Good question! The answer is, there’s more than one Camino. There are ton of different routes to choose from, including:
Every year, pilgrims choose which course they’re taking, and volunteer census takers document what percentage choose each route. The Camino Francés is by far the most popular, with 46 percent choosing it in 2025.
Since this is my first time, I’ll be starting out with this route – if I go back, I’m sure I’ll choose another.
Here’s a list:
Not really, I won’t stop preparing until I’m leaving for the airport. I do think I’ll be as ready as possible, but I’m looking forward to boarding the flight so I can put my problem-solving brain to bed (until new problems arise on the road!)
I’ll fly into the Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport in the late afternoon, and then catch a train to Sarria for the night. I received my pilgrim’s credential in the mail before I left, so I’ll be set before I locate my municipal albergue (they won’t let you stay in these unless you can prove you are on the pilgrimage.)
Sarria is the most popular place to begin because it’s the last town that allows pilgrims to walk the minimum 100 km required to earn the Compostela.
This will be the first day of traveling the Camino – we’ll see how early of a start I can get with a nine hour time difference. Anybody got any jetlag tricks they like to use?
Apparently most of the day is fields, but there are forests today! Palas de Rei is where the visigoth king Witiza lived in the 8th century.
Melide has signature sweet glazed mini donuts called Melindres. Hopefully I can find them!
Arzúa makes a traditional soft cheese that they sell at farmer’s markets, and have an entire festival surrounding in March.
Today will be forests and eucalyptus groves and the fountain of the Portuguese St Irene, which they say has healing powers.
This is the last leg of the Camino for almost all pilgrims. This is where I will get the Compostela, after showing my stamped Credencial del Peregrino.
After this, I’m free to wander northern Spain as my heart desires. I just need to end up in Madrid by Day 12 to fly back.