Camino del Norte

In short: Camino del Norte: from Irun to Santiago de Compostela. Length: around 830 km, duration: 5 to 6 weeks. Best time: May to October.

Overview

The coastal route starts at the French border in Irun and follows the Atlantic coast through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias. It passes through San Sebastián, Bilbao and Santander and only turns inland towards Galicia late on.

The route is more strenuous than the Camino Francés because it goes up and down all the time. In return it is cooler in summer, and you often walk within sight of the sea. In the Basque Country and Cantabria the albergues are further apart and prices are higher, so plan your daily stages more carefully.

Many pilgrims choose the Norte for a second pilgrimage, when they already know the atmosphere of the Camino and want more peace. In Oviedo you can switch to the Camino Primitivo.

Main stops: Irún, San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo, Gijón, Ribadeo, Arzúa, Santiago de Compostela.

The route from Irún to Santiago

The route starts at the French border in Irún and follows the Bay of Biscay through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias. San Sebastián, Bilbao and Santander lie directly on the way. After Ribadeo it turns inland and joins the Camino Francés in Arzúa.

The coast looks flatter than it is. In the Basque Country especially, the path goes up and down constantly, and many days add up to far more climbing than on the Francés.

Albergues and season

There are fewer albergues than on the Francés, and in July and August pilgrims compete with beach holidaymakers for beds. Book ahead in the coastal towns at that time of year. May, June and September are the most pleasant months.

Rain is part of this coast all year round. In return it stays green even in high summer and is rarely oppressively hot.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 830 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Who is this route for?

This route is a poor choice for a first attempt. You should be sure-footed and have stamina, and several weeks of training will pay off here.

What does the route cost?

With an albergue or simple guesthouse and one hot meal, 40 to 50 euros a day is usually enough. Over about 49 days that comes to roughly 1,950 to 2,450 euros, plus travel and gear. This is a guide figure.

You can find more routes under Pilgrimage routes in Europe, Pilgrimage in Spain, sorted by religion under Christian pilgrimage routes.