Which Camino de Santiago Route Should You Choose? A First-Timer’s Guide

Table of Contents

Choosing Your Camino Route

This is Part 3 of my Camino series. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

While preparing for my Camino, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of information out there.

Everyone says different things and some even say you plan too much, JUST GO AND WALK IT.

It’s easier said than done for people who have already walked it but definitely not for someone who has never even been to Europe like me.

Which route should I take? How many days should I walk? What do I need to bring? Where should I stay? I had so many questions!

Apparently there are MANY Camino routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Each has its own charm, challenges, and vibe. Which route to choose for the first time is one of the most common questions people ask in Camino forums.

I originally wanted to go the Portuguese Way (The Coastal Route), because I really love looking at the ocean but when I watched videos on Youtube, I saw that not a lot of people walk it.

Since I was going solo, I decided it’s better to choose the most popular one so at least I won’t be completely alone.

Now I am not claiming I am an expert or anything but these are a compilation of things I learned from other people or from Camino forums and websites while doing my own research.

Major Camino de Santiago Routes:

Camino Francés (French Way)

Starts in: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (France)
Distance: ~780 km
Highlights: Pyrenees, Pamplona, Burgos, León, O Cebreiro, and Santiago

Notes : Most popular route (over 50% of all pilgrims). Well-marked and well-supported.

Camino Portugués (Portuguese Way)

Starts in: Lisbon or Porto (Portugal)
Distance: Lisbon ~610 km | Porto ~240 km

Notes: Second most popular route

Variations:

Central Route – passes through Coimbra and Ponte de Lima
Coastal Route – scenic Atlantic views
Espiritual Variant – includes boat journey across the Ría de Arousa

Camino del Norte (Northern Way)

Starts in: Irún (Basque Country, Spain)
Distance: ~825 km
Highlights: San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Gijón

Notes : Follows the northern coast of Spain. More rugged and less crowded

Camino Primitivo (Original Way)

Starts in: Oviedo (Asturias)
Distance: ~320 km

Notes : The oldest known Camino route, known for its natural beauty and challenge. Very scenic and mountainous. Merges with the Camino Francés near Melide.

Camino Inglés (English Way)

Starts in: Ferrol or A Coruña (Galícia)
Distance: Ferrol ~120 km | A Coruña ~75 km

Notes : Popular with UK and Irish pilgrims arriving by sea. Only Ferrol qualifies for the Compostela (min. 100 km).

Via de la Plata (Silver Route)

Starts in: Seville (Andalusia)
Distance: ~1,000 km
Passes through: Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora

Notes : Longest Camino route in Spain. Hot in summer, less frequented

Camino de Finisterre-Muxía

This one doesn’t end in Santiago de Compostela but starts in it.

Starts in: Santiago de Compostela
Distance: ~90 km to Finisterre | ~120 km to Muxía
Optional post-Camino extension to the “end of the world”

Less Frequented Routes

When I went to Montserrat after finishing my Camino, I noticed that they have Camino markers there too. I even met their hospitalero (a person who volunteers to help pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago), Antonio who was very helpful in explaining that you can actually start your Camino there and they have albergue there too (hostel specifically for pilgrims walking the Camino).

Antonio told me that most people stick to the popular routes, and not many pilgrims make it to their town. I really wish more people would explore this side of Spain because it’s truly beautiful. I could easily spend 2-3 days there, and I know it would be absolutely worth it.

Here are some posts with lots of valuable info if you are interested in doing Camí de Sant Jaume Way or Catalan Way.

✅ Requirements to Receive a Compostela:

Walk at least 100 km (or cycle at least 200 km) to Santiago de Compostela.
- The most common starting point for walkers is Sarria, which is about 115 km away.
- Cyclists often start from Ponferrada or further back.
Collect stamps (sellos) in your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino). I got my Pilgrim Passport from my accommodation the previous night.
- You’ll need at least two stamps per day during the final 100 km.
- Stamps can be obtained at:
  - Albergues, hostels, and hotels
  - Churches and cathedrals
  - Cafés, bars, and town halls
- This shows proof of your journey and helps confirm you walked the required distance. I loved collecting unique stamps and I got some with great stories behind it.
  
  One of my favorites is a wax stamp/ embossed stamp / colorful combo stamp from a personalized t-shirt printing shop in Palas de Rei owned by Ionut Preda- a Paralympic athlete who is trying to get young people with mobility problems back to walking.
  
  The name of the shop is La Huella del Peregrino and even though our interaction was really short, it really made a lasting impression on me that I even went to say my goodbye to him the morning before I left the town.

Getting a Compostela—the official certificate of completion for the Camino de Santiago—is a meaningful moment for many pilgrims.

But I’ve also seen people look down on those seeking the Compostela—saying it’s not what truly matters on the Camino.

Some people have limited time and can only walk for a few days or weeks so it is hard to do the whole way. Some people suggested doing it in portions whenever you can and that is okay too. Some people also do multiple routes over the years.

Just remember that this is your Camino and you can do it any way you want it.

🏛️ Where to Get the Compostela:

At the Oficina del Peregrino (Pilgrim’s Office) in Santiago de Compostela:
📍 Rúa Carretas 33, very close to the cathedral
Opening hours usually range from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, but can vary depending on the season. Get there early to avoid long lines—especially in peak months (May–September).

📝 What Happens at the Pilgrim’s Office:

You’ll queue (sometimes for over an hour in busy months). I read that you can register online to get a QR code but I was not able to get this because I was so tired and I forgot. I got there 10 minutes before they closed and they led me to a room with a computer and helped me register. It was really quick, not even a 2 minute process.
A staff member will:
- Review your Credential for valid stamps.
- Ask you your starting point and purpose for walking (spiritual, religious, cultural, etc.)
- Ask for your name, country, and age.
You’ll receive:
- Your Compostela (in Latin, with your name written in Latin too)- At first I told them they typed my name wrong, instead of Marie, it was written as Mariam. Turns out Mariam is my Latin name.
- Optionally, a Distance Certificate (shows how many km you walked — costs a few euros) I paid €4 including the cylinder tube so it wouldn’t get crumpled during transport.

✨ Additional Notes:

You don’t have to be religious to receive a Compostela, but you’ll be asked to state your motivation (spiritual/religious is the traditional reason).
If you walked for cultural or other personal reasons, you can still receive a certificate of completion, just not the traditional Compostela.

According to some articles, if you walked for cultural or other personal reasons, you can still receive a certificate of completion, just not the traditional Compostela. – I need someone to clarify this because I honestly don’t remember what I said when they asked me, because I was just so tired that time.

But I still got the traditional compostela (I think!) which has my Latin name and a separate certificate for distance and dates.

Personal Thoughts

If you’re still unsure which route to choose, start by asking yourself:

How much time do I have?
What kind of terrain do I prefer?
Do I want solitude or community?
Am I going for spiritual, cultural, or personal reasons?

For me, I know it’ll be hard to go back to Europe because it is quite expensive and quite far from where I live—so I wanted to see other places too after my Camino.

That is why I chose to walk for just 5 days.

I walked from Sarria to Santiago but looking back, I wish I did it in 8-10 days instead. That way, I could’ve enjoyed the towns, small hamlets, historical sites and churches along the way without feeling rushed.

I also visited Finisterre for a daytrip but I wish I had stayed there for at least 3 days to let my body recover. I had a prior knee injury—seven months had passed, so I thought I’d be okay—but walking 30 km on some days was really hard on my feet, knees, and back.

It would’ve been nice to do some reflection there as well while watching the sunset. But I went the very next day on a day trip—still sore and tired—and I really felt rushed.

I don’t regret going though—because at least now I know what to do next time.

One thing I would probably change is the timing.

I walked in late June, and it was so hot. One of the staff at where I stayed told me that it was pretty unusual to be that hot in June, it’s usually around August that it’s hot like that. Sometimes it even went up to 30-34°C.

It’s manageable when you’re in the shade, but some stretches of the trail are fully exposed to the sun. Walking under that heat with a heavy pack made things extra challenging.

Final Thoughts..

Whichever path you take, remember this:
There’s no one “right” Camino—only the one that’s right for you.

Everyone has different circumstances and motivations for walking the Camino.

Along the way, you may meet people who will tell you what’s “right” or “wrong”—that you’re walking too fast, too slow, too light, too heavy.

That you’re doing too much— or not enough.

But the truth is : you can’t please everyone.

That’s one of the biggest lessons I learned on my Camino.

I learned to accept things as they are.

To let go of control.

To not be upset over small things—especially over other people’s opinions of me.

Sure it’s not always easy.

Sure I still have a long way to go.

And yes, I probably still have a lot of “growing up” to do.

But one thing I made peace with is this:

Everything happens for a reason.

I may not understand that reason in this lifetime— and that’s okay.

I’ve learned that I don’t always need to have all the answers.

I just have to trust the process,

And know that everything is the way it is

because God planned it that way.

My Camino de Santiago Journey : Part 3

Choosing Your Camino Route