Camino Francés to Santiago
788 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. The route section by section, what counts for the Compostela, and your own Camino drawn as a print.
Camino de Santiago at a glance
- Start and finish
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela
- The walk
- 788 km (490 miles) one way, 30 to 40 days
- Most popular start
- Sarria, 116 km (72 miles) from Santiago
- The Compostela
- At least the last 100 km on foot or horseback, or 200 km by bike
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrows, scallop shells and bollards all the way
- Season
- Full services from April into early November
The Camino Francés, section by section
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona
66 km (41 miles) one way · 3 stages · starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France
Day one crosses the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles, either over the high Napoleon route, 24.2 km (15 miles), or the lower way through Valcarlos, 23.4 km (14.5 miles). The Napoleon route is closed from 1 November to 31 March. Then down through Zubiri to Pamplona.
Pamplona to Burgos
215 km (134 miles) one way · 9 stages
Over the Alto del Perdón, with its pilgrim sculptures among the wind turbines, across Puente la Reina's medieval bridge, then through the vineyards of La Rioja via Logroño and Santo Domingo de la Calzada, home of the miracle chickens, to Burgos.
Burgos to León
178 km (111 miles) one way · 8 stages
The Meseta: big skies and long, mostly flat days through Castrojeriz, Frómista and Carrión de los Condes to León and the stained glass of its Gothic cathedral.
León to O Cebreiro
152 km (94 miles) one way · 6 stages
Astorga and its Gaudí palace, then up into the Montes de León to the Cruz de Ferro and down to the Templar castle at Ponferrada. A long climb out of the Bierzo brings you over the pass at O Cebreiro and into Galicia.
O Cebreiro to Sarria
38 km (24 miles) one way · 2 stages, via Triacastela and San Xil
Down from the pass to Triacastela, then either the shorter way over San Xil or the longer one past the monastery at Samos, 24.7 km (15 miles) from Triacastela to Sarria.
Sarria to Santiago
116 km (72 miles) one way · 5 stages · starts in Sarria
The last 100 km and the busiest stretch: Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Arzúa and O Pedrouzo, then the cathedral. If this is all you walk, get your credencial stamped and dated at the start and end of every stage.
Total distance and starting points from the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago, via American Pilgrims on the Camino, and section distances from Gronze.com's stages, read October 2026. Gronze's stages add up to a little under 788 km.
Your Camino de Santiago, drawn
Your own route, drawn from your phone or watch onto the map, with the peaks, huts and villages along the way named.
The print shown is a walk in the Surrey Hills. Yours is drawn from your own walk on Camino de Santiago.
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£55 from 1 January · £99 framed
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Good questions
How long is the Camino Francés?
About 788 km (490 miles) from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago, which takes most people 30 to 40 days, according to the Pilgrim's Office figures.
How do you get the Compostela?
Walk or ride at least the last 100 km to Santiago in one go on a recognised route, or cycle the last 200 km, finishing at the cathedral, with a credencial stamped along the way. If you only do the minimum, get it stamped and dated at the start and end of each stage. The cathedral issues it to pilgrims who come for religious or spiritual reasons.
Why do so many people start in Sarria?
Sarria is 116 km from Santiago, just over the 100 km you need for the Compostela, and it takes 5 to 6 days. It's the most popular start on the Camino Francés, so the last stretch is the busiest.
When is the best time to walk the Camino Francés?
You can walk it all year, with full services from April into early November. April and May, and August and September, are the busiest months. The Napoleon route over the Pyrenees is closed from 1 November to 31 March, and you can meet snow on the high ground in winter and early spring.
Do you have to start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?
No. León (318 km, 13 to 16 days), Ponferrada (214 km, 9 to 11 days) and O Cebreiro (163 km, 6 to 8 days) are all popular starts, and you can join anywhere.
Can I get a print of my own Camino de Santiago hike?
Yes. Send the file from your phone or watch, Strava, Komoot or any app that exports GPX, and we draw your Camino with the towns, passes and Santiago named.
You walked it, now frame it
Send the file from your phone or watch, pick the colours, and we'll take it from there
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