The Camino de Santiago is not a single path, but a network of routes converging towards Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Four major historic routes cross France, alongside the Pyrenean Piedmont route and several Spanish routes. This page brings together the Camino de Santiago map, distances, stage counts, and key landmarks to help you choose your route.
Map of the Camino de Santiago
Reading this map comes down to one simple detail: the French routes do not lead directly to Santiago. They lead to the foot of the Pyrenees, at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or Somport Pass, where the Spanish section begins. In fact, the Tours, Vézelay, and Le Puy routes meet before the border at Ostabat, marked by the Gibraltar stone.
The French routes at a glance
| Route | Path | Start and finish | Distance | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Puy route (Via Podiensis) | GR 65 | Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port | ≈ 750 km | ≈ 32 |
| Vézelay route (Via Lemovicensis) | GR 654 | Vézelay to Ostabat | ≈ 900 km | 30 to 35 |
| Tours route (Via Turonensis) | GR 655 | Paris or Tours to Ostabat | ≈ 1,000 km | ≈ 39 |
| Arles route (Via Tolosana) | GR 653 | Arles to Somport Pass | ≈ 750 km | ≈ 31 |
| Pyrenean Piedmont route | GR 78 | Mediterranean to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port | 520 to 600 km | 22 to 24 |
Why distances vary across sources. These numbers differ between guidebooks, and for good reason: each route has multiple starting points and variations. The Tours route can be measured from Paris or Tours, changing the total by nearly 250 km. Le Puy route increases from 750 to over 800 km if you take the Célé Valley variant from Figeac. The GR 78 is officially approved by the French Hiking Federation as 520 km from Bize-Minervois, but several guidebooks measure it from Montpellier or Capestang, listing 600 km or more. Treat these distances as guidelines to refine once your starting point is set.
The Le Puy-en-Velay route: the most popular
The Via Podiensis connects Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port over approximately 750 kilometres along the GR 65. It is by far the most popular route, with the highest concentration of pilgrim accommodation. Leaving Le Puy-en-Velay, the first GR 65 trail marker indicates 1,521 kilometres to Santiago.
The route crosses the volcanic plateaus of Le Velay, the Allier Gorges, the Aubrac plateau, the Lot Valley, and the Quercy limestone plateaus before reaching the bastides of Gascony. It features some of the most remarkable heritage sites along the Camino: Conques and its abbey church, Cahors and the Valentré Bridge, and the Moissac cloister. The route is continuously waymarked with extensive documentation available, making it the natural choice for a first Camino.
The Vézelay route, across central France
The Via Lemovicensis starts from the Basilica of St Mary Magdalene in Vézelay and follows the GR 654 for about 900 kilometres to Ostabat. Historically, it served pilgrims travelling from northern Europe, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
From the start, two branches are available: via Bourges to the north or via Nevers to the south. The path then crosses the Limousin and Limoges, the Périgord, and the vast Landes forest. Less frequented than Le Puy route and sometimes less densely waymarked, it demands slightly more logistical preparation.
The Tours route: the longest and flattest
The Via Turonensis follows the GR 655 from Paris, at the foot of the Saint-Jacques Tower, or from Tours. Expect nearly 1,000 kilometres and around 30 to 40 stages, depending on your starting point. It historically attracted pilgrims travelling from the British Isles and northern Europe.
Two variations start from Paris: one via Chartres and the other via Orléans. The route then passes through Poitiers, Saintes, and Bordeaux. Its elevation profile is the gentlest of the four historic routes, making it a great option if you want to avoid steep climbs, albeit over a longer total distance.
The Arles route: the southern way
The Via Tolosana follows the GR 653 from Arles to Somport Pass, covering roughly 750 kilometres across around thirty stages. Unlike the other three routes, it does not lead to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: it crosses the Pyrenees via Somport and joins the Camino Francés at Puente la Reina in Spain.
The route crosses the Camargue, the Languedoc garrigue, follows the Canal du Midi, and passes through Toulouse and Auch before reaching the Pyrenees. It is the route of sunshine and Roman monuments, but also where summer heat is felt most intensely.
The Pyrenean Piedmont route: the wildest
The GR 78 runs along the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, from the Mediterranean to the Basque Country. Officially marked over 520 kilometres by the French Hiking Federation, it is often listed at around 600 kilometres depending on the starting point, covering 22 to 24 stages.
It crosses the Minervois, Cathar strongholds, Carcassonne, Mirepoix, the Comminges region, and Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, then Lourdes before joining the GR 65. Moderate traffic makes it a top pick for walkers seeking solitude, though it requires booking accommodation further ahead. The Pyrenean terrain makes several middle stages significantly more demanding than those on lowland routes.
Camino de Santiago routes in Spain
| Route | Start and finish | Distance | Estimated duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camino Francés | Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago | ≈ 800 km | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Camino del Norte | Irún to Santiago | ≈ 825 km | Around 5 weeks |
The Camino Francés is the natural continuation of the French routes. Starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, it crosses the Pyrenees via Roncesvalles, then travels through Navarre, La Rioja, the vast Meseta plateau, and Galicia. It is the best waymarked and most popular route across the entire network.
The Camino del Norte follows the Cantabrian coast from the Spanish Basque Country all the way to Galicia. More mountainous and exposed to the elements, it rewards walkers with rugged coastal scenery and remarkable Pre-Romanesque heritage.
Note: whichever route you take to get there, you can continue from Santiago to Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic coast, adding roughly 90 kilometres and three to four extra stages.
Which route to choose
- First Camino, looking to meet people: Le Puy route. Continuous waymarking, abundant accommodation, and an active community of walkers.
- Minimal elevation gain: the Tours route, which is the flattest, or the Arles route up to the Pyrenees.
- Solitude and immersion: the Pyrenean Piedmont route or the Vézelay route.
- Limited time: a single section of the GR 65, or the Pyrenean Piedmont route, which remains the shortest of the French ways.
- Starting directly in Spain: the Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, or from Sarria for the final 100 kilometres required to obtain the Compostela.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total distance of the Camino de Santiago?
There is no single total distance. From Le Puy-en-Velay, count roughly 1,520 kilometres to Santiago, as indicated on the first GR 65 trail marker. From Vézelay, the total is around 1,700 kilometres, and nearly 1,800 kilometres from Paris via the Tours route.
How long does it take to walk the Camino de Santiago?
Walking 20 to 25 kilometres per day, plan for about one month for a French route alone, and two to three months for the full journey to Santiago. Most walkers break the journey up over several years, tackling sections during holidays.
Which Camino de Santiago route is the easiest?
The Tours route features the gentlest terrain, with low elevation gain across most of the journey. However, Le Puy route remains the most accessible in practice, thanks to clear waymarking and a dense network of accommodation that simplifies logistics considerably.
Do you need to be religious to walk the Camino de Santiago?
No. Modern walkers take on the route for diverse reasons: spiritual, athletic, cultural, or simply for the love of long-distance walking. The routes of Santiago de Compostela are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites for their historical and architectural value.
Preparing your Camino
Once your route is chosen, three questions remain: when to leave, how to prepare physically, and what to pack. We cover these in detail in the other articles in this series.
When to go and how to prepare
- What is the best season to walk the Camino de Santiago?
- Preparing physically for the Camino de Santiago
What to pack
Clothing season by season
When it comes to gear, a month of daily walking requires reliable choices: hiking shoes broken in well before departure, a backpack weighing under 10% of your body weight, and a hiking jacket built to handle both Aubrac downpours and the intense sun of the Meseta.
Sources
- French Santiago de Compostela Association, chemins-compostelle.com: benchmark distances for the French routes.
- French Hiking Federation: routes and official grading for GR 65, 653, 654, 655, and 78.
