The Camino de Santiago is not infinite, but it’s close. When we think about Spain and even Europe, there are kilometers and kilometers of long Jacobean routes that, to complete entirely, require a lot of time. However, there are also “mini-routes,” which are the short routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela.
If you don’t have much time but want to experience the pilgrimage and obtain the Compostela, you can do it in a week or even less. And how can you do it? Keep reading; in this article, we will talk about the shortest routes of the Camino de Santiago.
I don’t have much time, and I want to do the Camino de Santiago
The daily grind, with work, family, and other obligations, doesn’t make it easy to embark on a long Camino de Santiago. Most pilgrims would love to walk the entire French Way from Roncesvalles, but that takes a month, and we don’t always have the time for this route, which is the most historical and popular.
Don’t worry, fellow pilgrim: walking to Santiago de Compostela in a few days through an official and short route is possible. Since these routes are brief, they all have in common that they pass through Galicia, the ultimate goal of every Jacobean pilgrim, and you can still obtain the Compostela.
What if I don’t care about obtaining the Compostela?
If you want to take on a short route of the Camino de Santiago and don’t mind reaching Santiago to obtain the Compostela, you can choose a special section of any Jacobean path.
In this article, we provide you with several options, the shortest and most special routes of all the Caminos de Santiago. Let’s get started with them!
The French Way from Sarria
This is one of the shortest routes of the Camino de Santiago, starting in Sarria (Lugo). With about 110 km, you can walk it in 5 days, but if you have limited time, you can complete it in 4 or even 3 days.
In these final 100 km of the French Way, you’ll enjoy the nature, heritage, and cuisine of Galicia, and you’ll obtain the Compostela. Furthermore, it offers many conveniences: a wide range of accommodations for all budgets, numerous pilgrim bars, and a plethora of shops and services. To top it off, you’ll experience a vibrant pilgrim atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a weekend plan without reaching Santiago, we suggest these two short routes:
- La Laguna de Castilla – Triacastela – Sarria (2 stages / 48 km): in one weekend, you can experience the challenging but iconic entry into Galicia through O Cebreiro, a classic among pilgrims on the Camino Francés;
- Astorga – Villafranca del Bierzo (3 stages / 77 km): a long weekend will allow you to explore the final stretch of the Camino Francés in León, with varied landscapes like the end of the Meseta, the Montes de León, and the Bierzo region.
The Portuguese Way from Tui
Another one of the shortest routes is the Portuguese Way from Tui (Pontevedra). With about 120 km, you can complete it in 6 days, but if you’re short on time and feel energetic, you can finish it in 5 or 4 days.
Like the French Way, these last 100 km of the Portuguese Way offer all the goodness of Galicia and the Rías Baixas, and they allow you to obtain the Compostela, as well as the Pedronía in Padrón. Likewise, there is a wide range of different accommodations, pilgrim bars, and shops and services to assist you along the way.
For those who want a short but special route for a weekend without reaching Santiago, we propose two sections:
- Pontevedra – Padrón (3 stages / 48 km): a beautiful stage on the Camino Portugués through the Variante Espiritual for an extended weekend with a surprise, as the last stage… you can do it by boat!;
- Vila do Conde – A Guarda (3 stages / 88 km): enjoy Portugal and Galicia along the Camino Portugués de la Costa on a long weekend with the Atlantic Ocean as your companion – a great plan, isn’t it?
The Northern Way from Villalba
Another one of the shortest routes is the Northern Way from Villalba (Lugo). With about 120 km, you can walk it in 6 days, but if you have limited time and strong legs, you can complete it in 5 or 4 days and obtain your Compostela.
These last 100 km of the Northern Way offer the most rural side of Galicia, a short, peaceful, and solitary route that will provide you with many moments of reflection. With an ample range of accommodations and more than enough services, you’ll also experience a lively pilgrim atmosphere in Arzúa, as this route converges with the Camino Francés in the city of cheese.
You can also enjoy the Northern Way with shorter routes without the need to reach Santiago. We leave Galicia and head to the Cantabrian Sea to savor some sections in a weekend:
- Llanes – Colunga (2 stages / 53 km): many pilgrims remember these two stages as the most beautiful, and we confirm it;
- San Jean de Luz – Zarautz (3 stages / 67 km): you can enjoy a short route with the peculiarity of crossing from France to Spain.
What short routes can I complete entirely?
If you want to do the shortest and complete Jacobean route, from start to finish, we recommend two that will allow you to obtain the Compostela.
The English Way from A Coruña
To be precise, the English Way is the shortest route in the entire Camino de Santiago network. While there are sections that take place in the British Isles, it has the particularity of being the only one that crosses an entire province in Spain and has two starting points, A Coruña and Ferrol (A Coruña).
This short route can be completed in 3 to 6 days, depending on where you start and your walking abilities. Like the previous routes, it offers all the virtues of Galicia, the proximity to the Rías Altas and its refreshing sea, as well as a network of accommodations, bars, and services more than sufficient.
The English Way from A Coruña
Starting from A Coruña, with only 74 km of distance, it’s the shortest route in its entirety. You can walk this Camino and obtain the Compostela by meeting and demonstrating at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago one of the following requirements:
- If you are from A Coruña, present a certificate of residency and, if possible, have visited one of the Jacobean spaces in the city, such as the Church of Santiago;
- If you are not from A Coruña, certify that you have walked the remaining 26 kilometers to reach 100 km in some section of the Camino de Santiago in your area of origin.
The Camino de Santiago Inglés from Ferrol (A Coruña)
This other starting point of the English Way, the city of Ferrol, would be the second shortest route in its entirety among all the routes to Santiago. With a total of 114 km, it allows you to obtain the Compostela by walking without any additional requirements.
The Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía
This Camino also offers the shortest routes of the Camino de Santiago. Like the Camino Inglés, it has a peculiarity, as it can be completed in two directions. Let’s delve into the details:
Camino de Santiago from Finisterre or Muxía
You can start this Camino from Finisterre and must pass through Muxía (or vice versa) to obtain the Compostela upon arriving in Santiago. With a total of 120 km, it is a very special route that begins on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Camino de Santiago to Finisterre or Muxía
Known as the Epilogue, this route departs from the Plaza del Obradoiro in Santiago and takes you westward to the End of the World. You can choose to reach Finisterre and obtain the Finisterrana or go to Muxía and obtain the Muxiana.
You will cover about 90 km and reach that “natural cathedral” that is the vast Atlantic Ocean. Both options follow the same route but in opposite directions, so you will have ample accommodations and services for pilgrims.
Short routes, intense experiences
Often, less is more. The Camino de Santiago is very flexible and offers short routes for all walkers. You’ll encounter different landscapes, cultures, cuisines, and sensations on any of the shortest routes of the Camino de Santiago, which you can enjoy alone or with company.
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