Best towns near Porto along the Camino

Brightmore said:

Hello everyone,

I hope to attempt the Camino Portuguese coastal route from Porto next spring.

I have the option of spending two days in Porto before departure along the Camino. Alternatively, I can leave on the second day, mid morning (after church), thereby making the next day shorter. I have been to Porto before, so I am leaning towards departing early.

What would you say of a standout towns along the Camino Portuguese, coastal route, specifically between Porto and Labruge. So far Google tells me Matosinhos, which is 10k outside Porto, but really interested to hear everyone’s ideas.



Thanks in advance

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Day 1: Porto to Vila Chã — 26km​

A pre-dawn departure from Porto and it’s exciting to be back on the camino and to walk through a virtually empty city after it was bursting at the seams with tourists yesterday afternoon.

I take the alternative river exit and I’m glad I did, even though the absence of arrows at the outset of a camino is slightly disconcerting — not for wayfinding, because that’s quite obvious, but because it doesn’t help you land on the right side of ‘Does this feel like a camino?’ when there are no arrows. But soon I pass three Italian pilgrims and we exchange ‘bom caminhos’, and a camino it is.

Where the river meets the ocean at Foz do Douro is my favourite part of the stage, because there are lighthouses and fishermen and a surprisingly interesting fort to explore all to myself (not to mention the fabulously-named Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos — something like the ‘Shipwreck Rescue Institute’). Foz feels like a real place, unlike Matosinhos, which comes soon enough and is quite the shock.

There are beaches by now and it’s August so they’re jam-packed with holiday-makers, even though the beaches aren’t especially nice and are surrounded by industrial cranes and silos and ugly modern buildings. The beaches and umbrellas and people and development seem to go on forever, and by 9:15am I’ve already seen two Pizza Huts and this isn’t the Portugal I know. But there are arrows and a Lidl in Matosinhos so I take those little wins, stock up, and move on.

Then the boardwalks begin and the rhythm for the rest of the stage is set. Walking a camino on wooden planks is new for me and not my preferred surface but it’s still pretty easy walking because it’s not hot and you can’t exactly get lost on boardwalks. As I approach São Paio the holiday crowds start thinning out a bit and it seems more low key and there’s a nice estuary full of bird life, all of which is more to my liking.

Before I know it, I reach my destination, the fishing village of Vila Chã, and it’s not even 2pm yet and if that was really 26km, it was as much of a breeze as the one coming off the ocean.

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roving_rufus said:

The other option with Matosinhos is to walk the 10km there and take the tram back into Porto. Its an easy day without a rucksack and then the next morning catch the tram to Matosinhos, and gives some extra time in Porto too.

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roving_rufus said:

The other option with Matosinhos is to walk the 10km there and take the tram back into Porto. Its an easy day without a rucksack and then the next morning catch the tram to Matosinhos, and gives some extra time in Porto too.

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larry1948 said:

Along the same line, I’m interested in hearing about all the interesting places between Porto and Satiago. I’m thinking of a leisurely Camino that allows time to explore sites along the way. The recommendation to stay in Matosinhos and take the sardine factory tour is a great example of what I’m looking for. Any suggestions much appreciated.

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Camino Chrissy said:

Hi Nick, I walked the Camino Portuguese Central route in May 2019, but my first day out of Porto was identical to yours, although we continued to Matosinhos for the night..You have brought my memories to life, although there were no sunbathers nor festive umbrellas on the beach on May 2nd.
Your daily write-ups are always detailed and a pleasure to read and my own attempts at documenting my Caminos definitely pale in comparison.
Thanks for posting your link to this Camino; better for me to read it late than to have missed it permanently.
P.S. Your musings are worth a lot!

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jungleboy said:

Thank you!

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jungleboy said:

My first day musings taking the river-coast route out of Porto, for whatever they’re worth:

Portuguese Coastal Camino Diary

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Friend from Barquinha said:

Stop in Viana do Castelo, if you're on that route on the coast, and visit the Gil Eannes hospital ship museum.

This was the "mothership" for the Portuguese fleet of schooners that spent each summer on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland (Canada). It was a hospital ship, complete with operating rooms, and a variety of support services for the fishermen who fished in dories, lived in schooners, and stayed at sea for months at a time...

They have turned the ship into a really interesting museum. Worth visiting!

Fundação Gil Eannes

www.fundacaogileannes.pt

It's pronounced "Jill Uh-nej," more or less.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

O Navio Gil Eannes - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

www.tripadvisor.com

Bom caminho!

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