The best time to walk the Camino, month by month
Temperatures, rain, crowds and room availability on the Camino de Santiago from January to December.
Photo: ElviraOliver, CC BY-SA 3.0 ES
Camino del Norte
Irún to Santiago de Compostela · 35 stages · 827 km
About 23.6 km a day on average. It adds up to 15,410 m of ascent, with a highest point of 711 m. Data checked in .
The 35 stages of the Camino del Norte
How we rate difficulty
- Easy Easy: short with little climbing.
- Moderate Moderate: about 20–28 km or with a real climb.
- Demanding Demanding: long or with a lot of climbing.
We add the km plus 1 km for every 50 m of ascent.
- 01 Irún San Sebastián Demanding 24.9 km
↑760 ↓770 · 7 h 30 min - 02 San Sebastián Zarautz Moderate 22.7 km
↑510 ↓510 · 6 h 30 min - 03 Zarautz Deba Demanding 22.4 km
↑710 ↓710 · 6 h 45 min - 04 Deba Markina Demanding 23.9 km
↑810 ↓740 · 7 h 15 min - 05 Markina Gernika Demanding 25.3 km
↑680 ↓740 · 7 h 30 min - 06 Gernika Bilbao Demanding 31.4 km
↑830 ↓840 · 9 h 15 min - 07 Bilbao Portugalete Moderate 20.2 km
↑450 ↓430 · 5 h 45 min - 08 Portugalete Castro Urdiales Demanding 27.4 km
↑470 ↓510 · 7 h 30 min - 09 Castro Urdiales Laredo Demanding 30.5 km
↑540 ↓540 · 8 h 15 min - 10 Laredo Güemes Demanding 30 km
↑340 ↓280 · 7 h 45 min - 11 Güemes Santander Moderate 19.2 km
↑150 ↓210 · 4 h 45 min - 12 Santander Santillana del Mar Demanding 37.5 km
↑440 ↓360 · 9 h 45 min - 13 Santillana del Mar Comillas Moderate 22.1 km
↑410 ↓460 · 6 h - 14 Comillas Colombres Demanding 28.4 km
↑590 ↓500 · 8 h - 15 Colombres Llanes Moderate 21.6 km
↑200 ↓300 · 5 h 30 min - 16 Llanes Ribadesella Demanding 30.8 km
↑310 ↓320 · 8 h - 17 Ribadesella Colunga Moderate 20.2 km
↑350 ↓320 · 5 h 30 min - 18 Colunga Villaviciosa Moderate 17.2 km
↑300 ↓310 · 4 h 45 min - 19 Villaviciosa Gijón Demanding 27.8 km
↑680 ↓680 · 8 h - 20 Gijón Avilés Moderate 26.5 km
↑300 ↓290 · 7 h - 21 Avilés Muros de Nalón Moderate 23 km
↑530 ↓420 · 6 h 30 min - 22 Muros de Nalón Soto de Luiña Moderate 15.5 km
↑350 ↓450 · 4 h 30 min - 23 Soto de Luiña Cadavedo Moderate 19.8 km
↑510 ↓450 · 5 h 45 min - 24 Cadavedo Luarca Easy 15.6 km
↑190 ↓270 · 4 h - 25 Luarca La Caridad Demanding 30.4 km
↑440 ↓420 · 8 h - 26 La Caridad Ribadeo Moderate 22.2 km
↑180 ↓200 · 5 h 45 min - 27 Ribadeo Vilanova de LourenzáGALICIA Demanding 28.2 km
↑710 ↓700 · 8 h 15 min - 28 Vilanova de Lourenzá AbadínGALICIA Demanding 21.9 km
↑870 ↓430 · 7 h - 29 Abadín VilalbaGALICIA Moderate 20.6 km
↑200 ↓240 · 5 h 15 min - 30 Vilalba BaamondeGALICIA Moderate 19 km
↑180 ↓230 · 5 h - 31 Baamonde MirazGALICIA Easy 15.6 km
↑190 ↓130 · 4 h - 32 Miraz Sobrado dos MonxesGALICIA Moderate 24.6 km
↑410 ↓380 · 6 h 45 min - 33 Sobrado dos Monxes ArzúaGALICIA Moderate 22.2 km
↑220 ↓340 · 5 h 45 min - 34 Arzúa O PedrouzoGALICIA Moderate 18.4 km
↑270 ↓390 · 5 h - 35 O Pedrouzo Santiago de CompostelaGALICIA Moderate 20.2 km
↑330 ↓330 · 5 h 30 min
The Camino del Norte runs from Irún to Santiago along the coast of the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias, enters Galicia at Ribadeo and joins the Francés at Arzúa. Some 830 km in 35 stages, with the sea in sight for weeks.
Stages
35km
827highest point
711mDistances and elevations calculated on the official route; they may vary slightly with your GPS.
Plan your days
Choose where you start and how many days you have. We split the stages for you.
Your plan
From the town you pick in “Plan your days” to Santiago.
When to go in 2027?
A special year to walk the Camino. With a little planning, any month works.
Our favourite windows: May–June and mid-September to October. Good weather and real Camino spirit.
January 2027
- Atmosphere
- Quiet
- Weather
- Cold and rainy, short days
The Holy Door has just opened and the trails are calm: ideal if you seek silence.
February 2027
- Atmosphere
- Quiet
- Weather
- Cold and rainy
Few pilgrims and a quiet welcome; pack good rain gear.
March 2027
- Atmosphere
- Quiet
- Weather
- Cool, first blossoms
Quiet most of the month; Holy Week brings a lively atmosphere.
April 2027
- Atmosphere
- Lively
- Weather
- Springlike, some showers
Spring wakes the Camino up; after Easter the buzz grows.
May 2027
Recommended- Atmosphere
- Very lively
- Weather
- Mild and green
Green fields and long days: one of the best months to walk.
June 2027
Recommended- Atmosphere
- Very lively
- Weather
- Mild, long days
Good weather and plenty of light: the Camino at its best.
July 2027
- Atmosphere
- Very lively
- Weather
- Hot on the Meseta, mild in Galicia
European Youth Pilgrimage (15–18 July) and the feast of St James: Santiago in full celebration.
August 2027
- Atmosphere
- Very lively
- Weather
- Hot; cool mornings in Galicia
Holiday month: great atmosphere; start early to beat the heat.
September 2027
Recommended- Atmosphere
- Very lively
- Weather
- Warm and settled
From mid-month, gentler heat and a wonderful atmosphere.
October 2027
Recommended- Atmosphere
- Lively
- Weather
- Mild and autumnal
Golden autumn, mild temperatures and a little less busy: a gem.
November 2027
- Atmosphere
- Quiet
- Weather
- Cool and rainy
An intimate Camino and autumn landscapes; some places close.
December 2027
- Atmosphere
- Quiet
- Weather
- Cold and rainy
Christmas in Santiago and the close of the Holy Year: a very special finale.
Key dates
- Holy Door open all year (from 31 December 2026)
- Holy Week: 21–28 March
- 25 July, a Sunday: Feast of St James
Atmosphere estimated month by month from the Pilgrim’s Office monthly figures; not official data.
Will I get the Compostela?
Pick where you start and we will tell you if you reach 100 km.
The official rule: at least 100 continuous km on foot to Santiago, with a dated stamp at the start and end of every stage.
When to go
May to September: long days and beaches for a swim at the end of the stage. In spring and autumn the coast sees frequent rain; pack a rain jacket even in summer.
Getting to the start
Irún has trains from Madrid and San Sebastián and sits right next to Hendaye on the French border. The nearest airport is San Sebastián, in Hondarribia.
Boats and hills
Some estuaries are crossed by boat, such as Santoña to Laredo; check times and tides the day before. The terrain never stops climbing and dropping: expect stages to take longer than the distance suggests.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Camino del Norte take?
About 35 walking days for the whole route. From Vilalba, 5 to 6.
Is it harder than the Francés?
Yes: less flat, with short, frequent climbs and fewer villages with services on some stretches.
How much does it cost per day?
With a room of your own and meals on the way, €60–90 per person; on the coast in August, a bit more.
How long is the Camino del Norte?
827 km from Irún to Santiago, in 35 stages, mostly within sight of the sea as far as Ribadeo. From Vilalba, 120 km remain.
Related guides
Your Camino organized, nothing to worry about
Tell us your section and month; we handle the rest.
In the Community
Pilgrims getting ready for the Camino del Norte: share your start date and walk in company.
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- Useful reminders before you leave
- Access to the pilgrim Community
A community that walks with respect: The Pilgrim’s Pact
