Places of the Camino
Share
Valença do Minho is one of the key stops on the Portuguese Camino, the Way of St. James route that continues to grow in popularity. Located just 3 kilometers from Tui, the first town on Spanish soil, many pilgrims choose to start their Camino de Santiago here.
In 2025 alone, 20% of the people who received their Compostela chose the Portuguese town as the starting point of their Portuguese Camino. This places it among the three most popular starting points on this route, behind only Tui and Porto.
Among the attractions of this border town are its rich heritage and unique landscapes. It is also well known for its trade in bed linens and towels, as well as for its gastronomy and wines.
Today, we will explore everything Valença do Minho has to offer, how to get there to begin the Portuguese Camino, and the stages from Valença do Minho to Santiago. We also remind you that Correos operates in Valença through its luggage transfer service from one stage to the next, which you can learn more about here.
Stages of the Portuguese Camino from Valença do Minho to Santiago
The Camino de Santiago from Valença do Minho covers approximately 120 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela.
This is only about 3 kilometers longer than starting from Tui, the first town crossed after entering Spanish territory.
However, beginning in Valença offers pilgrims a unique experience: starting their journey in one country (Portugal) and finishing it in another (Spain). To do so, they must cross the International Bridge over the Minho River, the natural border between Valença and Tui.
The Portuguese Camino pilgrimage between Valença and Santiago is usually divided into six stages:
- Stage 1. Valença do Minho – O Porriño. 19 km
- Stage 2. O Porriño – Redondela. 20 km
- Stage 3. Redondela – Pontevedra. 18 km
- Stage 4. Pontevedra – Caldas de Reis. 23 km
- Stage 5. Caldas de Reis – Padrón. 19 km
- Stage 6. Padrón – Santiago de Compostela. 20 km
The pilgrimage from Valença do Minho can also include the Spiritual Variant. This option adds three stages between Pontevedra and Caldas de Reis, totaling around 70 additional kilometers:
- Pontevedra – Armenteira. 23 km.
- Armenteira – Vilanova de Arousa. 22 km.
- Vilanova de Arousa – Caldas de Reis. 28 km.
How to Get to Valença do Minho to Start the Camino de Santiago
Valença do Minho enjoys a strategic location on the border between Spain and Portugal. As a result, reaching it from either country is relatively easy.
>How to Get to Valença do Minho from Spain
The gateway to Valença do Minho from Spain is Tui. From there, pilgrims simply need to cross the International Bridge over the Minho River. This can be done by car or even on foot, as only 3 kilometers separate the two towns.
The nearest airports are Vigo Airport (28 km away) and Santiago de Compostela Airport (128 km away). Both cities offer train and bus connections. By rail, Renfe services originating in Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, or Bilbao provide connections to Valença.
By bus, companies such as Alsa and Monbus offer routes from cities including Madrid, Seville, Bilbao, and Barcelona, as well as from the Galician cities mentioned above.
>How to Get to Valença do Minho from Portugal
Porto Airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro) is the closest airport to Valença, located about 116 km away. It is also possible to travel from Lisbon Airport, approximately 418 km away.
For those traveling by car, the A3 motorway is the main route connecting Porto to Valença. Heading north, take exit 13 toward Valença for a journey of approximately one hour. This route is also served by Alsa buses.
Public transportation is another convenient option, with regular train services from Porto to Valença taking around two hours.
What to See and Do in Valença do Minho
The Fortress of Valença do Minho is one of the town’s main attractions. Popularly known as “the walls,” this star-shaped fortification was originally built in the 12th century and later rebuilt in the 17th century.
Within these walls, pilgrims can enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine as well as a local trade famous throughout the world: bed linens, towels, and tablecloths.
Another highlight is the town’s stunning scenery overlooking the Minho River. The views are particularly spectacular from the fortress’s lookout points.
And, of course, one of Valença’s greatest attractions is one of the symbols of the Portuguese Camino itself: the aforementioned International Bridge. Inaugurated at the end of the 19th century, it consists of a distinctive metallic structure with three levels of passage: vehicles travel through the center, pedestrians use the sides, and trains run along the upper level.
It is a remarkable piece of engineering that remains in excellent condition and is still in use today.
Correos Services on the Portuguese Camino
Correos supports pilgrims on the Portuguese Camino with a range of services designed to make the journey easier. From Valença do Minho, walkers can take advantage of the daily backpack transport service on every stage of the route to Santiago.
A postal worker will collect the luggage early in the morning from the accommodation specified in Valença and deliver it to the next stage’s accommodation before 3:00 p.m.
It is worth noting that this service is available along the Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago, covering all stages of both the Central Route and the Coastal Route.
If pilgrims need to send a suitcase or package to Santiago, they only need to travel the 3 kilometers that separate Valença from Tui and visit the local Correos post office. There, they can use the Paq Peregrino service and collect their shipment at the Correos office in Santiago, located just a two-minute walk from Praza do Obradoiro.
The same office, located at Rúa do Franco, 4, also offers a left-luggage service where pilgrims can store suitcases, bicycles, or walking sticks. It is open Monday through Sunday, including public holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
We hope this article has inspired you for your next Portuguese Camino adventure. Bom Caminho!
Your email address will not be published.
Mandatory fields are marked with *
