Caminho Central Português (Camino de Santiago) — Stage 1: Lisbon to Alhandra
33 km of flat, easy walking out of Lisbon's northern suburbs, hugging the Tagus estuary the whole way to the quiet riverside town of Alhandra. No hills, no official albergue currently open — book a room in Vila Franca de Xira before you set off.
Lisbon → Alhandra
The Camino begins in the heart of Lisbon, traditionally at the Sé Cathedral, from where the yellow arrows lead pilgrims out through the city's northern suburbs. The first stretch is almost entirely urban, following the Tagus riverside through Sacavém and on to Póvoa de Santa Iria, where the estuary opens up and the walking turns noticeably quieter and greener. The path continues through Alverca do Ribatejo before reaching Alhandra, a small riverside town that marks the end of the first day's walk.
Historic sights en route
Where to stay
Official pilgrim albergue
The Alpriate albergue once used on this stretch is permanently closed. No confirmed official albergue currently operates on Stage 1 — pilgrims book private lodging in Vila Franca de Xira instead (see above).
📍 Stage 1 Overview Map
Start and end points are exact. The connecting line shows general direction only — it is not the walking trail itself. Click a marker for a Google Maps link.
Towns You'll Pass Through
Sacavém
Sacavém sits where the Trancão river meets the Tagus, part of the Loures municipality just north of Lisbon. It grew up around ceramics and tile-making — the old Fábrica de Faianças de Sacavém was one of Portugal's best-known pottery factories for over a century, and its name still shows up on tilework around the country. Today it's a quiet, workaday riverside suburb, more a waypoint than a destination, but it marks the moment the Camino properly leaves central Lisbon behind.
Póvoa de Santa Iria
Póvoa de Santa Iria is a residential riverside town in the Vila Franca de Xira municipality, strung along the Tagus estuary. It has no major monuments, but the waterfront promenade is a pleasant, breezy stretch with views across the water, and it's a natural spot to stop for food or a coffee roughly halfway through the day's walk.
Alverca do Ribatejo
Alverca do Ribatejo is best known as home to Base Aérea nº 1 and the Museu do Ar (Portuguese Air Force Museum), which sits right on the edge of town — a slightly unexpected landmark on a pilgrim trail, but worth a glance if you have time. Beyond the airbase, it's a working town in the heart of the Ribatejo, historically tied to wine and farming on the fertile land along the Tagus.
Alhandra (end of Stage 1)
Alhandra is where today's walk ends, a small riverside town also part of the Vila Franca de Xira municipality. It grew up around clay quarrying and cement production — large works along the riverside once supplied much of Portugal's cement — and it still has the feel of a working river town rather than a tourist stop. For pilgrims, it's best known for the colourful murals near the train station celebrating the Camino itself, a nice welcome after a long first day, and it has enough guesthouses and cafés to make a comfortable overnight base.