The Portuguese Way of Saint James
The Caminhos de Santiago de Portugal, known in English as the Portuguese Way of Saint James or the Camino Português, is a network of historic pilgrimage routes that begin across Portugal and lead north to the tomb of Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, Spain. Today it is the second most popular pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in the world, coming just behind the French Way, known as the Caminho Francês.
Historical Background
Pilgrims have been walking north toward Santiago since early medieval times, but the Portuguese routes grew significantly in importance following Portugal's independence in the 12th century. Over the centuries, several prominent historical figures made this same journey, including King Manuel I and Queen Saint Elizabeth, known as Rainha Santa Isabel, both of whom walked these paths themselves.
Beyond their religious purpose, these routes also played an important practical role. They served as major commercial, diplomatic, and cultural arteries, helping to connect Portugal and Galicia across centuries of trade and exchange.
The Main Portuguese Routes
The Portuguese network is made up of several distinct paths, each crossing the country from south to north in its own way.
The Caminho Português Central,
or Central Way, is the most historic and widely traveled route. It traditionally begins either at Lisbon Cathedral, covering around 610 to 625 km to Santiago over about 25 stages, or at Porto Cathedral, a shorter journey of around 240 to 260 km, usually completed over 11 to 14 days. Along the way, it passes through Santarém, Coimbra, Porto, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, and Valença, before crossing the Minho River into Tui, in Spain.
The Caminho Português da Costa,
or Coastal Way, starts in Porto and follows the Atlantic coastline through Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, Póvoa de Varzim, Esposende, Viana do Castelo, and Caminha. This route became especially popular starting in the 15th century, as maritime trade along the coast grew.
The Caminho Português Interior,
also known as the Interior Way or CPIS, covers around 205 km through inland Portugal, running from Viseu to Chaves. It crosses into Galicia at Vilarelho da Raia, where it connects with the Vía de la Plata.
The Caminho de Torres
is a route of about 234 km, named after the writer Diego de Torres Villarroel. It connects Salamanca and Almeida through Amarante, Guimarães, and Braga, before eventually joining the Central Route.
Finally, the southern and eastern routes, including paths through the Alentejo, Ribatejo, and Nascente regions, begin in areas such as the Algarve or the eastern border towns of Tavira or Alcoutim. These routes cross the Alentejo and Ribatejo plains and are deeply tied to the historical legacy of the Knights of the Order of Santiago.
Key Features and the Pilgrim Experience
Walking the Camino Português means following in the footsteps of centuries of travelers, and much of that history is still visible along the way.
Large sections of the paths follow ancient tracks, including historic Roman roads, such as the Via XIX, as well as medieval paved trails that have been in use for hundreds of years. Along the route, you will come across a rich mix of architectural heritage, including medieval stone bridges, small country chapels, roadside shrines known as alminhas, stone crosses called cruzeiros, and charming old manor houses.
Navigating the trail is made easy thanks to clear waymarking. Pilgrims simply follow the yellow arrows, known locally as setas amarelas, or look out for the yellow scallop shell symbol set against a blue background.
Most walkers also carry a Pilgrim Passport, known as the Credencial, which is stamped at various points along the journey. Collecting enough stamps, and completing at least the final 100 km on foot into Santiago, qualifies pilgrims for the official Compostela certificate at the end of their journey.
Alhandra → Azambuja
This stage carries you the rest of the way out of the Lisbon metropolitan area and into the flatter, more rural landscape of the Ribatejo region. From Alhandra, the path soon reaches Vila Franca de Xira, a town famous for its bullfighting tradition, before continuing north along quiet dirt tracks that largely avoid the main road. The route passes the small stations of Castanheira and Carregado on its way to Vila Nova da Rainha, running roughly parallel to the Tagus River for much of the way. The terrain is flat and easy, and most pilgrims find this one of the more comfortable stages of the early Camino.
Historic sights en route
Where to stay
Official pilgrim albergue
Rua Vítor Cordon, 69, Azambuja · €10/night · 16 places · check-in 15:00–19:00, open year-round · credential required · microwave available · Facebook page. Source: NGSJ facilities list, May 2026 — confirm before relying on it.
Towns You'll Pass Through
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira is the largest town on this stage, with a municipality population of around 137,000 people spread across a wide area that hugs the Tagus River. The town is best known across Portugal for its bull-running festivals, held every July and October, when bulls are let loose through the streets in a tradition that draws huge crowds. At the heart of this culture is the Praça de Toiros Palha Blanco, the town's historic bullring, which also houses a small ethnographic museum displaying colorful traditional bullfighting costumes. History lovers can visit the Misericórdia church, admired for its 18th-century azulejo tiles, or the Museum of Neo-Realism, dedicated to an important Portuguese literary and artistic movement. The Marechal Carmona Bridge, completed in 1951, was the first road bridge to cross the Tagus in the Lisbon region, and just outside town, remnants of the historic Lines of Torres Vedras forts recall the area's role in the Peninsular War. For something a little different, the nearby Cave of Pedra Furada holds traces of settlement dating all the way back to Neolithic times.
Castanheira do Ribatejo
A much quieter stop along the way, Castanheira do Ribatejo is a small parish within the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, home to around 8,200 residents. Formed in 2013 through the merger of two older parishes, Castanheira do Ribatejo and Cachoeiras, it has a peaceful, rural character shaped by the surrounding Tagus floodplain. It won't demand much of your time, but its calm streets make a pleasant short break on an otherwise long walking day.
Carregado
Carregado carries a surprising piece of national history: its railway station was the final stop on Portugal's very first train journey, which ran in 1856, making this one of the country's earliest railway towns. Today the parish, now officially called Carregado e Cadafais, is home to around 9,000 residents within the municipality of Alenquer. The old Carregado-Alenquer station building, long closed to passengers, has since been lovingly converted into a small hostel called Estação Real, complete with a mini railway history museum in the former waiting room. It's a lovely little detour for anyone curious about Portugal's railway heritage.
Vila Nova da Rainha
Vila Nova da Rainha is one of the seven parishes that make up the municipality of Azambuja, set amid wide, flat fields of rice, corn, and tomatoes that stretch out along the Tagus floodplain. It's a village of old farmhouses, small churches, and modest cultural centers, giving it a timeless, working countryside feel. The village's Main Church is worth a quick stop, offering sweeping views out over the surrounding farmland. Keep an eye on the fields as you pass through, since storks and herons are a common sight here, especially among the rice stubble and during the migration seasons.