What is the best time of year for a pilgrimage?

In short: April to June and September to October are the most pleasant. In high summer it gets hot and crowded, and in winter many albergues are closed.

A pilgrimage is much like going for a walk: you can do it in any weather. You should be aware, though, that at certain times of year it can get very hot, and also very cold. So which is the best time of year for a pilgrimage?

You can go on a pilgrimage all year round. But which seasons are best? The problem is this:

• In summer it is hot for walking

• In winter it is cold and it may snow

That is why you are better off choosing spring:

• March to June is the best time to walk, when it is neither too cold nor too hot.

There is an old saying that most of us will have heard at some point:

There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.

German proverb

Take that to heart and think in advance about when you want to set off.

The months compared

April, May, September and October are the most pleasant months for the Way of St James in Spain. In July and August it is often very hot on the Meseta, and many albergues are full. In winter it is much quieter, but some albergues are closed and the passes in the Pyrenees and Galicia can be covered in snow. This also makes a difference to your choice of route: the coastal route is cooler in summer than the Camino Francés. You will find the routes compared on our Way of St James page.