Camino Frances from Sarria - walking stages, GPX, PDF

ByAlya
33 Comments

The Camino Frances from Sarria is a perfect route if you don't have enough time to walk a longer Camino. or if you want to try out the Camino de Santiago. The Sarria to Santiago route is one of the best Camino routes for first-time pilgrims. It has good infrastructure, plenty of places to stay, restaurants, and other facilities. The route is well-marked and can easily be planned and walked independently even by amateur pilgrims.

A big white letters "Sarria" at the exit of the town on the Camino Frances in Spain, 100 km from Santiago de Compostela
The sign at the exit of Sarria on the Camino Frances

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Camino Frances free planning tool

You can use our free Camino Frances planning tool. Choose your daily distance and a starting point and get a customized itinerary with recommended places to stay.

Camino Frances from Sarria PDFs

Download our free PDF files for the Camino Francés from Sarria with detailed walking stages and places to stay along the route.

GPX files of the route

See our detailed guide on How to use our GPX files to navigate with your phone.

Camino with a tour

If you're concerned about planning the walk from Sarria yourself you can book your Camino through a company. They do all the planning and booking for you and provide you with a detailed itinerary. All you have to do is walk.

The recap of my walk on the Camino Frances from Sarria

Camino from Sarria route overview

  • Total distance - 116 km/72 mi
  • Days required - 5-6 days
  • Walking surface - 45 km/28 mi asphalt, 71 km/44 mi footpath/gravel road
  • Total ascent (over 5 days) - 2373 m
  • Total descent - 2587 m
  • Average cost - 25-30 Euro per person per day (if staying in albergues), 40-50 Euro pp. per day (if staying in hotels).
  • Accommodation - municipal and private albergues (hostels for pilgrims), hotels, and guest houses.
  • Route marking - yellow arrows and shells painted on trees, walls, ground, etc., and distance poles showing the distance to Santiago.

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A traditional stone Camino sign with the distance to Santiago
The 100-kilometers to Santiago distance sign in the forest between Sarria and Portomarin

Camino Frances from Sarria - walking stages

Camino from Sarria
walking stages
Stage 1
Sarria - Portomarin
22 km/13,6 mi		Stage 2
Portomarin - Palas de Rei
25 km/15,5 mi		Stage 3
Palas de Rei - Arzua
29 km/18 mi
Stage 4
Arzua - O Pedrouzo
20 km/12,4 mi		Stage 5
O Pedrouzo - Santiago
20 km/12,4 mi
Walking stages of the French Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela

Stage 1. Sarria to Portomarín, 22 km/13.6 mi

  • Distance – 22 km/13.6 mi
  • Time – 5-6 hours
  • Walking on asphalt – 13 km/8 mi
  • Walking on the road – 500m
  • Ascent - 496m
  • Descent - 570m
  • Difficulty level – 2 out of 5
Elevation profile of the Camino Frances from Sarria to Portomarin
Camino Frances from Sarria. Elevation profile Stage 1. Sarria - Portomarín

If it's your first day on the Camino Frances I strongly recommend taking it easy. Make plenty of rest stops on the way, drinking enough water, and don't try to chase after other pilgrims. There will be some people who have been walking for weeks and they are in better walking shape.

On the stretch between Sarria and Portomarin, there will be a couple of places selling local homemade products like jam, bread, cheese, etc. Everything is very fresh and tasty. You need cash so make sure you have some.

Highlights

  • A nice and peaceful countryside scenery; forest with chestnut and oak trees, small farms and villages, wheat fields.
  • The beautiful town of Portomarín with its charming streets, inviting restaurants, a beautiful church, and stunning views of the Embalse de Belesar Lake. The town was completely flooded in 1963, and some historical buildings like San Nicolás Church or Chapel de la Nieves were moved uphill where you can find them nowadays.

Challenges

  • An easy walking day with several short ascents and descents mostly in the first half.
  • A rocky and steep descent just before Portomarín.

Places to stay in Portomarín*

*The complete list of accommodations along the route you can find in our free PDF file.

The town of Portomarin across the river with a stone bridge
Portomarin is the most picturesque town on the Camino Frances from Sarria

Stage 2. Portomarín to Palas de Rei, 25 km/15.5 mi

  • Distance – 25 km/15.5 mi
  • Time – 6-7 hours
  • Walking on asphalt – 3 km/1.8 mi
  • Walking on the road – not really walking on the road but quite a lot of walking on the gravel path next to the road
  • Ascent - 580m
  • Descent - 431m
  • Difficulty level – 3 out of 5
A graph with ascents and descents on the second stage of the Camino Frances from Sarria
Elevation profile Stage 2. Portomarín - Palas de Rei

It was a nice walking day a bit tougher and longer than the previous day. You'll find many places to stop for lunch or coffee along the route. Most of the Camino goes through the forest and fields sometimes next to the road with very few cars.

Highlights

  • Beautiful Galician forest.
  • A couple of kiosks selling fruit, snacks and cool drinks for donation.

Challenges

  • 350m ascent during the first half of the day.
  • A couple of stretches of walking next to the road on the gravel path.

Places to stay in Palas de Rei

Pilgrims walking in the morning of a street of Portomarin
Leaving Portomarin at sunrise with hundreds of other pilgrims

Stage 3. Palas de Rei to Arzua, 29 km/18 mi

  • Distance – 29 km/18 mi
  • Time – 7-8 hours
  • Walking on asphalt – 11 km/6.8 mi
  • Walking on the road – 0 km
  • Ascent - 588m
  • Descent - 724m
  • Difficulty level – 3 out of 5
A graph with ascents and descents on the route from Palas de Rei to Arzua
Elevation profile Stage 3. Palas de Rei to Arzúa

It's the longest day on the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago. If you don't feel strong enough to walk 29 km/18 mi you can split it into two days; walk 15 km/9.3 mi to Melide, stay there, eat pulpo (octopus), rest and the next day walk the rest 14 km/8.6 mi to Arzúa.

The Camino del Norte merges with the French Camino in Arzúa.

Highlights

  • Melide is a pretty big town compared to the other places on the route from Sarria to Santiago. It's famous for its pulpo a la Feira (cooked octopus tentacles served with olive oil and spices), a must-try here. The Camino Primitivo merges with the Camino Frances in Melide.
  • Ribadiso de Baixo - a tiny village about 2 km/1.2 mi before Arzúa. It might be a good place to stop if you don't want to stay in the busy Arzúa.

Challenges

  • Many short ups and downs throughout the day.
  • Quite a lot of walking on tar road, about 11 km/6.8 mi.

Places to stay in Arzúa

A cake of St. James, a traditional almond pastry on the Camino Frances
Tarta de Santiago or Cake of St. James, a traditional almond cake is a must-try food on the Camino

Stage 4. Arzúa to O Pedrouzo, 20 km/12.4 mi

  • Distance – 20 km/12.4 mi
  • Time – 5 hours
  • Walking on asphalt – 7 km/4.3 mi
  • Walking on the road – 2 km/1.2 mi next to the road
  • Ascent - 341m
  • Descent - 468m
  • Difficulty level – 2 out of 5
A graph with ascents and descents on the route from Arzua to O Pedrouzo
Elevation profile Stage 4. Arzúa - O Pedrouzo

I've walked the part from Arzúa to Santiago 3 times because the last stages of the Camino Frances, Camino Primitivo, and Northern Camino are the same.

At the exit of Arzúa, there is a split. The right route continues along the road, the left route goes into the forest. I always take the left one to be away from the busy road. A couple of kilometers after Arzúa the distance marking disappears you'll see the word "Complementario" instead. Don't worry about it you're on the right way you'll start seeing the distance again after 2 km/1.2 mi or 3 km/1.8 mi.

Most of the day you walk through the forest from time to time the Camino goes next to the road but not for long. There are plenty restaurants and cafes to stop.

If you want to walk a bit further to make your last day shorter I suggest walking to Lavacollas. It is 9 km/5.5 mi past O Pedrouzo. The total distance from Arzúa will be 29 km/18 mi. It makes your last walking stage to Santiago 11 km/6.8 mi.

Highlights

  • Beautiful forest, small villages, fields.

Challenges

  • Several ups and downs on the way but nothing very steep or long.

Places to stay in O Pedrouzo

A typical Galician forest scenery on the French Camino from Sarria
Spectacular Galician forest on the last stages of the Camino Frances from Sarria

Stage 5. O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela, 20 km/12.4 mi

  • Distance – 20 km/12.4 mi
  • Time – 5 hours
  • Walking on asphalt – 11 km/6.8 mi
  • Walking on the road – 3 km/1.8 mi along a very quiet road with no cars
  • Ascent - 368m
  • Descent - 394m
  • Difficulty level – 2 out of 5
A graph with ascents and descents on the last stage of the Camino Frances
Elevation profile Stage 5. O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela

Some pilgrims split the last stage. They walk from O Pedrouzo to Monto do Gozo which is 5 km/3.1 mi from the Cathedral, stay there for the night, and the next morning walk the last 5 km. We've never stayed at the albergue of Monto do Gozo but from what I've heard it isn't a nice place to stop. People reported seeing cockroaches and mice there and it was kind of dirty.

Many people start the day very early to arrive in Santiago in time for the 12 pm Pilgrim's Mass. If you start from O Pedrouzo at 7.00-7.30 am you have a good chance to make it. The very beginning of the walk is beautiful; lush-green forest, no cars, no houses, very quiet.

The second half from the airport of Santiago after Lavacollas is not my favorite part of the Camino Frances. There is one long stretch between Lavacollas and Monte do Gozo along the road that feels like it takes ages to walk. Once you're at Monte do Gozo the last 5 km/3.1 mi go very fast, you start walking through the city and don't even notice how you reach the Cathedral.

Highlights

  • The beautiful forest in the first half.
  • Arriving at the Cathedral usually accompanied by the sounds of the Galician bagpipe. From morning till evening (in the season) there is a musician playing at the Palace Arch.

Challenges

  • There are a couple of ascents and descents at the end of the walk, some are quite steep but not long.
  • A stretch between 10 km/6.2 mi and 15 km/9.3 mi is a bit monotonous, it always feels long but after Monte do Gozo you enter the city, and the last 5 km/3.1 mi go very fast.
The historical center of Santiago de Compostela and the Cathedral
A view of the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela from Alameda Park

Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino

The Camino Frances finishes at the Cathedral de Santiago on the Plaza Obradoiro.

You’re not allowed inside the cathedral with a backpack. If you want to attend the 12 pm mass you can leave it in your hotel or go to the luggage storage. It's located on Rua das Carretas, in front of the Pilgrim's Reception Office. You can leave your backpack there, they charge 3 euros for 24 hours.

Pilgrim’s Mass takes place every day at 12 pm in the Cathedral.

Places to stay in Santiago de Compostela

There are many amazing places to stay in Santiago de Compostela. Many of the cheaper places are located outside the historical center. When you book a place, make sure it's not too far from the cathedral if you're planning to do some sightseeing or go out at night.

Camino Frances planning resources

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33 Comments

  1. Thank you for your very detailed guide! I will be doing the Camino Frances from Sarria Easter 2026, with a couple of friends. What is the best way to get to the beginning of the Camino? Land in Santiago airport and then bus to Sarria? Any insight would be much appreciated!

    Reply

  2. Hello! Thanks for all this information - I was wondering how far in advance we would need to book accommodation on the Sarria to Santiago route the first or second week of July? Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    1. Hello Melony. Thank you for the comment. July is not the busiest time on the Camino so I think it fine if you book accommodation a couple of days in advance. There are quite a lot of places to stay on the route from Sarria to Santiago I think you will be able to find a good place for every night.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

    1. Hello Heather. Thank you for the comment. Maybe break the itinerary into shorter stages so your kids have time to do something else not just spend all day walking. There are not many teens or young adults on the Camino but you do see people withe children especially on the shorter routes. They are two at least they'll have each other in case there won't be any other kids on the route.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  4. Thank you so much ! Your post is very helpful in planning our camino walk. I am very impressed on the details

    Reply

    1. Hello. MA is for Municipal Albergue and PA is for Private Albergue. On the first page of the PDF file there is a * sign with the explanation.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  7. We are planning our pilgrimage in May 2024. My sister and I are in our 50 to mid 50.... Love the help with organizing the accommodations

    Reply

    1. Hello Anna. Thank you for the comment. We don't organize trip but we're working on a page where you can get a customized itinerary with a list of places to stay. All you'll have to do is to choose the ones you like and book them online. It'll be ready by end of January. Please, come back to our blog then to check it out.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  9. Thank you for all this wonderful and comprehensive information! What size water bottle and/or how much water do do you recommend carrying per day? Is water readily available along the route for refills? Is there a fee for water or bathroom use?
    Thank you

    Reply

    1. Hello Betsy. Thank you for the comment. We usually carry 1l water bottle. There are many restaurants and shops on the Camino route from Sarria getting water won't be a big problem. Usually, on the Camino, you can ask at a restaurant or bar to refill your water bottle from a tap and use their bathroom for free.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  10. The most comprehensive guide I have ever found on this! Thank you very much x
    A question - Do you happen to know what it's like doing the last 100 km of the Camino Francés during Semana Santa? Would it be better to book things in advance or will I be able to get by with municipal albergues?

    Reply

    1. Hello Meghana. Thank you for the comment. We have never walked the Camin during Semana Santa. We tried once to walk the Via de la Plata and couldn't even get a bus from Madrid to Seville or find any place to stay there. Seville is the top place to go for Semana Santa in Spain. I think many Spanish people might walk the Camino from Sarria during that period and probably many go to Santiago de Compostela as well. I would suggest rather booking private albergues to make sure you have a place to stay every night. It'll make your walk less stressful as you won't have to chase spots in municipal albergues. The price difference is not that big 2-4 euros per night but the facilities in private albergues are usually better.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  11. we are traveling from U.S. Do you recommend a checked luggage and a backpack for the 5 day Sarria route if we utilize the Pilbeo, will they allow a checked luggage, backpack ? or will the backpack and carryon be enough to carry all the essential stuff?

    Reply

    1. Hello Jo. We always take a 30-40l backpack even for longer Camino routes but we always carry our backpacks ourselves so we pack as light as possible. If you're going to do the Camino Frances from Sarria a day pack and a carry-on should be enough unless you're planning to do more traveling in Europe then it's better to bring checked luggage. You pay per item if you have two items you'll have to pay for both of them. I can see on the Pilbeo website that the maximum weight is 20kg. If your checked luggage is not more than 20 km it should be fine.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  12. Thank you for this very detailed info! On the route from Sarria, is there a good town which would be ideal for a day's rest break? My wife and I are planning for next Spring. we didnt want to make it a physically taxing on us, so were looking at either adding one or may be 2 rest days or, split the whole trip into 6-7 days will a little less daily miles...do you have any suggestions ? Thank you again and appreciate you sharing!!!

    Reply

    1. Hello. Thank you for the comment. I would suggest splitting the first 3 walking days from Sarria to Arzua into 5 stages (Sarria - Mercadoiro, 16 km; Mercadoiro - Ventanas de Nalon, 19 km; Ventanas de Nalon - Palas de Rei, 12 km; Palas de Rei - Melide, 14 km; Melide - Arzua, 15 km) then your total walk will be 7 days. Or 4 stages (Sarria - Portomarin, 22 km; Portomarin - Palas de Rei, 25 km; Palas de Rei - Melide, 14 km; Melide - Arzua, 15 km), your total walk is 6 days. As for nice towns to stop I like Portomarin, it's small but nice and Melide, it's a bigger place with more things to do. You can use our downloadable PDF files (in the 4th paragraph) that contain walking stages and places to stay along the route to plan your itinerary.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  13. Your attention to detail in giving helpful advices is just amazing. Those PDFs of the hotels and restaurants along the trail (including the distance from Sarria!) are just so instinctive in their significance, they just gave me a very clear picture of what it is like to walk the Camino from Sarria. Thank you, thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hello Liza. Thank you very much for the feedback. We're glad you've found our post helpful. We're sure you'll enjoy walking the Camino de Santiago from Sarria.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  14. We (my daughter and dog) are planning to start from Sarria 27th Feb. quite motivated and supported by your guideline. Strongly believe that is good choice to spend Belgian "krokusvakantie". Cross fingers for acceptable weather on our way...

    Reply

    1. Hello, Raf. Good luck with your Camino walk from Sarria. I hope the weather plays along and you can enjoy the beautiful Galicia.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

    1. Hello, Wiena. We're planning to walk the Portuguese Camino again in May. Fingers crossed it'll be possible.
      Buen Camino

      Reply

  16. I can’t thank you enough guys for your amazing, clear, accurate, and detailed advices! I just did the Camino from Sarriá to Compostela and followed all your advices! From packing lists to albergues, thanks so much! I only wanted to add that there’s a train you can take to go to Sarriá from Madrid, Renfe has a train that departs from Chamartin station and takes you to Sarriá, it is about €58 and takes about 6 hours. Once again, thank you so much! You guys rock!

    Reply

    1. Hello, Angela! Thank you very much for the feedback! Thank you for the additional information on trains from Madrid, I'll add it to the post!
      Buen Camino!

      Reply

  17. Hi Alya,
    Glad to see you finished the French route in good shape. We met up at the summit of Alto del Perdon at the sculpture of the pilgrims & walked to Puete de la Reina together. I finished on 10/10 and then went to Porto and Paris. I can't wait to see Campbell's West Coast Trail report. Buen Camino.

    Reply

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