travel to Valenca from Lisbon

[taylorshi]

Hi, I have only a short vacation and am planning to walk from Valenca to Santiago in early June 2012. I am flying to Lisbon from Toronto and am unsure how to get from the airport to Valenca (or Tui) to start my walk. I think that I would prefer the train to a bus but will take whatever is recommended as the best and quickest way to get there. I have searched on line but the only thing I can find is a 7 hour train ride and that seems a long time for a 375 km trip. It's hard to plan when the walk will actually start when I can't find anything that gives me an idea of how long it will take to get to Valenca/Tui.

I was also wondering if I really needed a sleeping bag or if I could manage with just a liner at that time of year. I am usually hot when I sleep and would like to reduce the amount I have to carry if possible.

Has anyone any experience or advice for me? Thanks.

[Karen50]

Hi I am going to fly from Toronto to Porto and like you I am finding it difficult to find any information on trains or buses to Valenca or Tui.
Last year I walked from Barcelos to Santiago. I took a silk sleeping bag liner last year and found it to be perfect. It was light weight so it was easy to carry and took up very little space. I bought mine from a Company in Chicago.
Karen

[peregrina2000]

There are buses that go from Lisbon to Valenca. I tried to paste in the schedule here, but the table didn't transfer and it was a mess. So you will have to find it yourself on the national bus company's website: ---Rede Nacional de Expressos---

Looks like most options require a transfer in either Porto or Viana do Castelo. Buses from Porto to Valenca leave at 11, 11:20, 17:00 and 19:00. I have taken the bus from Lisbon to Valenca, and it's long and boring. And the Valenca bus station is a few kms outside of town, as I remember, but we didn't complain since our point was to walk anyway.