Pilgrim walking along the Portuguese Way

Find out more about the alternative routes to do the Camino de Santiago

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Some of the most popular and well-known Jacobean routes are the French Way, the Northern Way or the Primitive Way. However, there are other historic routes of the Camino de Santiago, which also cross spectacular landscapes and are also less frequented by pilgrims. Entering them will be a real discovery.

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Mozarabic Way The Way of Saint James routes Winter Way

Pilgrim in Benalmadena, Malaga

The Mozarabic Way

This route consists of a series of routes that connect different cities in Andalusia with the Vía de la Plata to reach Santiago de Compostela. These were the routes followed the inhabitants of ancient al-Andalus during the Middle Ages to worship the apostle. Following its recovery in modern times, these routes cross a wide range of landscapes that range from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, the Cordoban Subbética or Torcal de Antequera, to the ravines of Sierra Morena, passing through the fertile Vega de Granada and Los Pedroches valley.The routes begin in the cities of Almería, Granada, Jaén and Málaga before converging in Córdoba. Depending on the chosen starting point, the distances to be covered range from approximately 137 to 370 kilometres. A single route of approximately 250 kilometres then departs Córdoba to Mérida, where it connects with the Vía de la Plata. There are then two different options to continue the trip to Galicia: heading to Astorga and taking the French Way; or, from Granja de Moreruela, home to the , one of the first Cistercian monasteries in the Iberian Peninsula, follow the Sanabre Way, which passes through Puebla de Sanabria.
Ferrol shipyards, A Coruña

The English Way

It is the route followed by pilgrims from northern European countries when they arrived in Galicia. They usually arrived by sea, whether to the ports of Ferrol or A Coruña given their strategic location, establishing them as starting points for reaching the city of Santiago on foot.This is how the English Way has two alternatives: The route from A Coruña, the shortest of the two (about 73 km); and the one from Ferrol (about 112.5 km), which passes through the well-known towns of Pontedeume and Betanzos. Both routes join in the town of Bruma to continue together the last 40 kilometres to Compostela. Along the way, pilgrims cross medieval bridges, coastal villages and towns home to churches, monasteries and historic buildings, while panoramic views of the Galician coastline and estuaries give way to lush inland landscapes.
Two pilgrims walking along the coast in A Guarda

The Portuguese Way

The route from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela began to gain importance from the 12th century. Throughout history, kings, nobles and members of the high clergy have made these pilgrimages. It is known for being one of the flattest Jacobean routes. The Spanish section of the Portuguese Way runs for almost 119 kilometres through Galicia from Tui to Santiago. Travel deep into the Rías Baixas, visiting places such as Pontevedra, the spa town of Caldas de Reis and Padrón. There is also a variant of the Portuguese Coastal Way, which joins the previous one in the town of Redondela. This coastal route enters Galicia via A Guarda, after crossing the mouth of the River Miño. From here, the town home to Castro del Monte de Santa Tecla, it is about 163 km to Compostela. The route runs parallel to the sea, passing by Oia and its famous Cistercian Monastery, reaching Baiona and continuing along the beautiful Vigo estuary until reaching the city of the same name.
Pilgrim taking a photo on the Roman road in Las Médulas, Castile and León

The Winter Way

It is believed that the use of this route arose among pilgrims as an alternative in the winter season to avoid climbing the snowy peaks of O Cebreiro and the frequent overflowing of rivers. However, its historical origins lie in a secondary Roman road that connected to the gold mines in Las Médulas.This route departs Ponferrada, in Bierzo region of León and extends approximately 258 km to Santiago de Compostela. Following the course of the River Sil, through lower-lying terrain and after passing through the Las Médulas World Heritage Site, it enters Galicia through Valdeorras. It then crosses a large part of the Ribeira Sacra, with its impressive canyons, Romanesque churches and vineyards nestled in impossible landscapes before connecting to the Camino Sanabrés in the town of Lalín. But first, the route has a few surprises in store, such as the cultural heritage of Monforte de Lemos, the traditional architecture of Chantada or the landscapes of the four Galician provinces that can be seen from the top of O Faro.