Portuguese Coastal Way: Stage 1
Camino Portugues Along The Coast
On foot
13 stages
Information
About this stage
This is a long stage but with no special difficulty as it runs all the time next to the coast, passing by many beaches with wooden walkways and cycle paths. You will see beautiful sections to enjoy the sights of the Atlantic Ocean. If you find this stage too large, you can do as many pilgrims and divide it into two, spending the night in locations such as Labruge or Angeiras.
Recommendation Pilgrim
This stage has two different variants: one inland, the most historical but monotonous, and the coastal one, where you will see many coastal landscapes. Your choice will depend on you.
Distance and elevation
Stage profile
Route
Itinerary
Km 0.0 ‧ Oporto
The traditional starting point for pilgrims is the Sé cathedral. From here we go down to the banks of the Douro river, ignoring the yellow arrows and the metal signs that have been put up (as these lead to the “historic route”, which does not go along the coast). After walking down the cobbled streets of the old town, we will reach the Cais da Ribeira, the quay at the foot of the great metal bridge of D. Luís I, and the immediate Praça da Ribeira. Without arrows we will follow a very pleasant route along the Douro river bank towards its mouth. We pass by the church of São Francisco, then the old customs house or Alfândega, the Port Wine Museum and also under the immense arch of the Arrábida Bridge. In Foz do Douro we pass the lighthouse of São Miguel, the gardens of Passeio Alegre and arrive at the fort of São João Baptista, where the Douro flows into the sea and the Atlantic Ocean appears in front of us.
Km 6.1 ‧ Foz do Douro
Here begins a long stretch along the seafront of the Nevogilde district, passing the beaches of Ourigo, Ingleses, da Luz and Molhe. At the end we reach the fort of São Francisco Xavier, better known as Castelo do Queijo (Cheese Castle), where the long beach of Matosinhos begins. From here we are likely to see some yellow arrows, although they are rare. We pass an elliptical roundabout with a curious hanging sculpture symbolising a fishing net, although it is better known as the Anemone; at the end of the beach there is another sculpture entitled Tragédia do Mar (Tragedy of the Sea). We can continue along the harbour or through the inner streets until we reach the Mercado metro stop, on the A-blue line.
Km 11.3 ‧ Matosinhos
We cross the Ponte Móvel over the port of Leixões. On the ramp or stairs leading up to the bridge – and also when crossing it – you will find painted arrows. After crossing the bridge we enter Leça da Palmeira, a neighbourhood belonging to the municipality of Matosinhos. At the end of the bridge we turn left into Rua Hintze Ribeiro and follow it to the end; just before reaching the beach there is a tourist office where we will get our credentials stamped with a nice Jacobean seal.
Km 22.8 ‧ Praia de Angeiras (Lavra)
We continue to the end of the promenade, where a new footbridge leads us to a beautiful wooden bridge over the mouth of the River Onda. Here we leave the parish of Lavra (belonging to the municipality of Matosinhos) and enter the parish of Labruge (belonging to the municipality of Vila do Conde). We arrive at Praia de Labruge. To get to the centre of the village, follow the Av. da Libertade 900 metres inland.
