Best towns for an extra day? Porto-Santiago

[Bohemiana]

We have built in several extra days to get from Porto to Santiago de Compostella. We are wondering which towns are best for a full extra day to relax and/or explore. We have about 3 days we’d like to build in. (We also have extra days at the end to go to Muxia.)

Some ideas we have are—
Viana do Castelo
A Guarda
Baiona
Pontevedra

 

[SethCamino]

Pontevedra hands down. You will love it.

 

[kenwilltravel]

We have built in several extra days to get from Porto to Santiago de Compostella. We are wondering which towns are best for a full extra day to relax and/or explore. We have about 3 days we’d like to build in. (We also have extra days at the end to go to Muxia.)

Some ideas we have are—
Viana do Castelo
A Guarda
Baiona
Pontevedra

Your list is a good one, can't really improve on it, except to suggest that Padron may also be worth considering for some of its sites related to the St. James story.

 

[Former member 22438]

Baiona is a nice place with lots of history
Or Vigo if you like cities.

 

[Rickcrna]

We stopped for two rest days….one in Viana do Castelo and one in Pontevedra. Both interesting and enjoyable.

 

[jungleboy]

We have built in several extra days to get from Porto to Santiago de Compostella. We are wondering which towns are best for a full extra day to relax and/or explore. We have about 3 days we’d like to build in. (We also have extra days at the end to go to Muxia.)

Some ideas we have are—
Viana do Castelo
A Guarda
Baiona
Pontevedra

Of these four, personally, I would say A Guarda is the least interesting / least worthy of a rest day. Actually I wouldn't even stay the night there because Caminha on the Portuguese side of the river is more charming, and then it's a short boat ride and a pretty short walk (about 16.5km) past A Guarda to Oia the next day.

The others are all good choices.

 

[Phil&Barb]

We have built in several extra days to get from Porto to Santiago de Compostella. We are wondering which towns are best for a full extra day to relax and/or explore. We have about 3 days we’d like to build in. (We also have extra days at the end to go to Muxia.)

Some ideas we have are—
Viana do Castelo
A Guarda
Baiona
Pontevedra

Consider taking the ferry from Baiona to the Cies Islands National Park. They are beautiful and the number of visitors are limited each day, so you have to get reservations in advance. I also highly recommend Viana do Castelo.

 

[J.Patrick]

I loved Tui, just across the border in Spain. The fortified cathedral was impressive and the huge fort on the Portuguese side equally so. Made for a great rest day.

 

[Vagabonder]

We loved Ponte de Lima, the oldest city in Portugal

 

[Elle Bieling]

If you like castles and beaches, Baiona is my favorite!!

 

[David Tallan]

I loved Tui, just across the border in Spain. The fortified cathedral was impressive and the huge fort on the Portuguese side equally so. Made for a great rest day.

We loved Ponte de Lima, the oldest city in Portugal

I liked these, too, but they are both on the Central and judging by the options the OP posted, they are likely walking the Coastal.

Us Central folks can really only comment on Pontevedra, which is on both. There is certainly plenty to see there.

If you aren't planning to take the Spiritual Variant, you could consider a spa day in Caldas de Reis.

 

[Roland49]

I second for Pontevedra!
Viana do Castelo was a suprise.
O Porriño and Redondela were cute in their way. You have to choose from so many good options.

BC

 

[ElCee]

Of these four, personally, I would say A Guarda is the least interesting / least worthy of a rest day. Actually I wouldn't even stay the night there because Caminha on the Portuguese side of the river is more charming, and then it's a short boat ride and a pretty short walk (about 16.5km) past A Guarda to Oia the next day.

The others are all good choices.

We didn’t take a day off but A Guarda was where I wanted to. We stayed at the convent and the restaurants we ate at on the port were fantastic. Some of the best seafood of our Camino and we ate seafood every day. Nothing fancy and full of locals so great people watching. I just wanted to go to the beach and eat and hang out. I didn’t want to do any sightseeing. I wanted a day off. Next time I will leave more slack in the schedule and try to leave days off unplanned so I can take them on a whim. I know that’s hard with all the pressure to prebook.