French Way from Sarria for Beginners: The Best Option to Start

The ideal starting point for your first Camino

If you're thinking about doing the Camino de Santiago for the first time, the French Way from Sarria is undoubtedly the best choice. It’s the most popular, accessible and complete stretch of the entire Jacobean route, offering everything a first-time pilgrim might need: nature, clear signposting, services, safety, and a unique spirit of companionship.

Covering 115 kilometres to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, this route can be completed in 5 or 6 stages. It’s long enough to capture the true essence of the Camino, and also qualifies you for the Compostela, the official pilgrim certificate.

➤ Stages designed for enjoyment, not suffering

One of the great advantages of the French Way from Sarria is that its stages are well-balanced and comfortable. Most of the route runs along rural paths, with gentle slopes and plenty of rest stops. It’s the perfect option for those with no prior experience of long-distance walking.

The most common stages are:

• Sarria → Portomarín (22 km): ideal for settling into the Camino rhythm.
• Portomarín → Palas de Rei (25 km): Galician forests and classic rural trails.
• Palas de Rei → Arzúa (28 km): a slightly longer stage, with food stops in Melide.
• Arzúa → O Pedrouzo (19 km): a relaxed day, perfect for enjoying the natural surroundings.
• O Pedrouzo → Santiago (20 km): the most exciting arrival, with views from Monte do Gozo before reaching the Cathedral.

If you prefer to take it more slowly, you can split some stages and extend the experience to six or seven days. The Camino adapts to you, not the other way around.

➤ A route with every service within reach

Logistics are often a major concern for beginners. But on the stretch from Sarria, that won’t be a problem: you’ll find accommodation, restaurants, pharmacies and shops at every stage. There are also luggage transport services to carry your bags from one place to another, allowing you to walk in complete comfort.

You’ll also find tourist information offices and plenty of places to stamp your pilgrim passport, helping you easily complete it before arriving in Santiago.

• Albergues, guesthouses, rural homes and hotels to suit all budgets.
• Bars and restaurants offering pilgrim menus.
• Well-signposted paths with yellow arrows and stone markers.

➤ Walking through Galicia: nature and authenticity

The stretch between Sarria and Santiago offers some of the most beautiful scenery along the Camino. The paths pass through rural villages, oak and eucalyptus forests, rivers and meadows where you can feel the peaceful spirit of Galicia with every step.

For beginners, it’s the perfect way to experience the essence of Galicia: its green landscapes, the warmth of its people, and its rich gastronomy. Every stage is like a living postcard — especially at dawn or dusk, when the Camino is filled with light and silence.

• Authentic rural paths, far from traffic and noise.
• Charming towns like Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Arzúa and O Pedrouzo.
• Opportunities to enjoy Galician food at every stop.

➤ A safe and sociable experience

The French Way from Sarria is also the busiest stretch, making it a very safe option for beginners and solo travellers. You’ll rarely walk completely alone — there are always other pilgrims nearby, ready to share a chat, a tip, or simply a friendly “Buen Camino!”.

This sense of community creates a special atmosphere of respect and solidarity, where everyone finds their own rhythm and their own story. It’s a place where differences fade, and human connection becomes universal.

• Welcoming, multicultural environment.
• Supportive network of fellow pilgrims and hosts.
• Good mobile coverage and access to medical assistance.

➤ Ideal for earning the Compostela

The stretch from Sarria meets the minimum requirement of 100 km to qualify for the Compostela, the official certificate granted to those who complete the Camino de Santiago on foot.

Along the way, you’ll need to get your pilgrim passport stamped at least twice per day — at hostels, churches or cafés — and present it at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago. Receiving the Compostela is a very special moment, representing all the effort and emotions experienced along the journey.

• Distance: 115 km from Sarria to Santiago.
• Ideal duration: 5 to 6 days walking.
• Official certificate guaranteed upon completion.

➤ Tips for first-time pilgrims

If this is your first time on the Camino, these small tips will help make your experience more comfortable and rewarding:

• Train beforehand: walk 8–10 km daily for a few weeks.
• Wear comfortable, well-tested footwear (don’t use new boots on the Camino).
• Carry a light backpack — no more than 10% of your body weight.
• Start walking early to avoid the heat and arrive without stress.
• Don’t compare yourself to others — the Camino is not a race, it’s a personal experience.

➤ The emotion of arriving in Santiago

After several days of effort and unforgettable landscapes, seeing the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago from Monte do Gozo is a moment every pilgrim remembers forever. It’s where fatigue turns into emotion, and every step takes on meaning.

Entering the Plaza del Obradoiro to the sound of Galician bagpipes and the shared joy of fellow walkers marks the end of an adventure that leaves its mark. And although it may be your first Camino, many say it won’t be your last.

The French Way from Sarria is the best way to begin your Jacobean adventure. An accessible, safe and moving experience that will show you the Camino is not just walked with your feet, but with your soul.