Best Time to Walk the Camino de Santiago: The Camino Francés Month by Month

Published November 9, 2026

“April through October are good times to do the Camino for the best weather and it’s also when the most number of albergues are open,” says American Pilgrims on the Camino. Here is the weather on the Camino Francés month by month, computed on 10 years of data at three points of the route, then the crowds, the heat, the winter closure of the Napoleon Route and what changes in your pack.

The weather on the Camino Francés, month by month

Bardy’s normals (2015-2024, Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5) are brought to the altitude of three points: the coldest night to expect at O Cebreiro, 1,300 m (4,265 ft), where one night in ten is colder; the hottest day at Burgos, 860 m (2,822 ft), on the Meseta, where one day in ten is hotter; and snow on the ground possible at Cruz de Ferro, 1,500 m (4,921 ft), the high point. Rainy days count from 1.5 mm, at the wettest of the three points.

Month	Night at O Cebreiro	Day at Burgos	Rainy days	Snow at Cruz de Ferro
January	23°F (−5°C)	52°F (11°C)	42%	possible
February	23°F (−5°C)	57°F (14°C)	42%	possible
March	25°F (−4°C)	64°F (18°C)	43%	possible
April	30°F (−1°C)	70°F (21°C)	45%	—
May	34°F (1°C)	77°F (25°C)	38%	—
June	39°F (4°C)	88°F (31°C)	37%	—
July	46°F (8°C)	93°F (34°C)	24%	—
August	46°F (8°C)	91°F (33°C)	22%	—
September	41°F (5°C)	82°F (28°C)	33%	—
October	36°F (2°C)	77°F (25°C)	44%	—
November	30°F (−1°C)	61°F (16°C)	49%	possible
December	25°F (−4°C)	54°F (12°C)	46%	possible

The driest month is August (22% of days with rain), the wettest November (49%). Nights fall below freezing at O Cebreiro in January, February, March, April, November and December, and snow is possible at Cruz de Ferro in January, February, March, November and December. American Pilgrims on the Camino gives the same picture: “Spain and Portugal have a moderate, Mediterranean climate, not unlike California. They typically have warm-to-hot summers and cool winters.”

Spring and fall: cool nights, mild days

April and May, September and October fall between the winter frost and the summer heat, at their edges. In April, the coldest night to expect at O Cebreiro is 30°F, still just below freezing, and the day at Burgos reaches 70°F; in October, 36°F and 77°F. Rain is the trade-off: 45% of days in April, 44% in October. American Pilgrims on the Camino: “When you pack for the Camino, assume a mix of warm/hot days, cool mornings and at least some days with rain.”

Summer: heat on the Meseta and the most pilgrims

“Early May to mid-September are the busiest times.” Summer is also the hottest stretch: the day to expect at Burgos reaches 88°F in June, 93°F in July and 91°F in August; August also has the fewest rainy days of the year. The CDC’s advice for Spain: “Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity in the heat of the day.”

Winter: fewer beds and a closed pass

“If you like winter walking, be aware that you will have fewer lodging choices.” Every winter since 2015, the Government of Navarre has closed the Napoleon Route over the Lepoeder pass between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles, “por razones de seguridad”; pilgrims go through Valcarlos instead. Its 2022 notice ran from November 1 to March 31, so check this season’s dates. American Pilgrims on the Camino adds: “Some of the higher elevations, particularly right out of St. Jean on the Camino Francés, get snow.” In January, nights at O Cebreiro fall to 23°F and the day at Burgos reaches only 52°F.

What changes in your pack with the month

Over the walking season, April to October, the lines of Bardy’s pack that change from one month to the next are the sleeping bag, the insulating layer, the sunscreen, the sunglasses, the water to carry, the footwear and the gaiters. The Camino de Santiago packing list shows them month by month with the price and weight of the whole pack, and the Camino de Santiago page computes it for your own dates. To plan the stages, see how long the Camino de Santiago is.

FAQ

What is the best month to walk the Camino de Santiago?

American Pilgrims on the Camino writes: “April through October are good times to do the Camino for the best weather and it’s also when the most number of albergues are open.” In Bardy’s normals for the Camino Francés, August has the fewest rainy days (22%), and nights stay above freezing at O Cebreiro from May to October.

When is the Camino busiest?

“Early May to mid-September are the busiest times,” says American Pilgrims on the Camino.

Can you walk the Camino in winter?

Yes, with fewer beds: “If you like winter walking, be aware that you will have fewer lodging choices.” The Government of Navarre has closed the Napoleon Route over the Lepoeder pass every winter since 2015 (its 2022 notice: November 1 to March 31), and in Bardy’s normals nights at O Cebreiro fall to 23°F in January, with snow possible at Cruz de Ferro.

How hot is the Camino in summer?

The hottest day to expect at Burgos, on the Meseta, reaches 93°F (34°C) in July in Bardy’s normals; one day in ten is hotter.

Does it rain a lot on the Camino?

American Pilgrims on the Camino: “The region of Galicia, where Santiago de Compostela is located, is known for its rainy weather year-round.” Across the route, Bardy counts rain on 22% of days in August and 49% in November.