The Camino Portugues from Tui to Santiago, Everything that you wanted to know!

The Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui

The section of the Camino Portugues to Santiago that runs from Tui to Santiago de Compostela has become very popular lately. The Camino de Santiago through Portugal is the second most popular route of pilgrimage itineraries to Compostela, each year slightly more than 20% of pilgrims choose this route.

The Portuguese road starts in Lisbon and runs a little over 600 km to Santiago Cathedral. The tour is divided into 28 stages full of history and beauty. However, the final stretch of the road from Tui to Santiago is one of the pilgrims’ favourites.

Therefore, in this article on our blog, we want to reveal all the secrets of the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui. A magnificent tour of Galician lands, with all the Portuguese influence!

Why do the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui

More than 20,000 pilgrims per year decide to do the Camino de Santiago, following the route from Tui to Compostela. The high demand on this pilgrim itinerary is related to the many benefits that this route presents. Here, we will talk about some of them.

Requires only a few days of holiday

The Camino from Tui is made up of 6 stages. Most of them with less than 20 kilometres of travel. That helps people who are physically fit and do not have much time to be able to reach the Cathedral of Santiago in 5 days or less.

However, the wonders of this tour invite you to take your pilgrimage calmly. As the pilgrim route teaches, the magic is on the Camino.

You’ll take your Compostela home

The distance between Tui and Santiago de Compostela is 117.4 km, so this road allows you to complete the minimum distance (100 km), which must be done to get the famous Compostela. A nice memory that most pilgrims yearn to take home.

A 10/10 for signage and services for the stages from Tui

Until reaching Galicia, the Camino Portugues has some drawbacks in terms of facilities and signposting on the route, since in Portugal there are many alternative ways. However, once you enter Galicia, the Camino Portugues is as smooth as silk: perfectly signposted and with a multitude of services. Very Comfortable!

This makes it ideal for people who, for their physical condition, need to plan short stages as well as families who want to do the Camino de Santiago with children and who require good infrastructure around them. The Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela is the only stretch of the Camino de Santiago that has so many facilities, but this one is much busier.

For this reason, the road from Tui to Santiago is an excellent alternative for all those people who seek comfort but who do not want to travel the busy final stages of the Camino Frances. Comfort and tranquillity are what this section of the Camino Portugues offers!

The stages from Tui to Santiago are easy

One of the main charcteristics of the Portuguese Camino is the small number of climbs. That makes it the least demanding of pilgrimage itineraries on the entire pilgrim network.

The road from Tui to Compostela can be considered a pleasant walk, with no hard stages or great unevenness. A dream come true for many pilgrims who do not seek in the Camino de Santiago a physical challenge but to pursue to have the experience without subjecting their body to a great challenge.

Quiet, but not boring

It is true that the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui to Compostela is much quieter than the popular route from Sarria, but that does not make it a boring stretch on which you will not find other pilgrims in your journey. On the contrary, you will have the opportunity to meet many people but without overcrowding.

You’ll enjoy the Galician gastronomy

The Camino de Santiago is also famous for being a gastronomic and wine route. The route from Tui to Santiago allows you to enjoy Galician cuisine, both in its traditional cuisine and its tapas culture.

Besides, apart from discovering the different wines that are produced in the Galician community, you will pass through the Rías Baixas area. World-renowned for being the land of the famous Albariño wine. If you want to know more about the wines that await you in Galicia, do not forget to consult our article on wines of the Camino de Santiago.

Dreamy landscapes and rich heritage

The Camino de Santiago from Tui combines scenic beauty and historical and patrimonial richness. On the route, you’ll cross a multitude of towns full of life and with a rich cultural heritage to explore. Some of the wonders you will find on your pilgrimage from Tui to Santiago are:

The Tui International Bridge

The International Bridge over the River Miño is located in Tui. This is the border crossing between Portugal and Spain.

Have you ever crossed from one country to another? If you haven’t done it, Tui is your chance! Across the International Bridge over the Miño, you can walk from Portugal to Spain and vice versa.

It is highly recommended that if you have enough time, spend at least a few hours exploring this wonderful border town between Spain and Portugal. The bridge is a beautiful construction and walking around it is very nice.

Galicia, it’s different: an enchanted bench

In Galicia you will find enclaves that delight neighbours and visitors, creating unique images and memories. A good example are the most beautiful benches in the world, such as in Redondela, Ortigueira or Viveiro, located specifically on the Loiba cliffs.

Many of these peculiar viewpoints have been created by local people in a selfless way. If you do the Camino to Tui, you cannot miss the visit to the bench at Mount Cedeira.

Sitting from that bank, where you can read “Galicia, it’s different”, you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Ria de Vigo, from the Cies Islands National Park to the San Simón Cove. We leave you this video in which the locals explain how the project came about.

Padrón: legends, literature and gastronomy

Padrón, one of the towns that cross the Camino Portugues from Tui, contains many attractions. One of them is that it is the scenario in which one of the legends related to the transfer of the remains of Santiago the Apostle to Galicia is developed.

As they say, in this locality the two disciples of Santiago landed with his remains. In the village, you can visit the stone on which it is said that they tied the boat. An excellent visit to understand the historical and mystical sense of the pilgrimage to Santiago.

In Padrón, you will also find the Rosalía de Castro House- Museum, dedicated to her life and work. In this Galician town, she spent her last years, a famous poet of Romanticism. Her poetry is internationally recognized and her figure is adored in Galicia.

Finally, Padrón is famous for its peppers. No-one who goes through this town misses the opportunity to try this fun dish, ideal to share a laugh with other pilgrims.

Stages on the Camino Portugués to Santiago from Tui

The above are just a few examples of the wonders you’ll find on the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui to Santiago. The route includes many more charming villages! Now, we will talk about each of the stages and everything you can visit in them.

Stage 1: The Camino de Santiago from Tui

The first stage of the Camino de Santiago from Tui is made up of 16 kilometres. Much of the tour is destined to leave the urban area of Tui, but the route crosses wooded areas and runs close to the Louro river stream.

At this stage, in addition to visiting the Tui International Bridge, as we recommended previously, you will find other places of interest such as the Valença do Minho fort. The stage ends in O Porriño, a town that has a rich cultural heritage.

Stage 2: From O Porriño to Redondela

The second stage on the Portuguese itinerary from Tui, as well as the previous day, does not contain any difficulty. The climbs are imperceptible. Along the 15 kilometres of this stage, you will be able to enjoy beautiful landscapes and a multitude of places of interest.

The stage concludes in Redondela. From there we recommend that you take advantage of the afternoon to visit the San Simón cove, that although is present on the whole route, the pilgrim route does not allow this rich natural enclave to be viewed as it should be.

Etapa 3: De Redondela a Pontevedra

The third stage is somewhat longer than the previous ones. 19.2 kilometres separate Redondela from Pontevedra.

The route is completed through a strongly urban environment, since the beginning of the stage is done by continuously walking through Redondela and that the end is carried out in the city of Pontevedra. However, this fact is highly compensated by the sections in which the Camino de Santiago approaches the estuary. Moments where you can enjoy great views.

At this stage, you will also find several charming intermediate locations. A recommended visit on this day is the Church of Santiago and the Soutomaior Castle. Visiting these places implies diverting slightly from the pilgrim route, but it is worth it.

Finally, the stage ends in Pontevedra. A city in which, if you have time, it is advisable to spend two nights, to discover both its rich heritage and its exquisite cuisine.

The city has a multitude of places to visit. However, an essential visit is to go to its curious Church of the Virgin Pilgrim. Do not miss it, if you do the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui!

Stage 4: From Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

The fourth stage on the Camino de Santiago from Tui crosses numerous rural villages and charming towns. The route is 23 kilometres long and ends in the beautiful Caldas de Reis.

On this stage, you will have the opportunity to visit the waterfalls of the Ria Baroa Natural Park. The visit involves deviating 400 metres, but it is worth it and is very well-signposted.

At the end of this stage, there is a great reward for you, the famous Caldas de Reis Springs. In addition to its hot springs and fountains, in the locality, you will find diverse places of historical and cultural interest: churches, bridges, gardens, etc.

Penultimate stage on the Camino Portugues from Tui

The fifth stage on the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Tui is characterized by a high presence of wooded sections and bucolic villages. The 18.6 kilometres separating Caldas de Reis from Padrón have an incredible landscape that fully compensates for the effort required by the moderate levels of the stage.

The stage ends in Padrón. As we commented earlier, in this locality, you can expect all kinds of wonders. It is certainly one of the most emblematic stops on the Camino from Tui.

Stage 6: Arrival in Compostela

The last stage of the Camino de Santiago from Tui is the longest of all. 25.2 kilometres separate Padrón from the tomb of Santiago the Apostle. On the route, it is advisable to visit the Sanctuary of Slavery and its holy fountain.

In the middle of the stage, you will begin to enjoy the views of the capital of Compostela. The proximity of the Cathedral of Santiago will give you all the energy necessary to complete this stage that, in relation to the previous ones, can seem a little longer.

We hope you enjoyed our practical guide on the Camino de Santiago Portuguese from Tui. Remember that if you want to have the help of a specialized agency in the Camino de Santiago to organize your pilgrimage from Tui to Compostela, in Santiago Ways, we will be delighted to advise you.

Buen Camino!