Camino de Santiago: four routes, lodging and packing for the hike

Camino de Santiago is walked by hundreds of thousands of people every year. In 2025, the pilgrim office in Santiago de Compostela issued around 531,000 Compostela certificates (as of: official pilgrim office statistics). This is not a museum route but a working walking trail stretching from 100 to 800 kilometers.

We have put together the four main routes, transport to the starting point, pilgrim passport rules, accommodation prices, seasons, and packing tips. All figures and rules come with a verification date and a link to an official source, so you can plan your trip based on facts rather than someone else's promises.

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AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

Where to start the route

💡 In short:

• The French Way starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and remains the most popular route.
• The Northern Way runs along the Bay of Biscay and offers the best views.
• The Primitive Way starts in Oviedo and is considered the most mountainous and difficult.
• Pilgrimage prices and rules: 09/2026, verified on the official pilgrim office website.

There is no single starting point for the Camino de Santiago. There are more than four official routes; here we cover the four main ones. Each determines its own distance, budget, and difficulty (as of: official Camiño de Santiago website). Choose a route that fits your vacation, not the other way around.

The French Way remains the busiest: about 780 kilometers through the Pyrenees, Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon. Most pilgrims choose it, which is why in summer the beds in albergues are gone by lunchtime. If you want a calm start, begin not in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port but in Pamplona or Leon.

The Northern Way runs along the Atlantic from Irun through Bilbao and Santander. It is longer than the French Way, but it follows the coast and green hills, and the weather here is more changeable. Fewer crowds, the ocean nearby, but rain comes more often.

The Primitive Way is considered the most mountainous and difficult. You walk from Oviedo through Asturias and Galicia and finish in Santiago de Compostela. A beginner would be better off choosing a different route.

The Portuguese Way starts in Porto and goes through Barcelos and Pontevedra. In two weeks you cross central Portugal, enter Galicia, and reach the Cathedral of Saint James. The catch: in summer this stretch has a lot of cyclists.

© Hayden Soloviev · CC BYPhoto: Hayden Soloviev, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

How to get to the Camino de Santiago

You can fly to Madrid, Bilbao, or Santiago de Compostela from any major European airport. Low-cost carriers set their cheapest fares on weekdays, so it is worth checking tickets on Kiwi.com in advance. From the airport to the train station you take the metro or a bus.

From Madrid, trains and buses go to Pamplona, Burgos, Leon, and Santiago de Compostela. It is better to buy long-distance tickets in advance, because in season there are few seats left and prices for the last seats are noticeably higher.

© Bene Riobó · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bene Riobó, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The way back is just as simple. Santiago de Compostela has an airport with flights to major cities in Spain, and buses to Madrid leave from the bus station several times a day. This way you are not tied to a single return flight.

How it all works

You need to get your pilgrim passport (credencial) before you start. The document is issued at albergues, parishes, and Camino friends associations, as well as at the pilgrim office in Santiago de Compostela (as of: La Credencial, Oficina del Peregrino). Without it, you will not be allowed into municipal albergues and will not receive a certificate.

Stamps for the passport are given at albergues, bars, churches, and town halls. The Compostela certificate is issued to those who have walked or ridden at least 100 kilometers, or cycled 200 kilometers, along an officially recognized route (as of: pilgrim office rules, checked 09/13/2026).

Lodging along the way is straightforward. The state-run Xunta de Galicia network in Galicia charges about 10 € per night per bed, and you cannot book ahead there (as of: 09/2026, overview of albergue prices). In cities outside Galicia, municipal albergues keep prices in the low double digits.

Private albergues are more expensive and often offer private rooms. Church-run albergues have a strict schedule: you must vacate your bunk by 8:00 in the morning, breakfast starts very early, and the kitchen is shared. Showers and Wi-Fi are available almost everywhere.

© Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez · CC BY-SAPhoto: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

When to set out

The best time for the Camino de Santiago is late spring and early fall. The weather is mild, there are beds in albergues, and the flow of pilgrims is moderate. You walk without rushing and without fighting for a bunk.

In summer, the Meseta plateau is scorching, and by evening a line forms outside albergues. If you do go in July or August, start your day before sunrise and finish your stage by midday, when the heat becomes stronger.

In late fall and winter, hostels, shops, and cafes close in small villages. Then you have to plan overnight stays only in larger towns and cover more kilometers per day. The upside is that the trail is almost empty.

In spring and fall, rain is more frequent, especially in Galicia and northern Spain. Bring a rain jacket and do not count on dry shoes every day. The catch of the shoulder season: some albergues close for renovations.

What to bring on the hike

Choose a backpack that fits your height and weight, because you carry it every day. A tent and a warm sleeping bag are unnecessary, since you sleep in albergues.

Footwear matters more than the backpack. Take trekking boots that hold your ankle firmly and are already broken in. Blisters appear in the first few days for almost everyone, so keep petroleum jelly and gel blister pads handy.

Stages are most often split into 20-25 kilometers per day (as of: 09/2026, stages and distances on the official website), and in the evening you switch from boots to light sandals. This lets your feet rest and blisters heal faster.

You do not need to bring your own cooking utensils. Albergue kitchens usually have dishes.

In summer, sunscreen and a hat are essential, otherwise you will get sunstroke on an exposed stretch. Download offline maps in advance, because cell service drops in the mountains. An eSIM for Spain solves the internet issue without roaming.

Earplugs save your sleep in a shared room. Dozens of strangers sleep in a dormitory, and snoring keeps even a tired person awake. Sound sleep preserves your strength on a long journey.

© Simon Burchell · CC BY-SAPhoto: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can you get the certificate for a short section?

Yes, the last 100 kilometers on foot take 4-5 days. Get a stamp in your pilgrim passport every day, otherwise the final section won't count.

How much does a night in an albergue cost?

Prices at public and private albergues are described above. In summer, arrive at the albergue before lunch, because by evening there are no free beds left.

When is the trail least crowded?

The fewest people are on the trail in winter, but many places in the villages are closed then. The most comfortable time to walk is late spring and early fall.

Which route should a beginner choose?

The last 100 kilometers of the French Way or the Portuguese Way from Porto. Short stages are easier to handle, and you build up your load gradually. Compare the length of each route in the table above and choose the one that fits your vacation.

Can you send your backpack ahead?

Yes, on many routes there is a luggage transfer service from point to point for a few euros. In the morning you leave your backpack at the albergue, and in the evening you pick it up at your next overnight stop. A light load helps you handle long stages, especially in the first week.

In short: what to book

Choose your route by time, not by rating. If you have two weeks: take the Portuguese Way from Porto. If you have a month and the stamina: the French Way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. If this is your first hike: the last 100 kilometers of the French Way. Book accommodation in advance only in large cities; in albergues, beds free up every morning. Find a hostel or hotel on Trip.com now, buy train tickets for Spain a couple of weeks before your trip, and compare medical insurance options in advance.