The best times to walk the Camino de Santiago are April, May, June, September, and October. The weather is warm and mild during these months, and the Camino de Santiago routes are relatively quiet.
July and August are the most popular months though they can be very hot and most of the routes are very busy. There are also several alternatives to Camino de Santiago that you can visit in different months or during hot months like July or August.
This is one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Usually, people are asking about the most popular route, that is the Camino Frances, to Santiago, and for that reason that is the route, this post refers to.
Quick Weather Guide
- January – cold, snow on hills & mountains
- February – cold, snow on mountains
- March – warm days, cold nights
- April – a great time to walk
- May – one of the best times
- June – hot, but still okay
- July – very hot
- August – very hot
- September – warm and mild
- October – warm days, cold nights
- November – cold & wet
- December – cold, wet, snow
Until mid-Aprill, to mid-May, it is still possible to have snow on the mountains between St Jean and Roncesvalles. Because of that, you’re best bearing in mind that your backpack will be heavier in the winter, see the packing list.
January and December
Unless you are located on the other side of the equator January and December are winter.
Winter in Spain can sometimes be fairly cold, in 2008 there were snow blizzards in what was the worst winter for 15 years – in 2015 there was again lots of snow on the hills after Leon, however, 2011/2012 was a warmer winter all over Europe.
So you can plan in advance but in the winter be prepared and check the forecast before heading up any of the hills, especially from St Jean Pied de Port.
Apart from the weather, the other main problem between the end of Oct and the start of Easter is that some places are closed, especially between 15th December and 15th of January. If you are walking at this time of the year make sure your guide book has updated information on what hostels and albergues are open.
I would not make the choice to walk at this time of the year, however many don’t have a choice due to time constraints.
This post on Sil’s blog has loads of good advice from someone who has actually walked the Camino during the winter. I also recommend checking out my guide to winter hiking.
October, November, February, and March
These months are much wetter than the rest of the year so be prepared with rain gear. It can be fairly cold in the mornings, however, if you are lucky often the sun will burn off any frost and you will have mild days.
That said the last 100km into Santiago can be wet at any time of the year, I have been caught in the rain that lasted two days while walking in September.
April, May, June, September, and October Are the Best Times to Walk the Camino
These are likely considered the best months to walk any of the Caminos to Santiago. During these months the weather is generally warm or hot, everything is open, and the routes are not as busy as the main summer months.
July and August
These are the most popular months on the Camino. I would try and avoid starting on July 25th from Roncesvalles – the feast day of St James, as it can be a very busy day.
The same is true if you plan to arrive in Santiago during the week before and after the 25th of July. If you are arriving in Santiago at this time be prepared for the hotels to be harder to book and more expensive, additionally the albergues will be very busy.
There is a Spanish public holiday on the 15th Aug, (the Assumption of Mary), again I would avoid starting from St Jean or Roncesvalles on this date.
I once stayed in Roncesvalles overnight at this time and it was very crowded, the hostel needed overflow tents to accommodate everyone. But the worst, for me, was walking the next day.
I find in general the Spanish extremely helpful along all the Caminos, however, I am not used to the noise when there are many Spanish walking nearby talking on their phones, sorry Spain.
This is a local problem in every country due to the availability and cost of mobile data, while at the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland I overheard many Brits calling friends with the start of the call being – guess where I am…
Below are the weather charts for Bilbao, Leon, and Santiago. Notice how wet Santiago can be, and it is generally a bit colder in Leon. I will be updating the packing list page shortly to include additional walking gear for the winter – however not much more is required.
Above photo courtesy of Amawalker
I love hiking, backpacking, and camping. From the Camino de Santiago to the West Highland Way in Scotland or simply a great day hike on the weekend. Hiking refreshes me, my mind, and keeps my body reasonably fit. So far I have walked three Camino routes and many other long distance hikes in the UK, Canada, and around the rest of Europe. One of the best was my hike up Ben Nevis.
Camino Frances in Spring is so beautiful with the vistas of green. Spring rain however brings some slippery paths. Cool morning starts, warm days and comfortable nights was my experience. I’d return in Spring in a heartbeat! Camino 2015.
Thinking about hitting the Camino Frances in late March. Would appreciate any advice you can share. I have oodles of experience hiking the Appalachian Trail in the U.S. So, I feel I can do this. Sounds like I’m in for a lot of rain. Question: What kind of rain showers should I expect for that time of year? Are they all day experiences or passing showers? Thanks!
I’m thinking about starting the Camino (Frances?) in early September 2022. Is the landscape more beautiful in Spring? Since that will be my constant companion, and this will likely be my only Camino, I’d like to pick optimum season.
!Gracias!
I haven’t walked in spring, only summer and autumn. Summer can be bleak at some points due to the very hot weather, autumn is beautiful.