Quick answer
From Tui to Santiago is about 115–120 km, usually walked in 6 stages (5 if you combine two). It covers the 100 km required for the Compostela on foot and enters Spain across the Miño from Valença. In 2024 it was the second most common starting point on any Camino, after Sarria.
According to the Pilgrim's Office, 36,576 pilgrims who arrived in Santiago in 2024 had started in Tui (7.7% of the total), compared with 151,092 who started in Sarria. So the Portuguese Camino from Tui is popular, but much calmer than the last 100 km of the Francés. We write from Pontevedra, which the route passes through.
Why start in Tui
- Just the right distance:a little over 100 km, the minimum for the Compostela on foot, in a week's holiday.
- All in Galicia: forests, stone hamlets and towns with services at comfortable distances.
- A great start: Tui cathedral and the international bridge over the Miño, with Valença (Portugal) on the other side.
With two weeks you could start in Porto (about 240 km inland) or take the Coastal route. Undecided? Our which-Camino quiz helps in 2 minutes.
The stages
Distances are approximate and vary with the guide and variants.
| Stage | Section | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tui → O Porriño | ≈16–19 km |
| 2 | O Porriño → Redondela | ≈16 km |
| 3 | Redondela → Pontevedra | ≈20 km |
| 4 | Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis | ≈21–22 km |
| 5 | Caldas de Reis → Padrón | ≈18–19 km |
| 6 | Padrón → Santiago | ≈24–25 km |
1. Tui → O Porriño
Out through the old town and wooded stretches along the river Louro. Before O Porriño the official route crosses an industrial estate; many guides recommend the greener Orbenlle variant.
2. O Porriño → Redondela
A short stage with a climb after Mos and a descent to Redondela, where the Coastal route joins. First views of the Vigo estuary.
3. Redondela → Pontevedra
Through Arcade, known for its oysters, and across the river Verdugo at Ponte Sampaio, site of the 1809 battle against Napoleon's troops. Arrival in Pontevedra and its pedestrian old town.
4. Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis
Pine woods and hamlets ending in Caldas de Reis, a spa town: after 20 km, warm water for your feet is very welcome.
5. Caldas de Reis → Padrón
Plenty of shade, via Valga and Pontecesures. Tradition says the apostle's body arrived by sea at Padrón; the “pedrón” stone is kept in the church of Santiago.
6. Padrón → Santiago
The longest: past the A Escravitude sanctuary and Milladoiro, into Santiago from the south and on to the Obradoiro.
Credential and Compostela
- You need a credential stamped from Tui and, over the last 100 km, at least two stamps a day.
- Collect the Compostela at the Pilgrim's Office (Rúa das Carretas 33, Santiago).
- Cycling doesn't qualify from Tui: cyclists must cover the last 200 km.
Accommodation and budget
Every stage has Xunta public albergues (generally first come, first served — check the current rules on the Xunta website), private albergues you can book, guesthouses and hotels. In high season and the 2027 Holy Year, book private places ahead. Prices change every year, so rather than invent figures: public albergues are the cheapest option, and meals are usually the “menú do día” or pilgrim menu in stage-town bars.
When to go
Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant. August and Easter are busier with more pressure on albergues. In winter some private albergues close. Whenever you go, pack a rain jacket — it rains in Galicia in any month.
Water on the Portuguese Camino
You pass towns with bars and municipal fountains often, so water is easy. In hamlets you'll see unsigned fountains or “agua no tratada” signs: without a filter, refill in bars and albergues. More in our guide to water on the Camino.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need?
Six walking days is usual; five if you're fit. Add a day to reach Tui and one in Santiago.
Is it good for a first Camino?
Yes: 16–25 km stages with no technical difficulty and frequent services. Train beforehand with the pack and shoes you'll use.
What should I pack?
Only the essentials: light pack, worn-in shoes, rain jacket, sleeping bag liner and a way to refill water. Full list in essential gear for the 2027 Holy Year.
Tui or Sarria?
Similar distance and the same Compostela. Sarria (Camino Francés) draws far more pilgrims; Tui is quieter and passes the estuaries and Pontevedra.
Bo Camiño.