How to Choose Your First Camino de Santiago

You choose your first Camino de Santiago by answering three questions: how much time you have, your fitness level, and what you're really looking for. If you have 5 weeks and want the full experience with history and international atmosphere, the Camino Francés (764 km, 33 stages) is the answer; if you only have a week, the Camino Inglés (116 km, 6 stages) or the last stages from Sarria are your best option.

There's no single "best" Camino, only the right Camino for your specific situation. Here's the decision tree we use at Peregrinia to guide first-time pilgrims, with real data for each route.

Step 1: How much time do you have?

A week or less (5-7 days)

With a week you have two solid options. The first is the Camino Inglés from Ferrol: 116 km over 6 stages, the historic route of pilgrims who arrived by ship from the British Isles, with fewer people and authentic Galician scenery. The second is walking the last 5 stages of the Camino Francés from Sarria (about 115 km), which also happens to be the minimum distance required to earn the Compostela (100 km on foot). This second option has more atmosphere and infrastructure, but also more pilgrims concentrated in a few days.

Two weeks (10-14 days)

This range fits complete medium-length routes: the Camino Primitivo (304 km, 14 stages) from Oviedo, the oldest of all the routes and the one that crosses the Asturian and Lucense mountains with fewer crowds; or the Camino Portugués Coastal Way (267 km, 12 stages) from Porto, following the Atlantic coastline. The Camino Sanabrés (364 km, 13 stages), the Vía de la Plata variant that crosses Zamora and Ourense, also fits well here.

Three weeks or more (18-25 days)

The full Camino Portugués from Lisbon (609 km, 25 stages) or the Camino Mozárabe (419 km, 18 stages) from Almería or Granada, which connects with the Sanabrés or the Vía de la Plata, are options for those who can take three weeks or more.

A month or more

If you have 5 weeks, the full Camino Francés (764 km, 33 stages from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) is the classic itinerary. With a bit more time, the Camino del Norte (818 km, 36 stages from Irún) or the demanding Vía de la Plata (973 km, 36 stages from Seville) are the great long-distance challenges.

Step 2: What's your fitness level?

You don't need to be an athlete to walk the Camino, but it helps to be realistic about elevation gain and terrain type.

• Basic fitness or first time walking long distances: the Camino Francés (with well-sized stages and plenty of services) or the Camino Inglés are the most accessible.
• Good fitness, you enjoy mountains: the Camino Primitivo has demanding mountain passes (especially Hospitales) and the Camino del Norte accumulates a lot of elevation gain along the Cantabrian coast.
• Stamina for long stages with heat and fewer services: the Vía de la Plata and the Camino Mozárabe cross Extremadura and Andalusia with longer stages, less shade, and fewer hostels between towns, so it's worth being trained and planning your water carefully.

Step 3: What are you looking for in your Camino?

History and international atmosphere

The Camino Francés is the route with the most heritage, the most pilgrims from around the world, and the most pilgrim infrastructure. If you want the "classic" Camino experience, with conversations in several languages in every hostel, this is your route.

Sea and coastal scenery

If you'd rather walk with the Cantabrian or Atlantic Sea as your companion, you have two clear alternatives: the Camino del Norte (818 km, 36 stages), which hugs the coastline from Irún, with cliffs and beaches through the Basque Country, Cantabria, and Asturias; or the Camino Portugués Coastal Way (267 km, 12 stages from Porto), shorter and with seaside boardwalks for almost the entire route.

Solitude and disconnection

For those seeking a Camino without crowds, the Camino Primitivo (304 km, 14 stages) offers mountain scenery and far fewer pilgrims than the Francés. The Vía de la Plata (973 km, 36 stages) goes a step further: it's the route with the fewest pilgrims among the main ones, with long stretches of dehesa and silence, ideal if your goal is to walk with yourself.

Little time, but you want the Compostela

Remember the minimum to earn the Compostela is 100 km on foot (or 200 km by bike). The Camino Inglés from Ferrol (116 km) or the Sarria-to-Santiago stages on the Francés (~115 km, the last 5 stages) comfortably meet that requirement in a week.

Route comparison table RouteDistanceStagesStarting pointDifficulty Camino Francés764 km33Saint-Jean-Pied-de-PortModerate Camino del Norte818 km36IrúnHigh (elevation) Vía de la Plata973 km36SevilleHigh (distance, heat) Camino Primitivo304 km14OviedoHigh (mountains) Camino Portugués609 km25LisbonModerate Portugués Coastal Way267 km12PortoModerate Camino Sanabrés364 km13Granja de MoreruelaModerate Camino Mozárabe419 km18Almería/GranadaHigh (heat, services) Camino Inglés116 km6FerrolLow-Moderate Camino Aragonés161 km6SomportModerate Camino de Invierno264 km10PonferradaHigh (mountains) Camino a Fisterra116 km4SantiagoLow-Moderate

Our practical recommendation

If you're unsure and this is your first Camino, start with the Francés or with Sarria-to-Santiago: these are the routes with the most hostel infrastructure and signage, so unexpected hiccups are easy to solve. If you've walked before or are looking for something different, choose based on what draws you: sea, mountains, or silence.

Whatever you choose, at Peregrinia you'll find maps with over 1,900 geolocated hostels, elevation profiles, and free GPX files for every stage so you can plan without surprises.