Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception each morning (by 9am at the latest) so that it can be transferred to your next hotel. Make sure that your luggage is clearly labelled with the nametag provided. In case of any issues with the luggage transfer, please call Jacotrans on (+34) 606 049 858.
Your bike fitting is scheduled for FECHA at HORA at LUGAR
Call the Bike Spain Tours office on +34 915 590 653, or out of office hours call +34 677 356 586. We will get you where you need to be and get you the help you need
Please be aware that Spaniards follow a very particular routine in terms of their daily meals, and this is often strictly enforced by restaurant opening hours, especially in small towns!
You can expect restaurants to be open for lunch from approximately 1:30pm – 4pm. Many places will offer a menú del día: a set menu with 2/3 options for each course, usually including a drink, bread and dessert or coffee. Remember that lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain.
Dinnertime in Spain is any time from 8pm onwards. Dinner in Spain is typically a lighter meal.
In order to prove your status as a pilgrim (and be awarded your Compostela pilgrim certificate once you arrive in Santiago), you will need to obtain a credencial (pilgrim passport) at the start of your journey. In Pamplona, you can get your credencial from the Arzobispado de Pamplona y Tudela (open Mon-Fri 8am – 3pm) or from the Albergue turístico y de peregrinos “Jesús y María” (open daily 12am – 11pm). The credencial costs 2€, payable in cash.
Once you have your credencial, make sure that you get it stamped at least twice per day as you travel to Santiago. You can receive stamps in hotels, restaurants, churches, bars, cafés and many other places that you might visit along the way; we recommend that you try to get as many stamps as possible to turn your credencial into a unique souvenir of your trip!
Walking the Camino de Santiago is not just a pilgrimage for the soul but also a feast for the senses. Here’s a must-try list of regional food and drinks along the way:
León
León is a fantastic place to try traditional Castilian meat dishes such as cecina (cured smoked beef) or morcilla de León (spiced blood sausage with rice). Vegetarians can enjoy sopa de ajo (garlic soup with paprika, bread, and egg). Wash everything down with some prieto picudo wine: a bold red from León’s vineyards.
Astorga and El Bierzo
For breakfast in Astorga, we recommend accompanying your coffee with local mantecadas and hojaldres (soft, buttery sponge cakes and flaky pastries). For a hearty dinner, the local specailty is cocido maragato: a three-course stew with chickpeas, meats, and broth, which is traditionally eaten backwards compared to the rest of Spain: meat first, soup last).
As you head west into El Bierzo wine region, we highly recommend trying the local mencía wine: a fruity, deep red. Specialty dishes here include botillo del Bierzo (slow-cooked pork sausage with potatoes and cabbage), pimientos del Bierzo (roasted sweet red peppers) and castañas del Bierzo (roasted chestnuts).
Galicia
As you cross the mountains into Galicia, you’ll notice that seafood features much more heavily in the local gastronomy! The star dish here is pulpo a la Gallega, or pulpo a feira (octopus sprinkled with paprika, sea salt, and olive oil). Melide is particularly famous for its octopus, although you’ll find it in almost all the towns you pass through in this region. Another very traditional dish is empanada Gallega (a savoury pastry filled with tuna, meat, or seafood). Wash it all down with a glass of crisp albariño white wine!
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is a culinary gem! We highly recommend a tapas crawl to sample as much of the local cuisine as possible. The seafood is of course a highlight, although traditional Galician pork dishes such as raxó and zorza are also very popular. Round off your culinary adventure with a slice of tarta de Santiago: an almond cake dusted with icing sugar in the shape of the cross of St James. Those interested in Galicia’s Celtic heritage might consider booking a queimada: a flaming Galician punch made from orujo (pomace brandy), sugar, lemon peel, and coffee beans, brewed by a meiga (witch)!
Click here for our packing suggestions for a self-guided bike tour.
Click here for our recommendations for cycling safely and legally in Spain.
Click here for our recommendations on what to do if you experience mechanical issues with your bike during your tour.
Day 1: Monday 10th November
Arrival day
Accommodation: Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Hotel services: Restaurant, bar, laundry
Welcome to the Camino, and the start of an amazing tour!
6:30am: Your guide, Enrique, will meet you in reception of Hotel Mediodia and take you to the train station. In case of any issues, call Enrique on (+34) 696 546 088.
7:33am: Train departs from Madrid-Atocha
10:34am: Train arrives in Pamplona
Our first stop is the Hotel Ciudadela de Pamplona**. Next, we’ll take a short walk to obtain our pilgrim credentials at the Jesús y María Pilgrims’ Hostel, and take a look at the Cathedral from the outside. Depending on time, we might also head to the heart of the city, Plaza del Castillo, and take a walk along the most famous street in Spain: Calle Estafeta, where the bulls run between July 7th and 14th during the San Fermín festival.
Next, the Camino begins! We’ll drive the route that we will cycle in 2026, following secondary roads. We’ll begin in the Arga River valley, and will follow the Camino until we reach Hotel Ureder**** in Estella.
From here, we’ll continue on to Logroño, where we’ll visit Hotel Murrieta***, and take a stroll around the city: the Cathedral and Calles San Juan and Laurel, famous for being the best places to try the local pintxos.
We’ll finish the day in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where the Parador de Santo Domingo**** will be our final hotel of the day.
Day 2: Tuesday 11th November
Accommodation: Barceló León Conde Luna
Hotel services: Restaurant, bar, laundry
After breakfast, we’ll head towards Burgos, taking the main road which runs alongside the pedestrian Camino. Once in Burgos, we will visit hotel ABBA Burgos**** and and walk to the Cathedral square, passing through the city’s famous medieval gateway: the Arco de Santa María. We’ll also go up to the castle ruins to take in the views over the city and the landscapes of Castile.
We’ll continue driving along secondary roads that follow the Camino to our next hotel in the historic town of Castrojeriz: Hotel Quinta San Francisco****. Next, we’ll continue across the Castilian countryside to the town of Carrión de los Condes, where we will visit the next hotel: the Hotel Monasterio San Zoilo****, which dates back to the 10th century, and where we will be able to see its magnificent interiors: the cloister, the church, the museum, and the restaurant.
Our next stop is Sahagún, at the Domus Viatoris**, located across from the town’s bullring. We’ll then make our way to the final destination of the day: the city of León, where we will stay at theBarceló León Conde Luna****. We will be able to stroll around and visit the stunning Cathedral, wander its streets, and enjoy some tapas in the Barrio Húmedo before heading to rest.
Day 3: Wednesday 12th November
Accommodation: Pousada Portomarín
Hotel services: Restaurant, bar, laundry
This morning, we’ll make our way to Hospital de Órbigo to cross the famous Puente del Paso Honroso. From here, we’ll continue along the Camino, passing pilgrims along the way, until we reach the city of Astorga, which dates back to Roman times. There, we will visit the Hotel Eurostars Vía de la Plata****, and stroll through the streets to see the Gaudí Palace—a modernist architectural masterpiece—the Cathedral, and the main square.
Leaving Astorga, we’ll head up along secondary roads to reach the highest point of the French Way, the Foncebadón pass (1,490 m), passing through characteristic villages whose main activity revolves around hosting and supporting pilgrims. From the summit at the Cruz de Ferro, we’ll begin a steep descent towards Ponferrada.
We will begin to notice a change in scenery, colors, and terrain as we arrive in Villafranca del Bierzo, entering a greener and more mountainous region: El Bierzo. There, we will visit the Hotel Posada Plaza Mayor***. We’ll have the chance to explore this charming town, its magnificent Collegiate Church, and the statue of the pilgrim on the famous medieval stone bridge over the Burbia River.
We continue up to the well-known village of O Cebreiro, full of charm, where we can see the Celtic pallozas (stone-and-thatch dwellings). This is the setting of one of the most famous legends of the Camino de Santiago and marks the entry into Galicia. We then descend to Triacastela to visit the Hotel Alda Triacastela**.
We’ll pass by the Monastery of Samos, still inhabited by Benedictine monks, and cross the town of Sarria, known as the most common starting point for walking the minimum distance required to earn the Compostela. From there, we continue to our last hotel of the day Pousada de Portomarín***.
Day 4: Thursday 13th November
Accommodation: Exe Peregrino
Hotel services: Restaurant, bar, laundry
On the last day of our journey, we will drive along secondary roads to the next hotel in Arzúa, Pazo de Santa María****.
12pm: Meeting with the Councillor for Education and Culture of O Pino Town Council
Next, we’ll reach Monte do Gozo, where we can catch our first distant glimpse will enjoy the first views of the towers of Santiago Cathedral, catching our first distant glimpse
After reaching Praza do Obradoiro, the end point of the pilgrimage in front of the Cathedral’s façade, we will head to the last hotel of the Camino, Exe Peregrino****.
The official end-point of the Camino in Santiago de Compostela is the Cathedral, located in Plaza del Obradoiro. We recommend taking a break in the plaza to celebrate your achievement and soak up the amazing atmosphere. There is something indescribably human about the sight of hundreds of daily pilgrims arriving into the plaza, just as countless others have done over the centuries.
Inside the Cathedral, pilgrims traditionally embrace the statue of St James and visit his tomb. If you’d like to carry out this ritual, you can enter the Cathedral via Porta de Acibechería in Plaza da Inmaculada (daily from 8:30am – 9pm).
When you’re ready, you can visit the Pilgrim’s Office at Rúa das Carretas, 33 (open daily 10am – 6pm), where you can obtain the Compostela: the document certifying you as an official pilgrim! You can also request the Certificate of Distance, which reflects the start point of your pilgrimage, the number of kilometres travelled and the start and finish dates. This Certificate costs 3€, payable in cash at the Pilgrim Office.
Pilgrim’s Mass takes place in the Cathedral daily at 7:30am, 9:30am, 12:00pm and 7:30pm. At the beginning of the Pilgrim’s Mass, a list of the number of pilgrims who have been received in the Pilgrims’ Office in the last 24 hours is read out. Where they have travelled from and where they began their pilgrimage is also read out at the beginning of the service. If you’re lucky, you might even see the Botafumeiro, the enormous censer filled with incense and swung over the heads of mass attendees to counteract the smell of recently-arrived pilgrims!
Click here for our Google Maps list of recommendations in Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago de Compostela was, without a doubt, the most important city in Christian medieval Spain. It’s world-renowned for its cultural and religious significance, and each year thousands of travellers come to visit.
Santiago Cathedral: The end of your pilgrimage and top of your tourist list is Santiago’s magnificent cathedral, which dates back to the 11th century and is one of the few catedrals in the world built over the tomb of an apostle. We highly recommend the cathedral rooftop tour (available daily from 10am – 8pm, reservation recommended). You’ll climb up the cathedral tower and out onto the roof for a once-in-a-lifetime angel’s eye view of Santiago, as well as a unique perspective of the stunning cathedral.
Take a stroll in Alameda Park for fabulous views of the cathedral and the rest of Santiago’s UNESCO World Heritage Site old town. Don’t forget to take a picture with the statue of As Marías, two elderly sisters who used to go for a walk in the park every day at 2pm, dressed in their finery, regardless of civil war, dictatorship or inclement weather!
For more insight into the history of the Camino, don’t miss the Pilgrimage Museum (open Tue – Fri 9:30am – 8:30pm, Sat 11am – 7:30pm and Sundays 10:15am – 2:45pm)
Also well worth a visit is the Museum of the Galician People (open Tue – Sat 11am – 6pm and Sun 11am – 2pm), which explores the unique culture and history of this little corner of Spain. The museum is housed in a former Dominican convent, set in beautiful grounds that are now a public park.
Mercado La Galiciana: This gastromarket is just a couple of years old, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy both local and foreign food. There is an amazing range of eateries, and the place itself is beautifully designed (open Sun – Thu 12pm – 12am and Fri/Sat 12pm – 1am)
For a more traditional experience, visit Mercado de Abastos (open Mon – Sat, 11:30am – 5pm). This historic market is extremely popular with locals, and contains a range of restaurants, traditional market stalls, and even a fishmonger that will cook your purchases for you while you wait!
Santiago de Compostela also has a fantastic tapas culture. You will receive one free tapa per drink purchased, so we recommend that you stick with small glasses of albariño wine! Some of our favourites are Bar La Tita (enormous portions of tortilla) Petiscos do Cordeal (seafood), Benboa (seafood), Viñoteca Ventosela (cheese and charcuterie), Raices Gallegas (traditional Galician dishes including zorza and raxo) and Orella (pig’s ear).
For a sit-down meal, we highly recommend O Sendeiro (open daily until 6pm, and Wed – Sun 8pm – 12am) or A Curtidoria (open Wed – Sat 1pm – 5pm/8:30pm – 12am, Tue and Sun 1pm – 5pm).
Day 5. Friday 14th November
Departure day
7:48am: Train departs Santiago de Compostela.
10:50am: Train arrives into Madrid-Chamartin.
11:30am (approx): Meeting at Bike Spain Tours!
Info
About UsContact Info
Plaza de la Villa 1,
28005 Madrid
+34 915 590 653
info@bikespain.com
