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Is there a “best” time to walk the Portuguese Camino de Santiago? There’s no single answer that’s true for everyone. Based on your preferences, though, there’s probably a better (or a WORSE) time for you personally to set out on your pilgrimage.
Choosing when you’ll walk your Portuguese Camino de Santiago is a big decision. I’ve done pilgrimage walks in every season of the year, and they each have clear pros and cons.
Rather than sharing unhelpful anecdotes like “I walked in June and it rained the entire time!” let’s look instead at the most insightful information: historical averages.
Let me make your decision easier by sharing what factors and data points you need to consider for your walk on the Portuguese Way.
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Have a question? Leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll reply right away 🙂
Can you walk the Portuguese Camino year-round?
Yes, you can walk the Portuguese Camino year-round. The mild climate and lack of mountain passes set this Camino de Santiago apart as being very accessible all year long, even in winter.
This isn’t the case for all Camino de Santiago routes: the Camino Frances, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, and the Camino de Invierno all contain mountainous areas.
Get a roadmap for planning your Camino with my step-by-step guide: 2025 Portuguese Camino Guide.
Santiago de Compostela Climate At A Glance
While pilgrims will start walking on the Portuguese Way at different points, they’ll all end in Santiago.
Here’s a glimpse of the current forecast.
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA WEATHERFactors That Impact Your Camino Experience
What seasonal factors will impact your walk on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago? Let’s look at the four things that have the biggest sway.
Temperature
Portugal and Spain have mild climates, but both the hot and cold are something to weigh in your planning. Spain has famously intense summer heat, which inspired their midday “siesta.” In the summer months, many pilgrims start walking early in the day to avoid the sun.
For reference, here’s the historical data¹ on the temperatures throughout the year in Santiago de Compostela:
Coldest month: December, January, and February are tied at 6°C / 43°F average low
Hottest month: August, 25°C / 77°F average high
Precipitation
Precipitation isn’t a large concern for planning, as you only have to consider rain (and not snow) for this region of Portugal and Spain. However, rainy days still impact your Camino. Here are the historical averages¹:
Wettest month: January, 21 days of rain
Driest month: July and August are tied at 9 days of rain
Here are the historical averages1 for rain days the entire year:
Note that “rain days” doesn’t mean that it rained all day, but simply that there was some precipitation.
When we get to each season, I’ll share the average temperatures and rain days broken down by month.
Number of Pilgrims
Who you meet along The Way is a huge part of the Camino experience. The time of year will greatly impact how many pilgrims are out on the trail. Here are the least popular and most popular months on the Portugués compared, per the Pilgrim’s Office statistics2:
Busiest month: September, 27,718 pilgrims in 2024
Quietest month: January, 711 pilgrims in 2024
Even in the quieter months, you can still aim to find more pilgrims by choosing the most popular route (the Central Route).
Avoiding the crowds should be factored into your planning. I encourage everyone to avoid planning their Camino in the most crowded months of the year. Crowds put a strain on the local communities, and the Camino is at its worst when it’s overly crowded. It’s more beneficial for everyone if pilgrims are spread across the year.
Hours Of Daylight
The hours of daylight vary greatly between the longest and shortest days of the year in Santiago de Compostela. Here are the shortest and longest days compared3:
Longest day of the year is June 20th: 15 hours and 20 min of daylight
Shortest day of the year is December 16th: 9 hours and 1 min of daylight
Does it matter? Early morning walkers can worry less about the hours of daylight in the darker months of the year. I actually think it’s a plus, it means that you’ll always catch the sunrise!
I think that fewer hours of daylight are only a concern for walkers who plan on doing very long stages and plan on walking well into the evening.
When we get to each season, I’ll share the average sunrise and sunset broken down by month.
Open Amenities
The most noteworthy closures to be aware of are albergues in winter. Some of these pilgrim hostels will close thanks to the decreased traffic, especially from Lisbon to Porto. This is the least popular section of the Camino.
From Porto north to Santiago, you can expect some closures in winter. Research before you go, but expect to find at least one albergue open at the end of every stage. Choose hotels if you do experience closures.
Portuguese Camino By Season
What do you gain and lose by choosing a specific season to walk the Camino? I’m going to break down by season. I’ll also break down the averages for the following stats, using the linked resources as my data source:
- Rain days and temperature from Weather and Climate
- Daylight hours from Time and Date
- Number of pilgrims from the Pilgrim’s Office
Winter
Winter pilgrims can expect fewer fellow pilgrims out on the road. The absence of crowds equates to peaceful trails, but this may feel lonely to solo walkers. Colder temps and more rainy days are a given, but proper gear makes it very doable. On sunny days, winter walking on the Portuguese Camino is a joy.
Months: December, January, and February.
What you gain: Forget sweaty clothes – walking temperatures are ideal, and wearing layers allows you to be comfortable. Those seeking solitude or just a quieter experience will enjoy the serenity of the off-season while still experiencing liveliness via the towns you stay in. Walkers who are on the trail reasonably early can always count of seeing the sunrise.
What you lose: You have fewer accommodation options, as some albergues will close for winter. Your number of fellow pilgrims will be limited, especially if you go around Christmastime (though I’ve heard that Christmastime on the Portuguese Way is a joy). On some routes, specifically Lisbon to Porto, you can expect to see very few pilgrims. Earlier sunset times will mean limited evening walking.
Dive deeper into this with my guide: How To Walk The Portuguese Camino In Winter.
Winter By The Numbers
These numbers are all averages for the winter months.
| Dec | Jan | Feb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain days | 20 | 21 | 20 |
| Daylength | 9 h 2 min | 9 h 23 min | 10 h 34 min |
| Daily Low | 6°C / 43°F | 6°C / 43°F | 6°C / 43°F |
| Daily High | 14°C / 57°F | 13°C / 55°F | 14°C / 57°F |
| Pilgrims | 1,023 | 710 | 1,118 |
Spring
Pilgrims start to pick up in spring, especially around Easter (doing the Camino for Easter is very popular). Those looking for community will enjoy seeing other pilgrims as the trail comes out of hibernation. Many albergues open in spring, and everything has that new-paint, just-cleaned freshness to it.
Months: March, April, and May.
What you gain: Get lucky with your timing and you’ll experience that wonderful spring awakening with green sprouts and fresh flowers in bloom. Everything is officially open for the season in spring, and you get the beauty without the heat and excessive crowds.
What you lose: The vegetation won’t be as lively in early spring, and you can still experience rainy spells. Time your walk correctly around holidays to avoid closures and huge unexpected crowds (avoid the Holy Week and Easter, or book everything in advance).
Spring By The Numbers
These numbers are all averages for the spring months.
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain Days | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Daylight | 11 h 55 min | 13 h 25 min | 14 h 39 min |
| Daily Low | 7°C / 45°F | 8°C / 46°F | 10°C / 50°F |
| Daily High | 16°C / 61°F | 17°C / 63°F | 19°C / 66°F |
| Pilgrims | 7,652 | 15,964 | 24,836 |
Summer
Summer months on the Portuguese Camino are more intense in two big ways: the heat and crowds. The crowds contain both pilgrims and normal tourists who flock to popular towns on vacation. The tourist infrastructure is at its most exhausted in peak season; for this reason, I recommend going in the shoulder season instead.
Months: June, July, and August.
What you gain: Those following the coast can enjoy soaking their tired feet directly in the ocean at the end of the day. The Camino is overcrowded and at its worst in the summer, so I see no other benefit of going at this time of year.
What you lose: Peak summer season means that some costs are higher (like hotels) and there’s more competition for beds at albergues. The summer months in Portugal and Spain can get extremely hot, which adds to the physical challenge of the Portuguese Way.
I would personally never do the Camino in summer and burden the infrastructure further. If you choose to go during this time, you’ll need to plan your accommodation accordingly.
You can learn more here: Should You Pre-Book Your Accommodation?
Summer By The Numbers
These numbers are all averages for the summer months.
| June | July | Aug | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain days | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| Daylight | 15 h 19 min | 15 h 01 min | 13 h 54 min |
| Daily Low | 13°C / 55°F | 14°C / 57°F | 15°C / 59°F |
| Daily High | 22°C / 72°F | 24°C / 75°F | 25°C / 77°F |
| Pilgrims | 21,555 | 18,429 | 22,787 |
Autumn
Fall is a diverse season – early autumn can feel as warm as summer, with late autumn getting cool and wet. The conditions are similar to spring, but fewer holidays to plan around and fewer pilgrims on the road.
Months: September, October, and November.
What you gain: Experience lingering summer warmth without the crowds or overworked tourist infrastructure. Aside from the potential rain, there’s very little to stop you from enjoying an autumn Camino in Portugal.
What you lose: Once again, the number of pilgrims begins to dwindle. Some albergues will begin to close for the season, and rain spells will become more frequent.
Autumn By The Numbers
These numbers are all averages for the autumn months.
| Sept | Oct | Nov | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain days | 12 | 17 | 19 |
| Daylight | 12 h 29 min | 11 h 02 min | 9 h 43 min |
| Daily Low | 13°C / 55°F | 11°C / 52°F | 8°C / 46°F |
| Daily High | 23°C / 73°F | 19°C / 66°F | 15°C / 59°F |
| Pilgrims | 24,135 | 17,831 | 3,536 |
What’s the best time of year to walk the Portuguese Camino?
I think that spring and fall are the best times of year to walk the Portuguese Camino. You still have access to the Camino community but you don’t have peak season crowds, heat, or prices. It also puts less of a strain on the local communities that you visit.
FAQ Summary
Buen Camino!
There’s something to enjoy about every time of year on the Camino Portugues. Which season calls to you the most?
Do you have a favorite time of year to walk the Portuguese Camino, or other Camino routes like the Camino Ingles or the Via de la Plata? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
5 Responses
I am going to el Camino português from 14th June with my wife. We’re 73 and 75 y.o. and retired but don’t have other option for the dates. We would like to go from Porto to Fisterra 1st and then to SdC. Would you recommend a route?
Do you think we need to book Albergues in advance, and if so how many days?
We have done the French Way last year.
This is my favorite route. Blue sections are the Senda Litoral and red is the Coastal Route. The map stops in Vigo, where the routes combine: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=12cxQvnQFWveEnPEjYmHNhjcU63g30aM&usp=sharing
There are fewer albergues on the Portugues compared to the Frances. I would consider booking private albergues in advance, but it depends on your risk tolerance. I can’t guess how busy the trail will be given that it’s a Holy Year and the numbers are elevated. I would definitely book Porto and SdC now, and for the rest I would recommend you reach out to albergues via email to ask if they expect to fill up. It was just the Holy Week and albergues were completely full. You can also change your stages off from the most popular stops to minimize the crowds. However this will require some planning, because there isn’t always an albergue nearby in the next town.