WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO WALK THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO?
Choosing when to walk the Camino de Santiago is one decision that may have a big impact on your overall experience. I’ve walked in spring, high summer and autumn and there are significant differences to each season on the Camino.
Whilst it can never be guaranteed that you can avoid rain in Galicia (more likely it is guaranteed to rain), the weather has a big part to play. Personally, I love June and July on the Camino de Santiago – I enjoy getting up early, embracing the sun and spending time outdoors in the evening. Summer brings a sense of freedom, ease and lightness. But, I know many find the heat oppressive and the crowds excessive.
This guide seeks to set out all you need to know to decide when is the best time of year to walk the Camino de Santiago for you.
What to consider when deciding the best time of year to walk the Camino?
When deciding when is the best time of year to walk the Camino de Santiago, there are a number of factors to consider. Of course, this may be things personal to you – such as your vacation time, availability or access to flights. But there are two factors that everyone will need to consider – crowds and weather.
Crowds on the Camino
When it comes to deciding the best time of year to walk the Camino de Santiago, a key consideration is how busy the route will be at certain times of the year. Many people will actively want to avoid choosing the most popular months.
There’s a risk that it can be difficult to find solitude, or peace and quiet if the Camino is too busy. Personally, I have never found this to be the case – even the busiest of stretches can be quite at different times of the day, or if you pick different daily stages to the norm.
There’s also a risk that accommodation becomes booked up, queues form at cafes and that the Camino just feels a bit hectic.
But are crowds always bad? Some people may wish to walk the Camino at the peak time. Personally, when I walk solo I prefer to know that the Camino will be busy, so that I don’t feel alone. Plus, more people walking means more opportunity to socialize and meet people from around the world.
You should also keep in mind that the quieter months are quiet for a reason – for example, in the winter a lot of accommodation will not open and sections of the routes can be closed.
Weather
Whilst the weather in Portugal and Spain can never be guaranteed, it is useful to look at general weather trends for the month to ascertain when the best time is to walk the Camino.
Many people walking will want to avoid the heat of the summer, whilst others will relish the chance to spend all day in the sun. It really depends on personal preference. The edge months, like April and October, can present their own challenges – specifically, rain! You can find a breakdown of the weather during each month on the Camino below.
Remember as well that day light hours differ throughout the year. In high summer, you can expect to walk early in the morning and have daylight right through to late evening. Whereas, in Autumn you may not be able to start walking until 08:00 or 08:30 and evenings will be darker.
Which is the busiest month on the Camino de Santiago?
The most popular month to walk the Camino de Santiago overall, based on this data, is August. This has remained consistent over the last five years. In 2023, there was a spike in people walking in April, followed by fairly steady numbers until August, which saw a second peak.
In general, June, July and September are the best times to walk if you want to avoid crowds – although September is busy on some routes.
There is variance of numbers across the routes that you ought to consider. In 2023, the Camino Frances was nearly as busy in September as it was in August (just 1,000 people less.) Whereas, the Portuguese Coastal Camino was actually busier in September 2023 than in August 2023 (with 2,000 more people walking.)
You can find out more about Camino de Santiago stats and trends over time here.
When is the best time of year to walk the Camino?
Here’s our guide to the best time of year to walk the Camino.
Camino de Santiago in April
Is April a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
April is the start of the Camino season.
In 2023, the Camino Frances and the Camino Portuguese Inland route were the busiest in April with 20,000 and 10,000 people on each route respectively.
Weather
Camino Frances
- Temperature: 10-16°C (50-61°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 70-100mm (2.8-3.9 inches)
- Rainy Days: 10-15
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 11-15°C (52-59°F)
- Rainfall: High; around 100-150mm (3.9-5.9 inches)
- Rainy Days: 12-18
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 11-18°C (52-64°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 50-80mm (2.0-3.1 inches)
- Rainy Days: 8-12
*Note, the coastal route may be cooler than the inland route.
Camino Primitivo
Rainy Days: 10-15
Temperature: 9-14°C (48-57°F)
Rainfall: Moderate; around 80-120mm (3.1-4.7 inches)
Other considerations
💡Consider when Easter falls – this can be a busy time on the Camino and a popular time for others to visit Santiago de Compostela. Also note that accommodation on some routes may not open until after Easter, or the first week of April.
🛑In early April, it is possible that The Napoleon Route on the Camino Frances will be closed due to weather. You may experience adverse weather conditions at high points of the Camino Primitivo too.
You can find my packing guide for walking a Camino in spring here.
Camino de Santiago in May
Is May a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
Overall May is the third most popular month to walk the Camino de Santiago. In 2023, roughly 29,800 walked or cycled part of the Camino Frances, 13,000 the Camino Portuguese Inland and 7,400 the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. The other routes remained fairly quiet.
Weather
Camino Francés
- Temperature: 12-20°C (54-68°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 50-80mm (2.0-3.1 inches)
- Rainy Days: 8-12
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 13-17°C (55-63°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 80-100mm (3.1-3.9 inches)
- Rainy Days: 10-15
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 13-22°C (55-72°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 40-70mm (1.6-2.8 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-10
Camino Primitivo
- Temperature: 11-17°C (52-63°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 70-90mm (2.8-3.5 inches)
- Rainy Days: 8-12
Other considerations
🎉In May, you’ll find some religious events and festivals in Santiago de Compostela. More information on that here.
You can find my packing guide for walking a Camino in spring here.
Camino de Santiago in June
Is June a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
June is slightly quieter than May, but still remains one of the most popular month to walk the Camino de Santiago. In 2023, roughly 29,300 walked or cycled part of the Camino Frances, 10,000 the Camino Portuguese Inland and 7,100 the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. The other routes remained fairly quiet.
Weather
Camino Francés
- Temperature: 15-25°C (59-77°F)
- Rainfall: Lower; around 30-60mm (1.2-2.4 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-8
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 15-21°C (59-70°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 50-80mm (2.0-3.1 inches)
- Rainy Days: 8-12
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 16-26°C (61-79°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 20-40mm (0.8-1.6 inches)
- Rainy Days: 3-6
Camino Primitivo
- Temperature: 14-20°C (57-68°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 50-70mm (2.0-2.8 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-10
Other considerations
🎉Festivals and fiestas are found throughout summer months on Camino routes – find more information here.
Camino de Santiago in July
Is July a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
July remains similar to June in terms of total numbers on the Camino. In 2023, roughly 27,900 walked or cycled part of the Camino Frances, 10,400 the Camino Portuguese Inland and 7,100 the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. The other routes, such as the Camino del Norte and Primitivo get slightly busier in July.
Weather
Camino Francés
- Temperature: 18-30°C (64-86°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 20-40mm (0.8-1.6 inches)
- Rainy Days: 3-5
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 18-24°C (64-75°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 40-60mm (1.6-2.4 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-8
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 18-30°C (64-86°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 10-30mm (0.4-1.2 inches)
- Rainy Days: 2-4
Camino Primitivo
- Temperature: 16-22°C (61-72°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 30-50mm (1.2-2.0 inches)
- Rainy Days: 4-6
Other considerations
💡July marks the start of Summer holidays in Europe – this means that tourist areas, particularly around the coast get busier.
🎉Festivals and fiestas are found throughout summer months on Camino routes – find more information here.
Camino de Santiago in August
Is August a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
August is the busiest month in terms of total numbers on the Camino. In 2023, roughly 33,700 walked or cycled part of the Camino Frances, 13,300 the Camino Portuguese Inland and 7,500 the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. The other routes, such as the Camino del Norte and Primitivo remain similar to July.
Weather
Camino Francés
- Temperature: 18-30°C (64-86°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 20-40mm (0.8-1.6 inches)
- Rainy Days: 3-5
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 18-24°C (64-75°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 40-60mm (1.6-2.4 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-8
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 18-30°C (64-86°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 10-30mm (0.4-1.2 inches)
- Rainy Days: 2-4
Camino Primitivo
- Temperature: 16-22°C (61-72°F)
- Rainfall: Low; around 30-50mm (1.2-2.0 inches)
- Rainy Days: 4-6
Other considerations
💡August equates to Summer holidays in Europe – this means that tourist areas, particularly around the coast get busier.
🎉Festivals and fiestas are found throughout summer months on Camino routes – find more information here.
Camino de Santiago in September
Is September a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
September is the second busiest month in terms of total numbers on the Camino. In 2023, roughly 32,800 walked or cycled part of the Camino Frances, 13,100 the Camino Portuguese Inland and 9,500 the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. The other routes, such as the Camino del Norte and Primitivo become quieter.
Weather
Camino Francés
- Temperature: 15-25°C (59-77°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 40-70mm (1.6-2.8 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-10
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 16-22°C (61-72°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 60-90mm (2.4-3.5 inches)
- Rainy Days: 8-12
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 16-26°C (61-79°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 30-60mm (1.2-2.4 inches)
- Rainy Days: 4-8
Camino Primitivo
- Temperature: 14-20°C (57-68°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 50-80mm (2.0-3.1 inches)
- Rainy Days: 6-10
Camino de Santiago in October
Is October a good time to walk the Camino? Here are some key considerations:
Crowds
October sees numbers drop significantly on the Camino. In 2023, roughly 27,200 walked or cycled part of the Camino Frances, 10,300 the Camino Portuguese Inland and 6,900 the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. The other routes, such as the Camino del Norte and Primitivo become quieter too.
Weather
Camino Francés
- Temperature: 10-18°C (50-64°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate to high; around 70-100mm (2.8-3.9 inches)
- Rainy Days: 10-15
Camino del Norte
- Temperature: 12-18°C (54-64°F)
- Rainfall: High; around 100-150mm (3.9-5.9 inches)
- Rainy Days: 12-18
Camino Portugués
- Temperature: 13-20°C (55-68°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate; around 50-80mm (2.0-3.1 inches)
- Rainy Days: 8-12
Camino Primitivo
- Temperature: 11-16°C (52-61°F)
- Rainfall: Moderate to high; around 80-120mm (3.1-4.7 inches)
- Rainy Days: 10-15
Other considerations
💡Accommodation will start to close in October, plan in advance around this.
References: All stats on numbers on the Camino de Santiago in the post are from the Pilgrims Office of Santiago.
Would you like us to plan your walk for you?
Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Lotus Eaters Travel Planning, where we turn your dream of long-distance walking into a meticulously planned reality.
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Looking for Camino souvenirs?
We wanted to create Camino merchandise that we would actually wear ourselves. On the trails, out and about or at home. Keep it classy.
You can find all our items in our Etsy store – Camino Nostalgia.
Santiago coordinates t-shirt – multiple colours.
Camino Class of ’24 & ’25 sweater – multiple colours.
Ladies Camino Class of ’24 Tee – multiple colours
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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