Getting to the coastal start: Porto → Viana do Castelo / Caminha

Most pilgrims joining the northern stretch of the Portuguese Coastal Camino arrive from Porto. The simplest link is the CP Linha do Minho railway, which runs up the coast through Viana do Castelo and Caminha to the Spanish border.

By train (Linha do Minho)

CP trains run from Porto-Campanhã up the Minho line to Viana do Castelo in about 84 minutes, with roughly 12 services a day; the same line continues to Caminha and Valença. Buy tickets at the station or on cp.pt and check times, as weekend and holiday schedules differ from weekdays.

From Porto Airport

From Porto Airport (OPO), take the Metro (Line E, violet) toward the city and change to a Linha do Minho train at Porto-Campanhã. Regional buses also serve Viana do Castelo and Caminha from the Porto area.

Where to start walking

Start in Viana do Castelo for the classic ~27.8 km coastal stage to Caminha, or start in Caminha itself if you only want the final Portuguese town before the Minho crossing into Spain.

Going back: Caminha to Porto

The return runs on the same CP Linha do Minho. Southbound trains leave Caminha station down the coast to Porto-Campanhã, from where Metro Line E reaches Porto Airport. Roughly 12 services a day cover the line, so gaps between trains can exceed an hour — check cp.pt or the station board before walking down, and remember weekend and holiday timetables differ from weekdays.

Step by step

1

Get to Porto-Campanhã station

From central Porto or Porto Airport (Metro Line E), make your way to Porto-Campanhã, the main station for northbound regional trains.
2

Board a Linha do Minho train

Take a CP Minho line train toward Viana do Castelo, Caminha or Valença. Check the timetable at cp.pt and buy your ticket at the station window or machine.
3

Ride to Viana do Castelo or Caminha

Porto-Campanhã to Viana do Castelo takes about 84 minutes; the same line continues north to Caminha. Confirm your stop before boarding.
4

Start the coastal stage

From Viana do Castelo, follow the Senda Litoral north for the ~27.8 km stage to Caminha, or begin directly in Caminha for the river crossing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Porto to Viana do Castelo for the Coastal Camino?

Take a CP Linha do Minho train from Porto-Campanhã to Viana do Castelo — about 84 minutes, with roughly 12 services a day. The same line also reaches Caminha and Valença.

How do I get from Porto Airport to the coastal start?

From Porto Airport, take Metro Line E toward the city and change to a Linha do Minho train at Porto-Campanhã for Viana do Castelo or Caminha.

Should I start in Viana do Castelo or Caminha?

Start in Viana do Castelo for the full ~27.8 km coastal stage to Caminha, or start in Caminha if you only want the last Portuguese town before crossing the Minho to A Guarda.

How do I get from Caminha back to Porto by train?

Take a southbound CP Linha do Minho train from Caminha station to Porto-Campanhã — the same line you came up on. For Porto Airport, change at Campanhã onto Metro Line E. With roughly 12 services a day, check cp.pt for the next departure before heading to the station.

Sources: https://www.happyrail.com/en/trains-in-europe/porto-to-viana-do-castelo · https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-line-l_minho-Porto-1904-855275-28793233-16 · https://www.cp.pt/