Skip the Camino de Santiago Crowds: 5 Alternative Routes on Spain’s Beloved Thru-Hike

There is perhaps no more iconic trail in all of Europe than Spain’s Camino de Santiago. This centuries-old route was once a religious pilgrimage, and has become a popular adventure thru-hike in modern times. Hikers experience the natural and cultural beauty of Spain, from the Picos de Europa mountains to charming small town villages, all while staying in conveniently located, hiker-only hostels.

There are many paths that arrive at the hike’s endpoint: the city of Santiago de Compostela. But unfortunately, the most well-known one, the French Way, has become inundated with people. Hikers wake up at 4 a.m. every single day just to get a bed in that night’s hostel — and hiking becomes a lot less fun when you’re worried about lodging every single evening.

If you’re looking for a Camino de Santiago experience without the crowds, there are five other less-crowded routes to Santiago de Compostela that offer the same picturesque views and taste of the Spanish way of life: all with a welcome dose of peace and quiet.

What Is the Camino de Santiago?

The history of the Camino de Santiago starts in biblical times. According to Christian legend, the body of St. James, the apostle, ended up buried on the northern coast of Spain. In the medieval period, Christian worshippers would make a pilgrimage on foot to visit his burial site as a sign of religious devotion. The site grew into a city: Santiago de Compostela.

As the centuries wore on, the practice fell out of favor until after the Spanish Civil War. Dictator Francisco Franco invested money into reviving the route and adding way-marking as an effort to boost tourism. Since the 1980s, people from all over the globe have embarked on the camino for religious and non-religious purposes. A popular 2010 film, The Way, starring Martin Sheen as a grieving father, boosted participation.

How Does the Camino Work?

Every participant, or pilgrim, on the trail has a credencial, a type of pilgrim passport that they must get stamped once a day. The credencial allows hikers access to albergues, affordable, pilgrim-only hostels that line the trails to Santiago. Anyone who walks 100 km (or bikes 200 km) on a route, as documented on their credencial, receives a compostela: an official certificate of completion in Latin.

Routes typically travel through a combination of remote nature, small historic towns, and larger cities. You’ll meet people from all over the globe on the trail, and form meaningful connections.

How Do I Get to Santiago?

There are multiple established routes, or “ways,” to arrive in Santiago de Compostela. Each has its own character and features. The Frances, or French way, is the most popular and iconic trail. In 2024, 47% of all pilgrims took the Frances. While this route has its highlights — like crossing the Pyrenees and visiting the Basque city of Pamplona — it’s just not worth the hassle.

When I completed the camino in 2016, I took the Norte, a quiet, mountainous route on the Spanish coast. For the last 2 days of the trail, it joins up with the Frances. These were my least favorite days of my 35-day hike: There was no quiet and no privacy. The trail felt like a school of salmon propelled up a river run. And trying to get a bed in an albergue felt like an Olympic-level competition.

Since you only have to walk 100 km (62 miles) to get a compostela, many tourists walk just this last section of the Frances, adding to the swell of people. There’s more than one way to get to Santiago, however. There are five other worthwhile routes that range from week-long excursions in the countryside to hundreds of miles along the coast.

While the routes below are listed in full, it’s easy to start elsewhere on the route and customize your itinerary. For example, I didn’t have time for the entire Norte, so I started later in the city of Santander, completing a distance of 350 miles instead of the entire 513. Each route has its pros and cons, but all invite you to challenge yourself and experience pilgrim magic.

The Primitivo

• Length: 196 miles
• Starting point: Oviedo
• Average time to complete: 12-14 days
• Percentage of 2024 Pilgrims: 5%

This route gets its name from the fact that it was the original route to Santiago: Pilgrims have been hiking this trail since the 9th century. Its highlights include the starting point, Oviedo, a charming medieval city known for its architecture, and Lugo, home to unique Roman ruins.

The Primitivo is one of the more physically challenging caminos, with steep elevation changes in the Cantabrian mountains. Most first-time pilgrims don’t take the Primitivo, but if you’re an experienced backpacker and feel confident in your fitness level, this route can be an excellent choice. Unfortunately, like the Norte, it joins up with the Frances for the last 2 days, so expect to share your final miles with plenty of people.

The Norte

• Length: 513 miles
• Starting point: Irun
• Average time to complete: 4-6 weeks
• Percentage of 2024 Pilgrims: 4%

The Norte has so many things working for it: It’s well-marked, easier elevation-wise than the Primitivo, and provides the perfect mix of beaches and mountains. Most of the difficulty in the Norte is early on, with several significant climbs in the first week’s stages, followed by smoother sailing.

Spain, like many European countries, is very regionally distinct. Each area has its own culture, food, and way of life. On the Norte, you’ll get to experience four of Spain’s most celebrated regions: Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria, and Galicia.

One con: The section to and around the major city of Gijon is logistically tough and scenically hideous. Services and albergues before the city are sparse, and you’ll spend several miles on roads and around industrial areas on your way out of the city.

The Portuguese (Coastal)

• Length: 174 miles
• Starting point: Porto
• Average time to complete: 11 to 13 days
• Percentage of 2024 Pilgrims: 15%

There are two routes to Santiago through Portugal: the coastal and the central. The coastal is less popular, and as the name hints, takes hikers along the pristine coast of the Atlantic. Pilgrims will enjoy beachside trails and time in small, charming fishing villages.

For the last 2 days of the trail, hikers on the coastal route will finish via the central route. This path, however, is separate from the Frances, preserving peace and quiet. If you’re looking for something in between the development of the Frances and the rural ruggedness of the Primitivo, the Portuguese is a good choice.

The Via de la Plata

• Length: 620 miles
• Starting point: Seville
• Average time to complete: 6-8 weeks
• Percentage of 2024 Pilgrims: 3.1%

Taking certain routes implies something specific about the pilgrims who do them. If you do the Via de la Plata, it means you’re hardcore. This way starts in the south in Seville, and takes you through almost the entirety of Spain, top to bottom. If you’ve got a thru-hiking itch and really want to experience Spain in all of its diversity, then de la Plata might be for you.

Timing for this route can be a little tricky. Start in the summer and you’ll be punished by Seville’s wickedly hot temperatures. Start too late and you might hit the rainy season up north. Your best bet is to start in early spring and finish by late summer.

The Ingles

• Length: 74 miles
• Staring point: Ferrol
• Average time to complete: 7 days
• Percentage of 2024 Pilgrims: 6%

For hikers who want a Camino experience but are low on time, there’s the Ingles. This route is plenty long enough to earn you a compostela, but short enough to complete in less than a week. The Ingles has a few moderate hills, but overall is quite approachable for less experienced hikers.

Not only does the Ingles attract fewer pilgrims, but it also spends less time in major cities than other routes. This way is all about wandering through small, charming villages and peaceful countryside scenery. An extra bonus: It arrives in Santiago separate from any other route, so you’ll enjoy solitude until the very end.