September 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Camino de Santiago from the US: flights, jet lag and where to start
How Americans get to the Camino de Santiago: which airport to fly into, how to reach Sarria or Tui, jet lag, cell service and cost in dollars.
Reviewed by the Xacobea team · October 2026
Americans are the second-largest group on the Camino de Santiago after Spaniards, and the ones who most often walk it organized: a room booked every night, luggage moved by van and someone to call. This guide covers the part that happens before the first step: getting there.
Which airport
- Camino Francés from Sarria or O Cebreiro: fly into Madrid (MAD). From the airport, take the Cercanías train to Chamartín station, then the direct train to Sarria (about 5 hours). Book the train on Renfe as soon as you have your dates.
- Camino Portugués from Tui: fly into Porto (OPO), then a 2-hour bus or train to Valença, and walk across the bridge to Tui. Porto often has cheaper fares from the East Coast than Madrid.
- Camino Inglés from Ferrol: fly into Santiago (SCQ) or A Coruña (LCG) via Madrid or Lisbon, then a 1-hour train to Ferrol.
- Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: fly into Biarritz or Paris, then the train from Bayonne to Saint-Jean.
- Return: always from Santiago (SCQ), connecting through Madrid, Lisbon or Barcelona. Many East Coast routes get you home the same day.
Jet lag: give it one day
Spain is six hours ahead of New York and nine ahead of Los Angeles. Do not start walking the day you land. Sleep one night in Madrid, Porto or Santiago, walk the old town, eat early and start the next morning. The first stage from Sarria has 500 m of climbing; jet lag turns it into a bad day.
Time off
From Sarria, plan nine to ten days door to door: two travel days, one buffer day, five walking days and, if you can, a rest day in Santiago to attend the pilgrim mass and see the cathedral without a backpack. From Tui, add one day. Full Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: five weeks.
Money
Spain uses euros. Cards work everywhere on the last 100 km, including small guesthouses, but carry 50–100 € in cash for village bars. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in dollars, choose euros. Daily budgets and organized-trip prices, in dollars and dated: what the Camino costs in dollars.
Phone and internet
US carriers charge $10–15 a day for roaming. Cheaper: buy an eSIM for Spain before you leave (a week of data costs under $20). Wi-Fi is in every hotel in our guide. Maps, bookings and your credential photo live on your phone, so pack a 10,000 mAh power bank.
Passport and entry
US citizens need no visa for a short trip: up to 90 days in the Schengen area. Your passport should be valid at least three months beyond your return date. ETIAS, the new EU travel authorization (€20), is not in operation yet and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months in advance (official ETIAS website, checked October 2026).
Insurance
Your US health plan will not cover you in Spain. Take travel insurance with medical cover and cancellation. For 2027, a Holy Year, cancellation cover matters: rooms are paid months ahead.
The easy way
If you would rather not stitch trains, hotels and luggage together, tell us your dates and a Camino agency sends a fixed-price quote with every night booked, bags moved hotel to hotel and a 24 h support line. It costs nothing to ask.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport should I fly into for the Camino de Santiago?
Madrid (MAD) for the Camino Francés from Sarria or O Cebreiro; Porto (OPO) or Santiago (SCQ) for the Camino Portugués from Tui; Santiago or A Coruña for the Camino Inglés from Ferrol.
How many days off do I need for the Camino from Sarria?
Nine to ten days door to door: two travel days, one buffer day in Santiago, five walking days and a rest day if you want one.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No. On the last 100 km and in every hotel in our guide you will be understood in English. Learning ten words helps, but it is not a requirement.
