squares, either on foot or riding one of the traditional streetcars.

You can visit the castle of St. George or go to Belém to see its Monastery or the Tower of Belem, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

This first stage to Alhandra consists of 18 miles, an extensive itinerary but without great difficulties.

As soon as we leave Lisbon behind, we will enter the so-called Caminho do Tejo, a classic pilgrimage route to Fatima.

For those who prefer to shorten the journey, the town of Alpriate has several hostels for pilgrims.

Between dirt tracks and asphalt roads, almost 15 miles separate Alhandra from Azambuja in this second stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James along the coast from Lisbon.

The itinerary runs parallel to the railroad and the nearby highway, passing through Vilafranca da Xira, Carregado and Vila Nova da Rainha.

Once in Azambuja, we will visit one of the most representative symbols of this village, the church of Nossa Senhora da Assunçao.

At this point of the route it is also interesting to visit the Vila Museu do Vinho, to learn about the winemaking tradition, as well as the Vila Quinta de Vale de Fornos, one of the oldest wineries in the area.

The third stage will take us to the beautiful city of Santarém, popularly known as the capital of Portuguese Gothic architecture.

This city also has a beautiful historic center, numerous monuments and churches, as well as several museums of interest.

During the initial part of the tour from Azambuja, the Tejo river will be our guide until we reach the area of Porto Muge.

From this point, the last 11 mi of the day will be a long stretch with no services or towns, between cultivated fields, without shade or vegetation.

In this stage from Santarém, the Tejo river is again one of the main elements that direct this long route of more than 19 miles.

Following the river bank for some distance, passing through Pombalinho, we will reach the national road to Golegã, a place where everything revolves around the equine world.

The town of Golegã is famous for being the birthplace of the writer and journalist José Saramago, but above all, for being the home of the National Horse Fair.

In this fifth stage between Golegã and Tomar, the unevenness of the road begins to become more noticeable.

Tomar is known as the historic city of the Templars. Formerly, this town was the headquarters of the Order of the Temple, so its great castle and the Convent of Christ that houses inside, declared a World Heritage Site, is a must-see.

Also worth a visit are the hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the church of São João Baptista and the Mouchão Park.

Between Tomar and Alvaiázere, the capital of peas, there are about 20 mi of steep sections and changing landscapes.

The initial stage from Tomar advances through a beautiful trail along the banks of the Nabão River, to continue between pastures with oaks, olive trees and pine forests.

These millenary trails between the two points are dotted along the way with medieval and Roman vestiges.

One of the highlights of this route is the Ponte de Peniche, an ancient road that linked Tomar and Coimbra.

The megalithic complex of Antas do Ramalhal, already in Alvaiázere, also stands out in this stage.

On this long day, starting from Alvaiázere, we will follow the route along the old Roman road to the village of Ansião.

At this point, located in the middle of the stage, we can enjoy a visit to the monumental defensive complex of Santiago da Guarda.

Afterwards, we will advance to Rabaçal, where the ruins of its majestic castle of Germanelo await us.

In the gastronomic section, this town is known for its famous cheese, made in small family cheese factories from a mixture of goat and sheep’s milk.

Pilgrims who prefer to do so can shorten part of the seventh stage of the Portuguese Way by spending the night in the town of Alvorge or even in Ansião.

After spending the night in Rabaçal, today’s day is somewhat shorter than the previous ones.

At this point, the road advances through quite urbanized areas and frequent slopes, passing through places like Cernache or Condeixa a Velha, where we can contemplate the ancient Roman city of Conímbriga.

The final route takes us to Coimbra, a World Heritage City and the first capital of the Portuguese kingdom after gaining independence from León in 1139.

Stately houses, beautiful churches, its famous university and the Sé Velha Cathedral, among others, welcome the pilgrim in his first contact with this small and touristic city.

In this ninth stage from Coimbra, the Mondego River will mark the first steps towards Mealhada.

Although it is somewhat removed from the Portuguese Camino de Santiago along the coast from Lisbon, the Mata do Buçaco, better known as the enchanted forest of the Portuguese country, is an interesting place to visit on this stretch.

In this architectural, botanical and landscape complex is located the Royal Palace, the last legacy of the Kings of Portugal.

The last steps of the itinerary take us to Mealhada, a city whose origins take us back to the Roman Empire. This is shown by its 1st Century Milestone, a limestone landmark on which some inscriptions are still visible.

Between Mealhada and Águeda, the Portuguese Camino turns its landscape between urban, semi-urban and industrial areas.

Of the 15 mi that separate both localities, most of them run between asphalt areas and industrial parks.

Also in this stage we will pass through the towns of Aguim, Anadia and Avelas do Caminho. And already in Águeda, bathed by a river with the same name, we can enjoy its urban art (the most colorful village in Portugal) and the largest natural lake in the Iberian Peninsula: A Pateira de Fermentelos.

During the summer, the Umbrella Sky Project dresses the streets of downtown Águeda with thousands of multicolored umbrellas.

With just over 9 mi, the route between Águeda and Albergaria A Velha is a transition stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James from Lisbon.

Despite the short distance, compared to the previous sections, we will cross very interesting areas among lush eucalyptus forests, such as a striking medieval bridge, or the villages of Mourisca do Vouga and Lamas do Vouga, where several mansions dating from the nineteenth century stand out.

Once in Albergaria A Velha, pilgrims can enjoy the interesting cultural and artistic heritage that surrounds the city.

At this point of the adventure, we recommend a visit to the Casa de Santo António, a baroque building from the 18th century; the Albergaria marshes, or the Pateira de Frossos, a natural ecosystem formed by several marshes inhabited by a great variety of birds.

The stage between Albergaria A Velha and Oliveira de Azeméis is a new short route with hardly any difficulties for pilgrims.

This pleasant itinerary advances through the old medieval path as it passes through Albergaria A Nova and Bemposta, where the route becomes more urban.

Then, we will have to cross the Senhor da Pedra bridge to reach the end of the stage in the town of Olvieira de Azeméis. On the list of must-sees are the romantic Sanctuary and Park of Nossa Senhora de La Salette, a historical and natural monument.

In this stage of the Jacobean route to Grijó, the asphalt again monopolizes the bulk of the itinerary.

Also, history surrounds the Portuguese Camino de St. James in this route, in places such as Cucujães and its characteristic Monastery of São Martinho.

It should be noted that the town of Grijó, the final point of this stage, has only one hostel for pilgrims, so the best option to spend the night is to go to Vila Nova de Gaia.

In addition, as this is again a fairly long stage, those who wish to do so can shorten the route by staying overnight in towns such as Arrifama or Lourosa.

Once again we have a short transition stage to reach the beautiful city of Oporto, also declared a World Heritage Site.

However, it is also one of the most emblematic routes of the Portuguese Way of St. James.

Only 9 mi separate the two localities, and one of the most outstanding stretches is found on the old Roman road via XVI of the Antonine itinerary, an idyllic stamp surrounded by stone walls and forests of cork oaks and eucalyptus.

Then, the bridge of D. Luís over the Douro River marks the entrance to the city of wine, with its elegant neighborhoods, stately villas and magical alleys.

In short, a place to explore and discover calmly, especially if we talk about its old town.

On this day we will depart from the city of Porto to the village of Vila do Conde, located just over 20 miles away.

This is the first stage along the coast of the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon, the route runs at all times close to the coast and the shore of the Douro, through routes with little difficulty and with dreamlike views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Along the coastal itinerary, places such as the Lighthouse of San Miguel stand out, catalogued as an Asset of Public Interest and considered the first purely Renaissance building in Portugal.

Also the Castle of St. John the Baptist, Castelo do Queijo, or the regions of Matosinho and Leça de Palmeira are points of interest along the route before arriving to Vila de Conde.

On this day between Vila do Conde to Esposende you will cross very different landscapes, from some beautiful promenades, wooden walkways and beaches, to other road areas further inland.

One of the highlights of the route is Povoa do Varzim and its old quarter, also worth a visit are the tiles of the city.

In Esposende, stands out its lighthouse, one of the few examples of metal structure lighthouses in Portugal.

Also of interest is the Forte de São João Baptista de Esposende, a large fortress built between 1699 and 1704 in Marinhas, during the reign of Pedro II of Portugal.

The stage between Esposende and Viana do Castelo is different from the rest of the itineraries along the coast to head towards the valleys of the rivers Neiva and Liva, leaving behind some of the most beautiful landscapes of the entire route.

The main points of historical and cultural interest of this stage are in the monumental city of Viana do Castelo.

Before entering this destination, a mandatory stop is the old Benedictine monastery of São Romão de Neiva, originally from the 11th century and rebuilt throughout the 17th century.

Already in Viana do Castelo, the Eiffel Bridge over the Lima River, the Praça da República and its large fountain, the Casa das Varandas, the Gothic cathedral or the municipal library, as well as the Santa Luzia hill or the Sacred Heart Basilica are essential points to stop at in this final stage.

In this eighteenth stage between Viana do Castelo and Caminha you will reach the border of Portugal with Spain at the height of Galicia, after about 17 mi.

At the beginning of the day we will have to decide whether to follow the official route or take a slight detour towards the coast to continue the itinerary overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

In both cases, the destination of the stage will be in the beautiful fishing village of Caminha, where the Torre do Relógio, the only gate that remains of the old medieval wall, stands out.

Other points of interest would be the church of Misericordia, with a Renaissance façade and Baroque interior; or the main church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção.

In this stage of the Camino  Portuguese along the coast from Lisbon, after crossing the Miño River, we will finally enter Galician territory. In this stage, the departure from Caminha will be done through a short crossing in the pilgrim boat “Xacobeo Transfer” (the ticket costs 6 euros per person, with a supplement of 2 in case of carrying bicycles).

At this point, the wild and rugged landscapes of the Galician coast give the pilgrim wonderful panoramic views of the surroundings of the Rías Baixas.

On the way to Oia we will find several places of great interest, such as the mountain of Santa Tegra and its castro dating back to the 4th century BC; the fishing village of A Guarda and its historic-Indian legacy; or the imposing monastery of Santa María de Oia, located by the sea and built around the 12th century.

In the stage between Oia and Baiona you will walk between beautiful sea and mountain landscapes for about 10 miles. 

At the end of this stage you will have the opportunity to discover the town of Baiona and walk through its old town (declared of Historic and Artistic Interest).

It is also interesting to make a stop at the Castle of Monterreal or the replica of La Pinta and its floating museum. 

This stage between Baiona and Vigo is another one that offers two alternatives to continue the historic Portuguese Way of St. James.

At the beginning of the day, after crossing the Romanesque bridge of A Ramallosa we will have to choose between following the official route with yellow arrows or take a detour to the left and continue along the coastal route, indicated with green arrows.

In this coastal variant we will cross the beautiful beaches of the city of Olívica and always with views of the Cíes Islands. Once we reach the end of the stage, in Vigo we can walk through its central streets, squares and symbols, such as Porta do Sol, the Sireno or the sculptural plant of the Dinoseto.

A gentle terrain and few slopes characterize the route of about 10 mi that separates Vigo and Redondela. This is also the last stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James along the coast, before linking up again with the Central Portuguese Camino that we had left behind in Porto.

Before arriving in Redondela it is worth making a stop at the church of San Andrés de Cedeira, a beautiful baroque temple of Latin cross dating from the eighteenth century.

Once in the final destination of the day, our visit will take us to the convent of Vilavella, the Alameda Gardens and the Casa de la Torre, as well as the Pedro Floriani viaduct, also known as the Madrid-Redondela viaduct.

In this semi-urban day you will leave Redondela following the route of the ancient Roman road via XIX, which linked Braga with Lugo and Astorga. In total, 12 miles to reach the ancient city of Pontevedra, a real paradise for pedestrians.

At the entrance of Boa Vila, the fluvial path of the Gafos River stands out, and already in the interior of the town, the church of la Peregrina and the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor represent two of the most important historical and architectural jewels of the area.

The historic center of Pontevedra, between squares and narrow streets, is worth a leisurely stroll.

You leave behind the historic town of Pontevedra to go into the interior of the province, until we reach the thermal village of Caldas de Reis.

Before reaching the end of the stage, in this section of the Jacobean route we can take a small detour, about 200 meters, to visit the Natural Park of Ria Barosa, a beautiful set between waterfalls and water mills.

Already in Caldas de Reis we highlight the Roman bridge over the river Bermaña, the source das Burgas, the public washing place of thermal waters or the Plaza de las Palmeras where the church of Santo Tomás Becket is located, the only temple that venerates this saint in all Galicia.

On this penultimate day of the Portuguese Way of St. James from Lisbon along the coast we will change province in Pontecesures, crossing the Roman bridge over the Ulla River.

On the way from Caldas de Reis, we will advance between wooded landscapes and small villages of Jacobean essence.

One of the most traditional places is Padrón, famous for its peppers (originally from the village of Herbón) and of great cultural interest and of course for being the land of one of the most important writer in Galicia, Rosalía de Castro. 

The church of Santiago de Padrón stands out in this municipality, a neoclassical temple that preserves under its main altar the relic of the Pedrón, the rock that according to legend held the boat that brought the Apostle to Galicia.

In the last stage, 15 mi separate Padrón from Santiago de Compostela, the last and most special stage of this great experience from Lisbon.

Before advancing to Santiago de Compostela, you will take a detour to Iria Flavia to see its beautiful collegiate church, considered the first Galician cathedral; as well as the cemetery of Adina, where the Nobel Prize winner Camilo José Cela rests.

After passing through the municipalities of Teo and Ames, and after reaching Milladoiro, where the old pilgrims could already see the bells of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, we will advance towards the imposing Plaza del Obradoiro to end the adventure of the Camino  Portuguese from Lisbon along the coast.

Objective achieved!