If you’re planning to walk the Camino de Santiago, packing is one of the most important preparation activities. You may be familiar with what to wear for hiking, but what about what you should wear in the evening? Here’s our guide to what to wear on the Camino in the evening and at night.
What to wear on the Camino for hiking?
You can find our guides to packing for the Camino, including what to wear during the day for walking for women here and men here. Read on to find out more about what to wear in the evening on the Camino.
What are the evenings like on the Camino?
Before we jump into what to wear on the Camino, it’s worth a few words on what you can expect the evenings to be like. If this is your first time walking, you may be wondering.
In the evening, after a shower and perhaps a nap, most people will either cook dinner in their albergue or head out for some food and drinks. The evenings can be as social or as low-key as you want them to be. Most of the stops on the Camino are in small towns and villages. But, across the different Camino routes, you will also stop in some fabulous cities.
Find out more about the different Camino routes here.
What to wear on the Camino in the evening?
We suggest packing a clean change of clothing to wear on the Camino in the evening. Our preference is to wear “civilian” rather than “hiking” clothing in the evening, but that is a personal choice. Some people do choose to wear clean hiking clothing in the evening. Here are some suggestions if you want to wear something a little more leisurely:
What to wear on the Camino in the evening for women?
A jumpsuit or playsuit/ romper – like this one. A lightweight cotton or linen jumpsuit can be a great idea for women. These garments pack up small and it doesn’t matter if they are creased. Plus, they are comfortable and can be useful in warm and cooler weather.
A light t-shirt dress – like this or this. A lightweight cotton t-shirt dress is great for the Camino in the evening. These are comfortable, easy to wear and throw on at the end of the day. Plus, they are great if the evenings are a little cooler.
Linen shorts or pants – like this. Linen is great to travel with, it is a light fabric and doesn’t object to being scrumpled in your Camino backpack. Try a pair of shorts or trousers with a vest top or t-shirt.
What to wear on the Camino in the evening for men?
A linen shirt – like this one. A casual button down, made from linen, is a great choice to wear in the evening if you’re planning to look a little “smart” at dinner.
Casual shorts – like these. A pair of lightweight casual shorts are great to wear in the evening in Spain, especially in the summer. These are great as they don’t crease easily and look smart, even though they are comfortable.
T shirts – like this. These are quick dry, so can be worn for hiking and in the evening (so long as you have a clean one!)
What shoes to wear on the Camino in the evening?
Believe us, you will definitely want a change of shoes in the evening. It is such a relief to take your hiking boots or trail shoes off. Especially if you can replace them with something light and airy at the end of the day!
What shoes to wear on the Camino in the evening for women?
For women here are some ideas for shoes to wear on the Camino in the evening:
Flip Flops – like this for around $15. These are great if you’re walking in the summer and also double up as shoes you can wear in the shower
Toms Shoes – like this, which retail at around $40. These are great if you’re walking in spring or autumn, or if you want something a little smarter than flip flops
What shoes to wear in the evening on the Camino for men?
And for men, here are some ideas for shoes to wear on the Camino in the evening:
Flip Flops – like this for $19.99. These are great if you’re walking in the summer and also double up as shoes you can wear in the shower
Toms Shoes – like this, which retail for around $39 to $49. These are great if you’re walking in the spring or autumn or want something smarter than flip flops
Walking the Camino de Santiago: A Guide for Women
Emma from Lotus Eaters Travel has written a guide for every woman taking on the adventure of a lifetime and walking the Camino de Santiago for the first time.
This book is full of tips on what to pack, advice on preparing for your journey and important details to help you get the most from the Camino. Whilst it does not include maps, it does include itineraries for the main Camino routes, as well as daily stage guides for the last 100km of the walk. You can find a detailed training plan to help prepare you for the Camino as well as extensive information on what to expect when you walk.
Inside this book you will also find information specifically for women walking the Camino, including a chapter on women’s safety and the answers to frequently asked questions like “what are the toilets like on the Camino?” and “How to deal with bed bugs on the Camino?”
It is split into three sections: Preparing for the Camino (packing, training, budgeting, finding motivation), Walking the Camino (choosing who to walk with, meeting people, accommodation, staying healthy, staying safe) and After the Camino (what to do next.)
What to wear on the Camino at night?
If you are staying in albergues with shared dormitory rooms, then you will want to consider what to wear at night when you sleep. It may be tempting when it’s hot to avoid covering up, but we do recommend wearing something when you sleep to maintain your modesty and avoid upsetting your fellow pilgrims!
Don’t forget that you might need a sleeping bag or sleep sheet when you walk the Camino. Find out more about which one to pack here.
What to wear on the Camino at night for women?
Here are some ideas for women to wear on the Camino at night:
A basic pajama set – like this one for $24.99
An oversized T-shirt – like this one for $19.99
What to wear on the Camino at night for men?
And some ideas for men to wear on the Camino at night:
A basic pajama set – like this one for $24.99
Athletic shorts – like this $22.99
Don’t forget to pack an eye mask and ear plugs too! These are some of the 12 items that you should pack for the Camino and may not have considered.
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