Full Camino del Norte: San Sebastian to Santiago

San Sebastián (known as Donostia in Basque) is famous for its beaches, architecture and abundance of Michelin-starred restaurants. If time allows, stroll down to Playa de la Concha and take a swim to mark the beginning of this iconic journey.

Leaving San Sebastián behind, join the Camino del Norte and begin the short ascent up Monte Igueldo, the hill that marks the end of Bahía de La Concha (Bay of La Concha). Follow the coastline, walking through pastures and over gentle hills, before reaching the fishing town of Orio, the perfect place to stop for a refreshment. Explore the Old Town and visit the Renaissance church, Iglesia de San Nikolas de Bari. Descend to the seaside town of Zarautz, marking the end of your first day with a highly-recommended glass of Txakolí, the local wine.

Walking for the day: 22.3km, 4-5h
Accommodation in Zarautz

From Zarautz, begin your ascent up to the headland and continue following the trail, overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. Today’s route takes you through the harbour towns of Getaria and Zumaia, before heading further inland and through Itziar. Your day comes to a close with a descent into the coastal town of Deba.

Walking for the day: 21.8km, 5h
Accommodation in Deba

Today, the camino trail leaves the coastline and heads towards the mountains, making today’s walk more challenging than previous days. After crossing the Deba River, follow the route uphill to the Chapel of El Calvario. Head further inland, passing through the town of Olatz, as well as several countryside villages and hamlets along the way. The route joins the GR121 trail for part of this section, before reaching today’s destination of Markina-Xemein.

Walking for the day: 24km, 5-6h
Accommodation in Markina

Follow the trail along a quiet country lane, passing through Ziortza-Bolibar, before reaching Monasterio de Zenarruza, a medieval monastery and cloister. From here, the route continues to ascend, leading through woodland to the hamlet of Gerrikaitz. Continue on the trail, before embarking on a steep descent to the historic town of Guernica, made famous by Picasso’s masterpiece. A visit to Gernikako Arbola (Tree of Guernica) and the Casa de Juntas (Assembly house) is recommended.

Walking for the day: 24.6km, 6h
Accommodation in Guernica

Soon after leaving Guernica, follow the trail past Ermita de Santa Lucía de Zallo, a hermitage located close to the town. Today’s walk involves some challenging ascents as it heads through Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Take in the views of this peaceful landscape, before beginning the descent to the town of Larrabetzu. Continue on, walking through woodland, before reaching Lezama, where today’s walk ends.

Walking for the day: 20.8km, 4-5h
Accommodation in Lezama

This section of the trail is much shorter than the previous days. Follow the trail for a short while towards Zamudio, taking a break to visit Torre de Malpica and Iglesia de San Martín de Arteaga. From here, begin the gradual climb up Monte Avril, where your efforts will be rewarded with panoramic views of Bilbao and the valley below. Descend towards the suburbs of Bilbao, passing Begoñako Basilika en route. Today’s walk ends in Plaza Miguel De Unamuno, the heart of the city’s medieval quarter. Bilbao is a hub of art and culture, often hosting some of Spain’s most prestigious art exhibitions at the impressive Guggenheim Museum. Explore the Old Town with its rustic taverns and order pintxos, a culinary specialty of the Basque Country. We recommend booking an extra night in Bilbao.

After a night in Bilbao, rejoin the Camino del Norte trail leaving the city via a suspension bridge, the trail continuing along the banks of the Cadagua River. Cross the famous Devil’s Bridge before arriving at the Hermitage of Santa Águeda. After this, there is a steep climb to the small town of Barakaldo before arriving in Portugalete via a path along the banks of the Galindo River. There are two options today: the official, longer route or the shorter version, which follows the Nervión River along its course, saving several kilometres. Each of the sections is simple and flat.

The Camino del Norte continues along the rocky coastline. At La Arena, cross the beach of fine red sand. There are some steep but short climbs as you follow the coast towards Castro Urdiales. Castro Urdiales has a good mix of modern and medieval architecture; as you enter the town, pass by the bullring and the beach. We recommend visiting the Church of Santa María de la Asunción.

Today, the Camino del Norte takes you along the coastal cliffs, passing a medieval castle and lighthouse as well as the Chapel of Santa Isabel and Church of La Magdalena on the way to Liendo. Here, there are two route options for the rest of the stage to Laredo. Either take a route across the valley, passing the Church of Nuestra Señora de Liendo in Hazas, or take the alternative route, climbing to the Chapel of San Julián on the way to Laredo. Laredo itself is famous for its beaches, vibrant atmosphere and medieval quarter called Puebla Vieja.

The walk today is mainly flat but with scenery that is nonetheless fantastic. From El Puntal in Laredo, catch the ferry to Santoña (every 10/15mins) before continuing along the coastal path to Noja and then inland to Guemes. Alternatively, from Laredo, there is an option to follow the inland route, which is a bit more challenging (23km) but equally as beautiful. It is important to take into account the ferry operating hours or any seasonal disruptions before you leave Laredo as this could influence your choice of route.

Head to Galizano where you take a straight road into town (saving 2km) or follow the coastline, which is a longer option but very scenic. To reach the final destination of Santander, you can take a traditional red boat called a pedreñera across the bay (saving approximately 3.5km) from the village of Somo (payable locally, €2pp). The capital of Cantabria, Santander, is an elegant city with plenty of beaches, parks, architecture and great food.

After a night in Santander, the camino heads inland through the towns of Santa Cruz de Bezana, Mompia and Boo de Piélagos. Follow the estuary at Boo de Piélagos and continue to the small village of Arce. Your destination for today is the Santillana del Mar, one of the most monumental towns for ancient architecture along the Cantabrian coast.

From Santillana del Mar continue along the wild, rugged coastline of Cantabria. On the way to Comillas, the route takes you through villages such as Cobreces with its Cistercian monastery. Comillas itself has fantastic beaches and incredible architecture. Take some time to explore the sights in the town, such as Pontifical University, and Sobrellano Palace with its pantheon chapel and Capricho de Gaudí.

Continue along the coast to Oyambre Natural Park. The park is of huge importance for its wildlife and marine ecosystems. From here, the Camino del Norte heads to Colombres, through green fields and woodland, passing the town of San Vicente de la Barquera and a number of small estuaries. Enter Asturias by crossing a bridge over the Deva River into Bustio. The town of Colombres is home to several impressive Casas de Indianos built by local emigrants who made fortunes in America.

From Colombres, the camino descends along the Sierra de la Borbolla. You then arrive in Pendueles along a narrow path that climbs to Jorcada Pass after crossing the road to Andrín. Finally, there is another descent to La Portilla and today’s destination of Llanes, a lively town nestled between the coast and the Picos de Europa mountains.

The first part of today’s stage follows the coast and the beaches of Palombina and Barro. After crossing the Niembro River, start the steady climb up to the Church of San Pedro de Pria. The church sits on top of a hill that overlooks the seven towns of the area. From here, descend to the Guadamía River and cross a medieval stone bridge. You continue on through Sobares on the way to Ribadesella, a charming town that’s divided by a bridge. The east side is home to the medieval old town, while the west side has a beach and the town’s famous Tito Bustillo cave and cave art.

Cross the Sella River and head towards Santa Marina beach. Continue uphill towards Vega de Ribadesella, then cross the Vega River as far as La Vega beach, then on to Berbes, where you follow a path across the beaches of Arenal de Morís and Playa de la Espasa. Today’s destination, Colunga, is a few kilometres away.

Today is quite a short walking day. Starting from Colunga, walk through several villages. In Priesca, for example, we recommend a stop to check out the 10th-century Church of San Salvador, one of the oldest on the Camino de Santiago. End the day in Villaviciosa, which is famous for its cider.

Today is one of the longest and most challenging days on the Camino del Norte, walking up Alto de la Cruz. You start off in the countryside, hitting the coast again at Gijón. At Casquita, there are signs for pilgrims heading for Gijón and continuing on the Camino del Norte, but also signs for pilgrims heading towards Oviedo along the Camino Primitivo. Take some time to explore the city of Gijón, home to fantastic beaches, great gastronomy, history and heritage (including Roman baths). We recommend booking an extra night here.

After leaving Gijón, walk up Monte Areo, make a stop to take in the views and also to explore the prehistoric dolmen. Continue on through small towns like Pavierna and Santa Eulalia, the latter being home to the Church of Santa Eulalia. The rest of the route follows the course of the Avilés estuary. Avilés is an industrial city but it also has an interesting Old Town. We recommend visiting Plaza de España with the town hall and Palace of the Marquis of Ferrera (currently a hotel), Church of San Nicolás de Bari and the Palace of García Pumarino. There aren’t many food spots along today’s trails, so it is advised to bring a picnic.

Today’s stage is fairly long, but not difficult. For the first few kilometres, the route approaches the coast at Salinas, but runs almost entirely inland on asphalt paths. Several rivers cross the path such as the Nalón River which you cross to Muros de Nalón. Continue inland as far as the coast at Cudillero, a traditional fishing village.

The first part of today’s walk leads inland, but as soon you reach Soto de Luiña, the landscapes change as you head towards the coast again following tranquil rural trails.

The first kilometres of this new stage takes you closer to the coast, with a view of the beaches and towering cliffs as far as Cadavevo. From here, you head inland again, walking through small towns such as San Cristóbal or Querúa. The only notable difficulty on today’s walk is the short but steep climb at the exit of the Hotel Canero. Once that climb is over, It is only a few kilometres to the end of the day’s trail at the small fishing village of Luarca.

Today’s walk takes you along an inland trail from Luarca, with a moderate ascent for the first few kilometres. Cross the Barayo River and descend to Villapedre. The stage is far from the coast and takes you through several small towns. Your last stop of the day is the busy market town of Navia, located on the banks of the Navia River, and a beautiful medieval spot to spend the night.

Today is the last day following the Cantabrian coast. Take the route that leads to Tapias de Casariego, a fishing village with a beautiful harbour. Continue on to the Bridge of the Saints over the River Eo to enter Galicia, with your final stop in Ribadeo. The town is famous its Playa de Las Catedrales (a short taxi ride away), Galicia’s second most visited sight after Santiago’s cathedral. As the walk is quite long today, we recommend booking an extra night in Ribadeo.

Today’s walk follows rural paths, climbing slightly as the terrain becomes gradually more mountainous. Continue on through small hamlets and villages, with few shops along the way, so make sure to pack snacks and water. The first few kilometres of the day are on mainly flat terrain with a few gentle slopes, but as soon as you reach A Ponte de Arante, start a steep climb from 100m to almost 360m. After the ascent, it is only a few kilometres to Villamartin Grande.

Begin the day with a descent to Gondán, then climb to the church of San Xusto and continue along the Batán River to Vilanova de Lourenzá, before ascending towards Arroxo. The rest of the route has very moderate gradients. Once in Mondoñedo, we recommend visiting the Sanctuary of Remedios and the cathedral.

Today’s stage goes through the inner plateau of Lugo, known as Terra Chá (flatlands). It is a moderate climb from 100m to over 500m while passing small villages like O Vilar or Lousada before arriving in Abadín.

Today is a a pleasant stage through flat land, farmland, green pastures and forests that run parallel to a national road. Cross the Anllo and Arnela Rivers as well as small towns like As Paredes, Martiñan or O Campo do Cristo. Arrive at the market town Villalba, the capital of Terra Chá. Try the local delicacies, cheeses and other local products.

From Vilalba, the Camino del Norte takes you through the heart of the Terra Chá region of Galicia, then along forest paths and through the small Galician farming villages. Your day comes to a close in Seixón

Today you reach the highest point of the trail at Marcela (700m) where you get some great views. Then continue to O Mesón and begin the descent to Sobrado dos Monxes. In Sobrado dos Monxes, we recommend visiting Santa María Monastery which dates back to the 10th century.

Walking for the day: 27.6km, 7h
Accommodation in Sobrado dos Monxes

This is the last stretch of the Camino del Norte before it joins the most popular Camino Frances route, in Arzúa, so be prepared to meet many pilgrims in this busy market town.

Walking for the day: 22km, 5h
Accommodation in Arzúa

Pick up some local cheese for lunch in Arzúa, which is famous for its cheese, and then continue through the old quarter of the town, past some sturdy oak trees, which give way to meadows. After visiting the medieval shrine at Santa Irene and the Baroque fountain of healing waters, your day comes to a close in O Pedrouzo.

Walking for the day: 19.3km, 4-5h
Accommodation in O Pedrouzo or the area

At last, you have come to your final stage of the camino, starting off your way walking through tranquil rural terrain and eucalyptus groves. At Monte del Gozo, pilgrims historically make one last stop at the spring in Lavacolla to wash their face and feet. Enter the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela and celebrate the end of your journey along with many other pilgrims and adventurers at the Cathedral.

Walking for the day: 19.4km, 4-5h
Accommodation in Santiago de Compostela

Departure after breakfast.