Cycling the Camino de Santiago
It is 200 km minimum for the Compostela, not 100. Which routes are genuinely rideable, where you will have to get off and push, and the etiquette that avoids most friction with people on foot.
The 200 km and the Compostela
The requirement by bicycle is double what it is on foot: 200 km on an official Jacobean route, with two stamps a day over that stretch.
That rules out the classic walking starts. From Sarria or Tui you do not reach the minimum on a bike. The usual cycling starts are:
| Starts at | Route | Approximate distance |
|---|---|---|
| León | Francés | 312 km |
| Ponferrada | Francés | 206 km |
| Porto | Portuguese | 242 km |
| Burgos | Francés | Around 490 km |
| Oviedo | Primitivo | Around 313 km |
Reference distances, pending recalculation against the official track. Ponferrada is borderline on paper, so allow margin.
Another difference: in albergues, walkers have priority over cyclists. Many will not take cyclists until a set time in the afternoon, once it is clear there are spare beds.
Which routes are rideable
No Jacobean route was designed for bicycles, so all of them have sections where you get off or take a road alternative.
| Route | Rideability | Where the problem is |
|---|---|---|
| Francés | Good | The best option. Well-signed road alternatives on the difficult sections |
| Central Portuguese | Good | Plenty of tarmac and cobble. Comfortable except the Labruja ridge |
| Coastal Portuguese | Moderate | The timber boardwalks of the Senda Litoral cannot be ridden |
| English Way | Moderate | Continuous short climbs and stretches of muddy track |
| Primitivo | Hard | Mountains. The Hospitales route is impassable: you go by road |
| Camino del Norte | Hard | Constant climbing and many narrow trail sections |
If it is your first time cycling the Camino, the Francés from León is the sensible choice: good waymarking, clear alternatives and services every few kilometres.
How far you ride in a day
You cover two to three times what a walker does, but less than the road distance suggests: the surface is irregular and there is a fair amount of pushing.
| Profile | Km per day |
|---|---|
| New to it, hired bike | 40–50 km |
| Regular cycle tourist | 60–80 km |
| Fit, on a light bike | 90–120 km |
At those rates the Francés from León takes four or five days, and the whole Camino from Saint-Jean about two weeks.
Which bike
Mountain or gravel. A road bike will not do: there is track, stone and mud. A gravel bike with wide tyres is probably the best compromise.
Panniers, not a backpack. Carrying weight on your back while pedalling hurts your lower back and unbalances you. If you have no panniers, the luggage transfer service also works for cyclists.
Spares. Tube, patches, pump and a chain link. There are workshops in the cities, but nothing between villages.
A lock. Many albergues have a bike area, but not all, and not always locked.
Sharing the path with walkers
- Warn before you pass. A bell or a called «on your left» in good time. Walkers cannot hear you coming.
- Slow down on narrow sections and on descents with people on them.
- Walkers have priority, both on the path and in the albergues.
- Use the road alternative where the trail is narrow or very busy. It is faster for you and safer for everyone.
Common questions
How many kilometres do you need to cycle for the Compostela?
200 km on an official Jacobean route, double the walking distance, with two stamps a day over that stretch.
Where should you start cycling?
León or Ponferrada on the Francés, or Porto on the Portuguese. Sarria and Tui do not reach the 200 km minimum.
Can you cycle the whole Camino?
Practically all of it, with road alternatives on the unrideable sections. The Hospitales route on the Primitivo is the clearest exception.
Do albergues accept bicycles?
Yes, but with priority for walkers. Many will not take cyclists until a set time in the afternoon.
How many days does it take by bike?
The Francés from León, four or five days. The whole Camino from Saint-Jean, about two weeks.