A Foodie’s Guide to the Portuguese Camino: Beyond Pastel de Nata

Susan Jagannath
4 min readJul 4, 2024
intro image

The Camino Portugués is a pilgrimage route steeped in history and culture, but for adventurous foodies, it’s also a delicious journey of discovery. While the iconic Pastel de Nata, a flaky pastry filled with creamy egg custard, is a must-try, Portugal’s culinary scene offers a treasure trove of flavors waiting to be explored.

And yes, even our vegetarian cohort loved that you could get vegetarian food in Portugal!

This guide will take you on a mouthwatering adventure through the regional specialties you’ll encounter on your Camino adventure.

2nd image

A Regional Tapestry of Flavors

Portugal is a land of diverse landscapes, and this is reflected in its cuisine. As you walk the Camino, you’ll traverse distinct regions, each with its own unique set of ingredients and traditional dishes.

  • Lisbon and Central Portugal: Your journey begins in Lisbon, where you can indulge in the quintessential Pastel de Nata and its close cousin, the Pastel de Belém, with its slightly caramelized crust. Venture inland to Alentejo and savor rich stews simmered for hours with local…

--

--