Vía de la Plata

Cartoon pilgrim on the hot plain of southern Spain beside a Roman arch

In short: Vía de la Plata: from Seville to Santiago de Compostela. Length: around 1,000 km, duration: 6 to 7 weeks. Best time: Autumn to spring.

Overview

From Seville the Vía de la Plata heads north, following an old Roman road for much of the way. It passes through Extremadura with Mérida and Cáceres and reaches Galicia via Salamanca and Zamora.

It is the longest Camino route in Spain and one of the quietest. Daily stages are often long, and there are sometimes 30 kilometres without services between towns. In summer the southern part is dangerously hot, so go in spring or autumn.

If you would like to walk in winter, this is the best option, as it usually stays mild in the south.

Main stops: Seville, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora, Astorga or Ourense, Santiago de Compostela.

Along the Roman road through Spain

For long stretches the Via de la Plata follows a Roman road that linked the south of Spain with the north. From Seville it goes via Mérida, with its Roman theatre, to Cáceres and Salamanca. After Zamora you decide whether to switch to the Francés at Astorga or to walk straight to Santiago on the Camino Sanabrés.

Heat and long distances

In Extremadura there are often 25 kilometres or more between two towns, and shade is rare. The south is hard to recommend in high summer. Go in spring or from late September and carry more water than on other routes.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 1000 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Per day	Walking days	With rest days
15 km	67	78
20 km	50	58
25 km	40	46

Who is this route for?

With some hiking experience this route is very manageable. Expect climbs and keep your days from getting too long.

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 58 days that comes to roughly 2,300 to 2,900 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.