When Should You Walk the Camino de Santiago?

There’s no perfect time to hike the Camino.
But there are good reasons to choose - or avoid - walking the Camino during certain times of the year.
Here are some of the pros and cons of walking the Camino in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter so you can choose the time of year that works best for you.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:32 Spring
03:53 Summer
09:04 Fall
13:37 Winter
17:28 Conclusion

[@brianmetzger7404]

My friends and I (in that 'mature' age category) started our Camino Frances in September, thinking there would be fewer pilgrims than the summer. But no. But it was beautiful and after the first three stages it thinned out and became much easier to find beds (most of the time). The biggest "shock" was Sarria - as you say, the pilgrim population exploded. And the morning we left Sarria, bus loads of school children unloaded - sounding like a rushing river - and it was like salmon trying to swim upriver together. But all those schoolchildren were very pleasant to walk with and they switched to English to ask us questions and learn about us, and then they were quickly by us at a speed we couldn't match. This was another fantastic video with excellent humor, information and insights. Looking to start my Le Puy Camino September '25, hopefully lava tree free.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! 😍 Bon Chemin!

[@steveclayton4249]

I started walking Tuesday 14th May at SJPDP and ended 20th June at Fisterre. Perfect weather, perfect time to go. Not massively busy no issues with albergues. We were told because we started mid month its quieter than starting at the start of the month.

[@musingwithreba9667]

@steveclayton4249 wow, you made good time all the way to Finesterre!

[@steveclayton4249]

@@musingwithreba9667 yeah had 2 days off. One in Leon and one in Santiago. Most days just did the usual 25km, did one 40km day on the Meseta. May have taken days off but would have lost my Camino family.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Glad to hear you had a wonderful experience!

[@harrykey2448]

In 2023 there were actually around 600,000 peregrinos walked the various routes. There were just over 446,000 people who claimed their compostelas from the pilgrim office in Santiago. There are many who complete the Camino without bothering with a compostela. On August 20th I will be starting walking the Frances from SJPDP. I Have walked eleven full Caminos at different times of year. I never book ahead and I never have a problem getting a bed.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Absolutely. Thanks for the specifics.

[@jeremynachbar3205]

I’ve walked 2 Caminos during the winter, on the Camino Portuguese. Got some rain, but it wasn’t too bad. I chose to go during that time, because of life’s circumstances. It was still good, but you are right, not many people. Just finished the Invierno about a month ago. Interesting route. I walked with my oldest daughter (19) and some friends. Didn’t see many pilgrims. Taking the 14 year old on the Portuguese in about 10 days. I’ve already booked all of our rooms ahead of time.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Wow! You have so many great camino memories. Enjoy the Portuguese. Buen Camino!

[@mikaelpettersson8371]

Thank you, I am looking to do a Camino Frances in early spring/ late winter 2025 and thi is very helpful. About laundry in cold times: fill two PET-bottles with very hot water (close them) and put your socks on the bottle. It will dry in minutes.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Woah!! That’s a great tip! Thanks.

[@traveller9292]

Decisions decisions, last year I walked in early August and it was fine. I am currently in Australia and was planning to find and book flights this weekend to return mid August and finish the journey but from Sarria sounds crazier than I ever seen it in Spring before. I did bypass one year by jumping up from Sarria to Lugo by buss and walk from there into Melide which was OK but like so many of the alternates trails there is way too much road walking

[@DaysWeSpend]

Agree. So many decisions. The Sarria crowds are not as bad if you sleep off stage. That’s how we deal with them.

[@musingwithreba9667]

Thank you for all this information, it'svery helpful! I'm planning to do the Primitivo and then the Frances in Fall after I retire. (2027) I was supposed to do the Primitivo a few years ago with a friend but then I couldn’t go, so he went alone. I'm a couple of months older than him, so I'm going to do the Primitivo up to where it meets the Frances, then go up to meet him in Saint Jean, after he retires, and we'll do the Frances together all the way to Santiago. And then I'll head back to North America (we're Canadian) to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2028 😁 And after that, perhaps retire to Spain for a few years to hike all the trails I can in Europe. Tour du Mont Blanc is definitely on the list! And all the other Caminos, of course.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Wow! These are awesome plans. 🥰

[@musingwithreba9667]

@@DaysWeSpend thanks 😊

[@danielle3988]

Love your videos. Thank you for all the work you put into them.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Thank you so much. We try! And thanks so much for watching. We’re glad they’re helpful. 😁

[@Pellegrino809]

Very helpful and informative. Working on a schedule to take my fiancee on the Camino Frances starting September 27th. Tambien el español de los dos, es muy bueno. This video made the choice of the time to go much easier.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Glad it was helpful! Buen Camino!

[@Pellegrino809]

@@DaysWeSpend 🍻

[@elena_a-2023]

Thank you for this video. I am planning a walk in 2025 or 26. This information was great! Gracias!

[@DaysWeSpend]

Glad it was helpful. Buen Camino!

[@godscountryhomestead1177]

Thank you!

[@DaysWeSpend]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@steveglennan]

Thanks for sharing this info, my wife and I would like to walk Portuguese route towards the end of September.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Buen Camino!

[@anxomillaraveiga9404]

very interesting notes

[@DaysWeSpend]

Thanks!

[@fr.jeffreyedmunds353]

Well done,

[@DaysWeSpend]

Thank you!

[@andyalam5074]

For me discovering Camino was like discovering fire. Jarra! Jarra! 🥃🥃

[@DaysWeSpend]

That’s awesome!

[@rossnairn6488]

I walked the Portuguese route twice. Once in March/April and once in September. March was MUCH quieter but more rainy. Walking the Baztan then the French way this September so who knows what it will be like then. Thanks again for the info.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Thanks for sharing your Portuguese experience. We don’t have any first hand knowledge of that one. Buen camino!

[@Steve-qe2yo]

Hi guys. Great video and information. I'll be starting the Frances, again, on 4th March next year. There doesn't seem to be a lack of Albergues open then, but what about cafe's and shops? Did you have a problem getting supplies in the smaller towns and villages? It does seem that everything starts to reopen after 15th March or so. Cheers guys.

[@DaysWeSpend]

Most places will reopen around Semana Santa (Easter). You may need to plan ahead in some of the smaller villages. Larger town will have plenty open.

[@user-rj7xy1wf2d]

Hi you cool couple!! How's mid September in general on the Primitivo or Portugal?

[@DaysWeSpend]

Probably a great time for either of them. 😄