The Camino Frances offers a range of accommodation options, the most popular being a pilgrim hostel (in Spanish albergue/refugio/hospital de peregrinos, or in French auberge). Alternative accommodation options include private hostels (albergue turistico), rural houses (casa rurales), campsites, and hotels. In larger towns and cities there are options to cater for every budget and comfort level. An overview of the types of accommodation is available below.
The traditional place to stay on the Camino is an albergue, an albergue is a hostel for pilgrims. There are two types of pilgrim hostel, public and private.
Public albergues are exclusive to pilgrims and only admit those with a Pilgrim Record (credencial) who are walking, cycling, or horse-riding the Camino. Pilgrim hostels are an inexpensive accommodation option; some run on a donation basis while others range in price from €5-15 per night.
There are several types of public albergue including municipal hostels operated by local government; parochial hostels operated by religious institutions such as local churches, convents, and monasteries; and association hostels operated by local or international pilgrim associations. Pilgrim hostels are staffed by volunteers (hospitaleros/as).
Public albergues are often basic places to stay and generally comprise of large mixed male and female dormitory style rooms with bunk-beds, and shared bathroom facilities. They may also offer a kitchen, communal dining, and lounge area. The quality varies with some offering a basic mattress on the floor while other newer properties may provide a small number of private rooms. Some properties also permit animals.
In general, most public albergues:
Private are operated by private individuals. While some may be geared towards pilgrims they may not be exclusive to them. Typically, they charge a higher price per night than pilgrim hostels but offer greater amenities such as washing machines, meals, and internet access.
These properties also offer dormitory style accommodation and some may have private rooms. They may or may not accept bookings in advance, in the instance that there is no option to book through our provider we recommend that you contact the property directly to find out. It is also worth viewing a property's website, where available, as some provide the option to book online directly.
We have color coded albergues that are geared towards pilgrims yellow on our map. This catergory includes both public and private hostels. Public hostels are identified in the green highlight below the property name. They are marked as municipal, parrochial, or association.
Most albergues:
Official hostels can be found in larger towns and cities on the Camino Frances route. They do not offer services specific to pilgrims; they are open to everyone. These properties are color coded blue on our map.
Rural houses are country homes that present another accommodation option on the Camino. They tend to be located slightly off the Camino route but offer more privacy and amenities than pilgrim hostels. Rural homes offer private rooms with or without a shared bathroom and are typically priced from €45 per night. A rural home stay can provide an insight into Spanish life as the houses typically respect the local architecture and traditional building methods of the region; home cooked meals may also be available.
If you are searching for a rural house on our website, you can find them under the filter option 'guest accommodation'. In the property table, this type of accommodation type is headed as a 'rural house'. Our 'guest-accommodation' category also includes 'pensions' which offer private rooms. Pensions differ from rural houses as they are not a homestay and may be located in more urban areas.
Larger towns and cities on the Camino Frances may have other accommodation options such as low budget fondas (a room above a local cafe or bar), campsites, hotels, and paradors (a type of luxury hotel typically located in a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle).
We provide information about the full range of properties to cater for different budgets, comfort levels, and changing accommodation needs as you travel.