For Sale/Wanted Albergue or house for sale along the Camino Portuguese?

[Steve Hackman]

After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!

 

[peregrina2000]

After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!

I wonder if the family of the hospitalera/owner of Quinta da Burra have decided what they will do with the property. It opened after I walked from Lisbon, but many people loved it and it was a good stopping place, breaking up the stage into Santarém.

You could also contact @Friend from Barquinha for her insights.

 

[Steve Hackman]

I wonder if the family of the hospitalera/owner of Quinta da Burra have decided what they will do with the property. It opened after I walked from Lisbon, but many people loved it and it was a good stopping place, breaking up the stage into Santarém.

You could also contact @Friend from Barquinha for her insights.

Thank you, I had read about this but was hesitant about approaching but it is a delightful place and would love to keep the spirit of it alive. Thanks for including the contact info.

 

[JR9162]

After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!

Look at Alojamento Local Ninho. It's a nice albergue, made of stone. When I stayed there in October 2021, the owner told me she wanted to sell.

 

[jungleboy]

Are you looking for a casa rural type place in the countryside, somewhere in a village or small town, or somewhere in a larger town or city?

Tomar was always the place I had in mind during my occasional thoughts about opening an albergue in Portugal (which seem to be in the past these days). There’s a hostel there but no albergue, and all pilgrims stop there and quite a few stay two nights, so it’s a shame there isn’t one there already.

 

[JR9162]

I stopped at a patio Cafe in Tomar to have a sandwich and a beer. Asked one of the locals there who spoke amazingly good English. Asked about albergues and he said you can stay at mine. I had a room with 4 beds all to myself. It was on the top level and facing the main drag. The skylight was open and you could hear the night time party crowd. He had grape vines growing along the interior walls of his great room. I think he was a doctor of some sort. Big on the history of Tomar and the Knights Templar. An interesting gentleman to listen to. So yes, there's places to stay in Tomar.

 

[Steve Hackman]

Are you looking for a casa rural type place in the countryside, somewhere in a village or small town, or somewhere in a larger town or city?

Tomar was always the place I had in mind during my occasional thoughts about opening an albergue in Portugal (which seem to be in the past these days). There’s a hostel there but no albergue, and all pilgrims stop there and quite a few stay two nights, so it’s a shame there isn’t one there already.

We are probably more open to a town or just outside of one. Interesting you mention Tomar as that is the place I keep being drawn to

 

[Kanga]

Tomar is a gorgeous place - big enough but not too big, with plenty of life. I'd have no trouble living there. Which I think has to be a consideration.

It is a big commitment. I'd want to rent something and live there for a while. It would also help to find out what the local attitude would be. Is the town supportive, are other local accommodation providers going to create problems? Do you have another income or will this venture have to be self supporting? I assume you and wife have put in some time as volunteer hospitaleros or so know what to expect. If not, I suggest you contact @Rebekah Scott or one of the other camino bodies and spend some time working in an established albergue.

A bit like Camino gear. No matter how much online research I do, no matter how many opinions I solicit, no matter what I try on in the shops, it is only when I take the new (backpack, shoes, you name it) for a long walk that I find out if it really works.

Have you looked at these previous threads? https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/buying-an-albergue.75980/
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/how-to-start-an-albergue.76717/#post-1065907

 

[drowdie]

After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!

Best of luck. What a great life!

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I guess it's time to contribute my 2 euros' worth. I think Tomar is a very good location to consider for someone wanting to host a "south-half" Portuguese caminho albergue or guest house.

As I've mentioned, we'd bought here in Vila Nova da Barquinha, with the peregrino route to Atalaia visible at the bottom of our garden. I had thoughts of a hostel here. But--after watching pilgrims walk by, now in almost every season, I realize that there really isn't enough potential to warrant more accommodation here than already exists. And our local church-based group is, I think, working on a small lodging to augment the three hotels here in town, so our offering would definitely be more than the town needs.

It's the wrong place. The general pace and breaks in the caminho to this point (Barquinha) typically have people stopping in Golega, or thereabouts, the night before. We see most of our peregrinos coming by between 9 and 11 in the morning. Most people have limited time for their caminho. So why stop here in Barquninha, for the typical walker, when you can make it to Tomar, and then spend a lay-day there and see the splendid sights?

Tomar is the obvious day-off point for peregrinos/as who are not in a hurry. And much of Tomar's accommodation is going upscale, with new and rebuilt 3- and 4-star hotels. So friendly, moderately priced accommodation--perhaps on the quieter, eastern side of the river rather than in the quaint but pricey old town--could be a good strategy. There are some attractive little areas over there, with the property likely better priced than in the trendy old town, but still not very far, walking, from the heart of town where the restaurants and cafés are, and where people tend to congregate in the evenings.

I'd say it's worth checking out!

 

[Steve Hackman]

I guess it's time to contribute my 2 euros' worth. I think Tomar is a very good location to consider for someone wanting to host a "south-half" Portuguese caminho albergue or guest house.

As I've mentioned, we'd bought here in Vila Nova da Barquinha, with the peregrino route to Atalaia visible at the bottom of our garden. I had thoughts of a hostel here. But--after watching pilgrims walk by, now in almost every season, I realize that there really isn't enough potential to warrant more accommodation here than already exists. And our local church-based group is, I think, working on a small lodging to augment the three hotels here in town, so our offering would definitely be more than the town needs.

It's the wrong place. The general pace and breaks in the caminho to this point (Barquinha) typically have people stopping in Golega, or thereabouts, the night before. We see most of our peregrinos coming by between 9 and 11 in the morning. Most people have limited time for their caminho. So why stop here in Barquninha, for the typical walker, when you can make it to Tomar, and then spend a lay-day there and see the splendid sights?

Tomar is the obvious day-off point for peregrinos/as who are not in a hurry. And much of Tomar's accommodation is going upscale, with new and rebuilt 3- and 4-star hotels. So friendly, moderately priced accommodation--perhaps on the quieter, eastern side of the river rather than in the quaint but pricey old town--could be a good strategy. There are some attractive little areas over there, with the property likely better priced than in the trendy old town, but still not very far, walking, from the heart of town where the restaurants and cafés are, and where people tend to congregate in the evenings.

I'd say it's worth checking out!

Thanks for the insightful comment. Fortunately, my wife and I are not in any rush and can wait for "the Camino to provide" the right place and location, which, as you indicate, is very important. No sense opening a place that is not a natural "break" point on the journey. Having said that, I know in my previous Caminos and on the Via Francigena I've take a "short day" to intentionally stay at a place that is more that just a bed for the night, but provides a Camino experience. My wife and I have a hope of creating the kind of place peregrinos will seek out as a physical, emotional, and spiritual recharge on their journey to Santiago. .

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

It's great that you have the time and resources to wait for just the right spot. I have to admit, I fell in love with our spot in Barquinha first, and it was a bonus that it was a stop along the caminho, and it sounded like fun to provide some service for the peregrinos/as. But the caminho was not my first priority. It sounds like it is, for you.

Best of luck, Steve. It sounds quite clear that you will find what you want and need.

Kathy

 

[jungleboy]

It's the wrong place. The general pace and breaks in the caminho to this point (Barquinha) typically have people stopping in Golega, or thereabouts, the night before. We see most of our peregrinos coming by between 9 and 11 in the morning. Most people have limited time for their caminho. So why stop here in Barquninha, for the typical walker, when you can make it to Tomar, and then spend a lay-day there and see the splendid sights?

Sorry to hear that you have had to give up your plans for an albergue, but it sounds like the right decision.

As you know, we stayed in Barquinha on our CP but that was early pandemic times and there was no accommodation open in Golegã. So we stopped in Azinhaga instead and the flow-on effect was that Barquinha made sense for the next night.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Sorry to hear that you have had to give up your plans for an albergue, but it sounds like the right decision.

As you know, we stayed in Barquinha on our CP but that was early pandemic times and there was no accommodation open in Golegã. So we stopped in Azinhaga instead and the flow-on effect was that Barquinha made sense for the next night.

Yes, us too, but the demand just isn't there. For those who want to stay the night, there's the traditional hotel (Soltejo), listed in Brierley, which is only about 15 minutes' off the walking path, very reasonable and friendly (we've stayed there, before our house was liveable). Plus in the last 5 years there are 2 new hotels near the park, owned by the same people, pricier, but very comfortable, I gather...

...and as I mentioned, I think our local parish either has started, or is about to start, renovating an older building as something like an albergue. My Portuguese isn't good enough to glean the details from my neighbour, who's active in the parish activities. But something's happening!

Given that for half the year, there's only 2 or 3 peregrinos a day passing along this route, and that we are less than mid-day's walk between Golega and Tomar, that's probably enough.

Given the brutality of the summer sun and the lack of shady rest spots along our stretch, we have some other ideas...

 

[ThommyG]

I'm also considering moving to Alvaiázere. Portugal is just wonderful!

 

[Vandor62]

I visited and recommend Fatima, well known as a pilgrimage site. My sister actually moved to Coimbra spontaneously last year for work at the university and she absolutely adores it.

 

[Ferdie]

I'm curious, did you get an agent in Portugal? I know lots of people prefer without nowadays, especially with all the alternatives on the web.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I'm curious, did you get an agent in Portugal? I know lots of people prefer without nowadays, especially with all the alternatives on the web.

It wasn't us; it was our neighbours. And no, they're still not using an agent.The house has not yet sold, though he's had a fair number of people looking, particularly on the weekends. The area here is popular with people moving out from Lisboa; we're just at the outside edge of practical commuting from a job in the city.

 

[Ferdie]

I know, I have a friend living in Lisbon, trying to sell. It' the same here in UK. I live in Liverpool and not even an agent helped me sell, my house is also not in the best condition and a bit pricey. I sold to Property Buying Company, a bit below market value, but they buy any house and quite fast, which was useful. I wonder if there's something similar in Portugal for my friend.