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The Camino Portugues

From Lisbon and Porto to Santiago - Central, Coastal and Spiritual Caminos

The Portuguese Way (Camino Portugues) is a 620km long-distance route from Portugal's capital Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This guide splits the route into 25 stages, with two coastal options, and takes in historic and religious sites and stunning scenery. With information on preparation, planning and accommodation.

The eBook is also sold by Amazon Kindle, Rakuten Kobo, Google Play Books and Apple Books.

After completing your purchase, GPX files will be available to download from My Library

Quick facts

  • Location: Portugal & Spain – Lisbon/Porto/Tui to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
  • Distance: ~620 km / ~385 miles (Central route from Lisbon)
  • Typical duration: ~1 month on foot
  • Start: Lisbon (with popular alternatives from Porto or Tui)
  • End: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Route format: Linear long-distance pilgrimage walk with Central, Coastal and Spiritual variants
  • Stages: 25 main stages (~16–34 km each)
  • Difficulty: Moderate – suitable for reasonably fit walkers; no specialist gear required
  • Best season: April–October (spring to autumn)

Detailed overview

Discover the Camino Portugués, a time-honoured pilgrimage route that connects Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant capital, to the legendary cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Stretching over 621km, this historic path has welcomed pilgrims for centuries and rewards today’s walkers with an inspiring blend of cultural heritage, spectacular scenery, and unforgettable experiences.

Ideal for walkers of all levels, the Camino requires no technical skills, just a steady pace. The comprehensive Cicerone guidebook offers adaptable stages, training tips, and advice for long-distance hiking. The route weaves through Roman roads, charming villages, forests, farmland, and cities like Porto and Coimbra.

Highlights include Tomar’s Knights Templar castle, Conímbriga’s Roman mosaics, and Portugal’s oldest village, Ponte de Lima, all set against the welcoming traditions and vibrant culture of the Camino.
Find detailed coverage of the Central Camino—via Ribatejo, Beira Litoral, Douro, and Minho—and the Coastal Camino, known for Atlantic views, fishing villages, and Mt Santa Luzia vistas. Route insights and expert tips included.
Includes the Spiritual Variant (Variante Espiritual) with its unique boat stage, plus connecting routes between Central and Coastal Caminos via key towns like Vila do Conde, Esposende, Caminha, and Tui.
Flexible itineraries let you start in Lisbon (25+ days), Porto (10+ days), or Tui (5 days), making the pilgrimage accessible for all schedules and fitness levels.
Each Camino Portugués guidebook stage includes clear route descriptions, distance and elevation profiles, and essential information on accommodations, transportation, and local amenities in major towns along the route, including Lisbon, Porto, Ponte de Lima, Tui, and Santiago de Compostela. Stay informed and prepared at every step with up-to-date resources to enhance your Camino experience.
Benefit from stage maps of the Camino Portugués at a user-friendly 1:100,000 scale, complete with detailed elevation profiles for every stage, especially the renowned approach to Santiago de Compostela.
No matter which route you select, Central, Coastal, or the Spiritual Variant, the Camino Portugués guidebook offers downloadable GPX files for seamless digital navigation. Gain access to expert Camino planning tips, safety advice, and practical recommendations for a successful pilgrimage.
Pilgrim credentials: Find step-by-step guidance on how to obtain your official credencial (pilgrim passport), along with advice on collecting stamps (carimbos/sellos) at albergues and landmarks throughout the Camino Portugués.


Plan your Camino Portugués adventure with confidence and experience the enduring spirit of the Camino along one of Europe’s most beautiful and culturally rich pilgrimage routes with the definitive Cicerone guidebook.

Where and when to go

Seasons

April to October, although summer can be very hot especially in the south between Lisbon and Porto. Winter is usually wet with limited accommodation options so call ahead for reservations.

Centres

Lisbon, Tomar, Coimbra, Porto, Vila do Conde, Barcelos, Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima, Valenca, Tui, Pontevedra, Padron, Santiago de Compostela

Difficulty

Although a straightforward journey, at over 600km the Portugués Camino is a long walk requiring good general fitness. No specialist equipment is required

Must See

Four UNESCO World Heritage areas: Knights Templar Castle in Tomar, Coimbra University, and the old towns of Porto and Santiago. Roman roads, Roman Ruins of Conimbriga, ancient bridges, iron-age settlements, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Manueline and Baroque-style churches.

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN9781786311962
AvailabilityPublished
Published4 September 2023
Pages336
Weight 400g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

  1. Updated

    Certification clarification

    To get the certificate you need to walk at least 100km and get two stamps per day for that 100km. If walking further, one stamp per day is enough.

    But if you cycle, you need two stamps per day for the last 200km.

Meet the author

Originally from Melbourne, after graduating from university, Kat moved to Japan. Working as an adventure tour guide in Japan helped Kat develop her skills to seek out the local hotspots and also develop a love for hiking. 'A wise man climbs Mt Fuji, a fool climbs it twice' is a popular Japanese saying, so Kat climbed it 7 times. From Japan to Canada to London, she quit her office job in 2013 to walk the Camino de Santiago and has never looked back. She completed seven Caminos and walked over 10,000km in Spain, Portugal, England, Italy, Japan and America, including the 4240km Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. 

Sadly Kat's life was cut short in early 2020. She is fondly remembered for her meticulous work, inspiration and energy.