Food on the Way of St James: what pilgrims eat

In short: It is getting better, but in the countryside it remains limited. Ask for tortilla, salad and lentils, or cook for yourself in the albergue kitchen in the evening.

If you walk all day, you get hungry. A lot on the Way of St James revolves around food, and the days follow a set pattern.

A typical day

Many people start without breakfast and stop after a few kilometres at the first bar for café con leche and a tostada. At lunchtime there is a bocadillo or a tortilla. In the evening comes the pilgrim menu: three courses for around 12 to 15 euros, often including wine and water. You will find the prices on our costs page.

Mealtimes

People eat late in Spain, and restaurants often don't open until 8 pm. Many serve pilgrims earlier. Shops close in the afternoon and on Sundays, so buy your food in the morning. There is more on this in our article Planning breaks.

Cooking for yourself

Many albergues have a kitchen. Pasta with vegetables for several people is cheap and makes the nicest dinner of the day. Cooking together is often the best way to get talking.

Vegetarian food

In the countryside the choice stays small, but tortilla, salads and lentil stew will get you by. Ask for “sin carne”, meaning without meat, and watch out for tuna in the salad.

Specialities

In Galicia, try pulpo and tarta de Santiago, the almond cake with a cross. Cider is part of the scene in Asturias, and in La Rioja a glass of red wine.