Walking the Camino de Santiago in December

Walking the Camino de Santiago in December: what the weather is like, why it is best to go at the start of the month, the best short routes through Galicia, what to pack in your rucksack and the key dates in Santiago.

December is the month when the Camino de Santiago becomes most intimate. Few pilgrims remain on the routes, the villages get ready for Christmas, and each stage is walked at an unhurried pace, through the morning mist and the smell of woodsmoke in the hamlets. It is a cold and rainy month, yes, but also one of the best for taking stock of the year on foot.

We tell you what the weather is like, which dates work best, which routes to choose and what to pack in your rucksack so that your Camino in December goes perfectly.

Why walk the Camino in December

Peace and quiet. December is one of the months with the fewest pilgrims all year. On the last 100 km of the French Way, which are packed in summer, you can walk for long stretches without meeting anyone. If you are looking for time for yourself, to think or to close the year with a personal challenge, it is hard to find a better moment.

The December long weekend. The 6th of December, Spanish Constitution Day, and the 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, are bank holidays across Spain. Depending on how they fall in the calendar, you get a good chance to walk the last kilometres to Santiago using just a few days of leave.

Winter landscapes. Galicia's oaks and chestnut trees lose their last leaves, the corredoiras (the sunken lanes between stone walls, so typical of Galicia) are covered with an ochre blanket, and many mornings begin with mist in the valleys. In the higher areas, such as O Cebreiro, it is not unusual to find frost or even snow.

Christmas in the streets. In December, Santiago and many towns along the Camino fill with lights and nativity scenes. Arriving at the Obradoiro square with the city already dressed for Christmas is something special.

What the weather is like on the Camino in December

Together with November, December is one of the rainiest months in Galicia. In Santiago the highs are usually around 12 ºC and the lows stay just a few degrees above zero, and it rains roughly one day in every two. There are also days of cold sunshine and clear skies, which are among the most beautiful of the year for walking.

It is the month with the shortest days: in Galicia the sun rises at around nine in the morning and it gets dark around six in the evening. There is plenty of time for stages of 20 or 25 km, but it is best not to set off late and not to cut it fine with the daylight.

If you would like to know more about walking in the cold and how to prepare for the harsher months, take a look at our guide to walking the Camino de Santiago in winter.

When to go: best at the start of the month

In December you need to look closely at the dates. From mid-month, and until after Epiphany, many accommodations along the Camino close for the holidays. That is why we organise December trips departing in the first days of the month, up to around the 10th, long weekend included. For the rest of the month, we currently have no departures available.

The best routes for December

In December the sensible choice is short routes through Galicia, with villages every few kilometres and services open all year round. These are the ones we organise at the start of the month:

• French Way from Sarria: about 115 km in 4, 5 or 6 stages, through Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Melide and Arzúa. These are places that are alive all year round, so it is the safest option for winter. It entitles you to the Compostela.
• Portuguese Way from Tui: about 119 km in 5 or 6 stages, through Redondela, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis and Padrón. The south of Galicia tends to be a little milder. It also entitles you to the Compostela.
• French Way from O Cebreiro: for those with more days who want to start in the mountains. It is the most spectacular, but also the most exposed: in the first stages there can be thick fog, ice or snow.
• Camino de Santiago from Melide: a short getaway, in 3 stages, that fits the long weekend very well. Bear in mind that it does not reach 100 km, so it does not entitle you to the Compostela.

If you prefer to end each stage in a charming hotel, there is also the French Way VIP. And if you are more drawn to the Portuguese Way, it also exists as the Portuguese Way VIP.

Long or mountain routes, such as the Northern Way or the Primitive Way, are not currently available in December. They are better in spring and summer.

Accommodation and services in December

With so few pilgrims, many private hostels and roadside bars close for the season. On the routes we suggest, the villages carry on with their daily life, but it is best not to improvise: the place where you were planning to sleep may be closed until spring.

If you travel with us, every night is booked in advance and you can add luggage transfer from one accommodation to the next. In December this is especially welcome: 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 your rucksack in December

In December you are going to be cold at times and you are going to get wet on some days. The key is to dress in layers and always carry something dry.

• Waterproof, breathable jacket, or a good poncho that also covers your rucksack.
• Layered clothing: a thermal T-shirt, a fleece and a warm garment for the first hours.
• Waterproof footwear that is already broken in, never new on the Camino, and a pair of comfortable shoes for the end of the stage.
• Spare socks: at least one dry pair per day.
• Gloves, a hat and a neck gaiter: in the morning you will be glad of them.
• Head torch or flashlight, in case you set off before dawn.
• Dry bags for your phone, your documents and your pilgrim credential.

And if the sky closes in completely, we tell you what to do if it rains on the Camino de Santiago.

Key dates in December in Santiago

On 30 December the Translation of the Apostle is celebrated, which commemorates, according to tradition, the voyage by sea of the remains of Saint James from Jerusalem to Galicia. Together with 25 July, it is one of the two great feasts of the Apostle in Santiago.

In addition, when the following year is a Holy Year, the Holy Door of the Cathedral is opened on 31 December and the jubilee begins. This will happen on 31 December 2026, when the Holy Year 2027 begins.

December, the Camino to close the year

Arriving at the Obradoiro in December, with the stones gleaming in the rain and almost nobody around, is a beautiful way to bid farewell to the year. And when you finish, as in any other month, you collect your Compostela if you have walked at least the last 100 km.

If what you are looking for is a gift for someone who dreams of the Camino, we have some Christmas gift ideas.

And if you would like to experience it yourself, we organise your Camino at your own pace at the start of December, with accommodation booked, optional luggage transfer and assistance during the trip. Choose your dates and calculate the price of your Camino in December in a couple of minutes.