When to walk the Camino de Santiago: the honest picture, month by month

There is no single right time for the Camino: there is the right time for you. It depends on how well you handle the heat, how many people you want around you and when you can actually get away. Here is the honest picture, month by month, from someone who lives in Santiago and watches pilgrims arrive all year round.

What is the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago?

May and September are the best months for weather and light, and that is exactly why they are also in high demand: the people who choose them book months ahead. June is the balance between atmosphere and availability. The full season runs from April to October.

The month-by-month picture

Month	Crowds	Weather	Our verdict
April	Low	Cool, rain possible	Good, for those who love the quiet
May	High	Mild, green at its peak	Among the best, book early
June	Medium-high	Pleasant warmth, very long days	Among the best
July	High	Hot	Lively, book ahead
August	Peak	Hot	The party goes on, book well ahead
September	High	Mild, beautiful light	Among the best, book early
October	Low	Cool, rain on the rise	Good, a quiet Camino
Nov-Mar	Minimal	Cold, rain, short days	Experts only, almost everything closed

Spring: April and May

Galicia is green at its most intense, the days are stretching out. In April a little more rain is part of the deal and the paths are still quiet: a rain cape in your pack and the problem is gone. For many, May is the perfect month, and it shows: everything is open, the weather is on your side, but the best accommodation has to be locked in months ahead.

Summer: June, July and August

June holds the balance: very long days, warm but not extreme weather, an atmosphere already in full swing. July and August are the peak: daily arrivals in Santiago comfortably pass a thousand, the best accommodation sells out months ahead, and it gets hot in the middle of the day. The summer trick is to set off early in the morning: by 1pm you have arrived and the afternoon is yours. And if the heat really bites, our team is on the phone: a stage can be shortened, a transfer can be found. The August Camino is one long celebration: if it is the only window you have, it works, but it needs booking well in advance.

Autumn: September and October

September is the other month we always recommend: the heat eases, the light is the loveliest of the year and the sea, on the coastal routes, is still the summer sea. Here too the secret is out: it is a month in high demand, so book early. October shortens the days and brings the rain back, but it gives you a quiet Camino that many find the most authentic of all.

Can you walk the Camino in winter?

From November to March the Camino is for experts: short days, frequent rain and nearly every place to stay closed. Anyone setting off in those months needs to be able to handle long stages with few points of support. If it is your first time, wait for spring. And if you still want to go, talk to us first: we will tell you honestly what is doable.

What about the rain in Galicia?

Galicia is green for a reason: it rains even in summer. It is not the rain that ruins the trip: it comes, it passes, and the path is soon steaming under the sun again. A rain cape in your pack and well broken-in shoes solve everything. And if the weather really turns, our support finds the answer: we are in Santiago, we live the weather too.

Does the timing change depending on the route?

In part. The coastal routes, like the Portuguese Coastal Way, are at their best between June and September, when the ocean keeps you company on every stage. The French Way from Sarria and the Portuguese Way from Tui work well right through the season, from April to October. For high summer the advantage goes to the routes with more services: the French and the Portuguese above all.

When should you book?

The earlier you settle on your dates, the better the accommodation. For May, June and September the ideal is to move 3 to 4 months ahead; for July and August, even earlier. We book the accommodation ourselves, one by one, your credential arrives at home in the gift box, sports medical insurance is included by default, and from the day you confirm until you are back home our team always answers. You choose when to go, we take care of the rest. See the itineraries with prices or tell us your dates.