The Most Distant Signposts to Santiago: Waymarkers from Around the World
All over the world, signs point to Santiago – some absurdly far away. A collection of the most distant waymarkers, from Rio de Janeiro to the zero point at Finisterre.
July 1, 20264 min read
The way begins at your front door
The Camino has no single beginning. It is said to start at everyone's front door – and not to end in Santiago at all, because the real journey only begins there. No wonder, then, that signs pointing to Santiago stand all over Europe and far beyond, many of them gloriously far away.
Pilgrims from the Camino Ninja community photographed the most distant signs and sent them to us. Here they are – ordered from the greatest distance down to the zero point at Finisterre.
Join in – send us your sign
This collection grows with the community. Have you photographed a particularly distant or beautiful signpost to Santiago along the way? Send it to us by email to info@caminoninja.com – ideally with the location and, if possible, the distance. We'll gladly add it and keep the collection current.
From another continent
8,013 km – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). By far the most distant sign in our collection. Can anyone beat it? Photo: Suzanne Keesing.
Over 3,000 kilometres
3,493 km – Malta. A gift to the island, entirely in the Galician style – even if you would first have to cross Sicily and Sardinia to reach Barcelona. Photo: Louis van Dalen.
3,420 km – Hamar (Norway). Found on the St. Olav Way. Photo: Armin Müller.
3,400 km – Greifswald. On the Baltic coast. Photo: Burkhard Sonntag.
3,250 km – German-Danish border near Flensburg. On the Ox Road (Heerweg) from Viborg to Hamburg. Photo: Erwin Nissen.
3,000 km – Carinthia (Austria). The figure is probably generously rounded. Photo: Gabriele Pogantisch.
2,500 to 3,000 kilometres
2,990 km – Waldviertel (Austria). Starting point of the Austrian Way of St. James. Photo: Emil Palme.
2,971 km – Berlin. At the main station (a similar one at Potsdamer Platz reads 2,968 km). Photo: Kerstin Prestin.
2,940 km – Erfurt. Apparently in a garden; the route runs via Konstanz. Photo: Matthias Katze.
2,804 km – Nuremberg. At St. James' church the pilgrim gets a choice: left 2,750 km, right 2,804 km. Photo: Karin Bepunkt.
2,800 km – Freising-Vötting. At the church of St. James, via the Freising Way of St. James.
2,771 km – Goldsteig (Bavarian Forest). A stone deep in the woods. Photo: Andrea Göb.
2,743 km – Randersacker near Würzburg.Photo: IchBinDannMalUnterwegs (Der Spessartpilger).
2,609 km – Mosel-Camino, Klickerterhof.Photo: Katrin Gebhard.
2,597 km – Mosel-Camino, Maria Engelport monastery. An insider tip among the routes. Photo: Katrin Gebhard.
2,577 km – behind the Wieskirche (Bavaria). A waymarker set into the ground. Photo: Michaela Makrai.
2,500 km – Giengen an der Brenz. One of several "round" 2,500s – rounding seems popular.
2,500 km – Lübeck. On the Via Baltica. Photo: Ann-Kristin Budde.
2,500 km – Hamburg. At St. James' church. Photo: Thomas Haul.
2,500 km – Renesse (Netherlands).Photo: Nicole Dolibog.
2,000 to 2,500 kilometres
just under 2,500 km – Munich Way of St. James near Schäftlarn. The twist: the tree is slowly swallowing the sign. Photo: Mel Messerschmidt.
2,454 km – Leipzig. Sign or tree? Found in the city's green lung. Photo: Melanie Ettzweiler.
2,395 km – Schweich on the Mosel-Camino.Photo: Katrin Gebhard.
2,340 km – Konstanz on Lake Constance. Here the Schwabenweg begins toward Einsiedeln – every day people stand before it and think: one day…
2,334 km – Unterschwillach. Hubert put a shell with the distance at his own gate: "The way begins at home, at your front door." Buen camino!
2,330 km – Unterperfuss (Tyrol). Between Innsbruck and St. Anton am Arlberg. Photo: Anja Wolmuth.
2,330 km – Märstetten (Switzerland).Photo: Montegazzo Outdoor.
2,249 km – Fernabrünst. Between Nuremberg and Rothenburg. Photo: Karin Bepunkt.
2,239 km – Freiburg im Breisgau. A pointer to the Via Podiensis, the main route through France. Photo: Mel Eff.
2,173 km – Pfongau near Salzburg.Photo: Melanie Etzweiler.
2,155 km – Champagne (France).Photo: Carola.
2,150 km – Gois near Salzburg. In front of the church of St. James. Photo: Eva Nemec.
2,125 km – Old Monreal Way. A beautiful column. Photo: Andrea Roberts.
2,076 km – Chablis (France).Photo: Carola.
Under 2,000 kilometres
1,865 km – Swiss-French border. Switzerland sees its pilgrims off with this sign. Photo: Oli Ver.
1,521 km – Le Puy-en-Velay (France). The start of the Via Podiensis. Photo: Nikko Gil.
998 km – Córdoba.Photo: Patricia Corthorn.
790 km – Roncesvalles. Where "the classic" Camino Francés begins.
648 km – Madrid. On the rarely walked Camino de Madrid. Photo: Mo Wa.
And at the finish
30 centimetres – to the coffee break. Some distances are pleasantly short. Photo: Kai Peter Jasny.
0 kilometres – Finisterre. You've arrived. A few more steps and you're standing in the Atlantic – at the end of the road and, somehow, at the start of something new. Photo: Andreas Quiner.
