Camino Frances: Stage 5 - Sarria to Santiago de Compostela

Arrive in Sarria and check into your accommodation. Take time to explore this vibrant town, which marks the gateway to the final stage of the Camino Frances.As you explore the cobbled streets of its medieval quarter, you'll sense the anticipation felt by countless pilgrims beginning their Sarria to Santiago journey on the Camino de Santiago.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION

To reflect the spirit of the Pilgrimage, we carefully select welcoming, simple accommodation along the route. We offer stays in hotels and guest houses. While these stays may not offer the same level of luxury as our classic Headwater holidays, they provide genuine hospitality and a warm, friendly atmosphere.

You will enjoy private rooms and private bathrooms wherever possible, ensuring a restful night after a full day of walking. On the rare occasions when this cannot be arranged, we will let you know in advance.

Most of the properties we work with are small and family-run, and availability varies depending on how early you book. Full details of your stays will be provided closer to your departure date.

Your walk from Sarria winds through woodland and rolling farmland, crossing rivers and passing quiet hamlets. The Romanesque Asperra Bridge is an early highlight, while traditional villages such as Morgade and Ferreiros give a glimpse of rural life in Galicia. The day ends in Portomarin, a striking hilltop town rebuilt stone-by-stone after the River Mino valley was flooded - the remains of the old village still appear when water levels drop.

As you leave Portomarin by its imposing staircase, you journey will cross the River Mino before climbing gradually through farmland, oak woods and eucalyptus groves. Along the way you wiill pass the stone cross of Ligonde, set among the trees, before arriving in Palas de Rei. Its name means 'The King's Palace', though today little remains of its royal past beyond the name itself it is a classic stop on the Camino Frances.

Continue your journey from Palas de Rei through the rolling countryside and past a series of welcoming villages. In Casanova, Leboreiro and Furelos you can admire traditional Galician architecture, from noble pazos to the horreos that often stand beside them. Your day ends in Melide, known for its market and famous Pulpo a Feira, a traditional octopus dish enjoyed by many Camino de Santiago pilgrims.

Your Camino journey continues from Melide through quiet farmland and eucalyptus woodland, crossing small streams and passing hamlets. This gentle stage offers a mix of shaded paths, open countryside and opportunities for rest and reflection in traditional cafes (where you can get your pilgrim passport stamped). The day ends in Arzua, a welcoming town with medieval roots and the last major stop before Santiago de Compostela.

Today you'll walk from Arzua through shaded woodland trails and rural lanes, passing through small farms and Galician hamlets. Shaded paths alternate with open stretches, creating a calm and steady walk which welcomes reflection. The day ends in O Pedrouzo, a friendly town offering good services and a comfortable rest before the final leg to Compostela.

The final walk takes you over Monte do Gozo, where the towers of Santiago de Compostela first appear on the horizon, a moment cherished by pilgrims on the Sarria to Santiago route. From here, the path descends into the city, winding through the Porta do Camino and the narrow streets of the old quarter. At last you reach the Plaza del Obradoiro, where the cathedral rises as the symbolic end of the Camino de Santiago - a place to pause, reflect and celebrate completing the French Way.

Enjoy the rest of your day exploring the town, and consider booking an extra night before heading home.

Leave Santiago de Compostela and onward travels.

Enjoy exploring the town and consider an extra night before heading home.