When embarking on a pilgrimage as epic as the Way of St. James, there’s one important question that always comes up: how many days does it take to walk Camino de Santiago?
However, there isn’t a straightforward answer! The time it takes to walk the Camino depends on a variety of factors, including your fitness level and which route you take. At Walk The Camino, we know the Way of St. James like the back of our hand, having supported hundreds of pilgrims through our El Camino Holidays.
In this blog, we break down how many days it will take to walk Camino de Santiago according to route, with some of our expert tips and tricks. Should you have any questions for us about our tours, feel free to contact us.
The Routes of Camino de Santiago
Before getting into how many days it takes to walk Camino de Santiago, the first thing to establish is that there are multiple routes that end up in Santiago de Compostela. Since at least the 10th century, people have been walking Camino de Santiago whether for spiritual reasons or personal fulfillment.
The route most commonly associated with Camino de Santiago is the French Way, which starts in Saint Jean Pied de Port in France and ends at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The majority of caminos through Spain will finish at Santiago de Compostela, where pilgrims originally went to visit the shrine of St James.
There’s no wrong or right way of tackling the Camino, and you can organise your walk to suit your preferences. If you want to spend more time trying the local cuisine or exploring the towns, plan your itinerary to spare extra days for cultural activities — and recuperation!
If you’re still thinking about your reasons for completing the Camino, read our blog: What is the Appeal of Walking the Camino de Santiago?
Fitness Required to do Camino de Santiago
Another important factor to consider in completing the Camino is your fitness levels. On just about any route, you can walk an average of 20 kilometres per day. While there’s no need to walk this far, shorter distances mean more days added to your trek.
Use your fitness levels as a barometer for choosing your route and how many days you wish to complete the trek. You can check out our guide to Walking Fitness for the Camino for more information, as well as our blog: How Strenuous is the Camino de Santiago?
Walking the Camino de Santiago — The French Way
Starting in Saint Jean Pied de Port in France, the French Way spans a distance of 770 kilometres or 480 miles in total. This is the most popular and well-known route used today, for good reason. You’ll begin by crossing through the spectacular Pyrenees mountains, and pass through towns like Pamplona, Logrono, and Astorga, which is the marks the crossroads of the Camino de Santiago and Roman Silver Route.
The shortest amount of time it would take to complete the French Way would be approximately 35 days, where you would walk an average of 22 kilometres a day. This requires a great deal of fitness and stamina, but you are certainly not expected to complete it in this period, unless that’s your goal! Many people will complete the full Camino de Santiago between 5 and 8 weeks, factoring in speed and rest days.
Regardless of how long you take, Walk The Camino can help organise your trip with our customisable Classic French Way itineraries.
Walk the Last 100km’s of the French Way
If you’re short on time or don’t feel up to doing the full 770 kilometres of the French Way, it’s possible to just complete the last 115 kilometres of Camino de Santiago, also regarded as one of the most beautiful sections.
Starting in Sarria and ending in Santiago de Compostela, most people complete this route in 5 or 6 days, averaging 20-23 kilometres each day. This is a perfect option for those who want to embark on the French Way but are just beginning their long-distance journeys, or simply don’t have enough time off from work! Even better, you’ll still get a Compostela certificate for completing 100 kilometres.
We offer itineraries for the Last 115km of the French Way, and if you want to increase your travel time for a more relaxed trek, you can also check out our Gentle Steps of the French Way.
Completing the Camino Portuguese from Portugal
As an alternative to the French Way, you can also trek the Camino Portuguese. This route begins in either Porto or Lisbon and finishes at Santiago de Compostela, with the distance ranging between 260 kilometres and 620 kilometres. Completing Camino Portuguses would take between two and five weeks depending on your starting point, but the trek offers beautiful coastal scenery you wouldn’t experience on the French Way!
If you wish, you can also complete the last 110 kilomtres of the route. We can arrange a Spiritual Variant of Camino Portuguese, starting in Vigo in Spain and lasting 8 days in total.
Trek 1,000 kms on Via de la Plata — If You Dare!
For the most epic Camino de Santiago route, you may be considering Via de la Plata — the longest Camino spanning 1,000 kilometres! This route starts in Seville and ends in Santiago de Compostela, encompassing Spain from south to north. An enormous undertaking, completing Via de la Plata would take a minimum of 40 days.
But worry not, for you can instead complete the Last 100km of Via de la Plata, starting in Ourense and taking just 8 days in total!
Let Walk the Camino Help You On Your Journey
No matter which route you choose or how many days you take, the team at Walk the Camino is here to help you on your journey. And, you don’t even have to walk Camino de Santiago! We also arrange tours where you can complete Camino de Santiago on Horseback or even Cycle Camino de Santiago. If you’re ready to embark on the trek of a lifetime, get in touch with us!
