April 2025 and Easter pros and cons

[Mackcrabs]

It appears things really pick up in early May on the CF. So, my question, is what are pros and cons of starting my pilgrimage a few days before or after Easter 2025? (Crowds, weather, events, other nuances)

I wanted to start mid April. I can push the start of my pilgrimage into late April if there’s an advantage.

Thanks in advance

 

[Vacajoe]

Much of Spain will be traveling Holy Week, so trains/planes/buses will be packed those two weekends. Definitely avoid that! Walking during Holy Week is completely dependent on what part of what Camino you are on. A lot of Europeans take that opportunity to walk a section, so I’d avoid walking into Santiago at the end of that week or any major city (Leon, Pamplona, etc).

 

[Mackcrabs]

Much of Spain will be traveling Holy Week, so trains/planes/buses will be packed those two weekends. Definitely avoid that! Walking during Holy Week is completely dependent on what part of what Camino you are on. A lot of Europeans take that opportunity to walk a section, so I’d avoid walking into Santiago at the end of that week or any major city (Leon, Pamplona, etc).

That was so informative! Great advice. I will look into starting ten days after Easter or so. I heard the first week of May is usually the start of the early season. I am trying to avoid that too.

 

[trecile]

Great advice. I will look into starting ten days after Easter or so

I don't think that you need to wait until ten days after Easter. The week before Easter will probably be fairly busy, but it should fall off a few days after Easter.

 

[jungleboy]

That was so informative! Great advice. I will look into starting ten days after Easter or so. I heard the first week of May is usually the start of the early season. I am trying to avoid that too.

Well, Easter Sunday in 2025 is April 20, so ten days after that is the start of May anyway. As trecile said, the best way to avoid these dual rushes would be to start the CF a couple of days after Easter, which would be a week or so before the early May crowd.