Shorter stages (up to 25km) from Lisbon

[jungleboy]

@Wendy Werneth and I are planning on walking the CP from our home in Lisbon in September (the virus situation permitting).

Both Gronze and the Harms et all guide suggest 26 stages from Lisbon to SdC, but those include some long days. Wendy has plantar fasciitis and walks in pain beyond about 20km (and certainly beyond 25km). The Gronze stages, for example, have 10 stages above 25km, including six above 30km.

I've mapped out a rough 31-stage camino with only four days above 25km and a maximum of 28.9km. In pre-COVID theory, there seems to be accommodation at the end of all of these stages, although whether that is still true remains to be seen.

For those who have done this route, do these stages seem OK? Would we miss out on anything by not staying overnight at some of the 'traditional' end-of-stage stops? All advice and suggestions are appreciated!

1 - Lisboa - Alpirate - 21.7km
2 - Alpirate - Vila Franca de Xira - 18.8km
3 - Vila Franca de Xira - Azambuja - 20.0km
4 - Azambuja - Porto de Muge - 16.8km
5 - Porto de Muge - Santarém - 16.2km
6 - Santarém - Azinhaga - 26.9km
7 - Azinhaga - Atalaia - 18.9km
8 - Atalaia - Tomar - 20.4km
9 - Tomar - Areias - 25.7km
10 - Areias - Ansião - 17.7km
11 - Ansião - Rabaçal - 19.0km
12 - Rabaçal - Coimbra - 28.9km
13 - Coimbra - Sernadelo - 24.8km
14 - Sernadelo - Águeda - 23.5km
15 - Águeda - Albergaria-a-Nova - 23.5km
16 - Albergaria-a-Nova - São João da Madeira - 22.1km
17 - São João da Madeira - Grijó - 19.0km
18 - Grijó - Porto - 15.1km
19 - Porto - Labruge (coastal) - 24.5km
20 - Labruge - Vila do Conde - São Miguel de Arcos (reconnecting to central) - approx 20.3km
21 - São Miguel de Arcos - Barcelos - 19.8km
22 - Barcelos - Vitorino dos Piães (Casa Fernanda) - 22.3km
23 - Vitorino dos Piães - São Roque - 28.0km
24 - São Roque - Valença do Minho - 17.9km
25 - Valença do Minho - O Porriño - 17.0km
26 - O Porriño - Redondela - 15.5km
27 - Redondela - Pontevedra - 19.6km
28 - Pontevedra - Armenteira (Espiritual) - 20km
29 - Armenteira - Vilanova de Arousa - 24km
30 - Vilanova de Arousa - Padrón - 30km if walking but we'll likely take the boat if it's running
31 - Padrón - Santiago de Compostela - 24.3km

 

[Dojo]

Jungleboy and Wendy - I'm planning Porto to Santiago next year. A fellow pilgrim recommended a few options if you are hurting or need a break; once in Porto - take the metro to Matosinhos, then walk coastal route to Vila do Conde - will shorten the day to a reasonable 21.8km; take the boat from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontesecures - walk from Pontesecures through Padron (stopping to pick up Pedronia) to Teo - a short day of 14km. The next day walk from Teo to Santiago, another short day of 15km. Buen Camino!

 

[Botaivica]

@Wendy Werneth and I are planning on walking the CP from our home in Lisbon in September (the virus situation permitting).

Both Gronze and the Harms et all guide suggest 26 stages from Lisbon to SdC, but those include some long days. Wendy has plantar fasciitis and walks in pain beyond about 20km (and certainly beyond 25km). The Gronze stages, for example, have 10 stages above 25km, including six above 30km.

I've mapped out a rough 31-stage camino with only four days above 25km and a maximum of 28.9km. In pre-COVID theory, there seems to be accommodation at the end of all of these stages, although whether that is still true remains to be seen.

For those who have done this route, do these stages seem OK? Would we miss out on anything by not staying overnight at some of the 'traditional' end-of-stage stops? All advice and suggestions are appreciated!

1 - Lisboa - Alpirate - 21.7km
2 - Alpirate - Vila Franca de Xira - 18.8km
3 - Vila Franca de Xira - Azambuja - 20.0km
4 - Azambuja - Porto de Muge - 16.8km
5 - Porto de Muge - Santarém - 16.2km
6 - Santarém - Azinhaga - 26.9km
7 - Azinhaga - Atalaia - 18.9km
8 - Atalaia - Tomar - 20.4km
9 - Tomar - Areias - 25.7km
10 - Areias - Ansião - 17.7km
11 - Ansião - Rabaçal - 19.0km
12 - Rabaçal - Coimbra - 28.9km
13 - Coimbra - Sernadelo - 24.8km
14 - Sernadelo - Águeda - 23.5km
15 - Águeda - Albergaria-a-Nova - 23.5km
16 - Albergaria-a-Nova - São João da Madeira - 22.1km
17 - São João da Madeira - Grijó - 19.0km
18 - Grijó - Porto - 15.1km
19 - Porto - Labruge (coastal) - 24.5km
20 - Labruge - Vila do Conde - São Miguel de Arcos (reconnecting to central) - approx 20.3km
21 - São Miguel de Arcos - Barcelos - 19.8km
22 - Barcelos - Vitorino dos Piães (Casa Fernanda) - 22.3km
23 - Vitorino dos Piães - São Roque - 28.0km
24 - São Roque - Valença do Minho - 17.9km
25 - Valença do Minho - O Porriño - 17.0km
26 - O Porriño - Redondela - 15.5km
27 - Redondela - Pontevedra - 19.6km
28 - Pontevedra - Armenteira (Espiritual) - 20km
29 - Armenteira - Vilanova de Arousa - 24km
30 - Vilanova de Arousa - Padrón - 30km if walking but we'll likely take the boat if it's running
31 - Padrón - Santiago de Compostela - 24.3km

when I made the pilgrimage to Fatima and Santiago, I went like this:

Lisabon – Alpriate, 22,8 km
Alpriate – Vila Franca de Xira, 18,4 km
Vila Franca de Xira – Valada, 28,8 km
Valada – Santarem, 19,5 km
Santarem - Olhos da agua, 29,0 km
Olhos de agua – Fatima, 27,0 km
Fatima – Caxarias, 22,0 km
Caxarias – Ansiao, 29,0 km
Ansiao – Rabacal, 17,9 km
Rabacal – Coimbra, 29,5 km
Coimbra – Mealhada, 19,2 km
Mealhada – Agueda, 25,0 km
Agueda – Albegaria a Velha, 16,8 km
Albergaria a Velha – Sao Joao de Madeira, 28,9 km
Sao Joao de Madeira – Grijo, 19,4 km
Grijo – Porto, 16,7 km
Porto – Monasterio de Vairao, 24,9 km
Monasterio de Vairao – Pedra Furada, 19,7 km
Pedra Furada – Portela de Tamel, 19,2 km
Portela de Tamel – Ponte de Lima, 24,5 km
Ponte de Lima – Fontoura, 24,9 km
Fontoura – O Porrino, 27,7 km
O Porrino - Arcade, 22,2 k
Arcade - Briallos, 29,2 km
Briallos - Padron, 23,4 km
Padron – Milladoiro, 18,7 km
Milladoiro - Santiago de Compostela, 5,0 km

I recommend that you stop in Milladoiro before Santiago. Nice new alberge and after breakfast you arrive at the cathedral for Mass at noon.

 

[lt56ny]

I can't say I followed your stages exactly but I bet they are pretty close to the places I stayed in 2017. What is open or closed now is hard to say without investigation. But I did only 2 30k days when I walked. I too try to keep it at a max of about 22-23k per day. Thanks for this.

 

[Thornley]

We adored turning left at Caminha and then the Spanish coast to Vigo

 

[Guilherme Ribeiro]

The are very nice stages mainly after Porto, just my only advice for you is too not skip that amazing public albergue in Portela de Tamel and then stayed in the Beatiful town of Ponte de Lima!

 

[jungleboy]

Thanks to all for the suggestions! I'm tinkering a bit based on the responses but I'm pretty happy with the general outline as a basic guide. We'll see what actually happens based on accommodation availability and other factors once we start walking.

 

[Desert Bruce]

I will be walking from Lisbon next April 1 to Santiago. My 2 week shift at the Pilgrim House starts on May 1, so 25 km per day works very well for me. At that pace I think I would be able to stay over in Coimbra and Porto an extra night and possibly other places as well.

 

[peregrina2000]

I haven’t added my two cents since you know Portugal so much better than I, but your itinerary looks great.

Just a couple lesser known attractions — you will walk right through Quinta da Cardiga so you can’t miss it, but I was not aware of its Templar connection. What I remember was the explosion of wisteria, and the many hidden spots where you could see old blue tiles, not all of which had been vandalized. It’s a beautiful spot for a break.

If you haven’t been there, I think you would enjoy visiting the Roman villa at Rabaçal. The museum is right next door to the albergue. If you are lucky, the museum staff will drive you out to the site. The young man who drove me out was a community resident, and he described how his career in archaeology had started with what were essentially supervised community digs — most of the early excavation was done in summers with an archaeologist or two supervising local volunteers. So there is qutie a local investment in this place, and there are some really gorgeous mosaics.

And the hat museum in Sao Joao da Madeira — I never saw it till I was leaving on the caminho the next morning, but it is located in an old hat factory and looks really interesting.

And if you are looking for some shady public space to loll around in Agueda, the municipal park up on the top of the hill has colorful painted pig statues all over, not sure what the meaning of that is!

 

[jungleboy]

Thank you Laurie, great tips as always. I have previously noted your fascination with the hat museum!

I'm storing all these in a notes file on my phone and will condense them into some kind of workable format before we leave so as not to miss anything.

 

[peregrina2000]

@Wendy Werneth and I are planning on walking the CP from our home in Lisbon in September (the virus situation permitting).

Both Gronze and the Harms et all guide suggest 26 stages from Lisbon to SdC, but those include some long days. Wendy has plantar fasciitis and walks in pain beyond about 20km (and certainly beyond 25km). The Gronze stages, for example, have 10 stages above 25km, including six above 30km.

I've mapped out a rough 31-stage camino with only four days above 25km and a maximum of 28.9km. In pre-COVID theory, there seems to be accommodation at the end of all of these stages, although whether that is still true remains to be seen.

For those who have done this route, do these stages seem OK? Would we miss out on anything by not staying overnight at some of the 'traditional' end-of-stage stops? All advice and suggestions are appreciated!

1 - Lisboa - Alpirate - 21.7km
2 - Alpirate - Vila Franca de Xira - 18.8km
3 - Vila Franca de Xira - Azambuja - 20.0km
4 - Azambuja - Porto de Muge - 16.8km
5 - Porto de Muge - Santarém - 16.2km
6 - Santarém - Azinhaga - 26.9km
7 - Azinhaga - Atalaia - 18.9km
8 - Atalaia - Tomar - 20.4km
9 - Tomar - Areias - 25.7km
10 - Areias - Ansião - 17.7km
11 - Ansião - Rabaçal - 19.0km
12 - Rabaçal - Coimbra - 28.9km
13 - Coimbra - Sernadelo - 24.8km
14 - Sernadelo - Águeda - 23.5km
15 - Águeda - Albergaria-a-Nova - 23.5km
16 - Albergaria-a-Nova - São João da Madeira - 22.1km
17 - São João da Madeira - Grijó - 19.0km
18 - Grijó - Porto - 15.1km
19 - Porto - Labruge (coastal) - 24.5km
20 - Labruge - Vila do Conde - São Miguel de Arcos (reconnecting to central) - approx 20.3km
21 - São Miguel de Arcos - Barcelos - 19.8km
22 - Barcelos - Vitorino dos Piães (Casa Fernanda) - 22.3km
23 - Vitorino dos Piães - São Roque - 28.0km
24 - São Roque - Valença do Minho - 17.9km
25 - Valença do Minho - O Porriño - 17.0km
26 - O Porriño - Redondela - 15.5km
27 - Redondela - Pontevedra - 19.6km
28 - Pontevedra - Armenteira (Espiritual) - 20km
29 - Armenteira - Vilanova de Arousa - 24km
30 - Vilanova de Arousa - Padrón - 30km if walking but we'll likely take the boat if it's running
31 - Padrón - Santiago de Compostela - 24.3km

Just wanted to point out that in true pilgrim fashion, on their first day out, Nick and Wendy had to walk beyond Alpriate. Itinerary aborted. But all this planning will serve them well, I’m sure.

Nick’s live reports are on this thread.

 

[tcmiller3]

@Wendy Werneth and I are planning on walking the CP from our home in Lisbon in September (the virus situation permitting).

Both Gronze and the Harms et all guide suggest 26 stages from Lisbon to SdC, but those include some long days. Wendy has plantar fasciitis and walks in pain beyond about 20km (and certainly beyond 25km). The Gronze stages, for example, have 10 stages above 25km, including six above 30km.

I've mapped out a rough 31-stage camino with only four days above 25km and a maximum of 28.9km. In pre-COVID theory, there seems to be accommodation at the end of all of these stages, although whether that is still true remains to be seen.

For those who have done this route, do these stages seem OK? Would we miss out on anything by not staying overnight at some of the 'traditional' end-of-stage stops? All advice and suggestions are appreciated!

1 - Lisboa - Alpirate - 21.7km
2 - Alpirate - Vila Franca de Xira - 18.8km
3 - Vila Franca de Xira - Azambuja - 20.0km
4 - Azambuja - Porto de Muge - 16.8km
5 - Porto de Muge - Santarém - 16.2km
6 - Santarém - Azinhaga - 26.9km
7 - Azinhaga - Atalaia - 18.9km
8 - Atalaia - Tomar - 20.4km
9 - Tomar - Areias - 25.7km
10 - Areias - Ansião - 17.7km
11 - Ansião - Rabaçal - 19.0km
12 - Rabaçal - Coimbra - 28.9km
13 - Coimbra - Sernadelo - 24.8km
14 - Sernadelo - Águeda - 23.5km
15 - Águeda - Albergaria-a-Nova - 23.5km
16 - Albergaria-a-Nova - São João da Madeira - 22.1km
17 - São João da Madeira - Grijó - 19.0km
18 - Grijó - Porto - 15.1km
19 - Porto - Labruge (coastal) - 24.5km
20 - Labruge - Vila do Conde - São Miguel de Arcos (reconnecting to central) - approx 20.3km
21 - São Miguel de Arcos - Barcelos - 19.8km
22 - Barcelos - Vitorino dos Piães (Casa Fernanda) - 22.3km
23 - Vitorino dos Piães - São Roque - 28.0km
24 - São Roque - Valença do Minho - 17.9km
25 - Valença do Minho - O Porriño - 17.0km
26 - O Porriño - Redondela - 15.5km
27 - Redondela - Pontevedra - 19.6km
28 - Pontevedra - Armenteira (Espiritual) - 20km
29 - Armenteira - Vilanova de Arousa - 24km
30 - Vilanova de Arousa - Padrón - 30km if walking but we'll likely take the boat if it's running
31 - Padrón - Santiago de Compostela - 24.3km

A few years have pasted since your post!! But your plan looks good to me. Can you give me an update on your Camino? I am planning an April/May Camino. Thanks,
Best regards,

Tom

 

[peregrina2000]

A few years have pasted since your post!! But your plan looks good to me. Can you give me an update on your Camino? I am planning an April/May Camino. Thanks,
Best regards,

Tom

I’ve just skimmed through Nick’s stages and all look good except for the first one. The albergue in Alpriate has closed, and the Caminho has been re-routed. See Gronze for updates on those early stages, distances, and accommodations.

Lisboa - Vila Franca de Xira | Camino Portugués Central | Gronze.com

Las flechas amarillas arrancan en la puerta de la Sé-catedral de Lisboa. Desde allí atravesaremos el popular barrio de la Alfama y después el moderno Parque das Nações, construido para la Expo Internacional de 1998. Tras pasar bajo el puente Vasco da Gama seguiremos el margen del río Tejo –el...

www.gronze.com

Lots of people now walk the 34 km to Vila Franca (it’s all flat, but a lot is on a shade-less boardwalk along the river). You could also stop in Alverca, which would be about 25 and where there are several accommodations.

 

[tcmiller3]

Thanks for your note. I haven't followed the forum much since my 2016 Camino. Just trying to catch up. It seems that there is quite a lot of info from Porto but not as much from Lisbon.

 

[jungleboy]

A few years have pasted since your post!! But your plan looks good to me. Can you give me an update on your Camino? I am planning an April/May Camino. Thanks,
Best regards,

Tom

My live thread from that camino is here. Bear in mind it was in the middle of the pandemic so a lot has changed since then!

 

[tcmiller3]

My live thread from that camino is here. Bear in mind it was in the middle of the pandemic so a lot has changed since then!

Thanks Nick, Good place for me to start my planning. BTW, Any thoughts on getting current info.

 

[peregrina2000]

I walked from Lisbon to Tomar about two weeks ago so I can help with any questions on that part.

 

[jungleboy]

@Elle Bieling has re-walked all of the CP in the last 12 months or so. Her resources are available here.

 

[trecile]

You could also stop in Alverca, which would be about 25 and where there are several accommodations.

Or you could spend an extra night in Lisbon and walk to Parque das Nações the first day and take the train back.

 

[tcmiller3]

I walked from Lisbon to Tomar about two weeks ago so I can help with any questions on that part.

I am at the point that not only do I not have the answers I don't know the questions! I will be 82 next month and in good health and while I can, I want to do the Camino again! In 2016 I walked with my granddaughter and it was very special however it was different than walking alone. So this trip will be alone and without a firm return ticket!

I am hoping to avoid some of the crowds on the CF. I am planning to start at 20-25km a day and would like to have the first 7-10 days lodging sorted out before I start. I have found most of the "tools" I need to make that plan, now I need to understand the "path" and what not to miss.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[tcmiller3]

Or you could spend an extra night in Lisbon and walk to Parque das Nações the first day and take the train back.

I am just starting to put my itinerary together but I am thinking of stopping in Alverca.