Way
History
Camino de Santiago: Routes, Stages, Maps, and Towns
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Main Routes
Information, Stages, Maps, and Points of Interest
In 1997, the Council of Europe declared the Camino de Santiago the First European Cultural Itinerary, recognizing that “the routes of the Camino de Santiago are a symbol, reflecting almost a thousand years of European history and serving as a model of cultural cooperation for all of Europe.”
This route, described in the Codex Calixtinus (12th century), is the most historically significant. At its starting point, most European routes converge.
Variant of the French Way
The second most popular route, with ancient roads inherited from Roman times and traveled by illustrious pilgrims.
Variant of the Portuguese Way
The Coastal Way is also known as the Monastic Way due to the numerous monasteries found along the route.
Variant of the Portuguese Way
A medieval Camino, supported by the settlement of religious orders, temples, and hospitals. It mainly passes through coastal towns.
Variant of the Northern Way
The only route with a maritime origin, where pilgrims from the British Isles, Ireland, and Northern Europe disembarked.
Variant of the English Way
The longest route, crossing the Iberian Peninsula from south to north. An opportunity to discover historically significant sites and great artistic heritage.
Variant of the Silver Route
Also known as the Original Way, it was the first of all the Caminos. Alfonso II took this route in the 9th century to reach Compostela.
Following an access route already used by the Romans, it is believed that this route was created to avoid the harsh winter climate of this region of the Camino.
Considered the End of the Earth by the Romans. Here, the sun was worshiped as it was believed to sink into the Atlantic each night.
Alternative Routes
Secondary Routes of the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago weaves a vast network of routes throughout almost the entire Iberian Peninsula. These routes serve as links to the Main Routes and provide additional journeys of great scenic, historical, and cultural value.
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Oviedo
130 kms
5 stages
Salvador Way
Also called the Way of San Salvador, it connects León with Oviedo. Traditionally, pilgrims would detour to Oviedo to visit the Cathedral of San Salvador. Once in the city of Oviedo, they would continue along the Primitive Way…
Connects with
French Way
Bilbao
637 kms
18 stages
Forgotten Way
This route is documented as one of the earliest paths in the history of the Jacobean routes, connecting the cities of Bilbao and Villafranca del Bierzo, where it then joins the French Way or the Winter Way,…
Connects with
French Way or Winter Way
Irún
252 kms or 199 kms
12 stages or 9 stages
Basque Interior Way
It has been a fundamental Jacobean axis since Roman times, as it served as the entrance to the center of the Iberian Peninsula from Irún. The route begins in Irún and joins the French Way in Santo Domingo de la Calzada (La Rioja)… Read more
Connects with
French Way
Pamplona
110 kms
6 stages
Baztanes Way
It begins in Bayonne and ends in Pamplona, connecting with the French Way, covering 109 km filled with history. This route was widely used in the Middle Ages by both pilgrims and royalty, as well as the military. Hence, the efforts for its reconstruction…
Connects with
French Way
Puy en Velay
110 kms
6 stages
Via Podiensis
Also known as the Via Podiensis, it starts from Le Puy-en-Velay and runs to the pass of Roncesvalles, where it joins the French Way. This is one of the alternative routes to avoid the steep climb after St. Jean Pied de Port…
Connects with
French Way
Somport
205 kms
6 stages
Aragonese Way
It connects the Spanish-French border at Somport with the Navarrese town of Puente de la Reina, where it joins the French Way. This alternative route allows pilgrims to better enjoy the natural beauty of the Aragón region…Read more
Connects with
French Way
Montserrat
395 kms
19 stages
Catalan Way / Via Zaragoza
This route begins at the Pyrenees border and continues through Catalonia from north to south until it reaches Aragón, where it joins the Ebro Way in the town of Fuentes de Ebro…
Connects with
French Way
Zaragoza
362.8 kms
17 stages
Ebro Way
It begins in the town of Deltebre and continues to Fuentes de Ebro, where it connects with the Catalan Way via Zaragoza…
Connects with
French Way
Madrid
600 kms
29 stages
Madrid Way
It starts in the capital of Spain and crosses the Sierra de Guadarrama, traveling through much of the northern plateau via Segovia, Valladolid, and León…
Connects with
French Way
Valencia
842 kms
42 stages
Levante Way
It begins in Valencia and crosses five regions before reaching Galicia, aiming to connect the two great seas of the Iberian Peninsula…
Connects with
French Way
Alicante
1160 kms
48 stages
Wool Route / Southeast
It begins in Alicante and passes through La Mancha before reaching the capital of Burgos, where it joins the French Way…
Connects with
French Way
Málaga
1039 kms
39 stages
Mozarabic Way
This route has three different starting points in Andalusia: Málaga, Almería, and Jaén. The meeting point is the town of Baena…
Connects with
Via de la Plata
Non-Jacobean Routes
Other pilgrimage routes, independent of the Camino de Santiago
There are other pilgrimage and hiking routes throughout Spain that have gained relevance over the years. Discover information and stages of each one.
San Vicente de la Barquera
201 kms
9 stages
Lebaniego Way
One of the routes with its own history, independent of the Apostle Santiago. It is famous for housing one of the largest relics in the Monastery of Santo Toribio…
Malpica
196 kms
8 stages
Camiño dos Faros
A scenic route that combines the beauty of maritime landscapes with the lighthouses built along the “Coast of Death.”
International Routes
Other pilgrimage routes in Asia and Europe
Discover all the essential information about some of the world’s major pilgrimage routes, some of which hold great historical significance and share many similarities with the Camino de Santiago.
Kumano Kodo
Kumano Kodo, Japan
An internationally recognized Japanese route twinned with the Camino de Santiago. Discover one of the world’s most important pilgrimage routes…
Practical Information
Frequently Asked Questions
If we consider all the kilometers of each route, the shortest Camino de Santiago is the Santiago-Finisterre route, the final route to the End of the World in Galicia.
Without considering connections or secondary routes, the longest route is the Northern Way, spanning more than 820 km.
The Primitive Way is considered the toughest due to its mountainous terrain, which must be crossed to enter Galicia from Asturias.
The easiest route is the Camino de Santiago from Sarria, covering the last 100 km of the French Way. It is the most popular choice for beginners.
The most scenic route is the Northern Way, offering breathtaking landscapes that combine lush forests and stunning coastal views.
There are two main coastal Camino routes: the Northern Way and the Portuguese Coastal Way. The first follows Spain’s northern coast along the Cantabrian Sea, while the latter runs along the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Galicia.
The minimum distance required to earn the Compostela certificate is 100 km if walking or riding on horseback, and 200 km if cycling.
The Camino de Santiago consists of multiple routes, each with its own starting point: French Way – Saint Jean Pied de Port, Northern Way – Irún, Portuguese Way – Lisbon, English Way – Ferrol…
