The Central Route from Porto

The sprawl from Porto's centre runs all the way to Giao — 25 km of continuous urban development. This is more than enough walking on hard surfaces, and it's not uncommon for pilgrims to bypass the worst of it by taking the Metro to Araujo (Line C, Linha da Maia).

If you're walking out, the easiest starting point is the Se Cathedral. With your back to the main door, pass the tower on your right and follow the ramp downhill. Turn left then right around the building at the bottom, and look left for stairs leading down to the Igreja de Sao Lourenco (known locally as Grilos). From there, take the leftmost street (Rua de Santa Ana) and follow the arrows through the old city.

The route passes through the pedestrianised shopping zone of Cedofeita before entering suburban sprawl. The split between the Central and Coastal routes occurs at the Capela da Ramada Alta, about 1.5 km beyond the pedestrian zone. Walk around the chapel keeping it on your left and follow the road behind it — the Central Way continues north.

After Giao, the camino has been rerouted to the east along a quieter road, adding 1 km but avoiding a dangerous narrow section on the N306. The detour passes through pleasant countryside and reaches Vairao, where more tranquil walking resumes.