Camino Francés Final 100km — Sarria to Santiago de Compostela
Route length
4 days
Moving time
~32 h
Distance
114 km
Budget
€180–420/person
Transport
Walking
Best Season
Spring
Wanderpath gives you stops and context. Use Google Maps, Komoot or OsmAnd for turn-by-turn directions tailored to your vehicle.
Route Map
Route Waypoints
Sarria is a major pilgrim hub — a working Galician town where the Camino industry is visible at every corner. The starting point of the minimum Compostela stretch. The large white S-A-R-R-I-A letters on the hill outside town are the first photo stop. Medieval Ponte Aspera (a Roman-foundation bridge) is passed on the way out of town, crossing into the first forest paths lined with wildflowers in spring. From here to Santiago is 114km.
Practical Tips
Get your credential stamped at the albergue or at Igrexa de Santa Mariña on Rúa Maior before leaving town — you need to start your stamp trail here.
Peregrinoteca on Rúa Maior: best last-minute gear shop. Open early. Good for trekking poles (essential for knee protection on Galician descents) and blister kits.
Leave by 07:00–07:30 to beat the crowd that forms on the trail by 08:00 in summer months.
The first 5km are hilly and stony — pace yourself, this is day one.
Coordinates:[1] 42.78060, -7.41430 · [2] 42.77655, -7.41047 · [3] 42.78077, -7.41499 · [4] 42.78132, -7.41456
Albergues nearby
- Cuatro CaminosPension · <100 m
(auto-added from OSM)
22.7km from Sarria. The highlight of the route's first half. Portomarín was a medieval village, dating to 993 AD, that was completely submerged when the Miño River was dammed in the 1960s. Key buildings — including the Romanesque Church of San Nicolás — were dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt on higher ground. In drought years, the ghost of the old bridge and foundations emerge from the reservoir. The descent from the hill into town via the long modern bridge is one of the Camino's most iconic approaches.
Practical Tips
Take the road route (left fork before the descent) rather than the traditional rocky path — easier on knees, particularly after rain when the stone trail is slippery.
The reservoir descent offers the best photo of the whole route: long stone bridge, town reflected in water, hills behind. Stop at the top for the shot.
Church of San Nicolás (Romanesque fortress-church): free entry, small but remarkable — the carved portal was moved stone by stone from the original village.
Xunta albergue in Portomarín lacks cooking utensils. Eat at local bars — menu del día ~€12 (starter, main, drink, dessert, bread). Bars close early.
Coordinates:[1] 42.80760, -7.61660 · [2] 42.80605, -7.61835 · [3] 42.81003, -7.61418
Albergues nearby
- Albergue FerramenteiroPrivate albergue · €13–20 · 223 m
Private, bookable; central location; good reviews on gronze.com
24.8km from Portomarín. Palas de Rei is a larger town at a traditional stage-end, sitting at the intersection of the Camino with the old royal road. The walk here is classic Galician interior: stone-walled country lanes, dairy farms, granite chapels, and the famous hórreos (elevated stone granaries) that dot every farmstead. The section through A Casanova and Eirexe has some of the most authentic rural Galicia on the route.
Practical Tips
Stop at A Casanova (km ~15 of this stage): small bar with excellent tortilla española and the first proper coffee stop in the morning hills.
Hórreos (stone granaries on stilts): photograph these Galician icons at Airexe — they're raised on stone pillars to keep grain dry and away from rats.
Palas de Rei pharmacy: well-stocked with blister supplies (Compeed is essential after 70km of walking). Stop here rather than hoping for supplies in smaller villages ahead.
The arrival into Palas de Rei follows a pleasant eucalyptus-lined path — this is where the scent of Galicia becomes unforgettable.
Coordinates:[1] 42.87410, -7.86930 · [2] 42.87309, -7.86898 · [3] 42.87303, -7.86828
Albergues nearby
- Albergue Xunta de Galicia Palas de ReiPublic albergue · €8–10 · 115 m
Opens 13:00; no reservations; fills quickly; arrive before 14:00
- Albergue Casa CurroPrivate albergue · €14–22 · 145 m
Popular private albergue; bookable; homemade Galician dinner optional
14.8km from Palas de Rei (a shorter stage). Melide is famous for one thing: pulpo á feira (octopus, paprika, sea salt, olive oil) — considered the best in Galicia, which is to say the best in the world. The town has numerous pulperías and is where the Camino Primitivo merges with the Francés, so the path suddenly fills with pilgrims from the Original Way. The Chapel of Santa María de Melide (Romanesque, 12th century) has extraordinary carved stone details.
Practical Tips
Pulpería Ezequiel (Rúa Principal): the most famous octopus restaurant on the Camino — expect queues but worth it. Order pulpo (€12–15/portion) with a glass of Ribeiro white wine. Cash preferred.
This is a shorter stage (14.8km) — arrive early and explore Melide's medieval centre, which is genuinely lovely and underrated.
Melide is where Camino Primitivo pilgrims join — you'll notice walkers with more weather-beaten boots who started in Oviedo 20+ days ago.
Stock up here: the next reliable services are in Arzúa (14km further) and then sparse until O Pedrouzo.
Coordinates:[1] 42.91520, -8.01330 · [2] 42.91446, -8.01811 · [3] 42.91478, -8.01727
Albergues nearby
- Albergue Xunta de Galicia MelidePublic albergue · €8–10 · 400 m
Large albergue; opens 13:00; fills fast as two Caminos merge here in summer
- Albergue San AntónPrivate albergue · €13–20 · 326 m
Highly rated on gronze.com; smaller and more personal; bookable
29.2km from Melide (the longest stage of the five). O Pedrouzo (also called Arca) is a functional village with no great sights — it exists entirely to serve pilgrims spending their last night before Santiago. The village has excellent albergue infrastructure and good restaurants. Tomorrow's final 20km into Santiago passes through eucalyptus forests and the small airport at Lavacolla (where medieval pilgrims washed themselves before the city), ending at the Cathedral's Praza do Obradoiro.
Practical Tips
O Pedrouzo is a strategic stopping point: leave at 06:00 tomorrow to arrive at the Cathedral during the Pilgrim Mass (noon, daily). Mass at noon in the Cathedral with the Botafumeiro swinging is unforgettable.
Buy groceries here for tomorrow morning — there are limited services before Santiago.
The section through Monte do Gozo (Hill of Joy, 3km from Santiago) was where medieval pilgrims first caught sight of the Cathedral towers. The view is now partly blocked by trees but the emotion is still real.
Pilgrims' Office for Compostela: Rúa Carretas 33, Santiago. Open daily 09:00–21:00. Bring your stamped credential. Queue is 30–90 min in summer.
Coordinates:[1] 42.90020, -8.36430 · [2] 42.90713, -8.35881 · [3] 42.90145, -8.36284 · [4] 42.90294, -8.36275
Albergues nearby
- Albergue Xunta de Galicia ArcaPublic albergue · €8–10 · 891 m
Opens 13:00; large and well-run; fills by 15:00 in summer
- SantaiaHostel · 183 m
(auto-added from OSM)
- Albergue Cruceiro de PedrouzoHostel · 330 m
(auto-added from OSM)
20km from O Pedrouzo — the final stage. The walk through eucalyptus and suburban Santiago ends at Praza do Obradoiro, the great square in front of the Baroque Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims drop their packs, sit on the granite paving, and cry, hug strangers, and stare at the towers. The Pilgrim Mass at noon features the Botafumeiro — an enormous silver incense burner swung on a 65m rope through the transept in a ritual dating to the 12th century. Compostela certificate at the Pilgrim Office takes 30–90 min.
Practical Tips
Pilgrim Mass: daily at noon, Cathedral of Santiago. Arrive by 11:15 for a seat. The Botafumeiro swings at the end of the Mass — it doesn't swing every day (only when funded by pilgrim groups) but aim for Tuesday/Friday/Saturday when it's most likely.
Pilgrim's Reception Office (Oficina de Acogida): Rúa Carretas 33. Bring credential with 2+ stamps/day from last 100km. They check each stamp. State your journey was partly spiritual or religious for the Compostela.
Tapas tour: Rúa do Franco (seafood bars, tuna empanadas, tetilla cheese, Albariño white wine). 2-hour self-guided walk of this street will cost €15–25 with drinks.
Stay at least 2 nights — you need a day to recover, visit the Botafumeiro Mass, and walk to the roof of the Cathedral.
Coordinates:[1] 42.88050, -8.54570 · [2] 42.88082, -8.54242 · [3] 42.88319, -8.54342
Albergues nearby
- Albergue The Last StampPrivate albergue · €18–30 · 270 m
Boutique pilgrim hostel; excellent reviews; private rooms available; book well ahead
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