Hiking the Camino de Santiago

Last Updated on 27 March 2026 by Johan

The Camino de Santiago winds across Spain, Portugal and France, finally converging on the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, in the far northwest of Spain. Long before I ever set foot on the Camino de Santiago, I had seen photos of misty Galician hills, stone villages and yellow scallop-shell markers, but being there feels very different from looking at a map. The Camino de Santiago is not just one trail: it is a whole network of ancient paths that all lead to the same place, and you sense that history under your feet with almost every step.

Camino de Santiago location and early history

The heart of the Camino de Santiago is the city of Santiago de Compostela, a compact historic town in Galicia whose old centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to tradition, the remains of the apostle James the Greater were discovered here in the early 9th century, and a shrine soon grew into a major pilgrimage destination. From the 10th century onward, the Camino de Santiago became one of the great Christian pilgrimages, alongside Rome and Jerusalem, drawing people from all over Europe who walked for weeks or months to reach the cathedral.

Over time, paths from France, Portugal and many regions of Spain were gradually linked into what we now call the Camino de Santiago. Medieval bridges, hospitals, monasteries and churches were built along the way to support pilgrims. Today, when you cross an old Romanesque bridge or pass a weathered stone cross, you are literally walking through a thousand years of European history. It is no coincidence that the main routes of the Camino de Santiago in Spain and France are recognized both as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

Main Camino de Santiago routes you can hike

Although people often talk about “the” Camino de Santiago, there are several classic routes. The most famous is the Camino Francés, or French Way, which traditionally starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port at the foot of the French Pyrenees and runs roughly 780 kilometres to Santiago de Compostela. This is the route where you are most likely to meet other hikers, share dormitories in albergues (pilgrim hostels), and fall into the easy rhythm of walking, eating, sleeping and walking again.

Another popular option is the Portuguese Way, which connects Lisbon or Porto with Santiago de Compostela. The central route passes through historic towns like Coimbra and Ponte de Lima, while the coastal variant follows the Atlantic, with sea breezes and fishing villages softening the long days. Further north, the Camino del Norte traces the rugged Cantabrian coast, and the older Camino Primitivo links Oviedo with Santiago de Compostela through green, mountainous landscapes. Whichever Camino de Santiago route you choose, you will find waymarks, basic services and a shared sense of purpose among fellow pilgrims.

Why people hike this route today

In the Middle Ages, most pilgrims walked the Camino de Santiago for religious reasons, seeking forgiveness, healing or a closer connection to their faith. Today, the motivations are more varied, yet surprisingly similar in spirit. Some hikers still come for spiritual reasons, others for the physical challenge, and many simply want time away from screens and schedules. On the Camino de Santiago, your world shrinks to what you can carry on your back and how far your feet will take you that day, which is oddly liberating.

There is also a small but meaningful ritual at the end. If you walk at least 100 kilometres on foot (or cycle 200 kilometres) to Santiago de Compostela and collect stamps in your pilgrim passport along the way, you can receive the Compostela, an official certificate issued by the Pilgrim’s Office. It is just a piece of paper, of course, yet when you finally stand in front of the cathedral after days or weeks on the Camino de Santiago, it feels like a quiet acknowledgement of everything you have gone through to get there.

Practical tips for hiking the Camino de Santiago

From a practical point of view, the Camino de Santiago is one of the most accessible long-distance hikes in Europe. The main season runs from spring to early autumn, with April, May, June, September and early October offering a good balance of mild weather and open services. In July and August, the Camino de Santiago can be hot and crowded, especially on the French Way, while winter brings shorter days and limited accommodation, though some experienced walkers appreciate the solitude.

Most pilgrims walk between 20 and 25 kilometres per day, although you can adjust your stages to your fitness and time. You do not need to book every night in advance, but on the busiest stretches of the Camino de Santiago it is wise to reserve beds in popular towns, especially in high season. Albergues are the classic choice: simple dormitories with shared bathrooms, often run by municipalities, associations or religious communities. Private hostels, guesthouses and small hotels are also widely available if you prefer more comfort or privacy.

What to pack for the Camino de Santiago

Packing for the Camino de Santiago is an exercise in letting go. As a rule of thumb, try to keep your backpack to around 10 percent of your body weight, and remember that you can wash clothes along the way. Comfortable, well-broken-in walking shoes or trail runners are more important than heavy boots for most stages, and a pair of lightweight sandals gives your feet a break in the evenings. A light rain jacket, quick-drying layers, a hat and a basic first-aid kit for blisters will make your days on the Camino de Santiago much easier.

You will also need a pilgrim passport, known as the credencial, which you can obtain from many pilgrim associations, parishes or official offices before you start. This small booklet is stamped in albergues, churches, cafés and town halls along the Camino de Santiago, creating a simple but powerful record of your journey. Looking back over those stamps later, you may find that you remember not just the places, but the conversations, the smells and the small moments that happened there.

Culture and small moments

One of the reasons the Camino de Santiago stays with people is the culture that has grown up around it. You will see the scallop shell symbol everywhere, from waymarkers to backpacks, and you will quickly learn to follow the yellow arrows painted on walls and lampposts. In the evenings, pilgrims gather in common rooms or on terraces, sharing simple meals and stories in a mix of languages. Sometimes the best memories are not the big views, but the unexpected kindness of a café owner who refills your water bottle without being asked, or the quiet of a small chapel just off the main Camino de Santiago path.

Food is part of the experience too. Depending on the region, you might eat Galician octopus, hearty stews, fresh bread, local cheese or a pilgrim menu with wine included. Because you are walking so much, you notice these details more: the smell of coffee drifting out of a bar in the early morning, or the way the light hits the stone streets of a village just as you arrive, tired but satisfied, after another day on the Camino de Santiago.


Tip from a local: if you have the time, plan at least one “short” day of walking into your Camino de Santiago. Arrive in a town by late morning, drop your backpack, and then wander without a goal. Visit the local market, sit in the main square and watch daily life, or step into a small museum you might otherwise rush past. Those unhurried hours often reveal more about the character of the Camino de Santiago than any guidebook highlight.

Is the Camino de Santiago right for you?

If you are reasonably healthy and willing to walk several hours a day, the Camino de Santiago is within reach. You do not need to be an athlete, and you certainly do not need to walk an entire route in one go. Many people start with the last 100 kilometres to Santiago de Compostela, often from Sarria on the French Way or from towns on the Portuguese Way, and then return another year to explore a different section of the Camino de Santiago. The key is to choose a distance and pace that feel realistic, so that you can enjoy the journey rather than endure it.

In the end, what makes the Camino de Santiago special is not only its history or its official titles, but the way it quietly rearranges your priorities. As you walk, you may find that questions you have been carrying for years become a little clearer, or that you simply learn to be more present in each moment. You might finish the Camino de Santiago with sore feet and a sun-faded backpack, but also with a sense that you have taken part in something much larger than yourself—a living tradition that has been unfolding for more than a thousand years.

Sources for Camino de Santiago information

The information in this article about the Camino de Santiago is based on the following official sources: