Best routes to do the Camino de Santiago by bicycle

Guide to the best routes for the Camino de Santiago by bicycle, with options tailored to different levels and preferences. The article analyzes recommended itineraries, types of terrain, and duration, as well as key tips for choosing the most suitable route and planning the experience on two wheels.

Surely you have thought about traveling across the country by bicycle at some point. Hundreds of kilometers between wheel and wheel, the paths ahead of you and the wind caressing your back as you sweat through every kilometer. The Camino de Santiago offers you all this and much more: the wind, the kilometers, and the adrenaline are just some parts of the experience of the Camino by bike. Indeed, the Camino is an endless array of landscapes to see, stories to share, and routes to traverse. But what if you still haven't decided which route to choose for your adventure? Don't worry, because below we will detail some of the best routes of the Camino de Santiago by bicycle.

French Way by bicycle

The French Way is perhaps one of the most well-known Jacobean routes, and therefore, one of the most sought after by pilgrims traveling both by bicycle and on foot. As a result, being the most frequented of all, it also has the most and best infrastructures. In recent years, it has been greatly adapted for the "bicigrino," significantly improving its signage and services specialized for cyclists.

The French Way has a total of 750 kilometers from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela, or 780 km if you decide to start from Saint Jean Pied de Port. It is a route where you will find all kinds of landscapes, terrains, and difficulties. You will descend from the Pyrenees to fully enter the lands of Navarra and La Rioja; you will climb mountain passes and pedal through endless straights under the sun, gradually approaching the characteristic green of the Galician mountains.

The French Way does not require being an expert cyclist to undertake it, which makes it an ideal route for beginner "bicycle pilgrims". However, remember that the better prepared you are, the more you will enjoy and the less you will suffer.

Stages of the French Way by bicycle

This route can be comfortably completed in 10 to 14 days, depending on your physical condition and the time you have available. The stages of the French Way by bicycle that we propose are as follows:

• Roncesvalles – Pamplona (48 km)
• Pamplona – Estella (44 km)
• Estella – Logroño (49 km)
• Logroño – Santo Domingo de la Calzada (50 km)
• Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Burgos (72 km)
• Burgos – Carrión de los Condes (86 km)
• Carrión de los Condes – León (96 km)
• León – Astorga (49 km)
• Astorga – Ponferrada (54 km)
• Ponferrada – O Cebreiro (55 km)
• O Cebreiro – Portomarín (62 km)
• Portomarín – Arzúa (54 km)
• Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela (38 km)

Portuguese Way by bicycle

Another good option for beginners is to do the Camino by bicycle from our neighboring country, Portugal. The Portuguese Way starts in Lisbon and traverses the Portuguese countryside from south to north through fields and rural areas, passing through important cities such as Santarém, Coimbra, and Porto until crossing the border into Spain via the international bridge of Tui, from where it continues its journey through Galician lands to Compostela. The total distance of this route is 620 km if you decide to start in Lisbon, or 250 km if you choose to take a shorter route from Porto to Santiago, perfect for a mini vacation.

Stages of the Portuguese Way by bicycle

If you want to travel this route, we propose the following division of stages:

• Lisbon – Santarém (95 km)
• Santarém – Tomar (64 km)
• Tomar – Ansião (48 km)
• Ansião – Coimbra (50 km)
• Coimbra – Albergaria-a-Velha (67 km)
• Albergaria-a-Velha – Porto (66 km)
• Porto – Barcelos (53 km)
• Barcelos – Tui (70 km)
• Tui – Arcade (38 km)
• Arcade – Caldas de Reis (48 km)
• Caldas de Reis – Santiago de Compostela (44 km)

Portuguese Way along the Coast by bicycle

The Portuguese Way by the Coast begins in the city of Porto and, as its name indicates, follows the coastline through paths, promenades, and wooden walkways. The itinerary also passes through important coastal cities such as Viana do Castelo and Vigo. It connects with the central Portuguese Way in the Galician town of Redondela, following a single path to Santiago. Furthermore, this variant coincides with the Eurovelo 1 itinerary and is one of the best routes to undertake the Camino de Santiago by bicycle. With a total of 270 km, the coastal route of the Portuguese Way is somewhat easier than the inland route due to fewer elevation changes, making it a perfect route for beginners, even for doing with children.

Stages of the Portuguese Way by the Coast by bicycle

Below we present the division of stages of the Portuguese Way by the Coast by bicycle:

• Porto – Póvoa de Varzim (35 km)
• Póvoa de Varzim – Vila Praia de Âncora (60 km)
• Vila Praia de Âncora – Baiona (45 km)
• Baiona – Pontevedra (57 km)
• Pontevedra – Santiago de Compostela (58 km)

Primitive Way by bicycle

This route that begins in Oviedo and crosses the interior of Asturias and Galicia is possibly one of the most beautiful of all the Jacobean routes. With its 320 km, the days unfold among mountainous landscapes of overwhelming beauty. But we cannot forget that it is by far the most physically demanding route, with "leg-breaking" stages where constant ups and downs alternate, for which one must be prepared. When we talk about the Primitive Way by bicycle, we are discussing a true challenge for the bravest, but once the physical challenges inherent to this route are overcome, the satisfaction of contemplating storybook landscapes will more than compensate for the effort.

Stages of the Primitive Way by bicycle

This bike route can be completed in 7 stages, for which you will need at least a week of travel:

• Oviedo – Salas (50 km)
• Salas – Pola de Allande (48 km)
• Pola de Allande – Grandas de Salime (45 km)
• Grandas de Salime – A Fonsagrada (28 km)
• A Fonsagrada – Lugo (60 km)
• Lugo – Melide (47 km)
• Melide – Santiago de Compostela (53 km)

The Northern Way by bicycle

The Northern Way connects the Basque city of Irún with Santiago de Compostela, traversing the entire Cantabrian coast. A route characterized by irregular topography, with constant ups and downs that will reveal some of the most spectacular landscapes of the entire Camino de Santiago. Cycling along paths and roads between the blue of the sea and the green of the Cantabrian mountain range is a true delight for the senses. The Northern Way from Irún, with its 820 km, is the second longest Camino de Santiago, only behind the Silver Way.

Stages of the Northern Way by bicycle

Depending on your physical condition, the journey can be completed in approximately two weeks:

• Irún – Zarautz (47 km)
• Markina – Bilbao (57 km)
• Bilbao – Laredo (65 km)
• Laredo – Santander (35 km)
• Santander – Santillana del Mar (37 km)
• Santillana del Mar – Colombres (57 km)
• Colombres – Ribadesella (55 km)
• Ribadesella – Gijón (67 km)
• Muros de Nalón (48 km)
• Muros de Nalón – Luarca (49 km)
• Luarca – Ribadeo (50 km)
• Ribadeo – Abadín (52 km)
• Abadín – Baamonde (39 km)
• Baamonde – Arzúa (63 km)
• Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela (38 km)

Experience the unique adventure of the Camino de Santiago by bicycle

Cycling the Camino de Santiago is one of the best ways to experience an unforgettable adventure, filled with challenges, stunning landscapes, and moments of personal satisfaction. From the famous French Way to the gentler options like the Portuguese Way, each route offers a unique experience for pilgrims on two wheels, even with an electric bike. No matter your level of experience, there is a route for you, and the best part is that at every kilometer you will find stories to share and landscapes to admire. Join us in cycling the Camino and make this experience memorable!