Camino de Santiago: Routes, Distances, Costs and When to Walk

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St James, is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. According to tradition, the tomb of the apostle James (Saint James) was discovered here in the 9th century, and pilgrims from across Europe began making their way to the site. The Camino Francés and the northern routes in Spain were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993, followed by the routes in France in 1998.

Today, people walk the Camino for many different reasons. Some come for faith or spiritual reflection, others for the culture, the landscape, the physical challenge or simply as a walking holiday. You do not have to be religious to walk it. In 2025, the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago registered 530,772 pilgrims. The Camino Francés remains the most walked route, accounting for about 47 per cent of all pilgrims in 2024.

On the trail, yellow arrows and scallop shells mark the way. The scallop shell has been the symbol of the Camino for centuries and is still worn by pilgrims today. If you are interested in other long-distance routes across Spain, you can find more inspiration in our overview of walking holidays in Spain.

Why 2027 is a Holy Year on the Camino de Santiago

A Holy Year (known in Galician as a Xacobeo) is declared when 25 July, the feast day of Saint James, falls on a Sunday. The next Holy Year is 2027. During a Holy Year, the Holy Door of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is opened and special celebrations take place throughout the year. Holy Years draw more pilgrims than usual, and accommodation along the routes fills up faster than in ordinary years — especially in spring and summer. If you are planning to walk the Camino in 2027, book your accommodation well in advance.

There is no single starting point for the Camino de Santiago. You start where your chosen route begins, or anywhere along it. The routes cover hundreds of kilometres, and most people join at a point that suits their time and plans.

Three classic full routes, with their starting points, are:

• Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France: about 784 km, crossing the Pyrenees and passing through Pamplona and Burgos before entering Galicia.
• Camino Portugués from Lisbon: about 621 km, passing through Porto and Ponte de Lima; many walkers choose to start in Porto instead.
• Camino del Norte from Irún on the French border: about 822 km, following the north coast of Spain.

These are multi-week journeys. For walkers with one week available, a popular option is to join any of these routes at a point roughly 100 km from Santiago and walk the last section.

Walking the last 100 km of the Camino de Santiago

Walking the last 100 km is the shortest way to earn the Compostela and fits comfortably into one week of holiday: arrive on day one, walk for five or six days, then depart from Santiago on the final day.

At Bookatrekking we offer four self-guided trips covering this last section:

• Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago: 117.1 km in six walking days (8 days total including arrival and departure).
• Camino Portugués from Tui to Santiago: 122.5 km in six walking days (8 days total).
• Coastal Camino Portugués from Baiona to Santiago: 132.8 km in six walking days (8 days total).
• Camino del Norte from Baamonde to Santiago: 121.6 km in five walking days (7 days total).

Santiago de Compostela has its own airport. For Tui and Baiona, the airports of Vigo and Porto are closer. Sarria and Baamonde are reached by bus or train via Lugo or from Santiago.

Most Camino de Santiago routes run from east to west across northern Spain, or from south to north through Portugal, and converge at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. A few shorter routes approach from the north or south.

Here is a brief geographic overview of the main routes:

• Camino Francés: starts in the French Pyrenees, crosses into Spain at Roncesvalles and runs west via Pamplona and Burgos through the meseta and into Galicia.
• Camino del Norte: follows the north coast of Spain from Irún, passing through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias before turning inland towards Santiago.
• Camino Primitivo: branches off from Oviedo in Asturias and crosses the mountains of Asturias to join the Camino Francés.
• Camino Portugués and its coastal variant: run north from Lisbon and Porto through Portugal, crossing the border at Tui or along the Atlantic coast via Baiona and Vigo.
• Camino Inglés: a short route inland from the port towns of Ferrol or A Coruña, historically used by pilgrims arriving by sea from Britain and Ireland.
• Vía de la Plata: runs north from Seville along an ancient Roman road through western Spain.

The map below shows the main routes. On all four of our Camino trips, the Bookatrekking app gives you an offline map with GPS navigation for each stage.

The answer depends entirely on which route you walk and where you start. The shortest option — walking the last 100 km — takes five or six walking days. Walking an entire route from France or Lisbon takes four to five weeks or more. Most walkers cover between 15 and 25 km a day.

On our four trips, daily stages range from 14 km to 30.5 km and take roughly 3 to 7 hours of walking, plus breaks. You can also walk any of the full routes in sections over several years, a popular approach for those with limited holiday time.

How much does it cost to walk the Camino de Santiago?

Walking independently, many pilgrims spend around 25 euros per person per day on a tight budget, or around 50 euros per person per day or more if they prefer private rooms and restaurant meals. Here is what those budgets typically cover:

• Around 25 euros a day: a bed in a public albergue (roughly 10 to 12 euros per night) plus grocery shopping or a simple lunch; a pilgrim menu (three courses, usually with bread and a drink) usually costs around 15 to 20 euros in the evening, so this budget requires self-catering at some meals.
• Around 50 euros a day or more: a bed in a private albergue or a hotel room, a pilgrim menu in the evening and breakfast out; accommodation in a private room can range from around 25 euros per person sharing to 40 euros or more for a single room.

If you prefer to have everything organised for you, our self-guided packages include private rooms, daily luggage transfer and the Bookatrekking app. Prices as of October 2026, lowest price per person for two people travelling together (prices can vary by date):

• Camino del Norte from Baamonde, 7 days: from 530 euros per person
• Camino Portugués from Tui, 8 days: from 640 euros per person
• Coastal Camino Portugués from Baiona, 8 days: from 735 euros per person
• Camino Francés from Sarria, 8 days: from 775 euros per person

Travelling alone costs more per person: from 715, 865, 990 and 1,045 euros respectively for the same four trips. Included in all packages: accommodation in hotels, inns or guesthouses with private rooms (en-suite where possible), breakfast where possible, daily luggage transfer and the Bookatrekking app with route descriptions, maps and offline GPS navigation. Not included: travel to the starting point and home from Santiago, local transport, travel insurance, and lunch and dinner. Free cancellation up to eight weeks before departure.

For a first Camino, many people choose either the Camino Francés from Sarria or the Camino Portugués from Tui. Both are clearly marked, have frequent cafés and accommodation, and bring you to Santiago within a week. If you want more solitude or a coastal experience, the other two routes offer that.

Camino Francés — the classic route and the busiest. The last 100 km from Sarria run through green Galician countryside, passing Romanesque churches and the villages of Portomarín and Melide. On the first day you pass the 100 km marker near Ferreiros — a popular landmark for a photograph. You will rarely walk alone, which many pilgrims find reassuring on a first trip. Read more in our guide to the Camino Francés.

Camino Portugués — the second most popular route. From Tui you cross into Galicia and walk partly on the old Roman road Via Romana XIX, through the towns of Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis and Padrón before the final long stage into Santiago. It is slightly quieter than the Francés and passes through some attractive historic towns. Read more in our guide to the Camino Portugués.

Coastal Camino Portugués — starts by the sea in Baiona and passes through Vigo with views over the Atlantic bays, before joining the inland Camino Portugués at Redondela. The first stage from Baiona to Vigo is the longest of this trip at 27 km, so this route suits walkers who are comfortable with longer days from the start.

Camino del Norte — the quietest and most demanding of our four options. From Baamonde you walk longer days (up to 30.5 km) through rural Galicia, past the monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes and over the highest point of the route at 710 m, before joining the Camino Francés in Arzúa. Because suitable accommodation is scarcer on the Norte, stages can differ slightly from the plan. Read more in our guide to the Camino del Norte.

Other routes — the Camino Primitivo, Camino Inglés and Vía de la Plata are also walked by many pilgrims, but they are not currently part of our offer.

Quick choice guide: - First Camino and want company along the way: Camino Francés from Sarria - Quieter, with historic towns and Roman history: Camino Portugués from Tui - Sea views and a coastal start: Coastal Camino Portugués from Baiona - Already experienced and want fewer people: Camino del Norte from Baamonde

May, June, September and early October are usually the best months to walk the Camino de Santiago. Temperatures are pleasant, the days are long and the trails are less crowded than in the height of summer.

July and August are the busiest months on every route, and in inland Galicia it can be hot during the middle of the day. Accommodation in albergues and hotels fills up quickly in summer, and pilgrims often need to arrive early in the afternoon to secure a bed.

Galicia is famously green, and that is because it rains. Bring a waterproof jacket in every season. Winter is quiet on the trails, but the days are short, some albergues and cafés close for the season, and the weather can be persistently wet.

In a Holy Year such as 2027, the busy months are even busier, particularly around the feast of Saint James on 25 July. If you are planning your walk for spring or summer 2027, book accommodation as early as possible.

The pilgrim passport (also called the credencial) is a folded card booklet that you get stamped at points along the way. Collecting the required stamps, and walking the minimum distance, allows you to claim the Compostela: the official certificate of pilgrimage issued in Santiago de Compostela.

The rules set by the Pilgrim's Office are straightforward. Walk at least the last 100 continuous kilometres on foot, or cycle at least 200 km, on a recognised route ending in Santiago. Get your credencial stamped at the start and end of each stage, with the date included, and ensure your stages follow each other in chronological and geographical order. Stamps are available in albergues, hotels, cafés, churches and town halls along any of the main routes. You can get a credential from a pilgrim association in your own country, from the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago, or at churches and albergues in the main starting towns such as Sarria and Tui.

To collect your Compostela, go first to the Pilgrim's Reception Office at Rúa Carretas 33 in Santiago de Compostela, where you receive a ticket with a QR code. The Compostela itself is then issued by the cathedral. There is also a certificate available for those who walk for non-religious reasons, issued at the same office.

Note that you need your credencial with stamps to sleep in public albergues, so it is worth starting to collect stamps from your very first day on the route.

Albergues or hotels: where do you sleep on the Camino?

You can sleep in albergues, which are pilgrim hostels with dormitory rooms, or in hotels, guesthouses and rural houses that offer private rooms. Public albergues (the municipal ones) are the cheapest option at roughly 10 to 12 euros per night; they are exclusively for pilgrims and cannot usually be booked in advance. They are sociable but can be noisy, and in summer and during a Holy Year beds in popular albergues can run out by early afternoon if you arrive late. Private albergues cost more and can often be booked. On our self-guided trips, we book private rooms in hotels, inns or guesthouses for every night, so you know exactly where you are sleeping before you set off.

Camino de Santiago: frequently asked questions

How long does it take to walk the Camino de Santiago?

Walking the last 100 km takes five or six walking days, making it a one-week trip including arrival and departure. Walking a full route from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Lisbon or Irún takes four to five weeks or more, depending on your daily distance and how many rest days you take. Most walkers aim for 15 to 25 km per day on a full route.

Which Camino route is best for beginners?

The Camino Francés from Sarria and the Camino Portugués from Tui are the usual choices for a first Camino. Both routes are clearly waymarked with yellow arrows, have cafés and accommodation at regular intervals, and cover the last 100 km in six comfortable walking days. The Camino Francés is busier, which means more company and more services along the way.

How many hours a day do you walk on the Camino?

Most walkers are on their feet for four to six hours a day, not counting stops for food, rest or sightseeing. On our four trips, daily stages range from 14 km to 30.5 km and take between roughly 3 and 7 hours of walking. The Camino del Norte from Baamonde has the longest days; the Camino Francés from Sarria has the shortest.

How much money do you need to walk the Camino de Santiago?

On a budget of around 25 euros per day you can cover a bed in a public albergue and simple meals. With private rooms and restaurant meals, plan for 50 euros per day or more, plus the cost of travel to the starting point and back from Santiago, and travel insurance. See the cost section earlier in this guide for a full breakdown, including the prices of our organised packages.

Where do people go to the bathroom on the Camino?

Mainly in the cafés and bars along the route: buy a coffee or a drink and use the facilities. Toilets in public spaces and on the trail itself are rare, and there are sections of several kilometres between villages. Go whenever you have the chance. Carry tissues and a small sealable bag, and take everything with you when you leave the trail. Never leave toilet paper or any other waste outdoors.

Is the Camino safe to walk alone?

Yes, generally. The main Camino routes are well-used, and a large proportion of pilgrims walk alone, including solo women. The usual precautions apply: let someone at home know your route and daily plan, keep your phone charged, and walk during daylight. The European emergency number is 112 and works throughout Spain.

Is 70 too old to walk the Camino?

No. Many walkers are in their seventies. Choose the last 100 km rather than a full route, book luggage transfer so you only carry a daypack, and select stages on the shorter side to start with. Train in the weeks before you go by walking several days in a row. If you have existing health concerns, check with your doctor beforehand.

What should you avoid on the Camino?

The most common mistakes are: starting the first day too fast, wearing new or untested shoes, carrying a heavy backpack, walking in the midday heat in summer without enough water, and ignoring the first signs of a blister rather than dealing with it immediately. In busy periods, arriving late at a town without a reserved bed is also worth avoiding, particularly in summer and during a Holy Year.

Along the Camino de Santiago you eat in cafés, bars and restaurants in the villages and towns you pass through each day. A typical day starts with a Spanish breakfast: coffee with toast or a pastry, available at almost any bar that is open in the morning. At midday many walkers stop for a bocadillo (a filled bread roll) or a snack at a bar. In the evening, the pilgrim menu is the staple: a set meal of three courses, usually with bread and a drink included, at a fixed price.

Restaurants in Spain generally serve dinner late, but many places along the Camino open earlier for pilgrims. Carry water and a snack with you on every stage, because some stretches run for several kilometres without any café or shop.

Galicia has its own culinary identity. Dishes you will find along the route include octopus served with olive oil and paprika (pulpo a la gallega or a feira), Padrón peppers fried in olive oil, Galician soup (caldo gallego), savoury empanada pastries and the almond cake known as tarta de Santiago. Arzúa, which falls on both the Camino Francés and the Camino del Norte, is particularly known for its local cheese.

On our self-guided trips, breakfast is included where possible. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense and choice. Vegetarian options exist on the Camino, but in smaller villages the choice can be limited.

The Camino de Santiago is not technically difficult. You walk on paths, farm tracks and quiet roads through rolling hills, with no scrambling or exposure. But walking 15 to 25 km several days in a row is a real physical challenge, and it is worth preparing for it.

All four of our Camino trips are graded intermediate. The Camino del Norte from Baamonde has the longest daily stages, up to 30.5 km, and the most climbing on some days. The Camino Francés from Sarria has the shortest stages, starting at 14 km. The most common complaints on any Camino are blisters, sore feet and aching knees, not steep terrain.

To prepare, walk several days in a row in the weeks before you go. Wear the same shoes and socks you plan to use on the trip, and carry the same daypack, so your feet and back can adjust. If you experience any rubbing or hot spots during training, deal with them before you start.

No. You can carry everything in a backpack if you prefer, but you can also have your luggage transferred from one accommodation to the next each day.

On all four of our Camino trips, daily luggage transfer is included in the price. Your bags are collected from your hotel lobby every morning and driven to your next accommodation. You walk with only a daypack containing water, snacks, a rain jacket, sun protection, your pilgrim passport and any items you might need during the day.

Walkers who plan their trip independently can book a luggage transfer service per stage from operators working along each route. Luggage transfer has no effect on your Compostela: the certificate is earned by walking the distance, not by what you carry.