Camino · Free tool
Which Camino Fits Your Days?
Most people do not have five free weeks. Tell us how many walking days you have and how far you like to walk, and we show you where to start on each route — and whether your walk clears the 100 km needed for the Compostela certificate.
The 100 km rule
The pilgrim office in Santiago issues the Compostela to walkers who complete at least the final 100 km of a recognised route on foot (200 km by bicycle). That is why Sarria, roughly five walking days out on the Camino Francés, is the most popular starting point on the whole network.
How the calculator works
We walk each route backward from Santiago, packing the classic stages into days of your chosen length, and report the furthest starting town your day budget reaches. Distances are approximate — treat the answer as a shortlist, not a contract.
What a week, ten days, or a fortnight actually buys you
At a steady 25 km a day, seven walking days starts you at O Cebreiro on the Camino Francés, Rubiães on the Camino Portugués, or Abadín on the Norte. All three clear the 100 km minimum, so on a short Camino the real question is where you start, not whether you qualify.
Ten days pushes the Francés start back to Rabanal del Camino and the Norte to La Caridad. The fortnight is where the surprise is: the Camino Portugués from Porto is only 240 km, so at this pace it finishes in about eleven walking days. It is the one classic route you can walk end to end inside an ordinary two-week holiday rather than joining partway along.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start to walk the Camino in about a week?
On the Camino Francés, Sarria is the classic one-week start and clears the 100 km Compostela minimum. On the Portugués, Tui — just across the Spanish border — plays the same role.
Do rest days count against my walking days?
This calculator counts walking days only. If you want a rest day, add one to your total trip length and plan it with the stage planner.
Can I walk an entire Camino in two weeks?
Yes, if you pick the right one. The Camino Portugués from Porto is about 240 km, roughly eleven walking days at 25 km a day, so it fits a fortnight with rest days to spare. The Francés (770 km) and the Norte (822 km) do not, so on those you choose a starting town partway along instead.