Picked by our team
Towns worth discovering along the Camino de Santiago, chosen by our team. Open one to see its history and sights, and where to stay.
31 towns on the Caminho Português da Costa
View on the mapApúlia is a place made of sand: dunes with windmills, vegetable fields in dug-out sand hollows and beaches where seaweed gatherers once hauled the kelp from the surf. On the coastal route it lies 45.9 kilometers beyond Porto, and the Senda Litoral leads right past the mills. There is no public albergue, one evening is enough.
Senda LitoralCaminho Português da CostaArcade is the oyster capital at the inner end of the Ría de Vigo: for many, the stage from O Porriño ends here, and the routes from Porto already continue together, with a good 78 kilometres left to Santiago. Oysters come raw, in escabeche or in an empanada, and there is a waterfront promenade at the mouth of the Verdugo. One evening is enough.
Senda LitoralCamino Portugués Central+1Caldas de Reis is the town of warm water: since 1881, thermal water at almost 50 degrees has flowed from two lion heads in the middle of town, and in the washhouse next to it pilgrims soak their feet. King Alfonso VII, later emperor, is said to have been born here in 1105. Santiago is still 44 kilometres away.
Camino Portugués CentralCaminho Português da Costa+1Caminha is a small border town at the mouth of the Minho with a clock tower, a Renaissance fountain and a late Gothic parish church. Here the routes part: the Coastal Way stays in Portugal and follows the Minho to Valença, while the Senda Litoral crosses to A Guarda in small boats, as the ferry no longer runs. An afternoon is enough.
Senda LitoralCaminho Português da CostaCarreço is a scattered village between hills and the Atlantic, 7.9 kilometres past Viana do Castelo: up top the coastal route with two highly praised private hostels, down by the sea the windmills of Montedor and the northernmost major lighthouse in Portugal. A quiet evening if you want to split the stage to Caminha.
Caminho Português da CostaSenda LitoralEsposende lies where the Cávado flows into the sea. An iron bridge from 1892 brings you into this small town, whose fort at the river mouth has carried a light since 1866. There is no pilgrim albergue in town; the nearest are in Fão and Marinhas. From tomorrow, the coastal route and the inland route part ways.
Senda LitoralCaminho Português da CostaFão sits at the mouth of the Cávado, and a route flows in here too: at the edge of town the link from São Pedro de Rates joins the coastal route, and from here on you walk in company. Then a metal bridge from 1892 carries you across the river to Esposende. It has nothing to do with Eiffel. One evening is enough.
Senda LitoralCaminho Português da CostaMarinhas is a quiet village 4.6 kilometres beyond Esposende, with a parish albergue looked after by the Red Cross. Here the Coastal Way leaves the sea and climbs into the hills towards the Neiva. A good place to split the long stretch to Viana. An afternoon is enough.
Senda LitoralCaminho Português da CostaMindelo lies between fields and dunes, 23.1 kilometres beyond Porto: a quiet village with a Baroque church, plus Portugal's oldest nature reserve, set up in 1957 for migratory birds. There is also a name from the history books, only the place does not quite match. An afternoon is enough.
Caminho Português da CostaTop rated
The stays pilgrims rate highest right now, across every Camino.
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