The Camino Francés is the most famous of all the routes to Santiago: the one walked by nearly half of all pilgrims and where the great medieval branches of Europe come together. It sets off from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, crosses the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles and makes its way through Navarre, La Rioja, Castile and León and Galicia, all the way to the Praza do Obradoiro.
Along its roughly 764 km it strings together one unforgettable landmark after another: Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Logroño, the cathedral of Burgos, the Castilian Meseta, León, Astorga, the Cruz de Ferro, O Cebreiro and, from Sarria on, the final 100 km that earn you the Compostela.
Who it's for
Ideal for first-timers thanks to its waymarking, services and pilgrim atmosphere; walked on foot or ridden by bicycle.