Best routes to do the Camino de Santiago by bicycle

Surely you’ve thought about cycling through the country at some point. Hundreds of kilometers between wheel and wheel, the roads in front of you, and the wind caressing your back as you sweat through each kilometer. The Camino de Santiago offers you all of this and much more: the wind, the kilometers, and the adrenaline are just some parts of the experience of the Camino by bike. The Camino is an endless collection of landscapes to see, stories to share, and routes to travel. But what if you haven’t decided yet which route to choose for your adventure? Don’t worry, because below we’ll detail some of the best routes of the Camino de Santiago by bike.

Riding the Camino by bike creates great sensations

Camino Francés by bike

The Camino Francés is perhaps one of the most well-known Jacobean routes, and therefore one of the most popular among pilgrims traveling by bike or on foot. As a result, being the busiest of them all, it also has the most and best infrastructure. In recent years, it has been greatly adapted for the “bicigrino,” with considerable improvements to its signage and services specialized for cyclists.

The Camino Francés spans a total of 750 kilometers from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela, or 780 km if you choose to start from Saint Jean Pied de Port. It’s a route where you’ll find all kinds of landscapes, terrains, and difficulties. You’ll descend from the Pyrenees into the heart of Navarra and La Rioja, climb mountain passes, and pedal through endless straight roads under the sun, getting little closer to the characteristic green of the Galician mountains.

The Camino Francés doesn’t require being an expert cyclist, making it an ideal route for beginner “bicigrinos”. However, remember that the better prepared you are, the more you’ll enjoy and the less you’ll suffer.

The Camino Francés from Roncesvalles crosses Spain from East to West

Stages of the Camino Francés by bike

This route can be done comfortably between 10 and 14 days, depending on your physical condition and the time you have available. The stages of the Camino Francés by bike that we suggest are as follows:

1. Roncesvalles – Pamplona (48 km)
2. Pamplona – Estella (44 km)
3. Estella – Logroño (49 km)
4. Logroño – Santo Domingo de la Calzada (50 km)
5. Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Burgos (72 km)
6. Burgos – Carrión de los Condes (86 km)
7. Carrión de los Condes – León (96 km)
8. León – Astorga (49 km)
9. Astorga – Ponferrada (54 km)
10. Ponferrada – O Cebreiro (55 km)
11. O Cebreiro – Portomarín (62 km)
12. Portomarín – Arzúa (54 km)
13. Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela (38 km)

Camino Portugués by bike

Another great option for beginners is to do the Camino by bike from our neighboring country, Portugal. The Camino Portugués starts in Lisbon and travels through rural areas and plains across the country from south to north, passing through major cities like Santarém, Coimbra, and Porto, until it crosses the border into Spain via the international bridge of Tui, from where it continues 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 do a shorter route from Porto to Santiago, perfect for a mini vacation.

A blend of Portuguese and Galician landscapes awaits you on the Camino Portugués

Stages of the Camino Portugués by bike

If you want to travel this route, we suggest the following stage breakdown:

1. Lisbon – Santarem (95 km)
2. Santarém – Tomar (64 km)
3. Tomar – Ansiao (48 km)
4. Ansiao – Coimbra (50 km)
5. Coimbra – Albergaria-a-Velha (67 km)
6. Albergaria-a-Velha – Porto (66 km)
7. Porto – Barcelos (53 km)
8. Barcelos – Tui (70 km)
9. Tui – Arcade (38 km)
10. Arcade – Caldas de Reis (48 km)
11. Caldas de Reis – Santiago de Compostela (44 km)

Camino Portugués by the Coast by bike

The Camino Portugués by the Coast starts in the city of Porto and, as the name suggests, follows the coastline through trails, boardwalks, and wooden footbridges. The itinerary also passes through important coastal cities such as Viana do Castelo and Vigo. It joins the Camino Portugués central in the Galician village of Redondela, following a single path to Santiago. Additionally, this variant coincides with the Eurovelo 1 route and is one of the best routes to do the Camino de Santiago by bike. With a total of 270 km, the coastal Camino Portugués is slightly easier than the inland version as it has fewer elevation changes, making it a perfect route for beginners, even for doing with kids.

The Camino Portugués by the Coast runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean

Stages of the Camino Portugués by the Coast by bike

Here is the stage breakdown of the Camino Portugués by the Coast by bike:

1. Porto – Póvoa de Varzim (35 km)
2. Póvoa de Varzim – Vila Praia de Áncora (60 km)
3. Vila Praia de Áncora – Baiona (45 km)
4. Baiona – Pontevedra (57 km)
5. Pontevedra – Santiago de Compostela (58 km)

Camino Primitivo by bike

This route, which starts 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 journey takes you through breathtaking mountainous landscapes. However, we must not forget that it is by far the most physically demanding route, with “leg-breaking” stages that alternate constant ascents and descents for which you need to be prepared. When we talk about the Camino Primitivo by bike, we are talking about a true challenge for the bravest, but once the physical challenges inherent in this route are overcome, the satisfaction of enjoying fairytale-like landscapes will more than compensate for the effort.

The Camino Primitivo features very technical terrain

Stages of the Camino Primitivo by bike

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

1. Oviedo – Salas (50 km)
2. Salas – Pola de Allande (48 km)
3. Pola de Allande – Grandas de Salime (45 km)
4. Grandas de Salime – A Fonsagrada (28 km)
5. A Fonsagrada – Lugo (60 km)
6. Lugo – Melide (47 km)
7. Melide – Santiago de Compostela (53 km)

Camino del Norte by bike

The Camino del Norte connects the Basque city of Irún with Santiago de Compostela, traveling along the entire northern coast of Spain. A route that features irregular terrain, with constant ascents and descents but will reveal some of the most spectacular landscapes of the entire Camino de Santiago. Pedaling through trails and roads between the blue sea and the green Cantabrian mountain range is a delight for the senses. The Camino del Norte from Irún, with its 820 km, is the second longest Camino de Santiago, just behind the Vía de la Plata.

The Camino del Norte will let you explore the Cantabrian coastline

Stages of the Camino del Norte by bike

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

1. Irún – Zarautz (47 km)
2. Markina – Bilbao (57 km)
3. Bilbao – Laredo (65 km)
4. Laredo – Santander (35 km)
5. Santander – Santillana del Mar (37 km)
6. Santillana del Mar – Colombres (57 km)
7. Colombres – Ribadesella (55 km)
8. Ribadesella – Gijón (67 km)
9. Muros de Nalón (48 km)
10. Muros de Nalón – Luarca (49 km)
11. Luarca – Ribadeo (50 km)
12. Ribadeo – Abadín (52 km)
13. Abadín – Baamonde (39 km)
14. Baamonde – Arzúa (63 km)
15. Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela (38 km)

Enjoy the satisfaction of arriving in Santiago with your faithful two-wheeled companion

Live the unique experience of the Camino de Santiago by bike

Doing the Camino de Santiago by bike is one of the best ways to live an unforgettable adventure, full of challenges, stunning landscapes, and moments of personal satisfaction. From the famous Camino Francés to softer options like the Camino Portugués, each route offers a unique experience for pilgrims on two wheels, even with an electric bike. No matter your level of experience, there’s a route for you, and the best part is that every kilometer will bring you stories to share and landscapes to admire. So, join us and pedal through the Camino and make this experience truly memorable!