Portuguese Camino: Luxury Accommodation, Top Restaurants, and Must-Visit Sites in O Porrino, Spain
If you have arrived at this post from our exploration of luxury accommodation in Tui, Spain while travelling on the Portuguese Camino, then get ready for your first day of walking: the stage Tui - O Porriño is here!
This 20km stage will see you leaving Tui behind as you start following the route into the countryside, heading along the Louro River valley through woodland.
Cross a stone bridge and enter a wetland area, home to an array of wildlife. Today’s stage ends in the Galician town of O Porriño, where a visit to the town hall, Casa do Concello do Porriño, is highly recommended, probably as there is little else to see in this town.
Join us as we explore one of the popular routes, the Portuguese Camino from Tui to Santiago de Compostella, focusing on luxury accommodation and experiencing the best of Spain.
Contents
1. What is the route like from Tui to O Porriño?
Today's route is a total of 20km that could be completed in 4-5 hours.
Tui- Ponte das Febres - 7.7km
Start the route from Tui Cathedral along Rua Das Monxas, passing the Museo Diocesano de Tui, and the convent of the Sisters of Santa Clara.
At the end of the tunnel, take a left turn onto the Callejón Tyde, continuing down the steep passageway stairs, then left into Rua Antero Rubin, and follow Rua Canovigo Valino.
Before leaving the city, the route comes to San Bartolomé Park, where a pre-Romanic church of the same name is located. Immediately after the church, you take a left onto a farmer's lane heading northeast.
Photo opportunity
Soon enough you will reach Puente de A Veiga, an original Roman bridge that was a part of the old Roman route, the Via Romana XIX. Next to the bridge is the sculpture of a Polgrim (great photo opportunity) and a water fountain to fill your water bottle.
Ponte das Febres- Gándaras de Budiño (4.5km)
The route passes A Virxe do Camiño Chapel, Paredes de Abaixo, and the iconic San Telmo Bridge, also known as Febres Bridge.
Quick Stop - Pensión Ponte das Febres
If you need a break, this is the place to have it. Along with your coffee, you may want to try a slice of bread with apple, honey, and chia seeds or toasted bread with fresh cheese, honey, and walnuts. Check out https://pontedasfebres.com/
The next town is Orbenlle and you have to cross the Puente de Orbenlle to get there. From here we can continue through Os Eidos or As Gándaras. In the distance, it is possible to make out the granite quarries to which this spot owes its fame (known as ‘pink granite’).
Gándaras de Budiño- O Porriño (5.9km)
The route enters the thriving municipality of O Porriño via Manuel Rodríguez Street. This locality, whose origins are closely linked to the Way of St. James, is now an important industrial town with among the highest rates of demographic growth in the province of Pontevedra.
I highly recommend you read this blog post to help you identify two different routes into O Porrino - the official route (via industrial sites) or the scenic route via the forest (slightly longer).
2. Luxury Camino Accommodation in O Porriño
Option 1: Casa en piedra (Stone House)
With ratings of 9.8 and raving reviews, we wouldn't stay anywhere else in O Porriño!
Offering quiet street views, Casa en Piedra (Stone House) is an accommodation in central Porriño. The property has garden and city views, includes free WiFi, and facilities for disabled guests. The spacious apartment with a balcony and mountain views features 2 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and 2 bathrooms with a walk-in shower.
The air-conditioned apartment also offers a seating area, a washing machine, and 2 bathrooms with a hair dryer. This apartment is non-smoking. It is very contemporary (the images below do not do it justice) and beautifully set up. Importantly, it is a stone's throw from the restaurants and bars.
I have used this accommodation and highly recommend it.
Option 2: Apartamentos TARELA Porriño
You can get one and two-bedroom apartments here. With exceptional reviews and in the heart of O Porriño, the recently renovated Apartamentos TARELA Porriño provides accommodation with a 24-hour front desk and private check-in and check-out, along with free WiFi throughout the property.
The apartment features family rooms as well as facilities for disabled guests.
Where to eat in O Porriño
Best Restaurants in O Porriño
NÓMADAS WORLD FOOD PORRIÑO - I came across their Instagram page and these guys simply rock! Innovative concept, great service, super dishes.
Amaquia - Mostly a bakery with fresh sandwiches
Casa de Milli - Italian restaurant, near the Town Hall.
La Cueva - centrally located tapas bar.
Galibar Centro - Opposite the church of Santa Maria Da Concepcion
What to see in O Porriño
Visit Concello Porriño (Towh Hall)
The area outside the local town hall is a popular stop and meeting point for pilgrims, with plenty of cafes and shops nearby. The lively square is filled with locals too. What seems like a building from the 16th century was designed by the famous Spanish architect Antonio Palacios in 1919. It is a functioning building and serves as the town hall for Porriño.
Visit Capilla del Santissimo Cristo de la Agonia
Next stage: O Porrino - Arcade (22km)
Continue your luxury Portuguese Camino trip here.
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about travel. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014. Jenny plans to travel the Portuguese Camino in 2024 with her dad.
