The Coastal Portuguese Way, spreading across Portugal and Spain, is growing in popularity. Nearly 74,000 travellers have trekked the seaside route in 2024. Many pilgrims start their hike just over the Spanish border in the Galician town of Oia. But the Full Camino Portuguesa Coastal starts further south in the iconic city of Porto.
Porto to Santiago de Compostela unfolds along 270km of beautiful boardwalks and flat roads by the Atlantic coastline. The full trip takes 14 days in total.
Expand your walking holiday adventure to swim in the Atlantic, eat fresh seafood, and enjoy local wines. It is a rich experience hard to recreate on other Camino routes! Here’s our guide to the historic Porto to Santiago de Compostela walking route!
A brief history of the Portuguese Caminos
The Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela as we know it today is a variant of a more traditional route through Portugal, the Camino Portugues. This route has been in use by devout Catholics from across Portugal for centuries. The trail follows roads remaining from Roman times.
The Camino Portugues became famous in the 13th Century. This is because Queen Isabel of Portugal went on her own pilgrimage to the city of Santiago de Compostela. However, unlike the Camino Portugues Coastal, the traditional Portuguese Way cuts inland after leaving Porto.
Some pilgrims chose to travel from Porto along the coast rather than following the traditional Camino Portugues. But the contemporary coastal route didn’t come to prominence until the construction of beach walkways. These boardwalks made following the coast easier, and meant pilgrims could avoid the urbanisation happening along the Camino Portugues. Introducing this new route also gave pilgrims the options for scenic view and sea swimming while walking the Camino.
An outline of the Camino Portugues Coastal route
If you look at the walking trail of Porto to Santiago de Compostela on a Camino map, you’ll see it runs in straight line along the Atlantic coast through the north of Portugal and then into the southern part of Galicia.
With the first section, from Porto to Oia, you can either start from the city centre of Porto or take the metro to the coast and walk from there. Either way, it’s easy to get from Porto to you Camino de Santiago starting point! Once you start, you’ll head along flat boardwalks out past Viana de Castelo and its surrounding beaches and forested hills before you turn for Oia. This first section is around 127km long and is walkable in 5 days.
This second section, from Oia to Santiago de Compostela, begins in the centre of town. Then, it takes you around the Vigo estuary. From the estuary you’ll turn inland, passing the beautiful seaside towns of Baiona and Vigo.
Then you will rejoin the Camino Portugues at Redondela and follow the path into Santiago de Compostela. This final stretch is slightly longer than the first, approximately 143km long, and walkers can reach their destination in 6 days.
Getting to and from Porto and Santiago de Compostela
Many people walking this full Camino Portugues Coastal route fly directly into Porto as the city has an international airport that serves the rest of Europe, the US, and further abroad. From Porto Airport you can take either the Linea Violet Metro or a local bus into the city centre.
If you fly in and out of Santiago, there are a few options for how to get from Santiago de Compostela to Porto. Take a direct Alsa Bus from Santiago de Compostela to Porto, with a 4 hour journey time.
To get a train from Santiago de Compostela to Porto is a little more complicated, requiring a self-transfer in the city of Vigo, but it is still doable in less than 4 hours if you would prefer to travel that way.
After your walk to Santiago de Compostela, you can depart from Santiago Airport on a number of airlines. These include Ryanair and Iberia/BA. However, Santiago de Compostela doesn’t have an extensive network of international flights. So, you may need to return to Porto for your outbound flight, or connect in another major airport.
How to maximise your walk from Porto to Santiago de Compostela
The Full Camino Portugues Coastal route is a wonderful experience. However, there are things you can do to make your walking holiday experience even better:
- Explore Porto before you walk. From cellars filled with port wine on the banks of the Douro River to the architecture of the historic center, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has plenty to offer before you start your journey.
- Dip into the Atlantic. Miles of sandy beaches, lapped by the cooling waters of the Atlantic Ocean, are often practically empty on this coast. You can cap each day’s hike with a refreshing dip in the sea! Some of the best beaches are in Vila do Conde, Esposende, and Caminha.
- See literature and history intersect. The city of Vigo is one of the settings for Jules Verne’s novel ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’. It is also the setting for the famous Battle of Vigo Bay during the War of the Spanish Succession. Take in the city’s many statues and monuments dedicated to the Atlantic as you stroll about.
- Try local gastronomic delicacies. This stretch of coastline in northern Portugal and Galician is known for regional seafood delicacies including crab and mackerel. It is also famous for its Albarino wine, its crisp lightness pairing perfectly with seafood.
- Prepare spiritually for Santiago. The final stop before the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela is the town of Padron. It is known as the landing for the ship bearing the body of the Apostle St James to his final resting place in Santiago.
Want to learn more about the Portuguese Coastal Route and the way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela? Our expert Camino planners can give advice on accommodation, walking notes, and other tips for how to make the most of your seaside adventure. Contact the team for a quick chat about how we can help you.
