Where to spend a week between Santiago de Compostela and Lisbon

[MesaWalker]

My wife and I will finish our third camino next June in Santiago de Compostela. We will have approximately a week before we need to be in Lisbon. We are looking for advice for interesting places to visit during that period. We´re generally thinking of places in western or northwestern Spain or in Portugal.

Because of past trips, here is a list of places we would exclude, since we will have explored them and/or walked to or through them on previous trips:

Spain: SdC, Muxia, Finisterre, Toledo, and cities along the following caminos: (i) Francés, (ii) Primitivo, (iii) Via Serrana/Via de la Plata/Sanabrés, and (iv) Madrid.​

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Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, Nazaré, Tomar, Ëvora​

Places we´ve thought of so far that we have not visited include:

Spain: A Coruña, Pontevedra​

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Portugal: Coimbra, Fátima​

We must be missing a lot of other interesting places. Any recommendations? Of the four we´ve considered so far, does anyone have thoughts about ranking them?

Thank you.

 

[naplesdon]

I loved a few days that I spent in A Coruna. I lived near Cascais and it is a wonderful place, although it is a bit touristy. I recently visited the Algarve and you can't go wrong with any place near the Faro airport, again it is touristic but the prices are decent. Isles de Cies was always on my bucket list but never got there, I am not sure how long you can stay there and only one place that is not a camp ground. I have been to the Canary Islands but you need to chose your location carefully as not to be overrun by tourists. Most flights are very reasonable from Santiago to these places, a train ride might gobble up most of your time.

 

[CWBuff]

Looks like Santa Maria da Feira is pretty much smack dab middle between Santiago de Compostela and Lisbon
Not sure if there is enough stuff to do for a whole week

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[Camino Chrissy]

Portugal- Braga; Marvao
Spain- Combarro, Cudillero, Luarca, Valladolid

 

[peregrina2000]

We´re generally thinking of places in western or northwestern Spain or in Portugal.

Oh, so many options! One big question is whether you would rent a car or stick to public transit. My top three choices would all really need a car to enjoy to their fullest.

1. Douro Valley. Lots of nice small cities, in addition to the beauty of the vineyards themselves. Amarante and Lamego and both very nice places nearby, and Peso da Regua is a port wine hub.

2. Peneda Geres National Park. It’s Portugal’s only national park and has a lot to visit and enjoy. I have been here as a tourist and also walked through the park on the Caminho da Geira and it’s beautiful.

3. Ribeira Sacra. This would be more for someone who likes ancient churches, along with some spectacular scenery in the Sil River Gorge. The parador in Santo Estevo is amazing, and my 3 day visit to the area could easily be expanded a few more days. I think this is my favorite long weekend trip ever, but I love Romanesque architecture and that may not be your taste. You could also add a day in Coimbra, which is a nice university city with a historic core, and also take in the Roman ruins in Conímbriga, less than a half hour from Coimbra.

 

[Tincatinker]

In Portugal (IMO) Coimbra is worth a week. The local variant of fado deserves exploring (if you have an interest in music).

A Coruna? A week is nowhere near long enough but you'd have time to get the flavour. A majestic and ancient city with an history as complex as it gets. And some great bars and restaurants and even, occasionally, a great view from the lighthouse

 

[alexwalker]

Salamanca, Spain. Lots to explore in a big city, and halfway to Lisbon.

 

[BarbaraW]

I loved Plasencia and Badajoz in Extremadura. Smallish cities with history- cathedrals, walls, rivers and interesting museums. Both on the rail network, and from Badajoz there is a wonderful train ride through rural Portugal to Entroncamento on the main Porto-Lisbon line, which will also take you to Coimbra.

 

[Kiwi-family]

I'm not sure if you could spend a week in Uruena - but I could with its 12 bookshops and 5 museums inside a restored walled medieval town!!

 

[grayland]

We also usually go somewhere in Spain or Portugal (or Europe) after a Camino.

We have gone to Salema, Portugal a couple of times..usually a week. It is a fishing village on the SouthWest coast. Here is a Rick Steves ariticle on it. It is probably dated but there are other reviews out there if you are interested.
Cape Sagres is just a few minutes drive with a great history.

Slowing Down in Sleepy Salema

www.ricksteves.com

 

[poogeyejr]

San Sebastian and Irun - so amazing and their is a train that runs from Bilbao to Irun and just a few Euro per leg.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Maybe you want to stay active after walking. My family and I spent 2 days in 2015 kayaking down the Douro River before walking from Porto. Buen Camino

 

[Camino Chrissy]

My family rented a vehicle after arriving in Santiago and toured many places in Portugal, including the Douro river valley and Penada Geres National Park as @peregrina2000 has mentioned. Coimbra's university on the hill with its gorgeous library and clock/bell tower to climb with bird's eye views were both highlights of the city.

 

[MesaWalker]

These are all terrific ideas that provide great subjects for further research. After all, planning is half the fun! Thank you to all!