Porto to Santiago Camino Central Portuguese

Your adventure begins in Porto, a city shaped by the Douro River and its famous wine cellars. Porto is an ideal place to wander through its elegant neighborhoods, grand streets, and enchanting alleys. It’s a perfect destination to explore and discover at a leisurely pace, especially when it comes to its historic old town, which is filled with charm and character.

In this first stage, we will depart from the city of Porto toward the village of Vilarinho, located just over 25 kilometers away. At this point on the Camino Portugués from Porto, it’s also possible to shorten the stage and spend the night in intermediate towns such as Maia, Gião, or Vairão.

Along the route, notable sites include the Igreja de Águas Santas in Maia and the Monastery of Divino Salvador in Moreira. Once in Vilarinho, the Romanesque Monastery of São Miguel is the main point of interest in the village.

The stage between Vilarinho and Barcelos progresses through agricultural areas, passing through numerous rural communities with minimal elevation changes. As this is another long day, pilgrims who prefer can spend the night in Pedra Furada or Barcelinhos.

As the journey begins, just after leaving São Pedro de Rates, you’ll encounter the beautiful Zameiro Bridge. This town also features a church recognized as one of the most important Romanesque temples in Portugal.

At the end of the day, you will arrive in Barcelos, famous for its iconic rooster and as the capital of Portuguese handicrafts. Notable sights here include the medieval bridge, the Paço dos Condes de Barcelos, the Jardim das Barrocas, and the Torre da Porta Nova, all of which are must-visit attractions.

In this third stage, the route between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima is characterized by wine-growing regions and notable elevation changes. There is an option to shorten the journey in Vitorino dos Piães or in towns like Balugães, Facha, or Sobreiro.

The most significant ascent occurs at Portela de Tamel, featuring a climb of 130 meters over just over 2 kilometers.

The long day concludes in the historic town of Ponte de Lima, renowned for its famous vinho verde and considered the oldest town in Portugal. Points of interest to add to your itinerary include the Torre da Cadeia Velha, the Paço do Marqués de Ponte da Lima, and the Museu Nacional do Brinquedo.

The overall landscape of this journey between Ponte de Lima and Rubiães is accompanied by the banks of the Labruja River, nestled among lush forests and hills.

The main challenge of the stage is the ascent to Portela Grande, which reaches an altitude of 315 meters. In the village of Rubiães, you can visit notable sites such as the Romanesque Church of São Pedro and the Rubiães Bridge, which was part of the important Roman road that once connected Braga with Astorga.

Today’s journey involves finally crossing the Miño River to enter Galician territory and reach the town of Tui.

During this route, we will also discover the border town of Valença do Minho and its impressive fortress, built in the 17th century.

To reach Tui, we must cross the International Bridge, inaugurated in 1886 under the Royal Order of Isabel II. In the Galician town of Tui, the Cathedral of Santa María, dating back to the 13th century and of Romanesque origin, stands out as the most important monument in the city and one of the earliest examples of Gothic art in Spain.

This stage between Tui and O Porriño is the first of the Camino de Santiago Portugués from Oporto that takes place entirely in Galicia. It’s a short transitional journey, covering approximately 13 km through semi-urban areas and industrial activity.

To avoid Galicia’s largest industrial park, it is advisable to take an official variant of the path, marked in 2013, which will lead us to the natural space of As Gándaras de Budiño and the Louro River.

The route between O Porriño and Redondela spans just 16 km and is characterized by gentle terrain and minimal elevation changes. The main challenge of this stage is the ascent to the chapel of Santiaguiño de Antas, which involves a climb of about 3 kilometers and nearly 150 meters in altitude. From the top, just before reaching Redondela, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of the Rías Baixas.

Along the way, notable sites include the Iglesia de Santa María de Guizán and the Pazo de los Marqueses de Mos. In Redondela, you can visit the Convento de Vilavella, the Jardines Alameda, the Casa de la Torre, and the Pedro Floriani Viaduct, also known as the Madrid-Redondela viaduct.

In this stage, you will leave Pontevedra crossing the Puente de O Burgo towards the Marismas de Alba, a protected wetland that delights birdwatching enthusiasts. After passing through the marshes, you’ll enter the forest towards the area of Barro. Just as you reach Briallos, there is a detour to visit the stunning Cascadas del Río Barosa, which is highly recommended.

On your return from Barosa, you’ll continue along a pleasant path lined with vineyards and traditional Galician houses until you reach Caldas de Reis. This town is renowned for its thermal waters and spa; if you’re looking to rejuvenate, don’t hesitate to take a dip and feel refreshed!

In this penultimate stage of the Camino de Santiago Portugués from Oporto, you will change provinces at Pontecesures by crossing the Roman bridge over the Ulla River. The journey from Caldas de Reis takes you through wooded landscapes and small villages steeped in Jacobean essence.

One of the highlights along the route is Padrón, a town famous for its peppers (originating from the village of Herbón) and significant cultural interest. In Padrón, you will find the Iglesia de Santiago de Padrón, a neoclassical temple that houses a relic beneath its main altar—the Pedrón, the stone that, according to legend, supported the boat that brought the Apostle to Galicia.

On this last day of the Central Portuguese Way  from Porto, almost 16 miles separate Padrón from Santiago de Compostela, the last and most special stage of this great experience from Porto.

Before advancing to Santiago de Compostela, we 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 Compostela, we will advance towards the imposing Plaza del Obradoiro to put an end to the adventure of the Portuguese Way from Porto through the interior.

Objective achieved!