Starting in Lisbon

[Barobins]

Hi,
I don’t seem to be able to find a lot of information about starting the CP in Lisbon

any input or resources?

 

[koilife]

You can find various guides at Ivar's store.

Also, see this thread for a good set of links

Is there anything specific you're looking for?

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi,
I don’t seem to be able to find a lot of information about starting the CP in Lisbon

any input or resources?

The thread @koilife linked to has a lot of links to other threads with good info. Two resources here on the forum include

Lisbon to Porto guide https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/camino-portugués-lisbon-porto-2017.517/
Short stages from Lisbon. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/short-stages-from-lisbon-to-porto.133/

There is really a ton of information here on this forum about starting in Lisbon — are you saying you have searched the forum and have been unable to find anything? (The search link up on the right will lead you to lots and lots, depending on what issues you are researching). In any event, there are many Lisbon veterans here who will be happy to answer specific questions.

 

[Barobins]

Hmmm,
I just seem to find that a lot of people start in Porto and I wonder why. However, this post generated some threads that didn’t come up in my search.

 

[LesR]

Hmmm,
I just seem to find that a lot of people start in Porto and I wonder why. However, this post generated some threads that didn’t come up in my search.

A couple of reasons come readily to mind...

The first few days of walking from Lisbon can be fairly tough - walking along roads, rail lines, etc., across plains.... Not a lot of variety and not a lot of shade. Accommodation seemed to be confined to towns along the way but the marked path missed many villages/towns (unlike the CF, where the marked path lead one in to the centre of every village/town around...). Consequently there are few albergues and commercial accommodation became the norm - not what I had expected from my experience with camino frances...

Secondly, if one has limited time (around a fortnight), the walk from Porto to SDC is a very obvious choice (if one wants to avoid the stampede that CF can be...)..

 

[trecile]

if one wants to avoid the stampede that CF can be...).

I found the last 100 km on the Portuguese Camino to be no less a stampede than the last 100 km on the Frances.

 

[peregrina2000]

The infrastructure on the Caminho Portugués is growing as the numbers of pilgrims grow. In 2019, only 2,651 reported having started in Lisbon at the Pilgrims Office (in contrast, almost 40,000 started in Porto). I first walked from Lisbon in 2008 when there were no albergues at all before Porto, and only a few between Porto and Tui. If you look at the Via Lusitana’s list https://www.vialusitana.org/caminho/albergues you will see 20 albergues between Lisbon and Porto (about 300 km walking). and the number is growing. And private accommodation with rooms around 20 euros in most of the other places. So I think the infrastructure is actually very good and has developed over no more than ten years.

Though the scenery isn’t spectacular, it is usually rural and pleasant, and the towns of Golega, Santarem, Tomar, and Coimbra, are all very nice. The people and the food are wonderful.

How many days will you be walking, @Barobins?

 

[koilife]

How many days will you be walking, @Barobins?

And when?

 

[surya8]

I don’t seem to be able to find a lot of information about starting the CP in Lisbon

I walked between Lisbon and Porto out of season, in late Oct, and even then all the infrastructure was there. Anyway, most people start in Porto as it's shorter, not many have 3+ weeks to walk the whole way. The best resources for the Portuguese way: https://www.vialusitana.org/caminho/albergues and I also had Brierley's guide in English, not that it's necessary but was convenient for me as I usually walk without gadgets, maps and internet at all. The route is well-marked and it is sufficient, no need to plan there, simply as you go. I loved the towns along the way, Santarem, Golega, Tomar, Coimbra, Agueda, and people are very warm and helpful, food is good if you eat out or if you cook in. The quality of albergues before Porto is exellent. My best choice there is the donativo Casa Catolico in Branca, between Albergaria-a-Velha and Sao Joao da Madeira, not to miss the most truly pilgrim place on the way! Bom Caminho!

 

[koilife]

My best choice there is the donativo Casa Catolico in Branca, between Albergaria-a-Velha and Sao Joao da Madeira, not to miss the most truly pilgrim place on the way!

What do you like so much about that albergue?

 

[GraemeHall]

My pilgrimage from Lisbon last Sep - Oct was no more difficult and no less rewarding than the Francés the previous year.
24 days walking. No rest days.
I'm happy to respond to any specific questions you may have.

 

[David Tallan]

I started in Porto because of the amount of time I had available. I'm sure some day I will go back and walk from Lisbon, or perhaps somewhere south of Lisbon, but that will be after I retire.

 

[Archie 47]

My pilgrimage from Lisbon last Sep - Oct was no more difficult and no less rewarding than the Francés the previous year.
24 days walking. No rest days.
I'm happy to respond to any specific questions you may have.

Hello David.
I’m hoping to walk from Lisbon to Porto starting end of May.
My target is around 25km per day.
I have had a lot of operations there past 10 years.
Replacement knees, shoulders and one wrist.
As I’m on medication I need an en-suite accommodation.
I finished the frances last year and it took a couple of visits to get to Santiago.
What I did miss was the communal meal as I stayed in hotels.
This time if possible I would like to stay in some albergues that can accommodate my needs.
Any help you can give me would be great.
Many thanks
Arthur Gallagher

 

[Jane Silverman]

The infrastructure on the Caminho Portugués is growing as the numbers of pilgrims grow. In 2019, only 2,651 reported having started in Lisbon at the Pilgrims Office (in contrast, almost 40,000 started in Porto). I first walked from Lisbon in 2008 when there were no albergues at all before Porto, and only a few between Porto and Tui. If you look at the Via Lusitana’s list https://www.vialusitana.org/caminho/albergues you will see 20 albergues between Lisbon and Porto (about 300 km walking). and the number is growing. And private accommodation with rooms around 20 euros in most of the other places. So I think the infrastructure is actually very good and has developed over no more than ten years.

Though the scenery isn’t spectacular, it is usually rural and pleasant, and the towns of Golega, Santarem, Tomar, and Coimbra, are all very nice. The people and the food are wonderful.

How many days will you be walking, @Barobins?

those 4 towns are steeped in history so if you are interested in learning about the country rather than just passing through, you might want to do this part.

 

[Barobins]

Thanks so much for the replies. My question is actually more broad (I wish to return to the Camino, but maybe a different way) and I am not using the forum well by asking a bunch of small questions about individual caminos.

I think I will post my situation on a different thread and see what I get from all of you knowledgeable and patient people.

Bear with me!
Thanks so much!

 

[Terry Callery]

When I walked from Lisbon (only 1 percent of all pilgrims start there) I used the John Brierley Guide Book
-Camino Portugues -Lisbon-Porto-Santago which has both Central and Coastal Variant. Excellent maps - I would tear out the map each day an put in a Ziploc bag for easy access in my pocket.
Generally my experience was that the Portuguese route was flatter, the people friendlier, the language more lyrical and the food was way better than the French route I took the year before.
Stop in Tomar to check out the Templar Castle
See the Se Cathedral in Porto
In Alverca do Ribatejo (second day out of Lisbon) have lunch at Restaurant Voltar Ao Cais
Get the Roast Sucking Pig in Mealhada
Recommend private albergue O Ninho in Rubiae
Spoil yourself and stay at the Paradore in Tui
Bom Caminho!!!

 

[WalkingJane]

those 4 towns are steeped in history so if you are interested in learning about the country rather than just passing through, you might want to do this part.

I'd like to add that if you have the time, DO arrange to stay a bit in Lisbon itself. To save the time to do this, you could lurk around Lisbon, then take the express train from Lisbon to Porto.

 

[frida1]

I started at Santarem in 2016. This way you miss the frustration of spending a couple days walking and possibly getting lost in the industrial land surrounding Lisbon. Santarem is a short train ride and a beautiful town.

 

[JR9162]

I am starting in Lisbon on April 2nd. This will be my 3rd Camino. VdlP in 2018 from Seville, 39 days; Camino Frances from SJPP in 2019, 32 days.

Would welcome company along the way. Hope to meet a bloke from England I met on the CF at Porto, and another group of Brits in Santiago that I met on the VdlP.

I use the Brierley guidebooks, good but not 100% accurate.

John

 

[Vsic]

I walked between Lisbon and Porto out of season, in late Oct, and even then all the infrastructure was there. Anyway, most people start in Porto as it's shorter, not many have 3+ weeks to walk the whole way. The best resources for the Portuguese way: https://www.vialusitana.org/caminho/albergues and I also had Brierley's guide in English, not that it's necessary but was convenient for me as I usually walk without gadgets, maps and internet at all. The route is well-marked and it is sufficient, no need to plan there, simply as you go. I loved the towns along the way, Santarem, Golega, Tomar, Coimbra, Agueda, and people are very warm and helpful, food is good if you eat out or if you cook in. The quality of albergues before Porto is exellent. My best choice there is the donativo Casa Catolico in Branca, between Albergaria-a-Velha and Sao Joao da Madeira, not to miss the most truly pilgrim place on the way! Bom Caminho!

Hi, just curios what was the weather like in October, planing a Lisbon to Santiago camino.

 

[Jane Silverman]

Hi, just curios what was the weather like in October, planing a Lisbon to Santiago camino.

When I was there in october, it was still quite pleasant in Lisbon but began to get chilly as the month went on

 

[Walking Lover]

You can find various guides at Ivar's store.

Also, see this thread for a good set of links

Is there anything specific you're looking for?

Brierley's book

 

[koilife]

Brierley's book

Never personally been a fan of Brierley's books. His "spiritual" dimension drives me nuts.

I have his 2020 "maps only" version for CdP side by side with the 2020 Village to Village Guide for the CdP. V-to-V is lighter, contains higher quality maps, and has actual information on the albergue facilities rather than just contact information. Hugely more useful.

 

[karlyk]

This thread had good info. A lot of it recent. Let me know if you have any specific questions!

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/lisbon-to-santiago-october.64544/#post-801606

 

[surya8]

Hi, just curios what was the weather like in October, planing a Lisbon to Santiago camino.

I walked in late Oct, the trip was spontaneous, so I didn't have time to plan and recearch so packed some unnecessary clothes thinking it's almost winter there That was mostly summer there though, I wish I had taken shorts! Mostly sunny, some occasional rains ranging from light drizzles a couple of days to a couple of downpours during the night. Could be a bit chilly in the morning untill the sun is up but gets hot during the day. Very comfortable for walking! Sunglasses and sunscreen is a must for people who get burned easily. Rainy season typically start in late Oct but it depends on the season. For the weather you can have a look at pics here in my daily blog, at least they don't need google translate https://anna-camino.livejournal.com/1580.html Bom Caminho!

 

[celticone]

I have just bought the 2020 Village to Village Map Guide from Ivar's shop. Posted to Edinburgh and arrived very quickly.

It is light (100 grams or so), small format (but big enough to have useful maps) and includes a wealth of information. It includes Lisbon to SdC, Coastal from Porto and Espritual. I have analysed it and cannot find anything negative about it. There are also profiles, town maps, albergue and hotel lists with facilities. To me it is perfect.
All credit to compilers and publishers.

Obviously I will know more when I return at end of March.

Buen Camino
Ena

 

[Former member 88968]

I am planning to start from Lisbon in August and will be traveling alone. You are correct that there is limited info, particularly if , like me, you plan on going via Fatima. I have found a couple of sites with helpful information

Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima

The Official Start of the Camino Portugués in Lisbon

Many believe the official start of the Camino Portugués in Lisbon is the Cathedral of Lisbon.

www.pilgrimagetraveler.com

The Camino de Fátima - a detailed guide and walking stages

The Camino de Fatima - a 2024 guide. Different routes of the Caminhos de Fatima, walking stages, route maps, cost, albergues.

stingynomads.com

Plus of course the guide books. I have bought the Wise Pilgrim guide book which served me very well during last years Camino Frances

 

[koilife]

You are correct that there is limited info, particularly if , like me, you plan on going via Fatima.

I don't know about that. I've found everything I need by perusing the subforum for Routes to Fatima.

 

[Terry Callery]

Check out the "Poet's Inn" in the Theater district of Lisbon as a great place to stay. Private and shared accomodations. (Largo do Chiado- Exit of subway).
Get coffee at the iconic A Brasileira Cafe there.
The Basilica of the Martyrs is just a block away where you can get a "Carimbo" stamp and start
your Portuguese Camino. Have some roasted chestnuts from the street vendor outside the hotel on the
plaza. Check out the Adega dos Fadistas for Fado music.
Bom Caminho

 

[The Kolbist]

We've done CP in 2016 from Lisbon but we detoured from Santarem to Fatima during the Fatima's feast day. Walking in May was cooler but wet. here's a video of our walk

hope it helps you a bit.

 

[Desert Bruce]

I am starting in Lisbon on April 2nd. This will be my 3rd Camino. VdlP in 2018 from Seville, 39 days; Camino Frances from SJPP in 2019, 32 days.

Would welcome company along the way. Hope to meet a bloke from England I met on the CF at Porto, and another group of Brits in Santiago that I met on the VdlP.

I use the Brierley guidebooks, good but not 100% accurate.

John

HI John, I will be in Lisbon 30&31March leaving 1 April. Perhaps we could meet?

 

[WalkingJane]

Check out the "Poet's Inn" in the Theater district of Lisbon as a great place to stay. Private and shared accomodations. (Largo do Chiado- Exit of subway).
Get coffee at the iconic A Brasileira Cafe there.
The Basilica of the Martyrs is just a block away where you can get a "Carimbo" stamp and start
your Portuguese Camino. Have some roasted chestnuts from the street vendor outside the hotel on the
plaza. Check out the Adega dos Fadistas for Fado music.
Bom Caminho

Oh, yes! No one who can possibly manage the time should skip Lisbon. Thank you for noting these "must go" places.
Also, at Belem, there is a monument to the "Discoverers": Magellan, Vasco de Gama, Bartholomeu Diaz etc. Prince Henry 'the Navigator" sponsored those who developed the navigational instruments that made those voyages possible.
Then take the train to Porto if time requires it.
As to arrows. If going on by foot, there are blue arrows leading to Fatima.....

 

[frida1]

Lisbon is a wonderful city. But for fado, Senior Vinho is far, far better.

 

[Vsic]

I walked in late Oct, the trip was spontaneous, so I didn't have time to plan and recearch so packed some unnecessary clothes thinking it's almost winter there That was mostly summer there though, I wish I had taken shorts! Mostly sunny, some occasional rains ranging from light drizzles a couple of days to a couple of downpours during the night. Could be a bit chilly in the morning untill the sun is up but gets hot during the day. Very comfortable for walking! Sunglasses and sunscreen is a must for people who get burned easily. Rainy season typically start in late Oct but it depends on the season. For the weather you can have a look at pics here in my daily blog, at least they don't need google translate https://anna-camino.livejournal.com/1580.html Bom Caminho!

Thank you