You have decided you want to walk the Camino de Santiago. Perhaps it has been on your mind for years, or perhaps the idea has only recently begun to take shape.
Then you start researching.
There is the Camino Francés, the Portuguese Way, the Camino del Norte, the Camino Primitivo. Some people walk for a month, others for a week. There are pilgrim hostels, private hotels, luggage transfers, credentials, stamps and endless packing lists.
Suddenly, a journey that seemed beautifully simple begins to feel rather complicated.
The good news? Planning your first Camino de Santiago doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't need to understand every route or make every decision at once. A few practical choices will help you find the experience that works for you.
Here is where to begin.
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One of the most common misconceptions about the Camino de Santiago is that you need several weeks, or even a month, to experience it properly.
The Camino Francés, the best-known route, stretches for roughly 780 kilometres from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Walking the entire route generally takes around five weeks, depending on your pace and rest days.
But the Camino is not one single itinerary that everyone must complete from beginning to end.
It is a network of historic pilgrimage routes, each with its own landscapes, traditions and character. You can:
Many first-time pilgrims choose to walk the final 100 kilometres of a recognised route, usually over five to seven walking days.
That is enough to experience the rhythm of the Camino: waking up, setting out on foot, following the familiar yellow arrows, meeting other walkers and gradually making your way towards Santiago.
Your first decision is not how to complete the entire Camino. It is how much of it you would like to experience this time.
At SloWays, you can walk the Camino Francés in individual sections, from the French approach towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port all the way to Santiago.
You can choose a week-long journey, combine several stages or return another year to continue where you left off.
And the Camino Francés is only one possibility. Our collection also includes the Portuguese Way, Camino del Norte, Camino Inglés, Camino Primitivo and other historic pilgrimage routes.
You don't have to adapt your holiday to a single idea of what the Camino should be. You can choose the journey that suits your time, experience and interests.
There is no single best Camino de Santiago route for everyone.
Some pilgrims are drawn to the history and sociable atmosphere of the French Way. Others prefer coastal scenery, quieter paths or a more physically demanding experience.
Here are some of the best-known options, and how to decide which one might suit you.
The French Way is the most established Camino route, with a long pilgrimage tradition, frequent waymarking and an extensive network of accommodation and services.
The final section from Sarria to Santiago is particularly popular among first-time walkers. It passes through the green Galician countryside, woodland, farmland and small villages, with plenty of opportunities to meet fellow pilgrims.
Consider it if: you want the classic Camino atmosphere, a well-established route and the experience of arriving in Santiago on foot.
With SloWays: you can walk from Sarria to Santiago in seven days, or begin further back along the French Way with itineraries such as Roncesvalles to Logroño, Logroño to Burgos, Burgos to León and León to Sarria.
The Portuguese Way reaches Santiago from the south, passing through historic towns and landscapes shaped by centuries of movement between Portugal and Galicia.
For a shorter pilgrimage, the section from Valença or Tui to Santiago is a popular option.
It offers a combination of villages, countryside, cultural heritage and the shared experience of walking towards the same destination.
Consider it if: you enjoy historic towns, cultural discoveries and a route with a strong pilgrimage identity.
With SloWays: you can choose an eight-day itinerary from Valença/Tui to Santiago, as well as longer Portuguese Way journeys.
The Camino del Norte follows Spain's northern coastline, passing through the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia.
Its combination of coastal landscapes, historic towns and green countryside makes it an appealing alternative to the French Way.
However, it can also be physically demanding, with repeated climbs and descents, so it is worth checking the difficulty of individual stages.
Consider it if: coastal scenery is a priority and you are comfortable with more varied walking terrain.
With SloWays: you can explore the route in sections, including San Sebastián to Marquina, Bilbao to Santander, Santander to Oviedo and the final approach from Ribadeo to Santiago.
Traditionally used by pilgrims arriving by sea from northern Europe, the Camino Inglés offers a different approach to Santiago.
The route from Ferrol passes through Galician towns, countryside and woodland before reaching the city.
It is an interesting option for travellers who have approximately one week available and would like to experience a complete pilgrimage route.
Consider it if: you want a shorter Camino with a distinctive history and the satisfaction of arriving in Santiago on foot.
With SloWays: you can walk the Camino Inglés from Ferrol to Santiago in seven days.
The Camino Primitivo is known for its hilly terrain, rural landscapes and physically challenging stages.
It can be deeply rewarding for experienced walkers, but it generally requires more preparation than the easier sections of the French or Portuguese routes.
Consider it if: you already enjoy multi-day hiking and are comfortable with significant ascents and descents.
With SloWays: you can follow the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago over 18 days.
The best Camino for beginners is not necessarily the shortest or most famous. It is the one that matches your walking experience and the kind of journey you want to have.
Once you have a general idea of your preferred route, look at your available time.
A week can be enough for a meaningful Camino experience, particularly if you choose a section ending in Santiago. With ten days or two weeks, you have more flexibility to explore a longer stretch or include rest days.
Remember to distinguish between walking days and total holiday days.
If you have eight days available, you may need to allow one for travelling to your starting point and another for returning home. That leaves approximately six days on the trail.
It is also worth considering whether you would like to spend an additional night in Santiago after arriving.
Reaching the city is an important moment, and having time to explore its streets, visit the cathedral or simply enjoy the atmosphere can be a lovely way to finish.
You have more options than you might think. For example:
If you have longer, consider the Portuguese Way, a section of the Camino del Norte or a multi-stage journey along the Camino Francés.
And if completing the entire French Way is your ambition, there's no need to do it all in one holiday.
SloWays itineraries allow you to divide the route into manageable sections, returning to continue your journey when you're ready.
This can be a particularly appealing approach if you enjoy the idea of making the Camino an ongoing project, rather than a single trip.
How many kilometres should you walk each day on the Camino de Santiago?
There is no universal answer.
Many Camino itineraries involve stages of approximately 15–25 kilometres, but the right distance depends on several factors:
Twenty kilometres on relatively gentle paths can feel very different from twenty kilometres with repeated climbs, steep descents or difficult weather.
If you are new to multi-day walking, think about how comfortable you feel walking for several hours on consecutive days, rather than judging your ability from a single long hike.
Also consider the experience you want.
Would you prefer to start early and spend much of the day walking? Or would you enjoy shorter stages, longer lunch breaks and time to explore the villages along the way?
A successful Camino is not the one with the highest daily mileage. It is the one whose rhythm you can enjoy and sustain.
When comparing itineraries, look at elevation gain and terrain as well as distance. These details are often more useful than the number of kilometres alone.
And remember that choosing a shorter section does not necessarily mean choosing an easier one. The physical demands of individual stages can vary considerably, even along the same route.
Spring and autumn are popular choices for walking the Camino, thanks to generally milder temperatures compared with the height of summer.
However, conditions vary considerably between routes and regions.
Here is what to consider:
In Galicia, rain is possible throughout the year. And no period guarantees ideal weather.
If you prefer a sociable experience and enjoy meeting plenty of other pilgrims, a busier period may suit you.
If you would rather have more space and quieter paths, consider travelling outside peak periods, while remembering that some services may operate seasonally.
The best time to walk the Camino depends on the route, the weather and the kind of atmosphere you are looking for.
It is also worth remembering that conditions can change considerably along longer routes. A journey crossing the Pyrenees, for example, requires different seasonal considerations from a shorter walk through Galicia.
One of the pleasures of the Camino is the freedom to walk at your own pace.
But independence doesn't have to mean organising every detail yourself.
Some pilgrims prefer to arrange accommodation as they go, carry their belongings and keep their plans flexible.
Others feel more comfortable knowing where they will sleep each night, particularly on their first Camino.
A self-guided walking holiday offers a useful middle ground.
You still walk independently, without following a guide or travelling with a fixed group, but the main practical arrangements are organised in advance.
With a SloWays self-guided Camino holiday, you can enjoy the freedom of walking at your own pace while having your accommodation and route arrangements organised in advance.
Depending on the itinerary, you can also choose services such as luggage transfers, allowing you to carry only what you need during the day.
This approach offers several practical advantages:
For some people, arranging everything independently is part of the adventure. For others, having those details taken care of makes the experience more relaxing.
Neither approach is more authentic.
The important thing is choosing the level of support that allows you to enjoy your journey.
You don't need to be an experienced long-distance hiker to walk an accessible section of the Camino, but some physical preparation will make the experience considerably more comfortable.
In the weeks before departure:
Comfortable, well-tested footwear is far more important than buying the most technical equipment available.
For most walking holidays, a practical packing list includes:
Walking poles can also be useful, particularly on routes with significant descents.
If your holiday includes luggage transfers, you won't need to carry all your belongings throughout the day. That can make a considerable difference to comfort, especially when walking for several days in a row.
The aim is not to prepare for every imaginable situation. It is to bring what you need and feel comfortable using it.
Two words you will encounter while planning the Camino are credencial and Compostela.
They refer to different things.
The credencial, or pilgrim passport, is the document you carry along the route and have stamped at designated places such as churches, accommodation providers and other establishments.
It records your progress and is part of the Camino's long-established pilgrimage tradition.
The Compostela is the certificate issued in Santiago to pilgrims who fulfil the official requirements.
For pilgrims travelling on foot, these include:
For cyclists, the minimum distance is 200 kilometres.
The Compostela has a religious or spiritual dimension, so the official eligibility requirements are worth checking before departure.
You can consult the official information on the Pilgrim's Reception Office website.
But remember that obtaining a certificate does not have to be the purpose of your journey.
You can walk the Camino for its history, landscapes, culture, sense of community or simply the pleasure of spending several days outdoors.
There is room for different motivations along the same path.
If you are still wondering where to begin, keep your first decisions straightforward.
Once these decisions are made, most of the planning becomes much easier.
There is a reason so many people dream of walking the Camino de Santiago.
Part of its appeal lies in the simplicity of the days: setting off in the morning, following a path, discovering what lies between one village and the next, and arriving somewhere new by the end of the afternoon.
You don't need to know exactly what the experience will mean to you before you leave.
And you certainly don't need to have every detail of the Camino figured out before taking the first step.
Start with the time you have, the route that interests you and a pace that feels right.
With the practical arrangements taken care of, you can give more of your attention to the experience itself.
The rest is something you will discover along the way.
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