Discover the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Routes
Upwards of 400,000 travelers a year journey the yellow arrows and scallop-shell markers along the Camino de Santiago.
The historic pilgrimage routes lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, home to one of Christendom’s holiest sites: the tomb believed to hold the remains of St. James the Apostle (called Santiago in Spanish) inside the city’s magnificent cathedral.
Numbers on the caminos have multiplied tenfold since the late 1990s, and many walkers will be seeking out less frequented alternatives to the classic Camino Francés. There are options long and short, hard and easy, to suit every pair of feet. Take note that the paths will likely be more crowded than ever. Therefore, planning ahead with this handy guide to the most popular Camino de Santiago routes is essential for choosing the right one for you.
Camino Francés
The Classic: Long and Extremely Popular
The Camino Francés (French Way) is the route with the richest tradition, still followed by more people than all other caminos combined. It starts at St-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees and crosses about 770 km (478 miles, around five weeks on foot) of northern Spain en route to Santiago de Compostela.
To many people, this is the Camino de Santiago, a time-honored penitential route and a demanding challenge requiring both mental and physical stamina. It passes through the vineyards of La Rioja, across the sparsely populated croplands of the meseta (Spain’s central plateau), and over 1300m-high (4265ft) hills into the rural greens of Galicia (Spain’s northwestern region, of which Santiago de Compostela is capital).
Camino Portugués
A Route for Everyone
The Portuguese Way, second-busiest of the Caminos de Santiago, runs more than 600 km (373 miles) from Lisbon in Portugal to Santiago (about 3½ weeks). The most popular starting points are the inviting city of Porto in northern Portugal (some 240 km/149 miles from Santiago, about 10 days) and Tui, where the route enters Spain (115 km/71 miles). It’s within the capacity of any reasonably fit person, with few hills; however, a lot of the walking is on hard surfaces (roads, pavements, cobbles), which can be tough on the feet.
Camino del Norte
Five Weeks near Spain’s Surprising North Coast
Traveled by around 20,000 people a year, the Northern Way parallels Spain’s north coast for over 600 km (373 miles) from Irún on the French border to Ribadeo, then heads inland across Galicia to Santiago de Compostela. Many Norte walkers are searching for a less-traveled alternative to the Camino Francés. It’s similar in length but was used by far fewer pilgrims in medieval times and continues to attract fewer travelers today.
Camino Primitivo
Two Weeks of Gorgeous Green Countryside; Relatively Tough
The Camino Primitivo (Original Way), some 320 km (199 miles) long, follows the footsteps of the first recorded pilgrimage to St. James’ tomb, made by King Alfonso II of Asturias from Oviedo in the 820s.
This camino is considered one of the tougher routes because of the hilly terrain of its first eight or nine days. However, the ups and downs only enhance the beauty of the landscapes, making the route manageable for any fit walker.
Camino de Muxía-Finisterre
On from Santiago to the “End of the Earth”
This route runs not to Santiago but from it, to the small fishing ports of Fisterra (Finisterre) and Muxía on Galicia’s dramatic coast. Many camino walkers don’t want to stop when they reach Santiago. Three or four additional days to Fisterra or Muxía can be the perfect coda to your odyssey.
Camino Inglés
Short, Relatively Easy Route within Galicia
The “English Way” runs about 115 km (71 miles, five days) to Santiago from Ferrol in northern Galicia. It owes its name to medieval pilgrims from Britain, Ireland, and other northern locations, who would sail to ports like Ferrol and then complete their journey to Santiago overland.
This route is practicable year-round and is an obvious choice if you have limited time. The Inglés’ popularity has mushroomed in the last decade, attracting around 15,000 walkers a year.
Other Caminos
The caminos mentioned here are the most popular ones, but there are dozens of other established routes from all over Spain, and beyond. Researching other routes can lead to discovering unique and less-traveled paths.
This article was first published on November 27, 2019, and updated on March 25, 2024.
