The Camino de Santiago is one of the fastest growing destination hikes in the world. With over 400,000 people completing this pilgrimage in 2022, this trek is one of the most popular long distance hiking routes in Europe.
This hike is not only popular among Spaniards, but also attracts international travelers from all around the world. Last year a little over 30 percent of all pilgrims came from countries other than Spain, and each year this number continues to climb.
As the Camino becomes more popular as a destination trip, you may be wondering about the best airports for getting to each of the different routes.
This post will help you find inexpensive flights, regardless of where you’re setting out from. I’ll cover some of the most popular starting points for the Camino de Santiago, as well as some of the best airports to fly into to get there.
Best Flights for Hiking The French Way (Camino Francés)
From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (491 miles / 790 km)
This route traditionally starts near the French border town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and traverses the entire northern section of the country.
By far, the French Way is the most popular Camino de Santiago route. Almost 50 percent of all hikers completing this pilgrimage will start their journey somewhere along this path.
While this route has a lot of gradual climbs, aside from a few steep days it’s one of the easier Camino routes to complete. Almost everyone can do this route, and you’ll meet people of all ages doing it.
These airport tips are for people starting from the traditional starting point of the hike.
Best airports to fly into for the Camino Frances:
Biarritz, France (BIQ) – from Biarritz there are several buses and trains each day that go to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Offering relatively inexpensive international flights and consistent connections to St-Jean, this airport would be my personal choice.
Pamplona, Spain (PNA) – the easiest way to get to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port from Pamplona is by taxi, which is what I would recommend for most tourists. If you are a large party it shouldn’t be too expensive, and you may even meet some other pilgrims at the airport willing to split the fare with you.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain (SCQ) – If you’re only hiking the final 100km of the Camino Francés I would highly recommend getting a round-trip flight to Santiago de Compostela. For around €10-15 you can take a bus from the Santiago bus station to Lugo, and from there just a few euros more will get you to Sarria.
Cheapest international fares for the Camino Frances:
Barcelona, Spain (BCN) – One of the larger international airports in Spain. I would only start here if I found an incredible deal on a flight or if I was also planning to spend some time exploring Barcelona on the same trip. Just remember to factor in the cost of returning to Barcelona when comparing cost savings.
Madrid, Spain (MAD) – The largest airport in Spain. You can find reasonable international flights here from almost anywhere. Located in the center of the country, it’s a good option for a round-trip flight for travelers who don’t mind making the return trip after completing their hike.
The Spanish high speed train (the AVE) network branches out from Madrid to several cities along the French Camino, like Burgos or León. Not every city in Spain is connected by high speed rail, but you can take a look at the train map here.
Biarritz (BIQ) – This small international airport is a good option for getting to Saint-Jean easily. With the added bonus of having bus lines that go straight to Saint-Jean without borders getting in the way.
These are just some general trends, but you’ll have to take a look to see what connections make the most sense from where you live.
Best Flights for Hiking The Northern Way (Camino del Norte)
From Irún, Basque Country to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (512 miles / 823 km)
Starting at the northernmost border between France and Spain, this route is considered by many to be the most physically demanding and most beautiful Camino.
Traveling along the coast means lots of descents and ascents as you walk down to sea level and then hike back up steep cliffs. This route can be hard on your knees but trust me it’s worth the effort.
Along with the beautiful seaside views, this route also passes through several Spanish cities that are worth visiting. If you hike this route I would highly recommend planning your rest days so that you can take a day or even two to explore towns like San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander and Gijón.
For my 2022 Camino hike I followed the Camino del Norte up until Gijón where I took a rest day and decided to switch to the Camino Primitivo. In talking with several other pilgrims, I think this is becoming a more popular combination of routes.
Best airports to fly into for the Camino del Norte:
Bilbao (BIO) – I flew into this airport for my 2022 Camino, and it worked out great. From the Bilbao airport, there is a shuttle to San Sebastián that cost less than 20 euros. If you’re coming from the US or Canada, I would schedule a few days in San Sebastián to explore the city and to get adjusted to the time zone.
Santander (SDR) – Santander also offers some cheap international flights and, it’s worth checking flight prices before you commit to Bilbao. If you take the shuttle to Bilbao and then a bus or train to San Sebastián, it’s a reasonable journey for one day. If you’re booking a roundtrip flight there is a train to get back to Santander from Santiago but expect that to be a full day adventure.
Cheapest fares for the Camino del Norte:
Biarritz, France (BIQ) – A great airport to fly into that usually offers low prices. If you choose this airport, I would recommend taking the bus over the train. The bus will take you into Spain while the train stops at the border where you’ll have to catch a separate bus or walk to a separate local train station.
Bilbao (BIO) – While living in San Sebastián, I flew into and out of this airport all the time. If you’re flying from the US you can expect to find a two part flight, usually through a major hub like Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt. Taking two separate flights is a little inconvenient, but by passing through these major cities you can often find great deals on flights.
Pamplona (PNA) – For the Camino del Norte this airport is a little bit farther than a few others, but I would check the price of flights just in case. If the savings are significant, it could be a worthwhile trip, as it’s quite easy to get to the start of the Northern Way from Pamplona.
Best Flights for Hiking The Portuguese Way (Caminho Portugués)
From Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (383 miles, 616 km)
From Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (173 miles, 280 km)
The Camino Portugués is the second most popular Camino route behind the French Way, with about 30 percent of all pilgrims choosing to take this route each year.
There are two common starting points for this route, so we’ll cover both paths, from Porto as well as from Lisbon.
Starting in Porto
Because this route takes less time to complete than the other, this variation in particular sees some of the highest traffic. If you’re looking to do a quick 12-15 day Camino or practice your Portuguese language skills, this could be the Camino for you.
Best airports to fly into for the Camino Portugues from Porto:
Porto (OPO) – Porto offers some great prices on international flights. The best part about the Portuguese way is that the starting points are also major cities with good travel connections.
Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) – though flights into Santiago overall tend to be a little bit more expensive than Porto, flying into Santiago is a convenient way to get round-trip pricing for your flights. There’s also the added bonus that when you finish your pilgrimage, you get to leave from that very same city.
Cheapest fares for the Camino Portugues from Porto:
Porto (OPO) – As one of the largest airports in Portugal it has a good number of inexpensive flights, but I would always check both Lisbon and Porto, just in case. The cities are well-connected with public transit, so it could be worth looking into.
Lisbon (LIS) – The biggest airport in Portugal. If you can find a really cheap flight, the high speed train will get you from Lisbon to Porto in under 3 hours. Plus, Lisbon is a beautiful city worth exploring before setting out on your Camino.
If you’re flying from within Europe, it might be worth booking a round-trip ticket to and from Santiago and then taking a bus down to Porto. Again, this will depend on where you’re starting from and how patient you are. Just make sure your bag is small enough to be considered a carry-on, and you should be all set.
Starting in Lisbon
Taking approximately 30 days to complete, the Camino from Lisbon is a bit more of a time commitment. There are multiple routes you can take, either the coastal route or the inland route.
The coast between Lisbon and Porto has some of the biggest surfable waves in the world. Along with waves, you can also expect to see tons of pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs and rock formations.
If time isn’t an issue for you, I would even suggest taking a bus or train down to the Algarve and doing some of the coastal route there. Along with breathtaking cliffs, it also has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
Best airport to fly into for the Camino Portugues from Lisbon:
Lisbon (LIS) – As I just mentioned above, Lisbon has the largest airport in Portugal and can have some of best prices on flights. Moreover, you get the added benefit of landing right in your destination.
The city of Lisbon is certainly worth a visit on its own, and I would highly recommend spending a day or two in the Portuguese capital before heading out on your Camino.
Cheapest fares for the Camino Portugues from Lisbon:
Check flights to both Porto and or Lisbon. If you can find a much cheaper flight to Porto, I would book that and also book the high speed train down to Lisbon. Portugal is easy to travel around, and the train is a fast, simple option that will drop you off right in the city center of Lisbon.
Best Flights for Hiking The Vía de la Plata
From Seville, Spain to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (596 miles or 960 km)
This route runs from the south of Spain all the way north to Santiago and has several possible starting points. The most common starting point for this route is Seville, but it all depends on how much time you have to walk.
The Via de la Plata is known for its long days and remote nature. It’s also one of the better options for late season and winter walkers who want to avoid the rainy north.
If you’re flying into Seville, I would highly recommend spending a few days checking out the city, some of the palaces downtown and enjoying some of the festive atmosphere before setting off on your hike.
Best airports for the Via de la Plata:
Seville (SVQ) – Seville is one of the few locations aside from Lisbon and Porto where you can fly directly to the starting point of the route. Seville also happens to be one of the larger airports in Spain and sees flight traffic from all over the world.
Madrid (MAD) – Madrid is a decent option if you can find a cheap round trip flight. The high speed train (the AVE) has a route from Madrid straight to Seville which takes around 3 hours to complete. To return, you could take the AVE from Ourense back to Madrid.
Cheapest airports for the Via de la Plata:
Seville (SVQ) – While you might be able to find some cheaper flights into some bigger cities, you will still have to travel down to Seville, which will take time and money. So for me, I would probably opt for a one-way ticket to Seville and possibly combine that with a one-way flight home from Santiago or Madrid.
Málaga (AGP) – Another major hub and good bet for cheap flights close to the starting point. Málaga sees tons of traffic during the winter months, and this may drive airfare up or down depending on the time of year.
Malaga to Seville is about a 2-hour train ride, so this could be a great option if you find a cheap one-way flight.
Madrid (MAD) – If tickets are bought far enough in advance and in the right time of year, this could certainly be one of the cheapest ways to go. Check flight prices from your local airport and do some calculations to figure out if it’s worth the extra time or not.
Best Flights for Hiking Camino Primitivo
From Oviedo, Asturias to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (200 miles or 321 km)
The Primitivo is the original pilgrimage route that was taken by the Spanish aristocracy in the Middle Ages. Traversing from the city of Oviedo through some beautiful rural landscapes, this route is one of the more remote paths to Santiago.
This Camino sees about 5 percent of total Camino de Santiago hikers. If you prefer less crowded rural hikes, this could be the Camino for you.
Upon landing, I would highly recommend taking a day or two to explore Oviedo and pick up any supplies you think you might need on this hike. If you need a Spanish SIM card, for example, I would buy it in Oviedo because you won’t find anywhere else to buy one until you reach the city of Lugo.
Best airports for the Camino Primitivo:
Oviedo (OVD) – There is an international airport directly outside of Oviedo that would be a great option for a one-way flight. Overall, flights here will be a bit more expensive compared to major cities in Spain. The good thing is that you will arrive right at the start of your Camino.
Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) for a roundtrip flight, I would probably recommend flying to Santiago and then taking a bus or train to Oviedo.
Using a bus service like ALSA you can find buses going from Santiago to Oviedo for around 45 euros. I would be sure to book that ahead of time, as the availability and costs might change as you get closer to your Camino start date.
Cheapest fares for the Camino Primitivo:
The cheapest tickets would be round-trip to Santiago or to Oviedo, depending on flights from your area. If you buy the round-trip ticket, just make sure to reserve a bus ticket so that you aren’t left paying high same-day prices.
Buying round-trip flights versus one-way flights for the Camino
Before wrapping up, I want to quickly weigh some pros and cons of one-way and round-trip flights.
Considering that many of the Camino routes span almost the entire length of the country, it could be worth paying a little bit extra for the convenience of leaving from somewhere closer to the end of your hike.
Benefits of buying round-trip flights for the Camino
Generally speaking, roundtrip tickets tend to be a little bit cheaper than purchasing two similar one-way flights. With this in mind, you’ll want to factor in the time it will take to travel back to your starting location if you choose this option. As always, you’ll have to decide whether your time or your convenience is more valuable to you.
The other major factor to consider is that overall, flights into big cities will be much less expensive than flights to smaller local airports. For example, flights into hubs like Madrid, Paris or Barcelona will be significantly cheaper than flying to a small city like San Sebastián.
As an overall rule, the more people that fly to a particular location, the less expensive the flights can be. You’ll have to do a little bit of your own research to figure out if your city offers particularly cheap flights to any European destinations.
Benefits of buying multiple one-way flights for the Camino
It’s true that buying two one-way flights is often more expensive than buying a round-trip one. However, if you’re not tied to one particular airport location this will allow you to shop around for the best fares.
Following this same logic, it may even be worth looking for a domestic flight to a major airport in your home country if the savings are big enough. As always, the more time and patience you have, the better the deals you can find.
Once you get started figuring out cheap flight combinations, it’s easy to get carried away. Just make sure that you are not scheduling flights too close to one another; if you miss a connecting flight due to delays, it’s up to you to find a new one.
Purchasing multiple flights takes a little bit of extra planning, but it can ultimately save you hours and hundreds of dollars if done properly. If you want more information on finding inexpensive flights, check out my post on building a flight-finding routine.
Final thoughts
Choosing a Camino route shouldn’t necessarily be all about finding the absolute cheapest flights there and back. You should also consider other things that you might like to do or see while in Spain.
If you have always wanted to visit Barcelona or Madrid, add a few days at the beginning or the end of your trip to do some sightseeing. Especially if you are traveling from the US, Australia or Canada, you might as well take advantage of the fact that you have already traveled all the way to Spain.
It’s easy to get caught up in chasing a big goal like finishing the Camino and then just getting right back to your life at home. In talking with hundreds of pilgrims, a common theme I heard was that they all loved how the Camino forced them to slow down and stop overthinking things.
My recommendation would be to take a little more time than you think you need and really enjoy the experience. I met dozens of pilgrims on the trail who told me that they wished they had planned in a few extra days, and not one who told me they regretted planning extra time to enjoy Spain.
To make sure you finish the hike strong, find a motivation that is specific to you, whether that’s an interest in history, geography, social experience, the physical challenge of the hike or sites of religious significance. Having an outside motivation for your Camino will help you keep going when you’re feeling burnt out.
I hope this article helps you find an inexpensive flight to Spain and that it motivates you to start planning your Camino trip. If you’re thinking about hiking with a group or on your own, check out some of my other articles on the types of people you can expect to meet, or just overall hiking the Camino de Santiago.
Let me know down in the comments if you know of any better deals on flights or what methods you have used to approach flying in for the Camino!
Additional resources:
Map of Spain’s railway system
https://www.renfe.com/es/es/viajar/informacion-util/mapas-y-lineas/ave-y-larga-distancia
Official pilgrim statistics by year
https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics/
Website for Spanish bus company ALSA
https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/home
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