Roncesvalles to Santiago: Stages, Distances and How to Prepare
Starting the Camino Frances in Roncesvalles means walking almost the entire route, skipping only the tough Pyrenean stage from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the hardest leg and the one that complicates getting there. Roncesvalles, in the Navarrese Pyrenees, is the first stop in Spain on the Camino: a Gothic collegiate church, an albergue with over 180 beds in the former pilgrims’ hospital, and little else, surrounded by beech woods. It can be reached by bus from Pamplona in just over an hour, and Pamplona has a train station, a bus station and two airports within two hours (Bilbao and Biarritz).
From Roncesvalles to Santiago there are about 755 kilometres split into 33 stages, which most pilgrims cover in five long weeks. The route crosses Navarre, La Rioja, the plateaus of Burgos and Palencia, the Montes de León and the mountains of Galicia. You will need the pilgrim’s credential, with one stamp a day as far as Sarria and two a day over the last 100 kilometres. If you also want to include the crossing of the Pyrenees, our guide to all 34 stages covers the complete Camino Frances from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
The 33 Stages from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela
Stage 1: Roncesvalles – Zubiri (21.4 km)
Stage 1: Roncesvalles – Zubiri (21.4 km)
From Roncesvalles, the path descends through beech and oak forests down to Zubiri. This stage is more moderate, with gentler terrain, but is still physically demanding given the length of the day. Along the way, pilgrims cross the iconic Bridge de la Rabia before entering the village.
Stage 2: Zubiri – Pamplona (20.4 km)
Stage 2: Zubiri – Pamplona (20.4 km)
Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, is the destination of this stage. World-famous for the Sanfermines festival, Pamplona offers pilgrims a mix of culture, history and gastronomy. Along the way, pilgrims cross the iconic Puente de la Rabia before entering the city.
Stage 3: Pamplona – Puente la Reina (24 km)
This stage takes pilgrims through small villages and fields to Puente la Reina, a medieval town known for its impressive Romanesque bridge over the River Arga. It is a place steeped in history, where several Camino routes converge.
Stage 4: Puente la Reina – Estella (22.6 km)
Stage 4: Puente la Reina – Estella (22.6 km)
This stage heads into the wine-growing region of Navarre. Estella, known as “the little Toledo”, is a town with a rich historical and architectural heritage. Pilgrims can enjoy the Church of San Pedro de la Rúa and the Palace of the Kings of Navarre.
Stage 5: Estella – Los Arcos (21.8 km)
Stage 5: Estella – Los Arcos (21.8 km)
As pilgrims head towards Los Arcos, the landscape starts to change, with extensive vineyards and farmland. Los Arcos is a small town where the Church of Santa María is a notable point of interest.
Stage 6: Los Arcos – Logroño (28 km)
Stage 6: Los Arcos – Logroño (28 km)
This stage takes pilgrims from Los Arcos to Logroño, crossing the border between Navarre and La Rioja. It is a region famous for its vineyards, where you can enjoy well-known Rioja wine. Logroño, a city with a rich wine and culinary tradition, offers a well-earned rest with its famous tapas on Calle Laurel.
Stage 7: Logroño – Nájera (30.4 km)
Stage 7: Logroño – Nájera (30.4 km)
Continuing through La Rioja, this stage takes pilgrims to Nájera, known for its impressive Monasterio de Santa María la Real. The path through vineyards and open fields reflects the calm of the region.
Stage 8: Nájera – Santo Domingo de la Calzada (21 km)
This section of the Camino passes through farmland and leads to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where legend tells how a pilgrim was miraculously saved from death by the saint the town is named after. The town’s cathedral is a must-stop for walkers.
Stage 9: Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Belorado (22.7 km)
The route heads into Castilla y León, entering Burgos Province. Belorado, a small town with a rich medieval history, offers points of interest such as its church and main square.
Stage 10: Belorado – San Juan de Ortega (24 km)
This stretch is known for its calm and the natural beauty of the mountain scenery. San Juan de Ortega is famous for its monastery, which welcomes pilgrims.
Stage 11: San Juan de Ortega – Burgos (26.6 km)
Stage 11: San Juan de Ortega – Burgos (26.6 km)
On arriving in Burgos, pilgrims find a modern city with an impressive old town, dominated by the famous Burgos Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stage 12: Burgos – Hornillos del Camino (19.8 km)
Stage 12: Burgos – Hornillos del Camino (19.8 km)
Leaving Burgos, the Camino enters the vast plains of the Meseta Central, on to the village of Hornillos del Camino. This stage offers a very different landscape and experience, marked by open fields and wide horizons.
Stage 13: Hornillos del Camino – Castrojeriz (20.6 km)
Continuing across the Meseta, this stage offers peace and quiet and a chance for reflection, with the village of Castrojeriz standing out historically thanks to its impressive castle.
Stage 14: Castrojeriz – Frómista (25.4 km)
Stage 14: Castrojeriz – Frómista (25.4 km)
This stage takes pilgrims to Frómista, known for the Church of San Martín, one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Spain.
Stage 15: Frómista – Carrión de los Condes (19.6 km)
The path follows the Canal de Castilla, a change of scenery that offers a quiet, flat route to Carrión de los Condes, known for its monastery and its welcome to pilgrims.
Stage 16: Carrión de los Condes – Ledigos (23.4 km)
A quiet stage that follows country lanes and farm tracks, taking pilgrims through small hamlets and the vast plain of the Tierra de Campos to Ledigos.
Stage 17: Ledigos – Sahagún (16.2 km)
Stage 17: Ledigos – Sahagún (16.2 km)
Approaching Sahagún, the Camino crosses the heart of the Tierra de Campos, known for its farmland and its deep historical and spiritual significance on the Camino de Santiago.
Stage 18: Sahagún – El Burgo Ranero (17.8 km)
Stage 18: Sahagún – El Burgo Ranero (17.8 km)
This stage, known for its calm, crosses the Tierra de Campos and is known for its sweeping horizons and farmland. El Burgo Ranero is a small village offering essential services for pilgrims and a rest at its municipal albergue
Stage 19: El Burgo Ranero – Mansilla de las Mulas (18.8 km)
Following country lanes and tracks between fields, this stage takes pilgrims to Mansilla de las Mulas, a town with notable historical heritage including remains of its medieval walls.
Stage 20: Mansilla de las Mulas – León (19.7 km)
Stage 20: Mansilla de las Mulas – León (19.7 km)
This stage ends in the city of León, an important landmark on the Camino, with its impressive Gothic cathedral and other historic monuments essential to understanding the Camino’s rich history.
Stage 21: León – Hospital de Órbigo (30.6 km)
Stage 21: León – Hospital de Órbigo (30.6 km)
Leaving León behind, pilgrims cross the Roman bridge at Hospital de Órbigo, one of the longest and best-preserved of its era in Spain.
Stage 22: Hospital de Órbigo – Astorga (16.7 km)
Stage 22: Hospital de Órbigo – Astorga (16.7 km)
This short but significant stage ends in Astorga, where you can visit the cathedral and the famous Palacio Episcopal designed by Antoni Gaudí.
Stage 23: Astorga – Rabanal del Camino (21.2 km)
Stage 23: Astorga – Rabanal del Camino (21.2 km)
The route starts to climb gently, approaching the mountains of León Province. Rabanal del Camino is a traditional village that serves as a resting point before the more demanding mountain stages.
Stage 24: Rabanal del Camino – Ponferrada (35.2 km)
This is one of the most challenging yet spectacular stretches, crossing the Cruz de Hierro, an iconic spot where pilgrims traditionally leave a stone brought from home. The stage ends in Ponferrada, famous for its Templar Castle.
Stage 25: Ponferrada – Villafranca del Bierzo (24.2 km)
This part of the Camino offers striking views over the vineyards of El Bierzo and ends in Villafranca del Bierzo, a place of historic significance for pilgrims who were unable to continue on to Santiago Cathedral.
Stage 26: Villafranca del Bierzo – O Cebreiro (27.8 km)
Climbing from El Bierzo into Galicia, this stage marks a shift in landscape and culture, culminating in the mystical village of O Cebreiro, known for its church and traditional pallozas.
Stage 27: O Cebreiro – Triacastela (21.7 km)
Stage 27: O Cebreiro – Triacastela (21.7 km)
Crossing the Galician mountains, this stage offers spectacular scenery and takes pilgrims to Triacastela, where the mountain route ends and the descent towards Santiago begins.
Stage 28: Triacastela – Sarria (18.4 km)
Stage 28: Triacastela – Sarria (18.4 km)
This stage lets pilgrims choose between two routes: one passing through Samos and its ancient monastery, or the more direct path to Sarria, the starting point for many pilgrims since it covers the minimum distance required to earn the Compostela.
Stage 29: Sarria – Portomarín (22.4 km)
Stage 29: Sarria – Portomarín (22.4 km)
From Sarria, the Camino runs through rural landscapes and hamlets to Portomarín, known for its Iglesia de San Nicolás, moved stone by stone when the old village was flooded to build a reservoir.
Stage 30: Portomarín – Palas de Rei (24.8 km)
Stage 30: Portomarín – Palas de Rei (24.8 km)
The path continues through gentle hills and eucalyptus woods, with the village of Palas de Rei offering a welcoming rest before the last stages of the Camino.
Stage 31: Palas de Rei – Arzúa (28.5 km)
Stage 31: Palas de Rei – Arzúa (28.5 km)
Linking Lugo Province and A Coruña Province, this stage connects with the Camino del Norte and continues through green, fertile countryside to Arzúa, known for its local cheese.
Stage 32: Arzúa – O Pedrouzo (19.3 km)
Stage 32: Arzúa – O Pedrouzo (19.3 km)
One of the last stages, passing through woods and meadows to the village of O Pedrouzo, getting pilgrims ready for their arrival in Santiago.
Stage 33: O Pedrouzo – Santiago de Compostela (20 km)
The exciting finale of the Camino Frances, where pilgrims cross Monte do Gozo before reaching Santiago Cathedral in the city of Santiago de Compostela, a culminating moment of celebration and spiritual reflection.
What the Camino from Roncesvalles Is Like, Stage by Stage
Las primeras jornadas descienden de los bosques del Pirineo a Pamplona y cruzan el Alto del Perdón hacia Puente la Reina, donde confluye el Camino Aragonés. Siguen los viñedos de La Rioja, la subida a los Montes de Oca y la entrada en Burgos, con su catedral. La Meseta —de Burgos a León, unos diez días de horizontes de cereal— es el tramo más monótono y a la vez el más recordado. Tras León llegan Astorga, la Cruz de Ferro y el Bierzo, antes del último gran repecho a O Cebreiro y la bajada final por Galicia hasta Santiago.
Roncesvalles works well as a starting point: almost every pilgrim who begins here arrives the evening before, sleeps in the Real Colegiata albergue and attends the pilgrims’ mass. It is best to already have your credential (get one in Pamplona or request one in advance from a Camino association) and to set off early, since the first stage to Zubiri has a steep descent at the end over the Alto de Erro.