Best Routes of the Camino de Santiago: Which One is Right For You?

So, the decision over which one to do can be time-consuming and sometimes even stressful. 

But, to choose the best Camino route, you can simplify it by looking at your own needs first.

Camino Francés (French Way)

The Camino Francés remains the most popular route. This means that you will see plenty of other walkers, particularly during summer. The route begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and is a 790 km path that goes into northern Spain. Not everybody walks the entire length of it, of course, meaning the Spain part of the route is where it gets busier (towards the end). However, the original route goes through the Pyrenees and the northern parts of the Meseta plateau, along with seeing the green hills of Galicia.

Pros: Excellent infrastructure with many accommodation options. A rich history and a great social experience.
Cons: Can feel crowded, especially during peak season, and takes a long time.

Camino Portugués (Portuguese Way)

This is the second most popular route. The Camino Portugués offers two main options from Porto:

Central Route (243 km): The traditional inland route goes through some charming rural Portuguese villages with plenty of vineyards and forests.

Pros: Better infrastructure, lots of history, well-marked path.
Cons: Many cobblestones, some hills, and no real coastal views.

Coastal Route (274 km): Despite being similar in length, this route follows the Atlantic coastline before merging with the Central Route at Redondela.

Pros: Beautiful coastal scenery, more flat, refreshing sea breeze in summer.
Cons: Despite its name, only about 30% is truly coastal.

Camino del Norte (Northern Way)

The Camino del Norte (825 km) hugs around Spain's northern coastline from Irún all the way through the Basque Country, which has its own set culture and language, along with Cantabria and Asturias.

Pros: Coastal scenery, less crowded, excellent and unique food (e.g. Basque Country).
Cons: More physically demanding with steep ascents and less infrastructure. Basque is also expensive.

Other noteworthy routes

Via de la Plata (1000 km): The longest route starts in Seville and heads north. Most stages exceed 18 miles, meaning each day is difficult, and it can feel as though it’s never-ending. But, it’s rewarding!

Camino Primitivo (321 km): This is the oldest route and it begins in Oviedo. Considered one of the toughest routes due to the mountain terrain, but it has amazing views as a result.

Camino Inglés (120 km): A shorter option is to start in Ferrol and it was historically used by pilgrims from the British Isles.

Route comparison table

For beginners, the Camino Francés or Portuguese Coastal has the best balance of infrastructure and manageable terrain. Plus, they’re not too remote, and you don’t need to do every inch of it - 100km of walking is required for the certificate. Nature lovers may appreciate Camino del Norte the most, while history enthusiasts might opt for the traditional Central Portuguese route or Camino Primitivo.