Arrive in Porto, one of Europe’s oldest cities and the starting point for your Camino journey. With its colourful old town, UNESCO-listed Ribeira waterfront, historic Porto Cathedral, and vibrant food and wine scene, Porto is the perfect place to ease into the Camino spirit. Wander cobbled streets, explore riverside markets, and pick up your first pilgrim stamp. Be sure to look for the distinctive yellow arrows and scallop shells that will guide you all the way to Santiago.

A short morning transfer skips the urban sprawl; start walking on quiet lanes and farm tracks through fields, vineyards, and small hamlets. Terrain is mostly gentle, with a few short, steady rises; surfaces alternate between granite cobbles, dirt paths, and minor roads. Waymarking (yellow arrows and shells) is clear. Services are spaced but reliable—expect several cafés for coffee and a light lunch. Finish in Arcos, a small crossroads village with simple restaurants and guesthouses.

Rolling countryside today: eucalyptus stands, cornfields, and stone hamlets linked by rural lanes and footpaths. Underfoot is mixed (packed earth, cobbles, and short paved sections) with modest elevation change. You’ll pass regular café stops, fountains, and chapels before approaching the Cávado Valley. Cross the bridge into Barcelos, known for its weekly market (Thursdays), historic old town, and the Galo de Barcelos legend—plenty of options for dinner and a relaxed evening.

A shorter, easier stage over rolling farmland. Follow quiet farm tracks and rural lanes past vineyards edged by granite walls, with pockets of shade from eucalyptus and oak. Waymarking is reliable; services are thinner than yesterday but you’ll still find a couple of cafés. Finish in Balugães, a small rural parish—good for laundry, an unhurried lunch, and an early finish before tomorrow’s longer stage.

Continue on peaceful lanes through orchards and smallholdings, with gentle climbs and long, easy descents into the Lima valley. Surfaces are mostly dirt and rural asphalt with occasional stony sections—trekking poles helpful but not essential. Cafés appear at intervals; top up water before the final stretch. Enter Ponte de Lima across its iconic medieval bridge into one of Portugal’s oldest towns—great food, riverside promenades, and everything you need to prep for the tougher mountain stage over Labruja tomorrow.

The toughest stage of the Central route. A steady approach leads into the steep, rocky Serra da Labruja climb (trekking poles helpful), followed by a long descent on stony paths and rural lanes to Rubiães. Services are limited on the climb—top up water early. Continue through hamlets and farmland to Cossourado. Mixed underfoot (cobbles, dirt, minor asphalt) with meaningful elevation gain, then easier going after the summit.

Short, rolling day through vineyards and smallholdings on quiet lanes and farm tracks. Waymarking is clear and services appear at intervals. Enter Valença via the impressive walled fortress town overlooking the Minho—good spot for lunch, supplies, and a relaxed afternoon. Gentle terrain and mostly easy surfaces make this a recovery stage before crossing into Spain tomorrow.

Cross the international bridge to Tui (Spain) and consider a quick visit/stamp at the cathedral before continuing. The terrain is mostly level on a mix of lanes, woodland paths, and paved sections. To avoid the industrial estate approaching O Porriño, take the well-signed Río Louro/As Gándaras alternative (adds little distance, much nicer walking). Services are frequent; expect cafés and fountains at regular intervals. Note the +1 hour time change when you cross into Spain.x`x

Gradual climb through Mos to the chapel at Santiaguiño de Antas, then a long descent into Redondela, where the Central and Coastal routes merge. From Redondela, follow lanes and paths with views over the Ría de Vigo toward Arcade, famed for its oysters. Underfoot is mixed (stone tracks, cobbles, minor roads) with one sustained ascent early, then mostly downhill/undulating. Services are well spaced; good resupply options in Redondela before the final stretch.

Cross the Ponte Sampaio over the Verdugo, then tackle a short, steep cobbled climb on historic stone paths into shaded woodland. The rest is mostly undulating on a mix of granite slabs, dirt tracks, and quiet lanes through small hamlets and eucalyptus stands. Services are limited after Ponte Sampaio—top up water early—then increase as you near town. Enter Pontevedra via suburban lanes and parks, finishing in the compact old quarter near Praza da Ferrería and the Virxe da Peregrina church. Clear waymarking; one meaningful ascent early, then easy going.

Leave Pontevedra by crossing the scenic Ponte do Burgo bridge, decorated with scallop shells, and continue along shaded paths through chestnut groves, eucalyptus forests, and small villages like San Amaro. Pass the Cruceiro de Amonisa, where a statue of St. James points the way to Santiago. The route winds through peaceful countryside, with highlights including the charming hamlet of Tivo and its historic fountain. Finish in Caldas de Reis, a town famous for its thermal springs — perfect for soaking tired feet after crossing the Umia River into town.

Today’s walk is one of the most scenic on the Camino, weaving through pine forests, farmland, and the lush Bermana and Verga valleys. Cross the Ulla River into Padrón, a town deeply connected to St. James, where legend says his body first reached Spanish soil. Visit the Igrexa de Santiago to see the Pedrón stone, kept beneath the altar, and explore the leafy riverside promenade. This peaceful stage blends natural beauty with some of the Camino’s richest spiritual history.

Leave Padrón behind and follow woodland trails and quiet lanes toward Milladoiro, Santiago’s largest suburb. Along the way, visit the Sanctuary of A Escravitude, a striking hilltop chapel, and the Chapel of San Martiño. Pass through the outskirts of Milladoiro and soon catch your first glimpse of the Cathedral spires from afar. After crossing the Sar River, follow the original Portuguese Way into the heart of Santiago de Compostela, entering through Rua Franco and arriving at the Praza do Obradoiro in front of the Cathedralhome to one of Galicia’s oldest wayside crosses (cruceiros).

Your pilgrimage officially comes to a close. Some pilgrims continue on to Finisterre or Muxía, while others begin the journey home.