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How Much Does The Portuguese Camino de Santiago Cost?

February 4, 2020 by Alex | Backpacking Brunette 16 Comments

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How Much Does The Portuguese Camino de Santiago Cost?

For anyone considering walking the Camino de Santiago, one of the first things they want to know is: How much does it cost to walk the Camino de Santiago?

Fortunately, hiking the Camino de Santiago is a great option for a budget-friendly adventure. You can fulfill your dream of completing this storied pilgrimage without breaking the bank.

In this post, I’m detailing how much it costs to walk the Portuguese Way.

Throughout the post, I have converted prices from Euros to USD in accordance with the current exchange rate (€1=$1.10 USD).

If you’re wanting to walk the Camino on a tight budget, the Portuguese Way is an even better route than the more popular French Way. But, if you have your heart set on the latter, be sure to check out my post breaking down how much it costs to walk the French Way of the Camino de Santiago.

  • The Cost of Walking the Camino de Santiago French Way

My Camino Experience on the Portuguese Way

How much does the Camino trail cost? Don't miss my tips for how to save money and walk the Camino de Santiago cheap.
Walking the Camino de Santiago is one of the biggest adventures you can have on a small budget. Don’t miss my tips to do the Camino cheap!

In October 2019, I walked the Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago. Beginning in Porto, Portugal, and ending in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, I did the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route which is a 174-mile (280-km) journey that took 12 days.

Not only was my second Camino lightyears better than my first, but walking the Portuguese Way was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Really, I can’t recommend it enough.

As a budget-conscious traveler myself, I understand how important knowing costs is to the planning process. That’s why I’m sharing my expenses for the Portuguese Way along with my recommendations for doing the Camino de Santiago cheap.

A small budget doesn’t mean you can’t have big adventures.

Looking to learn more about the Camino de Santiago? Check out these posts!

  • Portuguese Camino Coastal Route Stages {2020 13-Day Guide}
  • Everything You MUST Know About the Camino de Santiago
  • How to Prepare for the Camino de Santiago Like a Pro
  • What to Know Before Walking the Camino [25 Practical Tips}

Cost of Gear for the Camino de Santiago

I won’t spend too much time talking about the cost of gear for the Camino de Santiago since it varies greatly from pilgrim to pilgrim.

The costliest items you’ll need to purchase for the Camino will most likely be your shoes and your backpack.

For my recommendations, check out this detailed packing list I put together after walking the Portuguese Way.

  • The Ultimate Camino Packing List {Free Printable Checklist}
Check out my YouTube channel for even more Camino advice!

Transportation Camino de Santiago Costs

If you’re coming from outside of Europe, your most significant cost will likely be your plane ticket.

The Portuguese Way starts in Porto, but you’re likely to find the best deals flying into either Lisbon or Madrid. From either of those cities, you can hop on a budget airline like Ryanair or Tap Air Portugal.

Personally, I prefer traveling by bus. It’s better for the environment and your budget!

Prior to starting the Portuguese Way, I spent a week in Madrid. From there, I took an overnight bus to Porto. The ticket cost $27 USD, and the journey took 7 hours. The carrier was FlixBus.

The Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way doesn't have to be expensive. Cut Camino costs by using buses instead of airplanes to get to your starting point on the Camino.
Trying to do the Camino de Santiago cheap? Save on a night of accommodation and take an overnight bus to your starting point! I used FlixBus to get from Madrid to Porto.

The bus dropped me off in the city center, and I was able to start my Camino the very same day. This is a fantastic option for people wanting to do the Camino de Santiago cheap.

Other transportation Camino de Santiago costs I had were the ferry from Caminha to A Guarda ($1.70 USD), my bus ticket from Muxia to Santiago ($9 USD) and my train ticket from Santiago to Madrid ($40 USD).

Camino de Santiago Accommodation Costs

Options for accommodation vary greatly on the Camino. It probably won’t surprise you to hear the more comfortable a place is the more it costs.

Because I was doing my Camino on a budget, I spent the majority of nights in municipal albergues. Run by the local government, these dormitory-style accommodations are the cheapest option on the Camino.

In Portugal, I paid $5.50 USD per night. When I crossed into Spain, the price increased to $8.80 per night.

If you plan on staying in municipal albergues to cut costs, here’s some advice:

  • Plan your miles/itinerary around which towns have municipal albergues. Since the Portuguese Way is a less popular route (for now), they can be quite far apart.
  • Arrive early! I walked during the shoulder season and even 80-bed albergues were full by 4 p.m. Before walking the Camino, you should know this accommodation is first come, first serve.
Camino de Santiago accommodation costs vary greatly. The cheapest place to stay on the Camino is generally the municipal albergues like this one in A Guarda, Spain.
This is the municipal albergue in A Guarda, Spain. There are two dormitories, and each one has eight bunk beds. There are male and female bathrooms. The showers are communal.

I also stayed in several private albergues, and let me tell you, a few extra euros goes a long way! If you can swing it, I recommend staying in some private albergues or budget hotels while you’re on the Camino.

While staying in municipal albergues is definitely the cheapest option and part of the pilgrim experience, you’ll be glad you spent an extra
€5 to have your own bathroom.

This should give you an idea of what private albergues cost along the Camino as well as what you’re able to get for your money:

  • Casa Do Adro
    • Nice guesthouse with a garden, ACTUAL SHEETS and a washing machine
    • $16.50 per person (shared a room with a bunk bed); $33 USD to get a room to yourself
  • El Retiro
    • Basic budget hotel with a private bathroom
    • $33 USD per night (split the cost with my walking buddy, so $16.50 each)
  • Private albergue associated with Caldas de Reis municipal albergue
    • When the municipal albergue was full, the guy at the front desk took us next door to a private albergue. Two other pilgrims and I got a triple room with a shared bathroom and kitchen.
    • $13 USD per person

Cost of Food on the Coastal Portuguese Camino de Santiago

If you’re trying to walk the Camino on a tight budget, food is one area where you can really save money.

The best way to save money on the Camino is cooking meals in the albergues.

Each night, when I’d stop at the grocery store for dinner ingredients, I’d also pick up something for breakfast like yogurt and snacks to eat while I was walking such as granola bars, nuts and apples.

What do pilgrims eat on the Camino? Do the Camino de Santiago cheap by buying food at supermarkets. This will help keep the cost of walking the Camino down.
Both Portugal and Spain have some really nice supermarkets! In addition to buying snacks and dinner ingredients, I sometimes ate lunch in the supermarket cafe. Tasty and cheap!

The only meal I really ate out on the Camino was lunch. I took advantage of menu del dia (menu of the day) specials or ordered a la carte. I think I ate soup almost every single day.

Here’s what a day of eating on the Camino generally looked like/cost:

Breakfast

One of the first days on the Camino, I bought a small bag of ground coffee. Each morning, I’d prepare a cup at the albergue. For breakfast, I generally ate a piece of fruit and either nuts or a granola bar.

$3 USD

Mid-morning snack

Around 10 a.m., I stopped for a mid-morning snack at a cafe along the Camino. I’d order a café americano and something to eat. In Portugal, that was often a pastel de nata. In Spain, I’d order pan con tomate or tortilla de patata.

$3.50 USD

Lunch

The first few days on the Camino, I took advantage of pilgrim’s menu specials. For a set price, you get bread, beer/wine, two courses and dessert. It’s a great deal!

$8 USD

But, if you have a lot of miles you still need to cover after lunch, I suggest going with lighter fare. My go-to lunch on the Camino was soup.

$2 USD

Dinner

The majority of nights on the Portuguese Camino. My walking buddy, Vanessa, and I would prepare dinner at the albergue. After showering, we’d hit up the nearest grocery store for ingredients.

Our favorite meal was rice with beans and veggies. To start, sauté zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. Add kidney or garbanzo beans. Smother everything in tomato sauce. Throw it all on top of rice.

After a long day of walking, it tasted like a gourmet meal! Of course, with any gourmet meal, you need wine. Save money on the Camino by drinking at the albergue. Buy your alcohol at the grocery store and bring it back.

$7 USD

Note: Overall, food (both in restaurants and at the supermarket) cost less in Portugal than in Spain.

Miscellaneous Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Expenses

How much should I budget for the Camino de Santiago? Make sure you have room in your budget for miscellaneous costs on the Camino.
The Camino de Santiago is full of surprises! Some are good, like this random shell display. But, others can be costly. Be sure to leave room in your Camino budget for miscellaneous expenses.

It’s always a good idea to leave some room in your travel budget for miscellaneous expenses. As with any trip, extra costs have a way of popping up on the Camino.

Here are some of the random expenses I had to foot on the Camino:

  • Rain poncho ($5.50 USD)
  • Ibuprofen and pain gel ($8 USD)

Now, that’s pretty tame, but I’ve heard of other pilgrims whose miscellaneous expenses end up costing them a lot. To make sure your unexpected costs don’t bankrupt you, I recommend investing in travel insurance.

I bought my travel insurance for the Camino through World Nomads. It cost $120 USD for one month (I got it for the entirety of my Euro trip). I slept a whole lot better knowing I was covered. Oh, walking 16 miles per day probably helped too. 

Tips for Doing the Camino de Santiago Cheap

It’s possible to do the Camino de Santiago cheap! Here are my tips for saving money on the Camino de Santiago.

  • Choose a less popular route
    • The Portuguese Camino (especially the portion in Portugal) cost less than the French Way.
  • Take a chance on a new albergue
    • Often, new albergues will be cheaper as they try to build up reviews. You may be able to get a good deal on a nice place! Just make sure to ask to see the room before you pay.
  • Cook dinner with other pilgrims
    • It’s difficult to cook for just one person. If you’re walking the Camino solo, ask other pilgrims if they’re interested in preparing dinner together. You’ll save money and make friends!
  • Buy alcohol at the supermarket to drink at the albergue
    • Along the same lines as cooking with other pilgrims, ask around to see if anyone wants to split a bottle of wine.
  • Bring a collapsible tupperware container
    • Leftovers are always a good idea!
  • Drink tap water
    • The water in both Portugal and Spain is safe to drink. In my opinion, it tastes just fine. At restaurants, make sure to specifically ask for tap water or they’ll automatically bring you bottled water.
  • Get a Charles Schwab debit card
    • ATM fees might not seem like a big deal at first, but they can really eat into your Camino budget. If you’re American, open a Charles Schwab checking account. Charles Schwab reimburses you for all ATM fees. It’s FREE to open and doesn’t require a minimum balance.

How Much Should I Budget for the Camino de Santiago trail?

Considering everything I’ve mentioned in this post, I recommend no less than $30 USD as your daily budget for the Camino de Santiago.

That figure does not include the following Camino de Santiago costs: gear, transportation or miscellaneous expenses such as travel insurance.

With that daily budget, you’ll be staying in mostly municipal albergues, preparing dinner in the albergue and adhering to my tips for doing the Camino de Santiago cheap.

Total Cost of Walking the Portuguese Way

In all, it took me 12 days to walk the Portuguese Way. That included one day of rest.

On the days I was walking, I averaged just under 16 miles per day.

If you plan on walking the Portuguese Way in the same amount of time, I recommend budgeting approximately $600 USD for the Portuguese Camino. That figure includes domestic transportation, accommodation, food and miscellaneous expenses.

Hands down, walking the Camino de Santiago is one of the biggest adventures you can have on a small budget.

Got questions about the Camino? Leave them in the comments!   


Psst…Don’t forget to pin this post for later!

Planning to walk the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route? Find out the cost of walking the Camino trail plus tips for how to budget Camino de Santiago.
Planning to do the el Camino de Santiago pilgrimage? Learn how to do the Camino on a budget! How much does it cost to walk the Camino de Santiago? You can do the Portuguese Way cheap!
Prepare to walk the Way of St. James El Camino de Santiago with this buget guide for the Camino walk. How much does it cost to do the Portuguese Camino? Don't miss this important guide for you Spain pilgrimage!
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Comments

  1. Elizabeth Paige says

    February 14, 2020 at 1:06 am

    Hi Alex! Just wondering, based on your experience, is it best to have your money converted in your country or in Portugal? Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Alex | Backpacking Brunette says

      February 14, 2020 at 7:29 am

      Hi, Elizabeth! I recommend changing your money when you arrive in Europe. Portugal uses the Euro. Stay away from currency exchanges. I always withdraw my money from the ATM just like I do at home. I have the Charles Schwab debit card which reimburses you for all ATM fees (even when you’re abroad). It’s free to open and doesn’t have a minimum balance. If you’re American, I definitely suggest you check it out. All the best, Alex

      Reply
  2. Eloisa says

    June 19, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    Hey! I am trying to plan fulfilling my mother’s lifelong dream of doing the Camino de Santiago, and I am leaning toward the Coastal Portugal way. I just had a couple questions: What time would you start walking? What month did you go? (We are planning going in Mid-May.) Thanks!

    Reply
    • Alex | Backpacking Brunette says

      June 21, 2020 at 6:18 pm

      Hi, Eloisa!

      The Portuguese Camino Coastal Way is a great choice. When I walked in Oct. 2019, I usually started between 6:30-7 a.m. The latest anyone gets on the trail is 8 a.m. since albergues usually kick you out then.

      Mid-May would be a great time to walk the Camino. Summer (particularly August) is the high season, so by going in the spring, you will have less competition for beds in municipal albergues.

      Don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions!

      Buen Camino,

      Alex

      Reply
  3. Katie says

    September 26, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    Hello! My father and I are thinking of hiking from Lisbon in May 2021. Was the language barrier an issue? I plan on learning some Spainish, but I am always nervous of slaughtering their language….I am from Mississippi. What distance do you suggest per day. I know we will have to be flexible, but just a general idea.

    Reply
    • Alex | Backpacking Brunette says

      October 2, 2020 at 10:00 am

      Hi, Katie! I speak Spanish but don’t speak any Portuguese. I never found the language barrier to be an issue. Establishments along the various Camino routes are used to accommodating English-speakers. You can accomplish a lot with pointing & nods! Any Spanish or Portuguese you learn beforehand will help, and for what you don’t know, there’s always Google Translate. As far as the distance you walk each day, that will depend on the fitness level of you & your father as well as how long you have to complete the journey. I recommend starting out slow…10 miles or so your first couple days so your body can get accustomed to the trail and carrying your pack. You can build from there. Best of luck & buen Camino!

      Reply
  4. Sonja says

    December 30, 2020 at 8:27 am

    Hello Katie, and thank you for your well written post. Your writing style is engaging, positive, and informative.
    Which route would you recommend for the pilgrim who only has a week to walk?
    Sonja in MI

    Reply
    • Alex | Backpacking Brunette says

      February 11, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      Hi, Sonja! The route you choose will depend greatly on the experience you’re hoping to get. If you want to walk the most traditional/popular stretch of the route, you can start in Sarria on the French Way. If you prefer something a little different I recommend the Portuguese Coastal route starting in Caminha. Best of luck & buen Camino!

      Reply
  5. Joe says

    May 28, 2021 at 6:02 am

    I wanted to walk the portuguese costal route in late September. Is this a good time? Is there a company who organises to carry your luggage from stage to stage?

    Reply
  6. Vkapp says

    August 3, 2021 at 3:37 pm

    Alex, can you share what the COVID restrictions are to this route?

    Reply
  7. vkapp says

    August 3, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    Alex, if I plan to come back to Porto and spend some time there, is there a place to leave my suitcase while I do The Portuguese Camino Costal Route?

    Reply
  8. Maddy says

    August 22, 2021 at 7:37 pm

    Hi Alex! Love your website.
    I was wondering which hostels cost 5.50 in Portugal to stay at and if you have a detailed itinerary! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  9. Michelle says

    January 15, 2022 at 11:45 pm

    Recognizing that August is the high season, is it too crowded to be enjoyable?

    Reply
  10. Martin Perez says

    January 29, 2022 at 4:46 pm

    I do appreciate your down to earth notes on the Portugal Coastal Camino. I plan right now to walk either all or part of the Camino from Porto to Santiago de Campostela in June of this year. Am meeting soon like next week with someone who already did it.I am an 80 year old, but believe I am in pretty decent physical condition. I have been walking each day, 4-5 miles and plan to be doing close to 10 daily by June. I have most of the necessary clothes/equipment/for the walk, I appreciate your take on getting food from local stores, I have rain gear,etc. just have to decide on water carriers. I am a cyclist to so that builds up my lung and heart readings, but still a little trepidation. I like the hike as I am also a mtn hiker, but my underlying reason, Thru St, James, to pray to God, and the pilgrimage just my be my last major adventure. I like your message earlier to start at a place which could be, would be shorter. thanks. also would need to find a source for a Santiago /credential book to log in my mileage? Marty

    Reply
  11. Eric says

    March 27, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    Greetings,

    I’m retired, 67, and have had three back surgeries which limit my hiking to 6 miles a day over path terrain, 4 miles if it’s on paved surfaces.

    Camano Portugal has been a carrot for me – Porto to Santiago. I think I could do it in 4 to 6 miles per day segments. I know things will hurt, but it is time for me to do this.

    Are there accommodations that would allow me to complete my Camano in the smaller portions?

    Thank you,

    Eric

    Reply
  12. Dom says

    May 18, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    Hi! I’m wondering about the Camino booklet and stamps – was there any pre registration to do? Where did you pick up the booklet? How do you officially begin and end the Camino? Thanks!

    Reply

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