Santiago Plan

Camino Francés

The Camino de Santiago from Ponferrada

Starting the Camino Francés in Ponferrada is 210 km to Santiago, usually split into 9 stages. Here is every stage with its distance and difficulty, where to sleep, and a planner to adjust the days to your pace.

Ponferrada, capital of El Bierzo, begins in the shadow of its Templar castle and in the heart of wine country. From here come the climb to O Cebreiro —the mountain gateway to Galicia— and the final stages, about six days of very varied scenery with a good hostel network.

210 km
Distance
9
Days
9
Stages

✓ From Ponferrada you cover more than 100 km on foot: enough to earn the Compostela.

Stages from Ponferrada to Santiago

  1. 1Ponferrada → Villafranca del BierzoEasy22 km
  2. 2Villafranca → O CebreiroHard29 km
  3. 3O Cebreiro → TriacastelaModerate22 km
  4. 4Triacastela → SarriaModerate17 km
  5. 5Sarria → PortomarínModerate22 km
  6. 6Portomarín → Palas de ReiModerate26 km
  7. 7Palas de Rei → ArzúaEasy33 km
  8. 8Arzúa → O PedrouzoEasy21 km
  9. 9O Pedrouzo → Santiago de CompostelaModerate18 km
Plan your days →Where to sleep in Ponferrada ↗

Towns from Ponferrada to Santiago

CompostillaCamponarayaCacabelosVillafranca del BierzoTrabadeloVega de ValcarceTriacastelaSarriaPortomarínPalas de ReiArzúaO PedrouzoSantiago de Compostela

🛡 Travel insurance for the Camino

Insurance with medical assistance, baggage cover and cancellation protects you against the unexpected: an injury, a mishap or a stage you can't walk. IATI specialises in travel and offers cover valid for the Camino de Santiago.

See IATI insurance ↗

Affiliate link: taking it out through it costs you no more and helps keep this guide independent.

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometres from Ponferrada to Santiago?
From Ponferrada to Santiago it is about 210 km, usually walked in 9 stages.
How many days does it take from Ponferrada?
Most pilgrims do it in 9 days (210 km) at a comfortable pace. Use the planner to adjust the number of days to your fitness.
Is it enough to earn the Compostela?
Yes. From Ponferrada it is 210 km on foot, above the 100 km minimum required by the Pilgrim Office for the Compostela.
Where to sleep starting in Ponferrada?
There are public and private hostels, hotels and guesthouses on every stage. Each stage page lists hostels with phone numbers and booking options.

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Prepare your Camino from Ponferrada

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