Camino del Norte

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Bayonne (French Basque Country) → Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
• Length: 898.8 km — through the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia, mostly within sight of the sea
• Elevation gain: ↗ 23,529 m / ↘ 23,278 m — 26 m/km: the constant ups and downs of the steep coastline make the Norte the most challenging of the major Caminos
• Duration: 32–41 days; if you have less time, you can walk a section such as San Sebastián–Bilbao or start in Ribadeo
• Waymarking: Yellow arrow and seashell; the Camino Ninja app has the entire route on board
• Pilgrims: 21,482 arrivals in 2025 — only about one in every 25 pilgrims chooses the Northern Route
• Hostels: Good coverage, though with larger gaps than at the Francés; in the summer, arrive early at the beach resorts or make a reservation
• Connection: flows into the [river] near Arzúa Camino Francés; Alternatives from Villaviciosa: the Camino Primitivo, from Santiago the Camiño a Fisterra
• Character: Challenging — cliffs, beaches, eucalyptus forests, and four cultural regions; more wilderness and more sweat than on any other major Camino

Overview

The Camino del Norte is the route for anyone who thinks of the sea when they hear the words “Way of St. James”: 898.8 kilometers from Bayonne, always along the Cantabrian Sea—past the Bay of San Sebastián, the Portugalete cable-operated ferry, the beaches of Cantabria, and the fishing villages of Asturias, until the route turns inland in Galicia and joins the Camino Francés is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since July 2015, it has been part of the “Caminos del Norte” UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its reputation is great, but it’s a small operation: Only 21,482 pilgrims arrived via the Norte in 2025—just over a tenth of the number on the Francés. This is due to the route’s demands: The constant ups and downs of the cliffs add up to more than 23,500 meters of elevation gain; the stages are long; and the weather is as capricious as the Atlantic. Those who take it on are rewarded with perhaps the most beautiful panoramic views on the Camino—and evenings in towns that would be worth a visit even without the Camino de Santiago.

Only one in every 25 pilgrims — the most famous hidden gem in the world of the Camino

In 2025, 530,987 pilgrims received their Compostela, but only 21,482 of them—about 4 percent—traveled the Camino del Norte. Thus, despite its grand name, the Norte ranks only sixth among the routes, behind the Francés, the two Portuguese routes, the Camino Inglés, and the Camino Primitivo. By way of comparison: More pilgrims arrive on the French Way each week than on the Northern Way during the entire summer.

For the trail itself, this is a stroke of luck. While the hostels on the Francés are full around noon in August, you can almost always find a bed on the Norte—and entire mornings when you won’t encounter a single soul on the cliff trails. The Norte replaces the race for beds with something else: patience with the weather and respect for the elevation gain.

The older brother of the Frenchman

When the apostle’s tomb was discovered around 820, the interior of the Iberian Peninsula was a contested border region—the only safe place to make a pilgrimage was up in the Christian north. Thus, the coast became the first major pilgrimage route: via the ports and coastal paths of the Kingdom of Asturias, the earliest pilgrims to Santiago reached the tomb decades before the Camino Francés could even come into existence.

It wasn’t until the 11th and 12th centuries, when the Reconquista had secured the interior and the kings developed the more convenient inland route with roads, bridges, and hospices, that the flow of pilgrims shifted south—and the coastal route became a quiet side road. That is precisely its strength today: The Norte has retained the rugged, untamed character that the Francés lost long ago. UNESCO recognized this in July 2015 and included the northern Spanish routes as an extension of the World Heritage Site.

From the Altamira Bison to the Guggenheim — Art Along the Coastal Trail

No other Way of St. James spans such a broad arc of art history. Near Santillana del Mar—the little town known as the “City of Three Lies” because it is neither holy, nor flat, nor by the sea—lies the Altamira Cave: Its ceiling, featuring polychrome bison painted some 15,000 years ago, is considered the Sistine Chapel of the Stone Age. Today, visitors can view a faithful replica, the “Neocueva,” in the museum next door; the original remains closed to the public to protect the paintings.

Four day’s walk before that lies the other extreme: Since 1997, Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum has stood gleaming on the banks of the Nervión River in Bilbao—the building that reinvented an entire industrial city and which the trail practically passes right by. In between lie Gaudí’s whimsical El Capricho in Comillas, Romanesque churches, and the elegant Belle Époque facades of San Sebastián. The Norte is also a museum trail—except that the “galleries” are spread out over day’s walks.

Other Names

In Spanish, the route is called the Camino del Norte or the Camino de la Costa—the Coastal Route—and both names are commonly used in German. Internationally, it is known as the Northern Way or the Coastal Route. Historically, it also appears as part of the “Caminos del Norte”: this is how UNESCO groups the northern Spanish Ways of St. James, which include not only the Norte but also the Camino Primitivo. Don't confuse the two: The Portuguese Coastal Route is a different route—it runs south of Santiago along the Atlantic Ocean.

Who it's ideal for—and who it's not so ideal for

The Norte is ideal for experienced hikers and for everyone who More What you need for a pilgrimage: five weeks along the Atlantic coast, with beaches and cliffs every day, plus four cultural regions, each with its own cuisine—from pintxos in the Basque Country to sidra in Asturias. Even if you’ve already walked the Camino and this time Silence If you're looking for a quiet spot rather than a busy one, this is the place for you; there are secluded areas even in August.

For a first-time Camino, however, it’s only recommended to a limited extent: The stages are long, the elevation gain is significant, and there are fewer hostels than on the Francés—the Norte is less forgiving of mistakes. Even pilgrims who only hike in good weather should know what they’re getting into: The Green Coast is green because it rains. Those who prefer a shorter and easier route will find the Camino Inglés a compact route through the north—for those looking for mountains—with the Camino Primitivo The wild shortcut.

Route & Landscape

From Bayonne, the route crosses the border at Irún into the Basque Country—the most mountainous part of the trail, where the paths repeatedly climb steeply up the cliffs and a new cove lies behind every hilltop. Passing through San Sebastián and the fishing villages of the Bay of Biscay, the route reaches Bilbao; from there, Cantabria becomes more gentle: beaches, pastures, and Belle Époque towns like Castro Urdiales and Comillas accompany you all the way to Santander and Santillana del Mar.

In Asturias, apple orchards, cider villages, and the backdrop of the Picos de Europa—which tower behind the coast—alternate. Past Ribadeo, the trail leaves the sea behind and winds inland through the quiet eucalyptus and pasture-covered hills of Galicia—passing the imposing Cistercian monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes, until, near Arzúa, the Camino Francés joins it, and the final 39 kilometers lead to Santiago amid a vast stream of pilgrims.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

You walk through the Norte in 32 to 41 daily stages — Here are the classic sections to help you find your way. Daily distances are often 25–35 km, and unlike on the Francés, they can’t always be shortened at will: there simply aren’t any hostels between some towns. Good planning—or checking the app—is essential on the Norte.

1. Bayonne → Irún: about 35 km — French Basque Country, then across the border bridge into Spain
2. Irún → San Sebastián: About 27 km — one of the most beautiful days right at the start of our trip in Spain: over the Jaizkibel to La Concha Bay
3. San Sebastián → Bilbao: Approx. 125 km — the cliff sections of the Bay of Biscay via Zarautz, Deba, and Gernika
4. Bilbao → Santander: approx. 115 km — via the Portugalete suspension ferry, then along the beaches to Laredo and Santander
5. Santander → Llanes: Approx. 110 km — Santillana del Mar, Altamira, Comillas, and the first glimpses of the Picos de Europa
6. Llanes → Gijón: Approx. 95 km — Asturian coastal villages and sidra country
7. Gijón → Luarca: about 100 km — via Avilés to the wilder west of Asturias
8. Luarca → Ribadeo: about 50 km — the last few kilometers along the coast to the Galician border
9. Ribadeo → Baamonde: approx. 85 km — Saying goodbye to the Atlantic, heading into the quiet hills of Galicia
10. Baamonde → Arzúa: approx. 62 km — via the Sobrado dos Monxes monastery to the confluence with the Francés
11. Arzúa → Santiago de Compostela: Approx. 39 km — the final stretch amid the large stream of pilgrims

All distance figures are rounded—the total length of 898.8 km from Bayonne is the official measurement. Many pilgrims also walk the Norte in sections over several years: San Sebastián–Bilbao, Santander–Gijón, and Ribadeo–Santiago are the most popular. To earn the Compostela, completing the final 100 kilometers is sufficient—on the Norte route, this means starting no later than Baamonde, or earlier on the final stretch of the Francés route from Arzúa.

Highlights Along the Way

• San Sebastián — La Concha Bay, pintxos bars, and the view from Monte Igueldo
• Jaizkibel — the first major stretch along the cliffs past Irún; many consider it the most beautiful part of the route
• Gernika — the Basques' oak tree and a wealth of history in a small space
• Bilbao — the Guggenheim Museum by Frank Gehry (1997) and the Old Town on the Ría
• Portugalete Suspension Ferry — across the Nervión River on the world's oldest suspension ferry
• Castro Urdiales — A small port town with a Gothic church right above the surf
• Santander — the elegant bay with the Palacio de la Magdalena
• Santillana del Mar — the “City of Three Lies” with its perfectly preserved Old Town
• Altamira — the bison in the museum’s Neocueva, which are about 15,000 years old
• Comillas — Gaudí's El Capricho and Belle Époque villas by the sea
• Playa de Gulpiyuri — the famous inland beach near Llanes, just a few steps off the path
• Cider Houses of Asturias — Cider, poured in a high arc—best in Gijón
• Sobrado dos Monxes — the imposing Cistercian monastery with a pilgrim hostel on the final stretch in Galicia
• Santiago Cathedral — Arrival at the Plaza del Obradoiro after five weeks along the coast

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

Most people start in Irún or San Sebastián—the app’s route actually begins in Bayonne, where the airport and TGV connection make getting there easy. Starting in Bilbao, Santander, or Gijón is also popular: All three are well-connected and divide the route into natural weekly segments. Those who just need the Compostela can join the route in Galicia and walk the final 100 kilometers or so.

The Norte is also a route with many branches: In Villaviciosa, the Camino Primitivo from — the older, more mountainous route via Oviedo, which many consider the more scenic continuation. Those who stay on the Norte route join the Camino Francés And to wrap things up, spend two days experiencing a world of contrasts: from the quietest major Camino to the busiest.

Continue the pilgrimage?

Your journey doesn't have to end in Santiago—especially for pilgrims heading north, a detour to the coast is practically a must: The Camiño a Fisterra It leads to Cape Fisterra—the “end of the world” in ancient times—in about 91 km and 3–4 days, with kilometer marker 0.0 at the lighthouse and the Fisterrana as its own certificate.

From there, the Camiño a Fisterra-Muxía the cape, stretching for just under 29 kilometers of rugged coastline, featuring the Marian shrine of Virxe da Barca in Muxía—those who wish can complete the loop via the Camiño a Muxía (about 88 km) back to Santiago. After five weeks on the Cantabrian Sea, the Atlantic is the only fitting finale.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to travel is May through June as well as the September — More stable weather, available beds, a lush coastline. In July and August, you’ll be competing with beach tourists at the seaside resorts: so get an early start or make a reservation. Winter is doable, but many hostels close, and the Atlantic Ocean shows its rough side.

Rain gear isn’t an option on the Norte—it’s a must-have—since the Green Coast gets plenty of rain. Otherwise, keep in mind: Your backpack should no more than 10 percent of body weight Sturdy, well-worn shoes with good traction are a must, as the cliff trails can be slippery. The trail is well-marked throughout—with the Camino Ninja App you're still on the safe side: It has the entire route on board, including all stages, hostels, and elevation profiles, and it also shows you exactly where the next hostel is located.

To get the Compostela, you'll need the Credencial with stamps—two per day for the last 100 kilometers. And be sure to plan in rest days: cities like San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Santander are worth more than just a quick stop.

What the journey will cost you

The daily budget at Norte is typically 40 to 55 € (As of August 2026) — slightly more than on the Francés, since the coast is a popular vacation destination. Municipal and church-run hostels cost approximately 8–15 €, private 15–25 €; in Galicia, the Xunta Albergues charge a flat rate of 10 €. A daily special costs 12–16 € — but the food on the north coast is better than almost anywhere else on the Camino. It only gets expensive if you can’t resist the pintxos in San Sebastián—and you deserve to indulge.

Getting Here

The starting point has excellent transportation connections: Bayonne You can get there by TGV or via the Biarritz Airport, San Sebastián and Bilbao have their own airports—Bilbao, with many direct flights from German-speaking countries. Also Santander can be flown to directly and is suitable for boarding halfway through the flight.

The return trip starts from Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) directly to the German-speaking region, or alternatively by train or long-distance bus back along the coast—and if you like, you can watch your five weeks flash by in fast-forward.

• Getting to the starting point: Fly to Biarritz or Bilbao; take the train to Bayonne, Irún, or San Sebastián
• Intermediate entry: Bilbao, Santander, and Gijón (plane/train/bus) divide the route into natural sections; Ribadeo by bus from A Coruña and Oviedo
• Return trip: Directly from Santiago (SCQ), or by train or bus along the north coast back to the starting point