Pilgrims on the road and friends along the way send me changes every day, and they go out the same day. The Camino Portugués app carries all of it offline, and it's still being built — new features arrive routinely.
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The ground behind you: what the walk into Valença crosses, and where it could have been broken.
Tomorrow from Valença
Nothing says you have to stop here, or there. These are simply the towns within a comfortable day's walk, so you can decide tonight.
| Town | km from here | Shared | Private | The walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tui | 2.6 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | |
| Ribadelouro | 9.8 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Valença to Ribadelouro |
| Orbenlle | 11.1 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Valença to Orbenlle |
| O Porriño | 19.5 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Valença to O Porriño |
| Ameirolongo - Fonte do Chan | 21.3 | ✓ Yes | — No | The walk from Valença to Ameirolongo - Fonte do Chan |
| Veigadaña | 22.9 | ✓ Yes | — No | The walk from Valença to Veigadaña |
| Mos | 25.6 | ✓ Yes | — No | The walk from Valença to Mos |
| Saxamonde | 31.5 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Valença to Saxamonde |
| Redondela | 34.8 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Valenca is two towns in one. Below the walls is a modern commercial centre, unremarkable. Above, within the massive star-shaped Fortaleza, is a complete walled town — cobbled streets, churches, shops, restaurants, and views across the Rio Minho to Tui in Spain.
The fortress is actually two forts side by side, built in the Vauban style of military architecture that dominated European fortification design in the 17th and 18th centuries. The walls are enormously thick and the layout is designed so that every angle is covered by crossfire from another bastion.
Enter the citadel from its southern door (near the Albergue Sao Teotonio, along the Avenida dos Bombeiros — this approach is recommended). Inside the walls: the Capilla da Misericordia with its polychromatic retablo; the Igreja de Santa Maria dos Anjos; the Igreja da Colegiada de Santo Estevao; a 1st-century Roman miliario; the statue of Sao Teotonio, Portugal's first canonised saint; and the Capilla do Bom Jesus. Walk the perimeter walls for views of the river, Tui's cathedral on the far bank, and the Ponte Internacional connecting the two countries.
The shops inside and around the fortress sell cheap towels, linens, and household goods — a cross-border trade that has attracted Spanish shoppers for decades. The commercial focus can feel at odds with the military grandeur, but there it is.
Leave Valenca through the citadel or along the Avenida de Espanha, crossing the Ponte Internacional into Spain. Change your watch — Spain is one hour ahead.
Change the time on your watch/phone/sundial/wind-up alarm clock. Spain is one hour ahead, so assuming you wake up at the same hour as the day before you will find things to be darker than usual.
When leaving Valença do so by following the signs through the citadel, or along the Avenida de Espanha, crossing the Tui International Bridge (often called the Valença International Bridge, but almost never the Tui Valença International Bridge). The rather quaint building nestled into the bridge on the opposite end is the original checkpoint that has long been out of use.TIP: Cross the bridge using the walkway that is on your right, not the more naturally accessible one on the left. You will have much better views of Tui this way.
3. August 2026 - 22:51
Good luck with the pilgrim parade. Very disappointing albergues allow 100% reservations. Ruins the spirit of the Camino and prepare to see groups of 75 and roller backpacks…..
30. September 2025 - 2:45
Stay inside the walls of the fort. Alojamento do Villa is a great hotel. Very nice restaurant right next to it. Beautiful setting. Eat outside.
The whole town inside the fort is like stepping back in time.
17. September 2025 - 16:14
Very clean, comfortable accommodation inside the fortress walls. Valenca was a delightful place to start our Camino.
6. September 2025 - 10:01
If you are staying inside the castle walls this is a a 10/10 place to visit, and absolutely stunning. I don’t want to talk badly of a city, but the rest of it was 2/10 - mainly industrial and residential. So please check where you are staying first as it will mean a completely different experience!!
27. August 2025 - 21:32
The food was excellent. I’m a vegetarian and was thrilled to have excellent Chana masala.
I’m on the Camino with three kids and they all enjoyed their meals so much we came back after having trouble finding anything interesting in Valenca.
25. October 2024 - 15:07
Starting our Camino journey in Valenca, we were captivated by the town's historic architecture, notably the Fortress. The bridge over the Minho River, which connects Portugal and Spain, serves as a symbol of peace and unity between the two countries, and we felt privileged to cross it. What a beautiful way to start our Camino with peace and unity in mind to welcome us into our journey!
2. September 2024 - 19:54
Great Indian food with lots of vegetarian options
12. May 2023 - 17:18
This AMAZING place is on the historic camino, that cuts across from the coastal route, to Valença. It is just a couple of km before Valenca, in São Pedro da Torre. It is not to be missed! Anna and Pedro are the owners, and are both pilgrims, and so they have made this place the perfect pilgrimage experience. Everyone eats dinner together, served to your seat, three courses with wine or soft drink. It was my favourite night of the camino. The swimming pool is lovely - I just sat by it too cool my feet in the water. The beds were very comfy and only a few people to a room. The showers and loos were spotlessly clean. It was all so clean. I highly recommend a stop here - it will fill your camino soul!
20. October 2022 - 16:50
Hostel Bulwark was by far the best albergue I have visited, including my prior trips on Camino Frances.
This is the standard all the others should be aspiring for!
16. May 2022 - 20:10
New accommodation with nice kitchen, living room, pool and garden. Accessed from the central route (15 min) or the coastal (500 m). Carlos is an excellent host. Inquire at Café Miniero as Antonio does dinners for this hostel and transports pilgrims. Rooms can be booked for 1-6 people.
8. October 2019 - 21:09
Cafe Mineiro, about 1 km south of Valença, was a warm and delicious welcome after walking the Ecovia along the River Minho. The owner was so kind and generous and truly loves pilgrims.
8. October 2019 - 17:14
Wonderful accommodations at Hostel Bulwark. Clean, comfortable, friendly. Inside the fortress.
9. July 2019 - 22:01
but it opens after 3 o’clock.
It is new, clean and very modern.
Esta entidad ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda del Programa de incentivos a la movilidad eficiente y sostenible (MOVES III), gestionado por la Xunta de Galicia a través del Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (INEGA) en el marco del Real Decreto 266/2021, y cofinanciada por la Unión Europea — NextGenerationEU, dentro del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.
