Camino de Santiago and the Iberian Peninsula – choose the right route for your hike

HikingStore |16/10, 2026

Hiker with backpack on the Camino Francés through the green landscape of Galicia

The Camino de Santiago is not a single route, but a network of routes of varying lengths, terrain and requirements. Some pass through villages with dense accommodation options. Others involve long stages, steep climbs or limited access to water. The best route is therefore not automatically the longest or most well-known. Ask yourself: How many days do you have? What terrain do you enjoy? And do you want an established pilgrim route or a coastal walk with more independent planning?

Pilgrimage tradition has shaped the routes and the accommodation along them. The credential, the pilgrim's passport, is used for stamps and can give access to some pilgrim hostels. You don't have to walk for religious reasons to follow a camino. But tradition is part of how the routes work in practice.

Choose a route based on time, terrain and hiking experience

Coastal route on Fishermen’s Trail with sandy path above the Atlantic Ocean

Camino Francés: the classic with the most infrastructure

The Camino Francés runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela. The entire route is often given as approximately 763–774 km , depending on the route chosen; the Samos variant is longer. Many plan around 33 stages , but the daily stages can be adjusted according to stamina and accommodation.

This is the most hiked and developed trail. You will find many albergues, eateries and service points, especially during the popular sections in Galicia. The downside is that you will share the trail with many other hikers, especially during high season. Choose Francés if you want a clear trail system and plenty of company. Choose a quieter time or smaller stages if you want to reduce the crowds.

Camino Portugués: smoother alternative with two variants from Porto

From Lisbon to Santiago, the Camino Portugués is approximately 620 km and is usually divided into approximately 25–31 stages . From Porto, many people choose a shorter hike:

Central route: approximately 240–260 km to Redondela.
Coastal route: approximately 270–300 km to Redondela.

There the two variants meet and continue towards Santiago. Portugués is generally easier to plan and less demanding than Primitivo, although the length of the days and the terrain vary. The coastal variant is suitable for those who want more sea and open views; the central route goes more through inland communities. Check the current route map before setting off – route choice and signage can affect both distance and stage division.

Camino Primitivo: shorter but physically demanding

The oldest main route runs from Oviedo to Santiago and is usually 306–321 km , often planned in around 14 stages . The length can vary depending on the route chosen, including via Hospitales.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that the trail is shorter than Francés. Primitivo runs through the Cantabrian Mountains, with frequent large elevation changes – often over 500 metres up or down in a day. Steep climbs, uneven ground and changeable weather make it the most physically demanding of the main routes. Choose it if you are used to hilly hiking and can allow for fatigue and weather. Exposed sections can have snow even early in the season.

Hiker on rocky mountain path in the Cantabrian Mountains along the Camino Primitivo

Via de la Plata: the long trail where heat dictates planning

The Via de la Plata runs from Seville to Santiago and is the longest of the main routes: around 955–1,005 km , depending on the variant. You can continue towards Astorga and connect with Francés or choose the Camino Sanabrés. The route has long distances between some towns and fewer accommodation options on some sections. So plan each stage, especially where you can refill your water and spend the night.

Spring and autumn are reasonable seasons. In practice, you should plan for April–May or October–November and avoid the trail from June to September . Summer in southern Spain can mean temperatures above 40°C . Trying to compensate with an early start is not always enough when the distances are long and the shade is sparse.

Fishermen's Trail: coastal hike, not a camino to Santiago

Portugal's Rota Vicentina/Fishermen's Trail is a separate coastal route, not a pilgrimage route to Santiago. It is approximately 226.5 km long and consists of 13 day-long stages between São Torpes and Lagos. A stage is no longer than 22.5 km. The route follows the Atlantic coast over sand and rocks; approximately 60–70 percent of the surface is sandy.

This makes the hike physically more demanding than the distance might suggest. Wind can make rocky sections more demanding, and access to water along the trail is limited. Rota Vicentina recommends hiking September–June and discourages wild camping. Follow the marked trail, stay away from eroding cliff edges, and check current conditions on the official map.

Two other options in brief

The Camino del Norte follows the Biscay coast from Irún to Santiago, around 820 km . It is worth knowing if you are looking for a coastal hike, but is not necessarily an easy route: altitude differences and weather can make the stages demanding.

The Camino de Invierno , the Winter Road, goes via Monforte de Lemos and can be an alternative for those who want to avoid some of the higher parts. Again, you need to check the season, accommodation and current trail information in advance.

Compostela, stamps and accommodation: the practical important things

To apply for the Compostela, you need to have walked a minimum of 100 continuous kilometres on a recognised route that ends in Santiago, or 200 km by bike . During the last 100 kilometres, the walker needs to have at least two stamps per day on their credential. It's an easy rule to miss if you only get one stamp at the end of the day. Ask the accommodation, church or business where you're staying if they can stamp your passport.

The accommodation affects how freely you can plan. Public and municipal albergues usually do not take advance bookings and allocate places on the spot, often on a first-come, first-served basis. Donativo albergues usually do not take bookings, but a call in advance can be appreciated. Private albergues can often be booked by phone or WhatsApp, sometimes a day or two in advance.

There is no general booking rule for all albergues. During high season, especially May–September, pressure is high on parts of Francés and Portugués. Don't expect to always find a free bed without planning. Check accommodation and opening hours for your specific stages, and book where the options are few.

In Spain and Portugal, the right of way generally does not apply in the same way as in the Nordic countries, the Pyrenees or Scotland. Caminos go through landscapes where passage along the path is accepted, but stay on the marked route. Rules for fires, dogs and tents vary regionally and locally. Wild camping is generally not allowed without special permission; national parks and protected areas may have additional rules. Use albergues or authorized campsites.

Season, water and safety

Hikers on dry gravel road through open landscape in Extremadura along the Via de la Plata

For Francés and Portugués, May–June and September–October are often pleasant months for hiking. July and August can be very hot. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in higher terrain, so plan to avoid crossing exposed areas late in the day. On Primitivo, extra allowance is required for mountain weather and steep sections. On the Fishermen's Trail, the sand is heavy to walk on and rocks can be slippery in the wind.

The Iberian Peninsula is drier than many Nordic hiking areas. Refill your water when you have the opportunity and don't count on a spring at every rest stop. Use water purification if you are unsure of a spring. On the Camino del Norte, the distance between water points is often shorter than on the interior routes, but still check each day's stage.

The emergency number in Spain and Portugal is 112. Have insurance that covers medical care and, where relevant, mountain rescue. Save offline maps and plan a backup solution in case you get sick, the trail closes or the accommodation is full.

Pack for weekdays on foot – not for an imagined expedition

Most people staying in albergues don't need a tent. Prioritize shoes you've worn in, a backpack that fits well, and protection from the sun and rain. A hat, sunscreen, water bottles, first aid, and offline maps are useful on almost all routes. Poles can help on Primitivo and Via de la Plata.

A sleeping bag sheet or light quilt is suitable for albergue life. Blankets or duvets are not always provided, and rules vary between accommodations. Ground chilling is usually less of a concern than on mountain trails, but nights can get chilly in the Cantabrian Mountains and at altitudes along the Via de la Plata. Match your sleeping gear to the temperatures you’re likely to encounter; HikingStore’s Down Sleeping Bag Guide explains why fill weight and down quality both affect warmth.

Consider backpacks , sleeping bags and quilts , sleeping pads and tents if you plan to sleep outside of albergues. For a broader overview of packing, you can also use our mountain hiking packing list as a starting point and adapt it for warmer climates and accommodation along the trail. Pack lightly, but don't cut out what is needed for safe hiking and recovery. The best equipment is the one that works when the weather changes.

Sources and further reading

This is part 6 of 8 in the Europe part of the World's Hiking Trails series. The next part is "Pilgrim Trails – Via Francigena, Via Dinarica and Peaks of the Balkans" , where we take a closer look at the Via Francigena and other southern European long-distance trails.