Camino Francés
Elevation profile
Overview
The Camino Francés is a 768km pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, typically completed in 34 days. It offers a transformative journey combining spiritual reflection, natural beauty, and cultural immersion.
Highlights
The Camino Francés is the most walked route in the world, with roughly 60% of all pilgrims choosing this path. It crosses the legendary Pyrenees via Roncesvalles, passes through the wine country of La Rioja, the wide meseta of Castilla y León, and the green hills of Galicia before arriving in Santiago.
Terrain & Difficulty
The route features dramatically varied terrain. The opening crossing from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles involves a strenuous climb over the Pyrenees (1,450 m). The central meseta between Burgos and León is famously flat and exposed, with long stretches of straight path under the sun. After Ponferrada, the landscape turns green and rolling as you enter Galicia, with frequent short climbs and descents.
History
The Camino Francés has been the backbone of the pilgrimage to Santiago since the 9th century, following the ancient Roman road known as the Via Traiana. It was the primary route for medieval pilgrims from France and Northern Europe, and was heavily promoted by King Sancho III of Navarra and later by the Cluniac monks who established monasteries and hospitals along the way.
Best Time to Walk
The busiest months are May–June and September. July and August can be extremely hot on the meseta and accommodations fill quickly. Spring brings wildflowers to the meseta; autumn offers cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.
Practical Tips
Book accommodation ahead in July–August, especially in the big cities. Carry sun protection for the meseta stages. The Cruz de Ferro, where pilgrims leave a stone from home, is one of the most iconic moments of the entire Camino.
Towns & Waypoints
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
0 km cumulative
Roncesvalles
24 km cumulative
Zubiri
46 km cumulative
Pamplona
66 km cumulative
Puente la Reina
90 km cumulative
Estella
112 km cumulative
Los Arcos
133 km cumulative
Logroño
160 km cumulative
Nájera
189 km cumulative
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
210 km cumulative
Belorado
232 km cumulative
San Juan de Ortega
256 km cumulative
Burgos
281 km cumulative
Hornillos del Camino
302 km cumulative
Castrojeriz
322 km cumulative
Frómista
346 km cumulative
Carrión de los Condes
365 km cumulative
Terradillos de los Templarios
391 km cumulative
Bercianos del Real Camino
415 km cumulative
Mansilla de las Mulas
441 km cumulative
León
459 km cumulative
Villar de Mazarife
480 km cumulative
Astorga
512 km cumulative
Rabanal del Camino
532 km cumulative
Foncebadón
537 km cumulative
Ponferrada
564 km cumulative
Villafranca del Bierzo
587 km cumulative
O Cebreiro
615 km cumulative
Triacastela
636 km cumulative
Sarria
654 km cumulative
Portomarín
676 km cumulative
Palas de Rei
701 km cumulative
Melide
716 km cumulative
Arzúa
729 km cumulative
O Pedrouzo
749 km cumulative
Lavacolla
758 km cumulative
Santiago de Compostela
768 km cumulative
Stages
Day 1
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port → Roncesvalles
24 km
Day 2
Roncesvalles → Zubiri
22 km
Day 3
Zubiri → Pamplona
20 km
Day 4
Pamplona → Puente la Reina
24 km
Day 5
Puente la Reina → Estella
22 km
Day 6
Estella → Los Arcos
21 km
Day 7
Los Arcos → Logroño
27 km
Day 8
Logroño → Nájera
29 km
Day 9
Nájera → Santo Domingo de la Calzada
21 km
Day 10
Santo Domingo de la Calzada → Belorado
22 km
Day 11
Belorado → San Juan de Ortega
24 km
Day 12
San Juan de Ortega → Burgos
25 km
Day 13
Burgos → Hornillos del Camino
21 km
Day 14
Hornillos del Camino → Castrojeriz
20 km
Day 15
Castrojeriz → Frómista
24 km
Day 16
Frómista → Carrión de los Condes
19 km
Day 17
Carrión de los Condes → Terradillos de los Templarios
26 km
Day 18
Terradillos de los Templarios → Bercianos del Real Camino
24 km
Day 19
Bercianos del Real Camino → Mansilla de las Mulas
26 km
Day 20
Mansilla de las Mulas → León
18 km
Day 21
León → Villar de Mazarife
21 km
Day 22
Villar de Mazarife → Astorga
32 km
Day 23
Astorga → Rabanal del Camino
20 km
Day 24
Rabanal del Camino → Ponferrada
32 km
Day 25
Ponferrada → Villafranca del Bierzo
23 km
Day 26
Villafranca del Bierzo → O Cebreiro
28 km
Day 27
O Cebreiro → Triacastela
21 km
Day 28
Triacastela → Sarria
18 km
Day 29
Sarria → Portomarín
22 km
Day 30
Portomarín → Palas de Rei
25 km
Day 31
Palas de Rei → Melide
15 km
Day 32
Melide → Arzúa
13 km
Day 33
Arzúa → O Pedrouzo
20 km
Day 34
O Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela
19 km
Route variants
Official alternative paths pilgrims take on this Camino. Shown for reference — the planner uses the main line.
Valcarlos Route (Winter)
winter23.4 km · Stage 1: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port → RoncesvallesThe lower-altitude Valcarlos (Luzaide) route is the only safe crossing when the Napoleon path is snowbound (typically Nov–Apr). It follows the road through Valcarlos and the Puerto de Ibañeta, avoiding the exposed Roncesvalles ridge. Gronze lists this as Etapa 1B.
León Historical Route (San Martín del Camino)
48.3 km · Stage 21: León → AstorgaThe historical Camino leaves León via the old bridge and follows the Órbigo river through Hospital de Órbigo and San Martín del Camino — the route most pilgrims walked before the modern road. Roughly half of walkers still take it over the southern Villar de Mazarife variant. Gronze lists this as Etapas 21A + 22A.
Samos Variant (via the monastery)
24.7 km · Stage 28: Triacastela → SarriaThe Samos variant detours through the Benedictine monastery of Samos, set in a deep river valley. Longer than the direct San Xil route (17.8 km) but widely considered one of the most beautiful stages on the Camino. Gronze lists this as Etapa 28B.
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Distance: 768 km
Duration: 34 days
Stops: 37 towns
💡 View info
📍Click on the ▶ start and 🏁 finish markers to see the start and end points of the route.
📈Hover over the elevation chart to see the altitude and total distance at each waypoint along the route.
🏘️Browse the Towns & Waypoints and Stages lists below for detailed guides on each town, stage, and point of interest.
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