Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago

Welcome to Roncesvalles! Upon your arrival into this small Spanish village close to the French border, you’ll have a chance to settle into your accommodation followed by an evening of preparing for tomorrow’s ride.
Note that although the complete Camino Francés, or French Way, starts in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, this section to Roncesvalles is not ideal for cyclists. Therefore, your cycling pilgrimage begins from Roncesvalles.

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll saddle up and head out to start the day’s ride to Pamplona. The route leads you through beech and oak woods, and over medieval stone bridges like the picturesque, Los Bandidos. Make a point to stop in pastoral villages like the small Zubiri to check out the local colour and then carry on to complete the first stretch with your stay in Pamplona, made famous for its running of the bulls festival, San Fermín.

As you make your way to Estella, you’ll challenge yourself up the slope to Alto del Perdón. At the summit, take pause to see the remains of what was once a Pilgrim’s hospital, as well as to enjoy the all-encompassing vistas.

As you descend to Puente de la Reina, you’ll cross the popular bridge over the Arga River, built specifically for pilgrims making their journey to Santiago de Compostela.

Today’s ride proves less tiresome than the previous days where you can indulge in cups of wine from a wine-pouring fountain along the way!

Nearing Logroño, the capital of La Rioja province, you’ll be able to see the twin baroque towers of the Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda.

As you work your way from Logroño, you’ll have every opportunity to take pictures of a number of postcard-perfect churches and monuments. Be sure to capture an image of one such monument in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Get an early start to the day as today’s ride is the longest of the tour, though there is always the option to split the day into two and overnight in an alternate town at the halfway point.

If you do decide to complete the full 68 km, before you retire for the evening, you’ll want to visit the impressive 13th-century Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos.

After yesterday’s arduous ride, relish a lighter cycling day and pull over to visit the ruins of the Convent of San Antón en route to Frómista.

Today you’ll ride across the meseta, the expansive flat plains of central Spain, of which the French Way crosses its northern reaches. You might notice an influx of cyclists as many walking pilgrims choose to ride this portion of the Camino de Santiago – the conditions are perfect for biking!

The cycling pilgrimage continues through the meseta, amid crops and vast fields as far as the eye can see, until you reach León.

Once the capital of Spain during the Middle Ages, León today remains an iconic stop for pilgrims of the French Way. Dedicate some time to wandering the historic old quarter of the city, stopping to visit the Gothic 13th-century Catedral of León and the Romanesque Basilica of San Isidor.

Nearing the medieval walled town of Astorga, snap an obligatory pic of the Cross of Santo Toribio, an important monument to Camino pilgrims. Then, once in Astorga, visit the Cathedral and the Palacio Gaudí, two attractions made popular by the thousands of pilgrims who visit monthly.

You’ll have your work cut out for you with a steep climb to Cruz do Ferro. Here you can take part in the tradition of tossing a stone to the base of the cross to make a wish before enjoying the descent to Ponferrada, though you’ll want to ride through the charming village of Molinaseca and perhaps even go for a dip in the dammed up river Maruelo.

Leaving Ponferrada, you’ll work your way to O Cebreiro in Galicia, a beautiful region of Spain’s northwest.

O Cebreiro is one of the most popular stops of the entire French Way and it is here you’ll be able to take advantage of the stunning mountain views of Lugo and León.

From here, all the way to Santiago de Compostela, you’ll have the pleasure of riding past stone hamlets and through pastoral Galician countryside, noticing an uptick of pilgrims once in Sarria. This is due to the popularity of this segment of the French Way, as Sarria marks the starting point of the last 100 km of the Camino de Santiago (the minimum distance required to receive the Pilgrim Certificate if you are walking).

Enjoy a shorter ride today as you share the path with walking pilgrims, taking in the rural landscape of woods interspersed with villages.

Finally, you will arrive in Portomarín, one of the most popular spots of the French Way for its underwater ruins of a medieval town it overlooks.

Most walking pilgrims will complete the section from Portomarín to Palas de Rei, but if you’re on a bike, you’ll have the pleasure of riding to Melide! This portion of the route will lead you through the Sierra de Ligonde, where you’ll get a chance to climb a series of hills and mountains.
Once in Melide, be sure to try the traditional dish: pulpo a feira (octopus).

Leaving Melide behind, you’ll pedal alongside quiet wooded areas and quaint pastoral villages to Arzúa. Spend a little time here to taste the local cheese before completing the last leg of the French Way to arrive at your final destination of Santiago de Compostela.

Celebrate with strangers and friends alike in Praza do Obradoiro—where pilgrims commemorate the end of their expedition—and pick up your Compostelana (certificate of completing the pilgrimage). Depending on your travel plans, other notable stops worth your time include the 18th-century chapel in Santa Irena (near the Atlantic coast), as well as the hamlets of A Rúa (south of O Cebreiro) and O Amenal (just east of Santiago de Compostela)

Take a few hours to enjoy your last morning in Santiago de Compostela before it’s time to check out and continue your journey home, bringing with you your much-deserved Compostelana.