Most Popular
Camino Francés
The classic route from St Jean Pied de Port. Best infrastructure, most fellow pilgrims, ideal for first-timers.
📍 780 km 🥾 ~30 days ⭐ Best for beginners
Explore this route →
El Camino de Santiago
Walk the Path That Changes Lives
A pilgrimage across Spain — from the Pyrenees to the Cathedral of Santiago. 8 routes, 75km to 1,000km, open to everyone.
430,000+
Pilgrims in 2022
8
Main Routes
75–1,000km
Route Distances
2027
Next Holy Year
30 days
Average Walk
“I first walked the Camino in 2004 not knowing there was more than one route — 30 days later I arrived in Santiago and immediately wanted to go back. I met my wife on that walk. This site is everything I wish I had before I set out.”
— Leslie Gilmour, founder of Camino Adventures · walked 3 Camino routes
8 Camino de Santiago Routes
All routes finish in Santiago de Compostela. Choose based on your time, fitness, and the experience you want.
Most Popular
Best for Cycling
Vía de la Plata
The Silver Route runs south to north from Seville along an ancient Roman road. Remote, rewarding, increasingly popular.
📍 ~1,000 km 🥾 6–7 weeks 🚴 Cyclists love it
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Scenic Coastline
Camino del Norte
The Northern Route hugs Spain's stunning Atlantic coast. Challenging terrain, fewer pilgrims, higher satisfaction.
📍 825 km ⚡ Challenging 🌊 Coastal swimming
Explore this route →
Short & Scenic
Camino Portugués
Starting in Lisbon or Porto, this well-signposted coastal route is one of the shorter and most accessible Caminos.
📍 ~230 km (Porto) 🥾 2 weeks ✅ Well waymarked
Explore this route →
Shortest Route
Camino Inglés
The English Way starts from Northern Spanish ports (Ferrol or A Coruña). The traditional route for British and Irish pilgrims.
📍 75–110 km 🥾 4–6 days ⚠ No Compostela
Explore this route →
Off the Beaten Path
Camino de Madrid
Starting in Spain's capital, this demanding route crosses the Meseta. Intense summer heat — not for the faint-hearted.
📍 660 km 🥵 Very hot in summer 🙇 Very quiet
Explore this route →Route Details
A closer look at the most-walked routes to help you decide which is right for you.
THE CLASSIC ROUTE
Camino Francés
📍 780 km
🥾 ~30 days
🏰 St Jean Pied de Port
The Camino Francés is the most popular of all routes, traditionally starting in St Jean Pied de Port and running 780km west to Santiago. It has the best infrastructure — albergues every few kilometres, plenty of cafés, and clear waymarking throughout.
This is the recommended route for first-time pilgrims. During peak months (July–August), book ahead. Spanish pilgrims often start at Roncesvalles. For a quieter start, consider the Camino Aragonés.
Full guide to Camino Francés →
THE SILVER ROUTE
Vía de la Plata
📍 ~1,000 km
🥾 6–7 weeks
🏛 Seville
Running south to north along an ancient Roman road, the Vía de la Plata is the best Camino for cyclists. Starting in Seville or Granada, it follows the Silver Route to Astorga where it joins the Camino Francés.
Increasingly popular as infrastructure improves, this is a serious undertaking. After Montamarta you can divert west through Galicia directly to Santiago.
Full guide to Vía de la Plata →
THE NORTHERN ROUTE
Camino del Norte
📍 825 km
⚡ Challenging
🏝 Irún
The Northern Route travels along Spain's Atlantic coast, with opportunities to swim at the end of a day's walking. One of the most challenging routes due to rough terrain and continuous ascents and descents.
Less-clear signposting makes this more of an adventure. Fewer hostels near the start in Irún. As they say — the greater the challenge, the greater the satisfaction.
Full guide to Camino del Norte →
THE PORTUGUESE WAY
Camino Portugués
📍 ~230 km (Porto)
🥾 ~2 weeks
🌊 Lisbon or Porto
Starting in Lisbon (full route) or Porto (most popular), the Camino Portugués is well-waymarked and well-serviced. The coastal route from Porto is a beautiful 230km walk — one of the shorter routes still earning a Compostela.
A quieter central route is also available. A diversion to Fatima is possible and worth considering.
Full guide to Camino Portugués →Planning Your Camino
Everything you need to know before you go — answered honestly from experience.
What is the best month to walk the Camino?
May, June, and September are ideal — warm days, cooler nights, and infrastructure fully open. July and August are hottest and busiest; April and October are quieter but bring rain. Winter walking is possible on the Francés but many albergues close.
How long is the Camino de Santiago?
It depends on the route. The Camino Francés is 780km. The shortest official route, the Camino Inglés, is 110–120km. The Vía de la Plata is the longest at ~1,000km. You only need to walk the final 100km (on foot) to earn your Compostela certificate.
How long does it take to walk?
Most pilgrims cover 20–25km a day. The full Camino Francés takes most people 30–33 days. If you can only walk the last 100km from Sarria, budget 5–7 days. Cyclists cover the same ground in roughly one-third the time.
How fit do you need to be?
No special fitness required — the Camino is walked by people of every age and ability. Train for 2–3 months beforehand with long walks in your real hiking boots. If you can comfortably walk 15km in a day, you can walk the Camino.
Is it safe to walk alone?
Yes — the Camino is one of the safest long-distance routes in the world. You are rarely alone for more than a few kilometres. Solo walkers meet fellow pilgrims in albergues every night. Basic travel sense applies but serious incidents are very rare.
What is a Pilgrim's Passport?
The credencial is a small booklet stamped at each albergue, café, or church along the way. It proves your pilgrimage and is required to stay in pilgrim hostels and to receive the Compostela certificate in Santiago. Pick one up at your starting point for a few euros.
What if I only have one or two weeks?
Walk the last 100–250km of any route. The Sarria–Santiago stretch of the Francés is the classic one-week Camino. Two weeks opens up Porto–Santiago on the Portugués, or the final stretch of the del Norte from Ribadeo.
Can you cycle the Camino?
Yes — about 10% of pilgrims are on bikes. You need to cycle the last 200km to earn a Compostela. The Vía de la Plata is the cyclist favourite; the Francés is doable but has difficult singletrack stretches. Most take a hybrid or gravel bike.
How much water should I carry?
Around 1.5–2 litres in summer, less in cooler months. Most stages have fountains or villages every 5–10km — you're rarely dry for long. The one exception is the Meseta in mid-summer, where stretches of 15–20km without water are possible.
What to Pack
Keep it under 10% of your body weight. Here are the essentials — everything else is optional.
Backpack
30–40L, lightweight
Hiking Shoes / Boots
Broken in before you go
Sandals
For evenings & rivers
Hiking Shorts
2 pairs max
Fleece Jacket
Evenings get cold
Rain Jacket / Poncho
Year-round essential
First Aid + Blister Kit
Compeed is your best friend
Sunscreen & Toiletries
Travel sizes only
Microfibre Towel
Quick-dry, compact
Leslie’s tip: My first pack weighed 15kg. The following year it was 6kg — and I enjoyed the whole route far more. Whatever you think you need, leave half at home.
How Much Does It Cost?
The Camino can be done on a shoestring or in comfort — here’s a realistic breakdown.
| Budget level | Per day | 30-day total |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (albergues) | ~$35 | ~$1,050 |
| Mid-range | $40–60 | $1,200–1,800 |
| Comfortable (pensions / hotels) | ~$100 | ~$3,000 |
Biggest costs: food and accommodation. Albergue beds: $10–15/night. Evening meals: similar. Many albergues have shared kitchens to cook with others.
Accommodation Types
Albergues (Pilgrim Hostels)
Dorm-style, $10–15/night. The heart of the Camino experience — meet fellow pilgrims, share meals, swap stories.
Private Albergues
Like upmarket youth hostels. More amenities, sometimes private rooms. $20–35/night.
Pensions / B&Bs
Basic en-suite rooms, ~€30/night. Good if you want privacy or plan to linger in cities like León.
My Experience of the Camino
I’ve walked three Camino routes. Here’s what it really feels like.
I first heard about the Camino de Santiago in 2003 from a friend. The more he talked about it, the more intrigued I became. In 2004 I walked the Camino Francés — at the time, I didn’t even know there was more than one route.
Over 30 days I walked up the Pyrenees from St Jean Pied de Port in France, then into Spain, downhill to Roncesvalles where pilgrims have stopped since the Middle Ages. Then onward to Pamplona — famous for the bulls, blessed with the best tapas I’ve ever eaten. Always heading west.
I walked through Burgos, climbed onto the vast Meseta, stayed in León, wandered through Astorga and Ponferrada, and finally — through eucalyptus forest — walked into Santiago de Compostela.
“More importantly, I met my wife on that walk in 2005. The Camino has a way of bringing the right people into your life at exactly the right moment.“
Routes I’ve walked:
- ✓ Camino Francés (twice)
- ✓ Camino Aragonés (the only time I got lost)
- ✓ Le Puy Route (France)
For modern pilgrims: don’t overplan. There’s no right or wrong way. It’s your Camino — do it your way.
The Final Destination
Santiago de Compostela is one of Europe’s great old cities. Every pilgrim who arrives at the Cathedral has walked a journey that is uniquely their own. The Camino is for everyone — young, old, fit, unfit, religious or not.
“Slow down. Get used to the sound — Buen Camino — it can be a beautiful journey.”