Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is a network of medieval pilgrimage routes crossing Europe and converging on the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain, where the tomb of Saint James the Apostle is traditionally held to lie. The routes are among the world's oldest long-distance walking paths and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first European Cultural Itinerary. Of the several hundred recognised routes, the Camino Francés (French Way) is the most popular, beginning in the French Pyrenean village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and crossing 800 kilometres of northern Spain over 30 to 35 days of walking. The route passes through Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, and León before entering Galicia via the O Cebreiro mountain pass. The Camino Portugués (from Lisbon or Porto), the Camino del Norte (Cantabrian coast), and the Vía de la Plata (from Seville) are among the other well-established alternatives. The minimum distance to qualify for the Compostela — the certificate of completion issued by the Pilgrim Office in Santiago — is 100 kilometres on foot or 200 kilometres by bicycle, which can be walked from Sarria in Galicia in 5 to 6 days. Pilgrims carry a Credencial (pilgrim passport) and collect stamps at churches, albergues, and cafés along the route. The path is well waymarked throughout with yellow arrows and stylised scallop shell signs. Infrastructure along the Camino Francés is well developed — albergues (pilgrim hostels) charge between €8 and €18 per bunk — but the busiest sections between Sarria and Santiago require advance booking in July and August.