Camino de Santiago
Photo: Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Camino de Santiago (in English also The Way of St. James, Galician: O Camiño de Santiago, Ruta Xacobea), often referred to colloquially as simply the Camino in English or El Camino in Spanish, is one of the most important Christian pilgrimages in Europe and increasingly famous throughout the world, with Santiago de Compostela, Spain, as the final destination. In 2024 there were about half a million pilgrims recorded along the routes.
While originally a Christian pilgrimage, the Camino is nowadays often undertaken with cultural, spiritual or personal motives, not necessarily religious ones — many people walking on the trail nowadays have another faith or world view. Unlike most other pilgrimages, in which only the pilgrimage place is important, the journey itself plays a major role. For many it is about the challenge, nature, switching off from everyday life, self-reflection, and camaraderie with fellow pilgrims.
UnderstandThe pilgrimage goes to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in north-western Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried.
PrepareSince the route choice and starting points are completely arbitrary, it is up to you to decide by factoring in the time you have to your disposal, the season, the terrain, the trail surfaces, the infrastructure along…
TalkTalking amongst pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago is a fundamental part of the experience. Conversations can be deeply personal, casual, or even spiritual, depending on the people involved.
Get inDepending on which route you are taking, the closest major international cities you can fly in to would be Biarritz, Bordeaux, Paris or Toulouse in France, Barcelona, Bilbao or Madrid in Spain, and Lisbon or Porto in…
Do"Have you ever walked the Camino, señora?" "Never. When I was young, I was too busy. And now that I'm older, I'm too tired."
EatDepending on the village, there is usually at least one cafe that provide a simple breakfast, such as a simple piece of pastry with coffee for only €2.
DrinkWater is the preferred drink when hiking. Aim to drink at least 2-3 litres of water throughout the day.
SleepThe services for travellers vary between the busy legs in Spain and Portugal, and the routes leading to there., although you may get a pilgrim discount.
RoutesThis section is an attempt to encourage sharing practical information about travelling the Camino.
Stay healthyBecause of the journey's nature, it is expected that this long walk for multiple days will test your fitness level to the limit.
Stay safeThe number for emergency services is 112.
ConnectIf you have an existing subscription with an EU-based mobile provider, in most cases you should be able to use your minutes, SMS, and data package at no extra cost.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Camino de Santiago" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons