You almost never need a paper map on the Camino — the yellow arrows are everywhere — but a good app and an offline GPX track are the modern pilgrim's safety net. Here is a comparison of the best Camino apps and how to use them.
The top Camino apps
- Buen Camino: The most popular all-in-one app. Offline maps, albergue lists, distances, and stage planning for every route. Free.
- Wise Pilgrim: Route-specific guides with albergue listings updated yearly. Good for less-common routes. Paid per route.
- Gronze: The Spanish pilgrim's bible — the most complete albergue list and forum. Web-based; translate if needed.
- OsmAnd: Full offline maps for anywhere. Download the Spain/Portugal regions before you go. Free and open-source.
Why download offline maps?
The Camino passes through rural areas with patchy signal. An offline GPX track on your phone means you're never lost — even without data. Most apps let you download route GPX files; you can also grab them from CaminoPlanner or the Confraternity sites.
Our recommendation
Carry Buen Camino as your main app and OsmAnd as an offline-map backup. Print a small paper map of your start town as a final fallback. See our safety guide for why you still need paper backup.
FAQ
Do I really need a Camino app?
Not strictly — the Camino is well-marked — but an app adds confidence and lists albergues. Highly recommended for first-timers.
Will my phone battery last a day?
Carry a power bank (10,000 mAh) and charge at albergues. Airplane mode + offline maps save battery.
Where do I get the GPX?
Most apps include it. You can also download route GPX files from our routes portal.
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Camino de Santiago
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The best Camino apps and maps compared: Buen Camino, Wise Pilgrim, Gronze, OsmAnd, and how to download offline GPX tracks so you're never lost — even without signal.