Are you visiting Porto for a couple of days and would love to experience the famous “Camino de Santiago” leading to Spanish Santiago de Compostela from all around Europe? Then read further! We picked one of the best and most beautiful routes and you can do it in one day!
Basic information about the route:
- The route is part of famous Camino de Santiago
- Start – Matosinhos (Porto)
- End – Vila do Conde (or alternatively Póvoa de Varzim)
- Duration – walking time circa 5 hours
- Distance – circa 25 km
Here are some suggestions:
- Get the pilgrims passport – Sometimes also called “credentials” is a small book where the pilgrims collect stamps along the way, you can buy it e.g., in Sé do Porto.
- Pack the necessary stuff – You need good walking shoes, rucksack with water, sun cream, small snack just for the case, head cover in sunny days and pilgrims passport.
- Get to Matosinhos – As the route starts in Matosinhos, get there early in the morning by metro (metro stop “Mercado”). Btw, “mercado” means a market, there is a local fish market by this metro stop you can check and get the first stamp nearby. However, do not stay too long as each minute is important.
- Continue the way across the bridge towards Leça da Palmeira – Firstly, you will walk across some streets, later the “Camino” will lead you towards the coast where the whole route continues.
- Greet other pilgrims – Do not forget to greet other pilgrims by the phrase “Bom caminho” in Portuguese, or “Buen camino” in Spanish, meaning “Have a good way”.
- Always check for the “Camino” symbols – The whole way is perfectly marked by “Camino” symbols – a shell and a yellow arrow, so always follow them.
- Continue the way towards Agudela and Angeiras – There are many seaside bars and cafés along the way so there is no need to bring too much food with you.
- Take late lunch in Angeiras – You will be in Angeiras – fisherman village – at around noon (depending on your walking speed and stops tough) so you can get some fresh fish in local restaurants. I recommend the modern Casa da Guripa, but you can opt for “cheaper” and more traditional ones.
- Continue the way towards Labruge, Vila Chã, Mindelo, Azurara and finally Vila do Conde – For me this is the best part of the whole route with picturesque beaches, coastal nature, and wooden paths. You will love it.
- Arrive to the final stop Vila do Conde – If you still have some time (and energy 🙂 ) you can also walk across Vila do Conde before taking metro back to Porto (metro stop “Vila do Conde”). Apart from “Vila do Conde”, there is a metro stop also in more distant “Póvoa de Varzim”. If you are more experienced hiker, you can finish the route in “Póvoa” (but count with additional circa 4 km).
- Get back to Porto – Take the metro back to Porto, or you can also stay overnight in “Vila do Conde/Póvoa de Varzim” and continue “Camino” either to coastal “Esposende” or to interior “Barcelos”. But that is for another blog.. 🙂
Disclaimer: “Camino” is highly contagious so be prepared to rebook your tickets from Porto 🙂
