The Camino de Santiago Portugues, or Camino Portugues Central Route, is the route that departs from Lisbon, crossing the interior of the north of Portugal, and ends in the Cathedral of Compostela. It is considered one of the simplest pilgrim paths, as it does not face large slopes on any of its stages.
Along the way you can visit the most emblematic cities of Portugal. Some of them are: Lisbon and its bustling cobblestoned streets; the beautiful Santarem, considered the Gothic capital of the country; Coimbra, famous for having one of the oldest universities in the world, or the colourful city of Porto and its bridges.
In addition, on your path you will see numerous picturesque villages, where you can discover the interesting Portuguese culture. At all stops, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the excellent gastronomy in Portugal and its renowned wines.
The natural environment that surrounds the Camino Portugues is marked by the presence of the River Tajo, especially during the early stages of the route. Once you arrive in Porto, you can choose between following the Camino Portugues Coastal Route, bordering the Atlantic slope, or continue along the central section, to Santiago de Compostela.
After crossing the border between Portugal and Spain, over the Tui International Bridge, a new culture and gastronomy will open before you: that of the Rias Baixas in Galicia. Some of the places you can visit on this stretch of the Camino Portugues are: the city of Pontevedra, with its lively squares, Caldas de Reis, and its Roman baths, or Padron, internationally known for its peppers.
The Camino de Santiago Portugues has a route of approximately 620 kilometres, which can be divided into 28 stages, if you go on foot. The most popular starting points to do the Camino Portugues Central Route are Lisbon, Santarem, Coimbra, Porto and Tui
Most popular starting points of the Camino de Santiago Portugues: