Basic Information Starting Point: Porto, Portugal – Portugal’s second-largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its historic Ribeira district, tiled churches, colorful streets, and vibrant atmosphere. It offers every service a pilgrim might need: supermarkets, pharmacies, outdoor shops, cafés, restaurants, and a wide range of accommodation options. In my opinion, it is…

Basic Information Starting Point: Labruge, Portugal – A small coastal town north of Vila do Conde, known for its long sandy beach, dunes, and relaxed atmosphere. With over 3,000 inhabitants, Labruge has all basic services a pilgrim needs, including a large pilgrim-only hostel with 67 beds, and a few other accommodation options. Ending Point: Fão,…

Basic Information Starting Point: Fão, Portugal – A quiet riverside town located at the mouth of the Cávado River, just south of Esposende. You’ll find in town 3 hostels, and many other accommodation options for each budget. It also offers all services for pilgrims, such as shops, restaurants, pharmacy, post office, etc. Ending Point: Viana do…

Basic Information Starting Point: Viana do Castelo, Portugal – One of the most beautiful towns on the northern Portuguese coast, set between the Atlantic Ocean, the Lima River, and green hills. You’ll find two pilgrim only hostels in town, a few other hostels, and plenty of other accommodation options for each kind of budget. A BIG…

Basic Information Starting Point: Caminha, Portugal – A charming border town located at the mouth of the Minho River, right on the frontier with Spain. With over 15,000 inhabitants, the town is very pilgrim-friendly, offering several hostels (with 2 pilgrim-only places), guesthouses, restaurants, and all essential services. During the summer season you can feel the pilgrim…

Basic Information Starting Point: Oia, Spain – A small coastal town in Galicia, famous for its dramatic Atlantic coastline and the stunning Royal Monastery of Santa María de Oia, one of the few monasteries in Spain built directly by the ocean.With 3,000 inhabitants you’ll find there all services for pilgrims, although the hostel where I stayed…

Basic Information Starting Point: Baiona, Spain – A lively coastal town with a rich maritime history, famous for being the first place in Europe to receive news of the discovery of America. With around 12,000 inhabitants, Baiona is very welcoming to pilgrims and offers everything a pilgrim may need, not only for one afternoon in town.…

Basic Information Starting Point: Vigo, Spain – The largest city in Galicia, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and an important industrial and port center. As in every big city, you’ll find in Vigo numerous hostels, hotels, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals, and public transport connections. Ending Point: Arcade, Spain – A small town located at the head…

Basic Information Starting Point: Arcade, Spain – A pilgrim-friendly town famous for its oysters and its scenic riverside setting. With over 4,000 inhabitants, you’ll find all services in town, including 4 pilgrim albergues. Ending Point: Caldas de Reis, Spain – A historic spa town famous for its hot thermal springs, used since Roman times. With around 10,000 inhabitants, it…

Basic Information Starting Point: Caldas de Reis, Spain – A historic spa town famous for its hot thermal springs, used since Roman times (and available until today). It offers all services for pilgrims, including 6 pilgrim albergues. Can be extremely busy in summer, but still a nice town for one-night stay on your Camino Portuguese. Ending Point:…

Basic Information Starting Point: Padron, Spain – A town deeply connected to the legend of Saint James, believed to be the place where his boat arrived after his martyrdom. With roughly 9,000 inhabitants, Padrón offers excellent services for pilgrims, including 7 pilgrim albergues, and plenty of other accommodation options. The town is also famous for its green…