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Walking that final day on the Camino Portugués, all emotions are fair game. That final stage seems to bring out every feeling from pilgrims: anticipation, excitement, sadness, relief, and joy.

More than anything, that final day is shared — shared between you and fellow pilgrims that day, and shared with the pilgrims from centuries past.

Maybe it’s this exact “everything-ness” of the final stretch that makes it feel so important to do right. More than just walking the steps, there are a few important details that will help you plan the best last day on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago.

Use these tips to help you plan the most enjoyable final stage possible as you walk your final steps of the Portuguese Camino.

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Have a question? Leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll reply right away 🙂

Choose Final Stage

Many guidebooks start in the Padrón which might be the longest day on the Camino Portugués (depending on which route you walk). However, you have two itinerary options. Here are their pros and cons.

Full Stage from Padrón

The final stage of the Portuguese Way is typically 24.9 km / 15.4 miles long. Starting in Padrón, this is a fairly long stage compared to the other stages. Note that if you’re doing the Camino Portugués in winter, you also have to be aware of the dwindling daylight.

Some things to know about the full-length final stage:

• I heard rumors, or rather fears, about the “dreaded final climb” on this stage. If you have nice weather, I think many pilgrims don’t even notice the climb. If you’re in bad weather, it can be fe.
• This stretch is rich in amenities. You’ll pass through several villages serving pilgrim meals for lunch.
• There’s a great buzz of energy, with many pilgrims out walking early excited to arrive (photo below of my sunrise on this stage)

You can expect a mix of sometimes busy roads with occasional woodland paths. I think the weather and your physical condition (blisters? sore muscles?) dictate how enjoyable this day is. Some pilgrims will prefer a shorter stage.

Short Stage from Teo

A shorter stage of the Camino allows you to arrive mid-morning or early afternoon. This can be beneficial if you want to attend the English, German, or French pilgrim mass (learn all about pilgrim mass here) or if you have onward travel plans.

• Teo: ~13 km / 8 miles
• A Susana: ~10 km / 6 miles

Get more planning tips in my full planning guide: How To Walk The Camino Portugues.

Finally Seeing The Cathedral

The first time you see the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a moment to remember. It’s said that historically, pilgrims would drop to their knees when finally laying eyes on it. The impact it had on pilgrims was huge; allow yourself to feel that energy as well.

On the Camino Portuguese walk, you see the cathedral for the first time on the Rúa Das Covas Do Porto (in clear conditions). As you can see in the picture, the cathedral’s decorative facade is distant but decisive on the horizon.

Seeing this makes the final steps of the Camino feel very real. Once you finally lay eyes on the cathedral, you have less than 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) left until you arrive at the square.

Bagpipe Entrance?

You may have seen videos online of a bagpipe player (or gaitero) welcoming pilgrims onto the cathedral square. Bagpipes are a traditional instrument for the Galician region of Spain, and it makes for an incredible greeting for weary pilgrims arriving at the end of their journeys.

However, you should know these two things to help you manage your expectations:

• That bagpipe player isn’t always there. Sometimes other musicians are there, and sometimes there’s no one
• It’s not on the Portuguese route. The bagpiper is stationed on the French route, not the Portugués

On my first Camino, I thought I’d made a wrong turn and missed the famous bagpiper. Disappointed, I looked around the square and realized that the musician was stationed elsewhere.

The Camino Frances and Camino Ingles enter the square this way, so you’ll see lots of other foot traffic. The Camino Portugues route enters from the south. To get the bagpipe player, you’ll need to walk around the front of the Cathedral. Then see the tunnel on the left-hand side.

9 Tips for Your Last Day on the Camino Portugués

There’s no right or wrong way to handle your final stage of the Camino Way, but these ideas can help you have a meaningful and memorable time in Santiago de Compostela.

Sit On The Square

The square outside of the cathedral (Plaza del Obradoiro) is littered with pilgrims and backpacks during the spring, summer, or autumn months. Don’t be in too big of a rush and make sure that you leave enough time to sit on the square watching people arrive.

Wave and smile at the people you saw along The Way.

Leave time for contemplation.

Be in the moment.

The Portuguese Way isn’t the only Camino route that empties onto the square – all routes of Saint James end here outside the Santiago Cathedral. If you’re lucky, you can mingle and talk with pilgrims who have walked diverse paths along the:

• Camino Frances
• Camino Ingles
• Camino Primitivo
• Camino de Invierno
• And more!

There are a few formal points of closure waiting for you at the end of your walk. Sitting on the square taking it all in is one of them.

Recognize Its Significance For Others

While religion is no longer the most popular motive for pilgrims walking the Camino Portugués, there are still many pilgrims who do choose a pilgrimage for this reason. Some pilgrims become emotional arriving at the square for this reason (and others).

The energy is buzzing, and it’s normal to see celebrations or tears. I think this rings particularly true for two groups of pilgrims: Catholic pilgrims and Spanish pilgrims. While the Camino de Santiago may be something you’ve just heard about in recent years, its presence in Spain in significant. It’s a part of their national heritage, and walking The Way is a fulfillment of lifelong dreams and expressions of faith for many people.

Keep this in mind as you survey the sea of pilgrims around you.

Attend Pilgrim Mass

The Santiago Cathedral holds a special mass for pilgrims several time a day. It’s a Catholic service held in Spanish, which may feel isolating if you are neither Catholic nor Spanish-speaking, but it’s a wonderful experience that’s a shame to miss. Pilgrim mass is a grandiose ceremony that lasts for about 45 minutes and takes you up close to see the relics of St. James.

I have a whole Guide To Pilgrim’s Mass to help you plan your visit.

Here are three quick reasons to attend, even if you’re not religious:

• The singing of the priests makes you feel like you’re at the opera
• You’re connected to the history of pilgrims from the past millennia
• This moment represents your endurance and achievement

Planning tip: You can attend mass the day you arrive or the following day if you prefer; you’re not required to attend on the day of your arrival.

Get Compostela Certificate At The Pilgrim Office

The pilgrim office is a lovely modern facility that handles pilgrim intake and data. They also distribute the pilgrim certificate, called the compostela, and offer mass in French and English.

Only a 5-minute walk from the cathedral, you’ll need to report to the office to answer the intake questions, do a brief interview with a volunteer, have your pilgrim’s passport reviewed, and receive your certification of completion.

Learn more in my Compostela certificate guide.

Warning: Lines can be very long at the office, so consider going in the morning the following day if you arrive later in Santiago de Compostela.

Browse Local Shops

Browse local shops and restaurants as you wonder the curving, historic streets of Santiago de Compostela. You can find endless scallop shell souvenirs, which actually have a special history with the city of Santiago de Compostela.

Pilgrims used to get their scallop shell upon arriving at the Cathedral de Santiago. In the Middle Ages, pilgrims were a protected class of people, but you couldn’t just say you were a pilgrim — you needed a scallop shell to prove it. By completing your journey to Santiago de Compostela, you earned this as a literal badge of honor, and it gave you protection on your entire journey home.

Imagine having to walk all the way back now! What a mental image. You can nod to this piece of pilgrim history by picking up a shell souvenir.

Enjoy Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is an ancient city with pilgrimage at its center. If you have the steps left in you, consider wondering the Old Town (Casco Histórico) or taking a self-guided tour.

Keep Walking

Arriving in Santiago de Compostela at the tomb of Saint James is indeed the goal of the Camino, but it isn’t the final stage for all pilgrims. Many choose to walk for another 3-4 days along the Camino Finisterre to arrive at the Atlantic Ocean.

For awhile, this point (like many points along the Atlantic coast) was considered “the end of the Earth.” Its symbolism won’t be lost on you if you journey there. Finisterre, where the path concludes, is a popular ending point for the Camino.

I’ve met pilgrims carrying ashes of their loved ones to spread at the Cape of Finisterre. This was also the plot line of the movie The Way, starring Martin Sheen as he mourned the loss of his son on the Camino Frances. I think, beyond the walking, this destination attracts people who feel the need closure.

Pick Up Luggage

If you used a luggage transfer service to send baggage ahead to be stored in Santiago de Compostela, then make sure to pick this up on your visit.

Onward Travel

The road must go on somewhere. How will you leave Santiago de Compostela? Here are some of the most popular options for exiting Santiago de Compostela:

• Bus: FlixBus is the most popular bus company in Europe. This is my go-to. There are buses going in and out of Santiago many times per day.
• Train: The Santiago de Compostela train station has dozens of trains per day that can be booked through Omio.
• Private transfers: You can book a private taxi with Welcome Pickups or Caminofácil.

Where Next, Pilgrim?

Arriving at your final destination on the Camino is bittersweet. I remember waiting at the bus station for my bus back to Porto and seeing lots of pilgrims with their backpacks and scallop shells, all of them silent.

On the Camino trail days before, we all would’ve been chatting. What happened?

Maybe the bond had expired, or maybe we were all just processing. After walking more pilgrimages since this, I know that the bond of the Camino de Santiago is something that doesn’t fade quickly.

The Camino trail doesn’t end after you arrive in Santiago de Compostela, and it’s not just a walking holiday or vacation, either. It’s something truly special.

It was Jane V. Blanchard who said “Use the guides and the maps to lead you to Santiago; use the lessons learned on the Camino to find your way.”

You’ll have seen so many incredible things by the end of your journey: The historic spa town Caldas de Reis, ancient bridges, walking on Roman Roads. If you journeyed along the Portuguese coastal route, walking along the ocean will feel like a lifetime ago.

Something strange happens to time out there on The Way. On this final day, feel it all.

I hope that these tips helped you plan a meaningful and peaceful final stage. If you have any unanswered questions, drop them in the comments and I’ll answer you right away. Buen camino, pilgrim, wherever you’re headed next!