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 Santarém crosses, and where it could have been broken.
Tomorrow from Santarém
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azinhaga | 24.2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santarém to Azinhaga |
| Golegã | 31.4 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Santarém to Golegã |
Santarem sits high above the Tejo on a bluff that has attracted rulers since Julius Caesar set up a military camp here in 61 BC. Despite earthquakes and a Napoleonic invasion, the city retains an extraordinary concentration of Gothic churches — earning it the title Capital do Gotico.
The best of them: the Se Catedral; the Convento de Sao Francisco, whose triple-naved church is the largest Gothic hall in Portugal; the Igreja do Santissimo Milagre, itself a pilgrimage destination housing a eucharistic miracle from the 13th century; and the Igreja de Sao Joao de Alporao, now a museum with an eccentric empty tomb — built for Duarte de Meneses, whose body was never recovered from the battlefield in North Africa, so only a single tooth was placed inside.
The Torre das Cabacas, the old clock tower, houses a small Time Museum and is named for the ceramic vessels (cabacas) once attached to amplify the sound of its bells. The Portas do Sol gardens — built into the old Moorish castle walls — are the highlight: the views over the Tejo valley and the Ribatejo plain are spectacular, and this is where the camino exits the city through the medieval Puerta de Santiago.
São José is celebrated on the 19th of March.
Santarem's strategic position on the bluff above the Tejo made it a prize for every power that controlled the peninsula. The Romans built here, the Moors fortified the hilltop, and Afonso Henriques took it from them in 1147 in a daring night assault — scaling the walls while the garrison slept. The city became a favoured royal residence throughout the medieval period, hosting the Portuguese Cortes (parliament) more than any other city.
The Convento de Sao Francisco was built by Franciscan friars in the 13th century and served as a royal pantheon. Several members of the Portuguese royal family are buried here, including Fernando I, the last king of the Burgundian dynasty.
The exit to town can be difficult to find via arrows and it is best to make your way to the Porta do Sol gardens that are part of the old Moorish castle.As you approach the gardens, there is a small flight of steps on your left-hand side. Turn down those to a small square and the Puerta de Santiago is on your left. Pass through it and pick up a dirt trail that takes you around the old city walls and down to the village of Ribeira de Santarém.
10. October 2025 - 10:11
Hd a vernice stay in the N1 hostels. had to walk a bit to find decent laundry but very clear and friendly place to stay
Water pressure not amazing
30. June 2025 - 14:21
Fabulous place to stay with a great pool and outdoor area. Host left a bottle of wine and cheese/crackers in our room as a welcome gift. Treat yourself!
3. January 2025 - 13:58
Stayed last night. Dorms clean, each bed has plug, USB, light, table, curtain and lockable bag storage. Highly recommend! Lots of places available for breakfast in town. Had great Italian dinner at Amassa.
29. June 2024 - 21:41
Great place to stay an extra day if possible
Great restaurants
Friendly staff
One of the best hostels along the whole way to Santiago
22. April 2024 - 22:21
Stayed at Villa Graça. Nice hostel, they’ve a lamp, a socket and curtains near the bed so you’ve some privacy. I didn’t take breakfast because they do it quite late and otherwise you just get a tea and a juice the day before I think.
31. March 2024 - 15:56
Good breakfast
15. August 2023 - 20:23
Great city which you must stay longer in and enjoy it! We stayed in Hotel Umu, which is clean and comfortable, but 2 km away from centre of the city, and that is very bad when you are walking a lot that day and just looking for a place to have a rest, even 2 km more count. Santarem is very lovely!
6. June 2023 - 18:04
After three very strenuous days, I took a rest day in Santarem and highly recommend. Other pilgrims who went on hurt their feet. For very traditional and delicious Portuguese food, go to Taberna do Quinzena. For modern and high quality food, try out Eva (which is across the street from first restaurant mentioned). It was so good I ate their twice! Make sure to go to the viewpoint in Santarem and go inside the churches throughout the city. They let pilgrims pray silently and you see a lot of history that way.
29. May 2022 - 21:51
The hostess was very attentive and helpful when it comes to the Caminho. I was booking through booking.com and didn’t know that the places I booked were actually in the next community on a few. She cleared it all up for me. The rooms are clean and secure. Very industrial modern architecture. There was a second floor rooftop deck to hang out. She even prepared a grab and go lunch for us.
4. March 2022 - 22:01
Santarem hostel is still open (March 2022), and the owner is delightful and very helpful. I was the only one who stayed the night I was there, but it was a great option. It’s close to several sites in the city and has a laundromat, cafes, and restaurants nearby. Check it out.
14. February 2022 - 16:18
Places to stay (Feb 2022): N1 is the only option in hostels at the moment, 20€, lovely host, she even prepares a picnic for the road, haha. Santarem Hostel seems not only closed, but closed down. Albergue Misecordia closed due to covid.
24. September 2020 - 19:11
N1 hostel is fabulous, clean, modern, reception staff really friendly ladies and great restaurant Brasil two minutes walk away on the opposite side. Under 20 Eur for a bunk bed, includes breakfast.
21. July 2019 - 22:00
Nice and beautiful place to stay, the owner gives good advice about where to go and where to eat.
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.
