© José Manuel Guerrero · Fotografía propia · © Todos los derechos reservadosDe la capital a Sahagún
From Madrid to Sahagún: the Guadarrama mountains, the Castilian meseta and the vineyards of Rueda, walked in solitude and free from the crowds of the Francés.
↑ Ascent
+2379 m
↓ Descent
−2221 m
The Camino de Madrid sets out from the capital, crosses the Guadarrama mountains over the Fuenfría pass and descends onto the meseta all the way to Sahagún, where it joins the Camino Francés.
An inland route, solitary and varied, with Segovia close by, the vineyards of Rueda and many peaceful villages. Its waymarking as a Jacobean route is a modern revival (1996).
Who it's for
For those leaving Madrid in search of a quiet path.
The itinerary
Classic division into stages. Distances are approximate and for guidance; each pilgrim adjusts their days to their own pace.
Cumulative: 22 km
↑189 ↓130 m⏱ 5 h 33 min
Madrid
You leave the capital behind, passing El Pardo, on a gentle stretch that eases you calmly into the journey.
View stage →Cumulative: 44 km
↑261 ↓84 m⏱ 5 h 40 min
Madrid
Views of La Pedriza and the Mendoza castle beside the Santillana reservoir.
View stage →Cumulative: 61 km
↑346 ↓54 m⏱ 4 h 37 min
Madrid
You head into the Sierra de Guadarrama, among pine forests and crisp mountain air.
View stage →Cumulative: 93 km
↑622 ↓834 m⏱ 8 h 39 min
Madrid · Segovia
You cross the Puerto de la Fuenfría (1,796 m), the highest point of all the Jacobean routes.
View stage →Cumulative: 125 km
↑198 ↓277 m⏱ 7 h 57 min
Segovia
You leave behind the aqueduct and the cathedral, heading out onto the Castilian plateau.
View stage →Cumulative: 146 km
↑34 ↓150 m⏱ 5 h 3 min
Segovia
Arrival in Coca, with its imposing Mudéjar brick castle rising among the pine woods.
View stage →Cumulative: 171 km
↑94 ↓145 m⏱ 6 h 7 min
Segovia · Valladolid
Pine woods and fine sand herald your entry into the lands of Valladolid.
View stage →Cumulative: 195 km
↑60 ↓109 m⏱ 5 h 49 min
Valladolid
You draw closer to the river Duero along quiet paths through fields of grain.
View stage →Cumulative: 227 km
↑228 ↓69 m⏱ 8 h
Valladolid
A serene stage along the banks of the Duero, perfect for walking at an unhurried pace.
View stage →Cumulative: 255 km
↑49 ↓159 m⏱ 6 h 45 min
Valladolid
You reach the 'city of the Admirals', with its church of Santa María.
View stage →Cumulative: 276 km
↑90 ↓48 m⏱ 5 h 9 min
Valladolid
The open, silent Tierra de Campos, a fine moment for quiet reflection.
View stage →Cumulative: 297 km
↑118 ↓66 m⏱ 5 h 12 min
Valladolid
A landscape of moorland and endless horizon, so typical of the northern plateau.
View stage →Cumulative: 315 km
↑90 ↓96 m⏱ 4 h 26 min
León
The final stage: you reach the 'Spanish Cluny', where the Camino de Madrid joins the Camino Francés.
View stage →Plan your daily stages
Choose which stage you start from, how many days you have and at what pace; we split the stages into days balanced by effort (distance and elevation). You can save, share or print your plan.
13 days · ≈ 315 km in total
One or more days exceed 32 effort units (kilometres plus climb: 100 m of ascent count as 1 km). Doable if you are fit, but consider adding a day.
An indicative split by effort (distance + elevation). It does not guarantee accommodation at each stop: check each stage and its hostels before finalising your plan.
✦ Add stamps to your digital credential
Save this route to your account, mark each stage you complete and earn your virtual Compostela when you reach Santiago. Free.
The stamps and the digital credential are a keepsake from Santiago Plan, with no official validity: they are not the pilgrim credential and do not replace the physical stamps collected at hostels and churches to obtain the Compostela at the Cathedral.
🛡 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.
The route
Approximate track of the route with the towns it passes through.
Layers
Use two fingers to move the map; Ctrl + scroll to zoom.
Download and offline navigation
Download the GPX track and open it in your hiking app (OsmAnd, Wikiloc, Locus…) to navigate without coverage.
Where to sleep
A selection of pilgrim hostels (albergues) along the Camino, ordered from the start towards Santiago. The municipal and parish ones are usually the cheapest and many cannot be booked (you arrive and check in in order). Confirm beds, price and opening times before relying on them.
Hostel data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). It does not include beds or price, which are not always in the source; check with the hostel. Is one missing or wrong? Write to us.
Accommodation
On the Camino, pilgrim hostels (municipal, parish and private) are the cheapest option, and many cannot be booked: you arrive and check in in order of arrival. The links below search for hotels and guesthouses, for those who prefer to secure a bed in advance.
Affiliate links to Booking.com: booking through them costs you no more and helps keep this independent guide running.
When you reach Santiago
When you finish your Camino, make the most of Santiago: a guided tour of the cathedral and the botafumeiro, a trip to Finisterre and Muxía (the end of the world), or the corners of the old town.
Affiliate link to GetYourGuide: booking through it costs you no more and helps keep this guide running.
🧭 How to get there
Find out how to travel from your city to Madrid by train, bus, car or plane.
Xacobeo 2027
Leave your email and we will send you news, tips and deals to prepare this route in good time. No spam.