From Porto to Sāo Pedro Rates or Barcelos transportation

[Yopita]

I will be walking the Camino next month. How do I get from Porto to either Sāo Pedro Rates or Barcelos? Train or bus? I can’t find direct trains. We would like to start walking from Rates, if not possible, we will start n Barcelos. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Enzed]

Why not walk from Porto cathedral? Time constraints, or scared off by the bad reputation of the urban path (which isn't too hazardous by any means)

Anyhow, the local metro will take you so far north and is short connection to the camino (Vilar do Pinheiro station), from there you could walk to Rates.

Or catch the train to Barcelos.

Or walk from Porto cathedral to metro stop, like I did, metro back to Porto. Next day, train to where you left off, walk to Rates, stay the night. Then next day, walk to Barcelos.

It's easy enough to work out how the metro line follows the camino with google maps and a Brierley's/guide map. Thats how i managed it.
Brierley's has a chapter explaining an option.
 
Oh, and time your visit to Barcelos for a Thursday, as they have a large market then. Also there's a 7pm pilgrim mass.

Included some easy to google info, to get you started. Have fun planning!

 

[henrythedog]

Many direct trains from Porto to Barcelos try ‘Rome to Rio’

 

[kenwilltravel]

I will be walking the Camino next month. How do I get from Porto to either Sāo Pedro Rates or Barcelos? Train or bus? I can’t find direct trains. We would like to start walking from Rates, if not possible, we will start n Barcelos. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

The Porto metro can take you all the way north to Póvoa de Varzim on the coast. Judging by the map, you can surely then do a short taxi or Uber ride from Póvoa to São Pedro Rates.

 

[cnxjo]

Search train schedule using Portugal National Rail, https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times
Or download its app to search and purchase tickets.

 

[Enzed]

The Porto metro can take you all the way north to Póvoa de Varzim on the coast. Judging by the map, you can surely then do a short taxi or Uber ride from Póvoa to São Pedro Rates.

Another possible option.

Although I'm.sure that OP, , with knowledge of the metro map, will come up.with a solution.
I miss those days, planning is half the fun!

Oh, I found my brieley's book, regarding a metro short cut. Will post photos

 

[Yopita]

Search train schedule using Portugal National Rail, https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times
Or download its app to search and purchase tickets.

Thank you

 

[Yopita]

Another possible option.

Although I'm.sure that OP, , with knowledge of the metro map, will come up.with a solution.
I miss those days, planning is half the fun!

Oh, I found my brieley's book, regarding a metro short cut. Will post photos

Thank you very much for this info. Is my first Camino in Portugal, I have walked from St Jean to Santiago before, but this time due to time limitations, I have to skip some stages.

 

[Enzed]

Fait enough...
It's just that the start of the central path out of Porto is given a bad rap, and I don't want you to dismiss it completely if you had the time. And the metro was easy to use.

Anyhow, that leaves 2 main options.
1) Train directly to Barcelos
2) Metro to Povoa/Vila conde/?, then uber/taxi to Rates.
There maybe another idea, tried by a fellow pilgrim on these forums.

Either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy your time spent in Portugal