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Camino del Norte: about 820 km along Spain's north coast, Irún to Santiago

The Camino del Norte, or Northern Way, follows the Bay of Biscay across the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias, then turns inland through Galicia to Santiago de Compostela. It starts in Irún on the French border and joins the Camino Francés at Arzúa, two stages before Santiago. The walk is about 821 km to 822 km, usually in 32–36 days stages. It has more ups and downs than most Caminos, with beaches, fishing ports and big cities such as San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander and Gijón along the way. It is also far quieter than the Francés, and places with services are on average about 5.9 km apart. Here is what to expect, from the boat crossings and the closed albergues of 2026 to the rain and the food.

By HoyooTrek editorial team · Updated · 14 min read

A yellow Camino arrow painted on an old marker post on the cliffs at Islares, above the Cantabrian Sea
Photo: Sandstein, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
High point
708 m · The hills before Sobrado dos Monxes
Duration
32–36 days
Best months
May–Sep
Difficulty
Hard, non-technical
Guide
Not required

For guidance only. Check details with your operator and the official sources listed at the end before you book.

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On this page
  1. Where to book
  2. Choosing a route
  3. The full route from Irún to Santiago itinerary
  4. Real costs
  5. Insurance
  6. eSIM and data
  7. Getting there
  8. Gear
  9. Add-ons
  10. FAQ

Which route should you choose?

The Camino del Norte has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Routes of Santiago de Compostela" since 2015, when the listing was extended from the Camino Francés to four routes of northern Spain. The Northern Way is far less walked than the Francés: Gronze gives 17,836 pilgrims on the Norte in 2017, its latest figure. For comparison, the Francés had about 242,000 Compostelas in 2025. Our sources give no 2025 figure for the Norte.

Each region feels different. The Basque Country has up to ten ridges of 300 m to 500 m, on green wooded paths that turn to mud in the rain, and excellent waymarking. Cantabria is much flatter but mostly on asphalt, often beside the N-634 road, and the arrows are sometimes unclear. Asturias mixes roads, tracks and trails with small climbs; in Cantabria and Asturias, eucalyptus is common and long stretches run inland, away from the coast. In Galicia the first two stages are the hardest climbs, and the route leaves the sea for good.

Water shapes the route. You cross the Pasaia inlet by motor launch on day 1, the bay between Laredo and Santoña by boat outside winter, and the Bay of Santander by ferry from Somo or on foot via Pedreña. You enter Galicia over the Ría del Eo on the walkway of the Puente de los Santos, a motorway bridge, into Ribadeo. At Villaviciosa an inland branch leaves for Oviedo, where the Camino Primitivo starts.

Tilted layers of flysch rock rising from the sea on Algorri beach near Zumaia, on the Basque coast
The flysch cliffs at Algorri beach near Zumaia, on the Basque coast section of the route. Photo: Jörg Braukmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
RouteDaysSceneryCrowdsAcclimatisation
The full route from Irún to Santiago itinerary belowAbout 821 km to 822 km on the coastal line through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias, then inland across Galicia to Arzúa and the last two stages on the Camino Francés. Gronze splits it into 34 stages to Arzúa plus two to Santiago; other guides use 32 to 34 stages in all. Add rest days, and expect busy beach towns in July and August. 32–36ExcellentLowVery good
Irún to Oviedo, then the Camino PrimitivoThe same coast as far as Villaviciosa in Asturias, then two inland stages via Pola de Siero to Oviedo: 26 km and 17.3 km. That is about 493 km from Irún in 21 Gronze stages. In Oviedo the Camino Primitivo begins, so you can walk on to Santiago along it (see our Camino Primitivo page for its stages). From Oviedo you can also rejoin the coast at Avilés (29 km). 21ExcellentLowVery good
From Vilalba, enough for the CompostelaVilalba to Santiago is about 111 km via As Cruces or 119 km via Miraz, by our sum of Gronze's stage figures, which is enough for the Compostela. Five stages, or six if you break the long Baamonde to Sobrado dos Monxes day at Miraz. It passes the route's high point before Sobrado and joins the Camino Francés crowds at Arzúa. 5–6Very goodMediumVery good

5-day The full route from Irún to Santiago itinerary at a glance

The itinerary below groups the full route by region. The Basque Country runs from Irún to Portugalete, about 166.5 km in 8 stages, through San Sebastián, Zarautz, Deba, Markina, Gernika and Bilbao. Day 1, Irún to San Sebastián, is 24.7 km with about 630 m of climbing and descent over Jaizkibel and Ulía, about seven and a quarter hours. Monte Arno, just under 500 m, is the high point of this section. From Bilbao you can follow the official line to Portugalete (19.2 km) or the shorter one along the ría (13 km).

Cantabria, from Portugalete to Comillas, is about 165.1 km in 6 stages, via Castro Urdiales, Laredo, Güemes, Santander and Santillana del Mar. Several days are long: Portugalete to Castro Urdiales is 32.1 km and Santander to Santillana 36.3 km.

Asturias, from Comillas to Ribadeo, is the longest section: about 296.4 km in 13 stages, via Llanes, Ribadesella, Villaviciosa, Gijón, Avilés and Luarca. From La Caridad you reach Ribadeo via Tol (21.3 km) or Tapia de Casariego (22.4 km). The public albergue in Tol has been closed since 2023, so check beds before you choose.

Galicia, from Ribadeo to Arzúa, is about 154.2 km in 7 stages, via Mondoñedo, Abadín, Vilalba, Baamonde and Sobrado dos Monxes. Baamonde to Sobrado is 39.8 km via Miraz or 32 km via As Cruces, and the high point of the whole route, 708 m, comes in the hills before Sobrado. At Arzúa you join the Camino Francés for the last two stages, via O Pedrouzo (19.3 km and 19.7 km).

Stone houses with wooden balconies on a cobbled street in Santillana del Mar, a stage town in Cantabria
Santillana del Mar, a stone village on the Cantabria section of the route. Photo: . Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  1. Day 1 Irún Portugalete (end of the Basque Country section) night at 26 m
  2. Day 9 Comillas (end of the Cantabria section) night at 23 m
  3. Day 15 Ribadeo (end of the Asturias section, across the Eo into Galicia)
  4. Day 28 Arzúa (end of the Galicia section of the Norte) via The hills before Sobrado dos Monxes 708 mnight at 385 m
  5. Day 35 Santiago de Compostela (on the Camino Francés) night at 260 m

This list groups stages by region: each day number is the first day of that section, using Gronze's 34 stages from Irún to Arzúa plus two to Santiago, 36 days in all. Section distances are our sums of Gronze's stage figures, and the region borders actually fall mid-stage. Gronze's information page gives 784 km to Arzúa; another guide counts 34 stages and 822 km from Irún to Santiago, and Bookatrekking 32 stages. The Spanish government gave the UNESCO "Coastal Route" as 936 km, but that is the inscribed line, not the route pilgrims walk. Altitudes of the end towns come from Wikipedia and WisePilgrim. For Portugalete, Wikipedia gives 26 m and WisePilgrim 50 m, because the old town climbs a hill; we use 26 m. No sourced altitude was found for Ribadeo. Treat all figures as a guide.

What it really costs

No permit is needed, only the credencial. The main costs are beds, food and getting to Irún. The Norte has fewer albergues than the Francés, and beach towns charge summer prices in July and August. Here is what to plan around, with 2026 figures.

Albergues (public and private)Outside Galicia each town or parish sets its own price (2026): donativo (pay what you can) in Irún, Güemes and the Bilbao parish albergue in Barrio de La Cruz (open 15 June to 14 September only), €4 in Gama, €7 in Colindres, €8 in Deba and €10 in Soto de Luiña. In Galicia the Xunta's public albergues charge €10 a night in 2026. Private albergues in 2026 run about €10–30 in Bilbao, €15–50 in San Sebastián, €17–38 in Santander and €18–41 in Zarautz. Prices are indicative and change by season.
Donativo to about €10 public; about €10–50 private
Pensions and hotelsThe lower figure is a 2026 Camino-wide estimate for pensions and hostales. In San Sebastián, Santander and the beach towns, rooms cost more and fill up in July, August, on weekends and on bank holidays, so book ahead.
About €35–60 a private room; up to about €100–150 in some cities
Pilgrim menu and foodA pilgrim menu (about €10–15, indicative) gives a starter, a main, a dessert and a drink. A daily budget of about €40–50 covers albergues and pilgrim menus; with private rooms plan about €90–120 (2026 estimates). Cities and beach towns in summer cost more.
Menú del peregrino about €10–15
Luggage transfer (Correos Paq Mochila)Spain's public postal service carries one bag of up to 15 kg from accommodation to accommodation on the Norte from Irún. Book by 20:00 the day before. Correos does not publish a single per-stage price; for comparison, Sarria to Santiago costs €30 a bag in total in 2026. The 2026 season opened on 16 March, so check the Norte dates for your trip. Public albergues do not accept bag deliveries. Other private luggage services exist.
Price per stage from the Correos online calculator
Credencial and CompostelaIn Irún the albergue issues the credencial even if you do not sleep there, and so does the parish of San Gabriel y Santa Gema (calle Estación 24-26, Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 to 12:30). The Compostela itself is free at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago.
Compostela free; certificate of distance €3
Airport transfers, and the boats on the wayIn 2026 a taxi from San Sebastián airport to the city costs about €30–33 and the bus €2.90. On day 1 the motor launch across the Pasaia inlet runs every 5–10 minutes, all year, for €1.95 in 2026. The Laredo to Santoña boat does not run in winter, Pilgrims report that the Somo to Santander ferry does not run at very low tide (you can walk round via Pedreña instead): check its times and price locally.
Bus from San Sebastián airport to San Sebastián €2.90; Pasaia launch €1.95Getting there
Schengen visa, if your passport needs oneFor example, Saudi, Qatari, Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Omani citizens need one and can get a five-year multiple-entry visa on their first application; UAE citizens need no visa. Apply at the Spanish consulate or its visa centre (BLS) where you live. Fees as set since June 2024.
€90 adults, €45 children aged 6–11
Travel insurance
Medical cover for a long walk in SpainInsurance notes
Gear
Rain gear, light layers, sturdy shoes with gripGear list

Fees and estimates checked on 6 November 2026.

Insurance that covers Camino del Norte

Take a travel policy with medical cover for the whole trip, especially if you hold no European health card (EHIC). Check that the policy covers long-distance walking and repatriation, and keep the emergency number of your insurer on your phone. In Spain call 112 for any emergency.

Staying connected in Spain

Spanish SIMs and eSIMs need your passport for registration. Buy one on arrival in Bilbao, San Sebastián or Irún, and download an offline map of the route before inland stretches.

Getting there and where to stay

Fly into Bilbao (BIO) or San Sebastián (EAS), then travel to Irún on the French border. Bilbao has non-stop flights from Istanbul and Madrid, which makes it the simpler arrival if you connect through either city. San Sebastián airport (EAS) is in Hondarribia, about 22 km from San Sebastián; check whether your connection serves it. At the end, Santiago has trains to Madrid.

Flights

Getting there by air

Bilbao has no non-stop flights from the Gulf hubs; connect through Istanbul, Madrid or Barcelona. Turkish Airlines flies Istanbul to Bilbao three to four days a week, in about four hours, and Pegasus has flown Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen to Bilbao all year since December 2025, a few days a week. Iberia and Air Europa fly Madrid to Bilbao. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways fly from the Gulf to Madrid, and Emirates and Qatar Airways to Barcelona, which has Vueling flights to Bilbao. Going home, Renfe high-speed trains link Santiago with Madrid in about three to three and a half hours.

Transfers

Bilbao or San Sebastián airport to Irún

From Bilbao airport, a direct bus runs to San Sebastián, about 100 km away. From San Sebastián, Renfe local line C1 runs to Irún, and the Euskotren E2 "Topo" runs to Hendaye, next to the French train station. From San Sebastián airport in Hondarribia, buses E20, E21, E23, E27 and E28 go to San Sebastián for €2.90, or a taxi costs about €30–33. Biarritz airport in France, about 40 km away, has buses to San Sebastián and Hendaye.

Where to stay

A night in Irún before you start

Sleep in Irún and pick up your credencial there, at the albergue or the parish of San Gabriel y Santa Gema. Day 1 is long and has no services between the Guadalupe sanctuary and Pasai Donibane, so leave early with water and food. San Sebastián's municipal albergue, Ondarreta – La Sirena, has closed for good, so book a bed in San Sebastián ahead, above all in summer.

Gear: rent or buy

This is a long walk between towns, not a mountain trek. Rain falls in every month on the north coast, and Basque paths turn muddy. Summer days are mild, around 22 °C to 24 °C on the coast. Carry a light pack, and send the rest ahead if you want.

  • Walking shoes or light boots with good grip for wet, muddy paths and long asphalt stretchesBuy
  • Waterproof jacket and a rain cover for the backpackBuy
  • Backpack of about 30–40 litresRent or buy
  • Light sleeping bag or liner for albergue dormsBuy
  • Quick-dry clothes, a warm layer and sandals for the eveningBuy
  • Water bottles for gaps of up to 17 km without servicesBuy
  • Trekking poles for the Basque ridges and the first Galician climbsRent or buy
  • Sun hat and sunscreen for the coast and the road sectionsBuy
  • Phone with an offline map, some cash, and anything you need for your religious practice, such as a qibla app or a light prayer matBuy

Add a few days in Spain

A few places near the route are worth extra time, before, during or after the walk.

Praia das Catedrais

The "Beach of the Cathedrals", with its rock arches, lies about 10 km from Ribadeo, off the route. On some days an advance booking is needed to walk on the beach.

The Vizcaya Bridge in Portugalete

Portugalete, at the end of the Basque Country section, is the home of the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Colgante) across the estuary. Take a look when you arrive.

The flysch cliffs of Zumaia

The Zarautz to Deba stage passes through Zumaia. On its beaches, such as Algorri and Itzurun, layers of rock rise out of the sand.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Camino del Norte?

Hard, mainly for its length and its ups and downs: about 821 km to 822 km over 32–36 days. Gronze calls it one of the Iberian Caminos with the most climbing. The Basque Country has up to ten ridges of 300 m to 500 m, and some stages in Cantabria and Asturias pass 30 km. There is no technical ground, and the high point is only 708 m. Asphalt in Cantabria is hard on the feet.

Do I need a permit or a guide?

No permit and no guide. You carry a credencial, the pilgrim passport, and collect stamps in it. In Irún you get one at the albergue, even without sleeping there, or at the parish of San Gabriel y Santa Gema. Arrows are excellent in the Basque Country and sometimes unclear in Cantabria. The scallop-shell waymark changes at the Galician border. In Asturias the shell points the way its lines come together; in Galicia it points the way they spread out.

How do I get the Compostela?

Walk at least the last 100 km to the Cathedral on one route, with dated stamps at the start and end of each stage in that last 100 km: two a day. Starting in Vilalba covers this. If you start in France, at least 70 km must be in Spain. Register online, then collect it at the Pilgrim's Office, Rúa Carretas 33, open daily 10:00 to 19:00 except 25 December and 1 January. In busy periods, above all in 2027, you may not get it the same day. The Compostela is free and is given for religious or spiritual motives; anyone can ask for the certificate of distance (€3) instead or as well.

Where do I sleep, and do I need to book?

In albergues (dorms), pensions and hotels. Public albergues usually work first come, first served, and in Galicia the Xunta's albergues take no bookings; private ones do. Gronze counts 133 places with services between Irún and Arzúa, about one every 5.9 km, and some albergues open less outside summer. In 2026 the San Sebastián municipal albergue has closed for good, and the 40-bed Bilbao pilgrim albergue and several others are marked temporarily closed. Book ahead in San Sebastián, Santander, Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Llanes, Ribadesella and O Pedrouzo in summer, on weekends and on bank holidays. In the 2027 Holy Year, book earlier still.

What about food, dietary needs and faith on the Camino?

No albergue states that it serves halal food, and pork is common in Spanish cooking: chorizo, ham, lacón, and caldo gallego made with pork fat, so check before you order if you avoid pork or eat vegetarian. Fish, octopus, eggs (tortilla), vegetables, bread and cheese are easy to find, and the coast is good fish country. Ask at the counter or in writing for "sin cerdo" (no pork), whether beans or broth contain pork or chorizo, and whether wine is used. Vegan and kosher food is not something to expect in albergues and bars: bring what you need, and explain any allergy clearly, in writing if it helps.

Our sources list no mosque with a confirmed address on the route before Santiago. A Galician directory also lists an Islamic community in Lourenzá; ask locally. In Santiago, the Comunidad Islámica de Galicia is at Rúa Penedo 1. If you pray during the day, a qibla app and a light mat let you do so on the trail; churches are not prayer rooms.

Which languages do guides speak?

Albergue and hotel staff speak Spanish, plus Basque or Galician in those regions. If you book a tour with an operator, ask before you book about guides who speak other languages, such as Arabic, English or French.

Should I tip?

Tipping is not expected in Spain. Leaving small change or rounding up is welcome if the service was good. In a donativo albergue, give what you can for the bed.

Which visa do I need?

It depends on your passport: check the rules for your nationality with the Spanish consulate or its BLS visa centre where you live. Some passports need no visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180; others need a Schengen visa (€90 for adults), applied for at that consulate or visa centre. Among Gulf passports, for example, UAE citizens need no visa, while Saudi, Qatari, Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Omani citizens do; they can get a five-year multiple-entry visa on their first application, and in October 2026 the EU began a review of visa-free travel for these five countries, but nothing has changed yet. Since April 2026 the Entry/Exit System takes fingerprints and a photo on your first entry. ETIAS, for visa-free visitors, is not running yet.

When is the best time to go?

May, June and September suit most walkers: long days, fewer rainy days than winter, and beds easier to find. July and August are the warmest months, with the fewest rainy days, but beach towns are busy and cost more. August is the only month when Spanish pilgrims outnumber foreign ones on this route. In winter some albergues close, the Laredo to Santoña boat stops, and the Guardia Civil advises against walking mountain sections from November to March without winter experience. Expect more pilgrims in the 2027 Holy Year, above all in Holy Week (21 to 28 March) and mid to late July.

Is it safe?

Yes, for most walkers, if you take care on the roads. Much of Cantabria follows roads, often the N-634, so walk facing traffic and wear something bright. The Jaizkibel ridge variant on day 1 is hard and lonely: take it only in good weather. The walkway on the Eo bridge into Ribadeo is narrow, between traffic and the drop, but fenced and railed. Carry water for gaps of up to 17 km without services. For emergencies call 112 (062 for the Guardia Civil); the AlertCops app has an SOS button and location sharing.

How is the Norte different from the Camino Francés?

It is hillier and much quieter, with the sea in view on many days. Some stretches have no services for up to 17 km, cities and beach towns cost more in summer, and you need boats or a bridge walkway at a few estuaries. The two routes meet at Arzúa for the last two stages.

Sources and last check

Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 6 November 2026.

Image credits

Plan and prepare

The Camino de Santiago
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