Overview

When you talk about walking “the Camino,” the most common assumption is that you’re referring to the Camino Francés. The most well-known and thoroughly marked route of the pilgrimage to Santiago, the Camino Francés (also known as the Jacobean Way), officially begins in St. Jean Pied-de-Port in southern France—though one can obtain a pilgrim passport and begin the Camino from any of the major points along the route. The road runs across the Pyrenees, then takes pilgrims through the North of Castile and the mountains of Galicia.

The geography and length of this route allow pilgrims to witness great shifts in terrain, elevation, culture, and language as they make their way to Santiago. The Camino Francés draws the most tourists out of any of the Camino routes—high season runs from May to August—with the most populous section being the final 100 km before reaching Santiago, since this is the minimum distance one must walk to earn the compostela. There is a great sense of camaraderie and understanding among pilgrims on this route, and the local residents and businesses are quite used to accommodating the steady stream of peregrinos that passes through.

Distance: 769 km (478 mi)
Duration: approximately 4 weeks

 

Destinations

St. Jean Pied-de-Port
Roncesvalles
Burguete
Espinal
Viscarret
Linzoáin
Larrasoaña
Trinidad de Arre
Pamplona
Cizur Menor
Uterga
Obanos
Puente la Reina
Cirauqui
Lorca
Villtuerta
Estella
Villamayor de Monjardín
Los Arcos
Torres del Rio
Sansol
Viana
Logroño
Navarrete
Ventosa
Nájera
Asofra
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Grañón
Redecilla del Camino
Belorado
Tosantos
Villafranca Montes de Oca
San Juan de Ortega
Agés
Atapuerca
Olmos de Atapuerca
Burgos
Villalbilla de Burgos
Tardajos
Rabé de las Calzadas
Hornillos del Camino
San Bol
Hontanas
Castrojeriz
Itero del Castillo
Puente de Fitero
Itero de la Vega
Boadilla del Camino
Frómista
Población de Campos
Villacázar de Sirga
Carrión de los Condes
Calzadilla de la Cueza
Ledigos
Terradillo del los Templarios
San Nicolás del Real Camino
Sahagún
Calzada del Coto
Bercianos del Real Camino
El Burgo Raneros
Reliegos
Mansilla de las Mulas
León
Villadangos del Páramo
San Martín del Camino
Hospital de Órbigo
Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias
Astorga
Murias de Rechivaldo
Santa Catalina de Somoza
El Ganso
Rabanal del Camino
Manjarin
El Acebo
Riego de Ambros
Molinaseca
Ponferrada
Cacabelos
Villafranca del Bierzo
Pereje
Trabadelo
La Portela de Valcarce
Vega de Valcarce
Ruitelan
La Faba
O Cebreiro
Hospital de la Condesa
Fonfría
Triacastela
Samos
Calvor
Sarria
Barbadelo
Fereiros
Portomarín
Gonzar
Ventas de Naró
Ligonde
Palas de Rei
Casanova
Leboreiro
Melide
Ribadiso da Baixo
Arzúa
Santa Irene
Arca do Pino
Monte do Gozo
Santiago de Compostela