Where would it be a good village to spend day off between Leon and Santiago de Compostela

[Av4av1989]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

 

[VNwalking]

It depends what you like. Quiet or more dynamic?

On the quieter side, Rabinal, La Faba, and Samos come to mind. If you want more action there's always Ponferrada.

 

[trecile]

Wait until you need a day off or you find a town that interests you. This does not have to be preplanned.

 

[JillGat]

Wait until you need a day off or you find a town that interests you. This does not have to be preplanned.

What she said. You'll know it when you see it.

 

[Anhalter]

Ponferrada is the biggest place with much to see. Another option would be two half days from Triacastela-Samos-Sarria.

 

[Kirkie]

Post number 3 has put it simply. Even if you did not ask: we put two days in the bank. They are still there. Let it unfold as you go along. Buen camino!

 

[SnakeBriskin]

My suggestion would be Ponferrada because of its size and historic things to see, and you could pop out to Bierzo wine area, thereby avoiding the need to overindulge on next day walk. Or O Cebreiro if you want more time in mountains. The other suggestion is to put in shorter days that allow you to see more along way and the time to go via Samos.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

Astorga or Villafranca.

 

[lt56ny]

Wait until you need a day off or you find a town that interests you. This does not have to be preplanned.

I could not agree more and as I have often said, listen to your body. It will tell you when you should rest. I think just about any town would be ok. For me a rest day is leaving the albergue (I try to stay in a private albergue that will allow you to stay two days so I can leave my backpack. I walk later in the year and have on a few occasions, been allowed to stay two days in donativos or munis) as late as possible. Going to a cafe and having a long and lazy breakfast, walk around a little have another coffee and pastry. Chatting with some people if the opportunity comes up. I always say I want to practice my Spanish and I usually get a helpful ear. Time for lunch, back to the albergue, take a shower, take a rest, dinner, sleep and walk the next morning.
Was all this babbling on my part necessary??????????????

 

[naplesdon]

There is a spa in Astorga, if you are into that sort of RnR. Many fine restaurants in the main plaza as well.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Astorga is one of my favorite small cities in Spain. Beautiful cathedral, a Gaudi museum, a chocolate factory, wonderful private albergues, an impressive Roman wall. You might not need a rest so close to Leon, or maybe yes? Buen Camino

 

[WalkingPlaylist]

Agree, Astorga would be my pick.

 

[Joynz]

Agree, Astorga would be my pick.

And there’s a clock museum!

 

[PilgrimLiving]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

Ideas: villafranca, triacastella. Astorga. We stayed for 2 nights in Triacastella. It was restful and quiet before the busyness of Sarria and beyond.

 

[falconbrother]

I loved Samos. It’s beautiful country. Stay at Hotel A Veiga. Beautiful location, great food, everything..

 

[Eckart.S]

Sarria, but make a daytrip to Lugo to see the Roman walls. There are several buses and trains per day in both directions.

 

[Larry E]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

I loved Astorga, Molinaseca, and Villafranca del Bierzo. Also excellent were Lugo (I took the 30 minute train back-and-forth from Sarria, just to spend the night in Lugo), Hospital de Orbigo, Samos, Ponferrada, and Portomarin. Lots of good choices!

 

[JulieandPeter]

Between Leon and Santiago, we have spent an extra day in Astorga, Molinasecca, Villafranca, and Sarria. If you have the time, I suggest all four (and all the towns mentioned in the previous posts). If I had to pick one, I would choose Molinasecca; it's a short walk or taxi ride to Ponferrada if you want to explore the castle and city, but a lovely small village with a nice river to take a dip in.

 

[Rex]

Astorga was where I spent a rest day, complete with evening chocolate factory/museo tour in 2013. Very nice little city.

 

[curlylottie]

Astorga! I didn’t take a rest day there but decided to visit the Gaudi museum and cathedral when they opened at 10a. Wanted to see the chocolate museum but skipped it. Started my walk late that day—at noon, which was tough.

 

[trecile]

Even if you did not ask: we put two days in the bank.

I usually have at least 4 or 5 days "in the bank." This year I used quite a few of them because I got a cold, so I took one day off completely, then walked shorter stages than normal for me while I was still recovering. I would hate to use up my "banked" days for something other than being ill or injured, then get ill or injured and need them!

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Astorga. They have a chocolate museum. edit: like usual I just read the title and ignored the prior responses... My bad.

 

[Chelo]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

your body will tell you when you need a day rest , any place could be good but. ,Cacabelos, Villafranca , Samos , Sarria ,Arzua all good choices with good accommodations and things to do .

 

[Baggiegaz]

Astorga .loved it there in 2019 buen Camino

 

[JillGat]

My suggestion would be Ponferrada because of its size and historic things to see, and you could pop out to Bierzo wine area, thereby avoiding the need to overindulge on next day walk. Or O Cebreiro if you want more time in mountains. The other suggestion is to put in shorter days that allow you to see more along way and the time to go via Samos.

One thing I found was that if I take a day of "rest" in a larger town with lots to see, I did as much walking around town as I would have done on the camino. I recommend staying in small villages with nothing to do. But absolutely, you don't have to plan this. Wait till you feel like it.

 

[Roland49]

Me too, seconds for Ponferrada. Surprisingly nice.
Villafranca del Bierzo is a quiet little town (with, depending on walking time very amusing Hippie-Festival) and one of my favourites. The Wine of that region is amazing!

 

[trose]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

I really like Molinaseca, such a beautiful little village.

 

[David Tallan]

Let me start by saying that I completely agree with trecile in post #3. That out of the way, if you need a named town or village, Astorga probably has the most to see and do.

Something else to consider is, instead of taking a day off, you can walk a really short day. After Triacastela, we were going to Samos and decided to walk a teeny tiny day to Casa Forte de Lusio. It is a beautifully restored manor house ("a literal castle" in the words of one pilgrim review on Wise Pilgrim). We had a very restful stay in this albergue with a wonderful hospitalera. We had the place to ourselves. I'm sure our day was every bit as restful as it would have been had we stayed in Triacastela, and we made a little progress.

On my Camino de Madrid last year, I decided, instead of taking a rest day in Sahagun, to stop 6 km before that and stay in Grajal de Campos. I got to sleep in a Renaissance palace (the albergue), visit the church and castle, and the next day it was just a short 90 minute walk to Sahagun and I had plenty of time to enjoy that town, too. So short days can be the best kind of rest days.

 

[krystianw]

If you're looking for a village/small town, my vote is for Molinaseca as well. I missed out on spending time there both times I walked the CF.

 

[AidaYYC]

This post is to gather information on what village would be a great place to take a day off and rest between Leon and Santiago de compostela. I would appreciate comments from experienced Perugino's that have done the camino. Thank you in advance

Astorga is a very nice town, but closer to Santiago there is Portomarin or beautiful Melide

 

[AidaYYC]

Between Leon and Santiago, we have spent an extra day in Astorga, Molinasecca, Villafranca, and Sarria. If you have the time, I suggest all four (and all the towns mentioned in the previous posts). If I had to pick one, I would choose Molinasecca; it's a short walk or taxi ride to Ponferrada if you want to explore the castle and city, but a lovely small village with a nice river to take a dip in.

Not knowing any better and being my first Camino, I planned a rest day in Sarria and regretted it. I would have preferred spending the extra day in Astorga ... I need to do the Frances again

 

[AidaYYC]

Astorga. They have a chocolate museum. edit: like usual I just read the title and ignored the prior responses... My bad.

I loved, loved, loved Astorga and not for the chocolate (I am one of those that doesn't like it) but the feel of the city. I would move there in a NY second!!!