This is probably the question that more often we receive, as experts on the Camino de Santiago: which is the best season to walk the Camino de Santiago? Of course, it depends mostly on the route you choose, so let’s try to fix all the conditions that you should consider.

Before we start, please remember that Spain is located in the north hemisphere, so the months between December and February are the coldest ones.

Also, be aware of the myths! Santiago de Compostela is situated in the North of Spain, and this place has nothing in common with the south beaches, neither with the well-known islands.

Having this in mind, let’s have a look month by month, according to the climate and temperature variations that you can live in the most walked route, the French Route.

November, December and January, the coldest months

This is not the best season to walk the Camino de Santiago, with high probabilities to face snow and ice (yes, Spain can also be snowy!) If you decide to walk the Camino in winter, please consider to have some complications in the León area, and in the highest mounts, especially in St Jean Pied de Port.

Another problem that perhaps you will face on those months could be to find some of the hostels for pilgrims closed, especially in December. Always check that they are really open to the public in the last two weeks of December and the first two ones of January.