The Camino de Santiago in November: Weather, Routes, and Why It's the Quietest Month

Walking the Camino de Santiago in November: what the weather's like, the best short routes through Galicia, how accommodation works, and what to pack for the quietest month of the year.

November is the month when the Camino de Santiago falls silent. The summer crowds are long gone, the Galician forests are at their reddest, and the villages smell of roasted chestnuts. Yes, it's a month of rain and short days, but it's also the month when you walk without queues, without racing for a bed, and with the Camino almost to yourself.

We'll tell you what the weather is like, which routes work best, what to pack, and how to plan it all so the experience becomes one you'll remember.

Why Walk the Camino in November

Fewer people. It's the clearest difference. Along the last 100 km of the Camino Francés, which in August can feel like a procession, in November you can walk for an hour without crossing paths with anyone. The encounters you do have are few, but they tend to be the kind that stay with you: the pilgrim you share a table with at the end of the stage, or the local who asks where you've come from.

Autumn at its peak. Oaks, chestnuts and birches turn shades of ochre and red, and the corredoiras (the sunken lanes between stone walls so typical of Galicia) fill with fallen leaves. If you enjoy photography, this is probably the best light of the year.

Galicia's corredoiras in November, carpeted with leaves

Seasonal cooking. It's the month of chestnuts, wild mushrooms and new wine from the latest harvest. A Galician caldo, a cocido, or a plate of roasted chestnuts at the end of the stage taste different after a day of fine rain.

Traditions you'll only see now. On the night of 31 October Galicia celebrates Samaín, the Celtic festival related to Halloween; November 1st, All Saints' Day, is a public holiday, and around November 11th, San Martiño (St. Martin's Day), villages celebrate the magostos: chestnuts roasted over open fires, new wine, and neighbours gathering together. If you happen upon one in a village along the Camino, don't miss it.

What the Weather Is Like on the Camino in November

Let's be honest: November is one of the rainiest months in Galicia. In Santiago, highs hover around 13°C and lows around 5 or 6°C, and it rains roughly every other day, often as orballo, that fine Galician drizzle that doesn't so much soak you as slowly seep in. There are also days of cold sun and clear skies, among the most beautiful of the year.

Days are short: sunrise is around half past eight and sunset comes shortly after six in the evening. That's enough time for stages of 20 to 25 km, but it's best to set off early and not push your luck with the daylight.

In the higher areas, such as O Cebreiro (at around 1,300 metres), you may find thick fog, frost, or even some snow. It's not the norm early in the month, but it's worth being prepared if you choose that route. If you want to know how everything changes once the real cold sets in, check our guide to walking the Camino de Santiago in winter.

O Cebreiro: fog and stone in November

The Best Routes for November

In November the key is to choose short routes within Galicia, with villages every few kilometres and services open year round. These are the ones that work best:

• Camino Francés from Sarria: about 115 km over 5 or 6 stages, passing through Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Melide and Arzúa. These are towns with a life of their own all year, so there's always somewhere to eat and sleep. It's the safest option for November.
• Camino Portugués from Tui: about 119 km through southern Galicia, which tends to be a little milder. It passes through Redondela, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis and Padrón, with long stretches of forest and village.
• Camino Francés from O Cebreiro: for those with more days who want to experience the mountain Camino in autumn. It's the most spectacular, but also the most exposed to cold and fog in the early stages.

All three end in Santiago and cover more than 100 km on foot, so any of them qualifies you for the Compostela.

The longer routes that cross mountains or areas with fewer services, such as the Camino del Norte or the Primitivo, we'd save for spring or late summer. If you're unsure, we have a guide on the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago depending on the route.

Accommodation and Services in November

With fewer pilgrims, some private albergues and roadside bars close for the season. That's no cause for concern on the Galician routes we recommend, because the villages carry on with daily life: shops, pharmacies, restaurants, taxis and places to stay remain open. What does change is that it's worth having your nights booked rather than improvising at the end of the stage, since the place you had in mind might be closed until spring.

If you travel with us, accommodation for each stage is booked in advance, and you can add baggage transfer from one place to the next, which is especially welcome in November: you walk carrying only what you need for the day, and your dry clothes are waiting for you at the end of the stage.

What to Pack in November

The rule is simple: you're going to get wet some day, so the goal is to get as little wet as possible and dry off fast.

• A waterproof, breathable jacket, or a good poncho that also covers your backpack.
• Layered clothing: a technical t-shirt, a thin fleece and something warm for the mornings. Three thin layers are better than one thick one.
• Worn-in waterproof footwear, never boots you're breaking in for the first time on the Camino, plus comfortable shoes for the end of the stage.
• Spare socks: at least one dry pair per day. It's the best insurance against blisters.
• Thin gloves, a neck gaiter and a hat for the early hours.
• Trekking poles: a big help on stretches of wet stone and mud.
• Head torch or flashlight, in case you set off before sunrise.
• Waterproof bags for your phone, documents and pilgrim passport.

And if the sky closes in completely, don't worry: we'll tell you what to do if it rains on the Camino de Santiago.

Layered and waterproof clothing: the essentials for November

November, the Month to Walk at Your Own Pace

There's something special about arriving at Plaza del Obradoiro on a November day, the stones glistening with rain and hardly anyone around. It's the most intimate version of the Camino, the one closest to how pilgrims experienced it long ago: less noise, more time to think, and an arrival in Santiago lived at a calm pace. And at the end, as in any other month, you collect your Compostela.

If you're also thinking about the Jacobean Holy Year 2027, and want to experience it without the crowds, mark autumn on your calendar: it tends to be the quietest season for walking.

If you feel like experiencing it, at Viajes Camino de Santiago we organize your self-guided Camino in November: accommodation booked at every stage, optional baggage transfer, pilgrim passport and assistance throughout the trip. All you have to do is walk.