Camino del Norte

The coastal route along the Bay of Biscay. Quieter and considerably harder than it looks on a map.

Last updated August 11, 2026

Distance

832 km

Typical time

39 days

Difficulty

Hard

Total ascent

14,663 m

Starts

Irún

Ends

Santiago de Compostela

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The Camino del Norte follows the northern coast from Irún on the French border, through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias, before turning inland for Galicia. It is the second longest of the main routes and one of the most beautiful.

The catch is the terrain. A coastline is not flat: the route climbs in and out of every river valley and headland, and the cumulative ascent is well above the Francés despite being a “coastal” walk. Days feel longer than the distance suggests.

It is also more expensive and more urban in places, passing through San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander and Gijón. Albergues are further apart than on the Francés, so planning matters more.

Who it suits

Best for: Experienced walkers who want the coast, the food, and fewer people.

When to go: June to September. The north is wet, and the shoulder seasons can mean weeks of rain.

Watch out for: Accommodation gaps. Book ahead in the cities in summer, and never assume the next albergue is open.

Suggested stages on the Camino del Norte

39 stages averaging 21.3 km a day, generated from the route itself rather than copied from a guidebook. Treat it as a starting point: the whole idea of planning your own Camino is that a 27 km day someone else picked might be the wrong day for you.

Stage stops and distances are derived from the route geometry and from OpenStreetMap place data (ODbL). Distances are measured along the route line, so they will differ slightly from a guidebook.

Ascent for each stage is measured from the route's own GPS track, sampled every 100 m against the SRTM 30 m elevation dataset and smoothed to filter sensor noise, so short, sharp rises can read lower than they feel underfoot.

Walking the Camino del Norte offline

There is no reliable mobile signal on large parts of this route, and the stretches without it are exactly the stretches where you want a map. Caminantes caches the route, the stages and the elevation profiles before you leave, and tracks your distance, pace and ascent while you walk. The Caminantes app is free, with no paywall on any of the planning or tracking tools.

Common questions about the Camino del Norte

How long does the Camino del Norte take?

39 days at a typical walking pace. Our suggested plan splits the 832 km into 39 stages averaging 21.3 km a day, and you can split or join any of them.

How hard is the Camino del Norte?

Hard. It covers 832 km with 14,663 m of total ascent, and the longest stage in our plan is 31.9 km. Accommodation gaps. Book ahead in the cities in summer, and never assume the next albergue is open.

When is the best time to walk the Camino del Norte?

June to September. The north is wet, and the shoulder seasons can mean weeks of rain.

Where does the Camino del Norte start and finish?

It runs from Irún to Santiago de Compostela, a total of 832 km.

Does the Camino del Norte count towards the Compostela certificate?

Yes. You need the last 100 km on foot, so starting at A Silvosa, which leaves 104 km to Santiago, or anywhere earlier on the route, qualifies. Collect two stamps a day over that final stretch.

Before you go

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See the measured elevation profile for the Camino del Norte : 14,663 m of ascent, worked out for every stage.