Picked by our team
Towns worth discovering along the Camino de Santiago, chosen by our team. Open one to see its history and sights, and where to stay.
52 towns on the Camino del Norte
View on the mapSomo is where the Camino del Norte briefly stops being a walk: after the long beach you board the boat at the pier and cross about five kilometres of bay to Santander. Spain's surfing story began here; there is no pilgrim hostel. A break is enough, and the view of the city stays with you.
Camino del NorteSoto de Luiña is a village in a valley behind the coast that has lived from pilgrims for centuries: next to the Baroque church of Santa María stands the old pilgrim hospital, both part of the UNESCO World Heritage of the northern routes since 2015. You sleep in the old village school, 287.7 kilometres before Santiago. An evening is enough.
Camino del NorteTapia de Casariego is a fishing harbour above the cliffs of western Asturias, 207.4 kilometres before Santiago. The pilgrim albergue stands at the edge of town above the beach, the harbour with its lighthouse in the middle of town. From here it is only 13.9 kilometres to the bridge into Galicia.
Camino del NorteVilalba is the county town of the Terra Chá, the wide plateau in the north of Lugo province: an octagonal tower of the Andrade family, a large Xunta albergue and cheese from San Simón da Costa. From here it is 120.4 kilometres to Santiago, and this is your last night in a town before the land empties out.
Camino del NorteVillaviciosa is the capital of Asturian cider and the place where you decide: on along the coast via Gijón or via Oviedo onto the Camino Primitivo. In the old town stands Santa María de la Oliva from 1213, and in 1517 Charles I stayed here. An afternoon is enough.
Camino del Nortedel Norte via OviedoZarautz is the first long beach on the Camino del Norte: 21.5 kilometres after San Sebastián, following the toughest ups and downs of the first days, you walk two and a half kilometres along the sand. A place to rest, with surfers, a church tower and medieval graves. The donation hostel is listed as closed, so plan on private beds.
Camino del NorteZumaia lies where the Urola and Narrondo meet the sea, 5.4 kilometres after Getaria: pilgrims once waited at the chapel of Saint James on the bank for the boat across the river; today it is part of the painter Zuloaga's house. Behind the town the flysch rock layers stand steeply in the sea. An afternoon is enough; a cheap bed is hard to find here.
Camino del NorteTop rated
The stays pilgrims rate highest right now, across every Camino.
Turn these towns into a day-by-day plan with the Camino Ninja planner.