Camino Tui to Santiago de Compostela — Self-Guided From Tui to Santiago de Compostela

Tui is easy to explore on foot in just a few hours. Climb the stone streets to the Cathedral of Santa María, a 12th-century fortress-cathedral with battlements and a beautiful Gothic cloister, then head down to the banks of the Minho River: on the other side rises the fortress of Valença, in Portugal. In the evening, enjoy an unhurried dinner in the historic center and get your backpack ready for your first day in Galicia.

The way out of Tui crosses the historic center and descends to the Ponte das Febres, where, according to tradition, San Telmo fell ill in 1251 on his way back from Santiago. The Camino then enters the valley of the Louro River, through woodlands and small villages. As you approach O Porriño, a signposted alternative follows the river and avoids the industrial area; in the town center, take a look at the town hall designed by architect Antonio Palacios.

The stage passes through Mos, with its church and old pazo, and climbs to the Alto de Santiaguiño de Antas, the toughest climb of the day. From the top, the descent through the woods reveals the Vigo estuary for the first time. Redondela, spanned by two large railway viaducts, is where the Coastal Portuguese Way joins the Central route — from here on, you share the trail with more pilgrims.

Today the Camino follows the estuary to Arcade, famous for its oysters, and crosses the medieval bridge of Ponte Sampaio over the Verdugo River, the site of a battle against Napoleon's troops in 1809. Next come stretches of old stone paving through the woods to Pontevedra, where the Sanctuary of the Virgen Peregrina, with its scallop-shell floor plan, welcomes pilgrims in the heart of the historic center.

You leave Pontevedra crossing the Lérez River on the Ponte do Burgo and continue along trails through woods, vineyards and small chapels, such as Santa Marta. The terrain is gentle, with few climbs. In Caldas de Reis, tradition says you should rest your feet in the thermal-water fountain in the town center — after several days of walking, it is one of the most pleasant moments of the Camino.

The Camino follows the Valga valley past villages, cornfields and oak woods, goes through Pontecesures, where the bridge crosses the Ulla River, and reaches Padrón. The church of Santiago de Padrón holds the "pedrón," the Roman stone where, according to tradition, the boat carrying the Apostle's body was moored. And don't leave without trying the famous Padrón peppers.

The last day begins in Iria Flavia, with its collegiate church, one of the oldest episcopal seats in Galicia, and passes the Baroque sanctuary of A Escravitude. The final stretch crosses villages and woods to Milladoiro, where the towers of the Cathedral come into view. You enter Santiago from the south, through the Porta Faxeira, all the way to Obradoiro Square.

Before you leave, walk all the way around the Cathedral: Praza das Praterías, with its Romanesque facade, Praza da Quintana and the Holy Door, which will be open to pilgrims in 2027, a Holy Year. If you have time, the Museum of Pilgrimages tells the story of more than a thousand years of the Camino. The Pilgrim's Mass at noon is the perfect farewell.