Where to sleep on The Camino

Where to sleep on The Camino

by | Oct 13, 2017 | accommodation

El albergue |

Updated: January 2026

Accommodation options

One of the most common questions future pilgrims ask is: Where do you sleep on the Camino de Santiago?

The good news is that the Camino offers a wide range of accommodation options. The best choice depends on your budget, your comfort level, and the type of Camino experience you’re looking for. You also don’t have to stick to just one type of accommodation for the entire route; mixing it up is completely normal.

Let’s look at the main types of accommodation you’ll find on the Camino, starting with the most iconic one: el albergue.

 

What is an albergue?

In short, it’s a hostel, one of the types of accommodations you’ll find along the Camino de Santiago. Some albergues are designed specifically for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. Some others are open to anyone, pilgrim or not.  

There are public (municipal) and private albergues, and although they’re similar in style, there are a few important differences.

Public municipal albergues are the most traditional and popular accommodation and, for many people, the heart of the Camino experience.They are especially designed for pilgrims, which means you need proof that you are a pilgrim if you are planning to stay in one of them. How do you do that?

You must have a credencial with stamps.

Other things you should know about albergues:

  • They do not take reservations. They operate on a first-come first-served basis, and this can be a problem during the busiest times of the year if you want to avoid the bed race.
  • Generally you can only stay for one night.
  • Pilgrims a pie have preference over those a caballo or en bici. 

Private albergues are very similar but with one advantage: you can book in advance.

What to expect when staying in an albergue

Albergues are a basic type of accommodation.

The prices per night range from €10 to €15 for the public, with the private albergues being a bit more expensive.

There is also a small number of donativo albergues: you pay a voluntary donation. This doesn’t mean they’re free. They still need to cover their costs and they wouldn’t be able to exist without the donations.

Like any hostel, albergues have:

  • Big dormitories with bunk beds.
  • Shared bathrooms, including a much welcome shower after a long day’s walk.

Other important things to know:

  • You normally need a sleeping bag or liner.

  • Pillowcases are not always provided.

That said, staying in albergues is one of the easiest ways to meet other pilgrims, share meals and stories and feel part of the Camino community.

Services you might find in an albergue

Facilities vary a lot, so it’s always worth checking a guide or app beforehand. Many albergues offer:

  • A washing machine or hand-washing area.

  • A kitchen for cooking your own meals. Just be aware that not all kitchens are fully equipped. 

  • Common areas for relaxing and socialising

And let’s not forget the hospitaleros, the volunteers who run many albergues.

They have walked the Camino de Santiago themselves. They take care of the place and will help you with information you may need about the route or the local area.

 

Listen to this content in Spanish.

Looking for the podcast transcripts? Click here to find them.

Other accommodation options on the Camino

Not everyone wants to stay in albergues every night, and that’s completely fine. So what are your options?

Hostales and pensiones

Hostales and pensiones are small, often family-run guesthouses. They usually offer private rooms, often private bathrooms too.

They do have fewer services than a hotel, though. They’re cheaper too.

Hotels

In larger towns and cities along the Camino, you’ll also find hotels ranging from budget to high-end options.

These are ideal if you need privacy, want to rest properly after several tough stages or simply feel like treating yourself for a night.

Casas rurales

Casas rurales are privately owned properties, usually old farmhouses or manors that have been refurbished. As the name suggests, they are located in rural settings. This means that they won’t always be available, especially if you are around bigger towns. You can just book one room, but if you are travelling with a group, you should know that many casas rurales give you the option of renting the whole house. 

 

Paradores

Chain of luxury hotels, managed by a state-run company. They are usually located in historic buildings such as castles or convents. In Santiago, for instance, you have the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, right beside the cathedral. It was built in the 16th century as a hospital that cared for the pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela.

 

The choice is all yours and, as I said before, you don’t have to stay in the same type of accommodation every night. Just be aware of all the possibilities available and decide which one is the best fit for you, based on your personal circumstances.

 

Learn more a bout the word albergue with Beginners Spanish for the Camino Podcast:

Escucha “2. Albergue” en Spreaker.

Today’s Spanish for the Camino

Albergue

Hospitalero

Hostal

Pensión

Hotel

Casa rural

Parador

sleeping in an albergue

 

For the pronunciation of credencial, a pie, a caballo and en bici check this other post.

 

Read about Gary’s experience as an hospitalero.

 

Want more?

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¡Buen Camino!

Do you need Spanish on the Camino?

Do you need Spanish on the Camino?

by | Sep 16, 2017 | Camino Spanish

Updated February 2026

Do I need to learn Spanish for the Camino de Santiago in Spain?

Short answer, no. You can walk the Camino without speaking Spanish.

BUT…

learning at least some basic Spanish is a very good idea.

Why should you learn some basic Spanish before your Camino?


3 main reasons (although there are more):

1. Peace of mind &  freedom

Picture this: you find yourself in an emergency. Your phone’s battery is dead. There are no English-speaking people around. What do you do? The situation is stressful enough as it is. You don’t want to add the worry of not being able to communicate what you need.

A smile will take you a long way. True. But it’s not always enough. There are situations when you might need at least some basic knowledge of Spanish. You never know when phrases like necesito un médico (I need a doctor)

Imagine being able to communicate your needs without having to rely on a translating app on your phone or on finding someone who can speak English or who can translate for you.

2. Respect & connection

Making an effort to use the local language shows respect for your host country. And Spanish people are generally pleased if you have a go at Spanish. Give it a try and you’ll experience a warmer welcome.

Even basic greetings such as hola (hello) can open doors that would remain otherwise closed.

Anyone who tried their Spanish on the Camino, no matter how limited it was, will tell you this: they got a much better reaction from the locals. 

Of course, the better your knowledge of Spanish, the better chances at making deeper connections with the locals and knowing what’s going on around you. OK. So, you find yourself in a small village where nobody speaks English.

If you’re the “a smile is enough” type, chances are you’ll spend the evening by yourself.  You’d love to know what that festival is about or why people are wearing strange clothes, but communicating with these people is too hard. You’re missing an opportunity to learn about local traditions, history, culture.

And this brings me to the next reason to learn Spanish before the Camino.

 

3. Broaden your mind

We all know the Camino can be a life-changing experience, a wonderful opportunity to become a truer version of ourselves, find answers, heal, etc. But why limit the experience to learning about ourselves? There are people on the Camino who have never been to Spain before. Their “knowledge” about Spain is in many cases full of stereotypes and misconceptions bearing little resemblance with reality. They spend days, probably weeks, walking through Spain. Yet, they go back home full of the same stereotypes.

I see this every now and then in Camino-related Facebook groups. There’s one case in particular that caught my attention: This couple was sharing their journey along the Camino Portugués. Neither the husband nor the wife knew any Spanish. Every day, they posted pictures of their stage, with their comments. Every day, at least one of the pic’s descriptions showed a couple of things:

  • they were interpreting things through their own pre-conceived ideas of Spain. Some of these were way off the mark.

 

  • because they were not talking to any locals, they went back home convinced that their wrong assumptions were true. Their distorted vision of Spain was reinforced.

 

In essence, maybe the Camino was a very spiritual experience for them, but they missed the opportunity to broaden their minds, to learn about Spain and its culture.

 

You could even become a Camino angel for other pilgrims who didn’t think learning Spanish was important!

Learn the Spanish you need for the Camino

That’s where I come in.

On this blog (and through other resources I offer) I want to help you learn the kind of Spanish you’ll actually use on the Camino. Not just random lists of “useful phrases,” but real, practical language that helps you feel more confident and connected on your journey.

If you have ever travelled abroad (to a country where they don’t speak your language), I’m sure you have seen these lists of “useful phrases”, where you get a few words and phrases in the language of that country with the translation into your own language.

 

I have. And I don’t find them so “useful”. Why?

 

Two reasons, mainly:

  • Most of them give you the words but don’t tell you how to pronounce them. So chances are that if you try to say anything, people won’t understand you. Embarrassing and frustrating!

 

  • They only tell you what YOU can say. Imagine you get the pronunciation right but… what happens when people talk back to you? Blank face… you are lost!

 

Where I live, I see many pilgrims passing by every day. Sometimes, I see them struggling to communicate, looking for directions or information about something they need. I like to help when I get the chance (I’ve been abroad too and I know that feeling!). But I can only help a very small number.

 

So I had this idea that will allow me to reach and help more people.

 

What to expect from Spanish for the Camino

  • A blog with useful Spanish Camino vocabulary in every post, and audio so you know how to pronounce it.
  • 2 podcasts, one for beginners; another for intermediate/advanced learners.
  • Books, courses and other resources, free and paid. Here’s a list of everything.

Start learning Spanish for the Camino

Listen to the podcast for beginners:

 
Escucha “Beginners Spanish for the Camino” en Spreaker.

35 Spanish words for the Camino

What you’ll find inside:

  • 15 pages of the very basics: greetings and other essential words, how to ask questions…
  • Simple explanations.
  • Vocabulary that is relevant to the Camino.
  • Spanish-English vocabulary list
  • Cultural tips.
  • PLUS, an extra gift after you sign up.

Necesito un médico

Hola

Happy learning and buen Camino!