There are plenty of cities and towns where you can start your Camino Frances adventure, depending on how far you are planning to walk. Each Camino route is divided into stages or sections, and the beginning of one of these is usually where people will begin.
Whichever city or town you choose to start your Camino in, your first step will be finding the trail. In some bigger towns, it can be difficult to know where to look!
We have outlined how to find the starting point of the Camino in each of the main sections of the Camino Frances here. If in doubt – look for a church and ask there! There are also many more details in your Camino walking notes if you walk the Camino with Follow the Camino.
From St Jean Pied de Port
The beginning of the Camino Frances is St Jean Pied de Port. From there, it takes 778 km to get to Santiago de Compostela and finish the full Camino Frances!
If you decide to do the full Camino Frances which means starting your Camino adventure from St Jean Pied de Port, make your way to the landmark called Porte St. Jacques. It was one of the doors of the enclosure of Philippe Auguste. There, you will be able to get your first credential stamp and start your Camino Frances
From Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela
To start your Camino Frances at the stage 2, begin in Pamplona. From there, it takes 710 km to get to Santiago de Compostela!
If you decide to start your Camino from Pamplona, make your way to the old bridge Puente de Magdalena which spans the local Arga river. Get your first credential stamp there and start your Camino Frances!
If you’re interested in religion, there is a church called Hijas de San José not far from the bridge!
From Logrono to Santiago de Compostela
To start your Camino Frances at the stage 3, begin in Logrono. From there, it takes 615 km to get to Santiago de Compostela!
If you decide to start your Camino adventure from Logrono, make your way to one of the five bridges that cross the Ebro river. This bridge is called Puente de Piedra and you will get your first credential stamp and start your Camino Frances!
If you’re interested in seeing a piece of Logrono’s nature, there is a park called Paseo de La Florida right next to the bridge!
From Burgos to Santiago de Compostela
To start your Camino Frances at the stage 4, begin in Burgos. From there, it takes 492 km to get to Santiago de Compostela!
If you decide to start your Camino adventure from Burgos, make your way to San Lesmes Church which was built to house the remains of San Lesmes, patron saint of the town who dedicated himself to the care of the pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. You will get your first credential stamp there and your Camino Frances will start from that point!
Since the church is located right in the middle of Burgos, there are a lot of shops and historical landmarks that are worth seeing.
From Sahagun to Santiago de Compostela
The stage 5 is also a popular place to begin Camino Frances. It begins in Sahagun. From there, it takes 357 km to get to Santiago de Compostela!
If Sahagun is going to be your starting point, make your way to the Church of the Holy Trinity which is an old Catholic temple. You will get your first credential stamp there and your Camino Frances will start from that point!
From Leon to Santiago de Compostela
You want to start your Camino Frances at the stage 6? Begin in Leon to have one of the greatest experiences from your Camino adventure! From there, it takes 312 km to get to Santiago de Compostela!
If you decide to start your Camino adventure from Leon, your starting point will be Puerta Moneda (the Coin Door). It is the only one of the old gates which some vestige remains today. Make your way there to get your first credential stamp there and start your Camino Frances!
Leon is known for its culture, festivals and food and that is why Leon is one of the most popular places to start the Camino Frances!
From Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela
To start your Camino Frances at the stage 7, begin in Ponferrada. From there, it takes 197 km to get to Santiago de Compostela!
If Ponferrada is going to be your starting point, make your way to the San Andres Church! It is a temple with an important value for the Old Part of the town. Make your way there to get your first credential stamp there and start your Camino Frances!
From Sarria to Santiago de Compostela
The last common starting point on the Camino Frances is Sarria – the start of our final stage. From there, it takes 111 km to get to Santiago de Compostela and finish your Camino adventure. You can take a train from Santiago de Compostela to get to Sarria and walk from the train station to the start of your Camino.
If you decide to start your Camino adventure from Sarria, make your way to the Santa Marina church where you will be able to get your first credential stamp and start your Camino Frances!
There are also many libraries and historical landmarks in the centre of Sarria. One of them is Cementerio Municipal, one of the most famous cemeteries ever.
There are lots of options where to get your Camino Frances adventure started. If you only have a few days, you can even walk from one city to another! It’s up to you which way suits you the best. But if you’re still not sure about your choice, contact our Camino experts who will be happy to help you decide which way is the best for you!
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