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Best Unique and Comfortable Albergues on the Camino Francés with Communal Experiences

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It is perfect for the pilgrim in the city. Able to experience the nightlife without having to be back by 10pm. And MOST pilgrims appreciate that they MUST be quiet when they tiptoe back in at 2am!
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Actually, more than that if he includes all of the towns that he might want to stay in.
I use a spreadsheet on my phone for such things.

I've been using a custom Google Map to save these and all the other albergue suggestions I've collected over the course of planning my Camino - which I plan on downloading to my phone as I'm setting off so I can have an easy way of finding them while I'm walking. (Happy to share if anyone wants to DM me for the link.)

And big thanks to everyone who has contributed their favorites here (not to mention all the rest of the information on this forum). Your generosity and insights are truly invaluable.
 
I want to get a notebook to enter all the albergue suggestions. I will try one page per town, beginning in Pamplona. Question: how many pages will I need?
I would just get whichever guide pamphlet your chose, and make a notes on the page for each town that favorites are in. I am sure that many of them will already be listed, so you can put a star next to it. That way you don't end up with extraneous material.
 
Join the Camino cleanup. Logroño to Burgos May 2025 & Astorga to OCebreiro in June
OR... if you are using a smart phone, the Buen Camino app lists accommodations all along the way, and you could just make notes on your phone. One really nice feature of the app is that it has real time GPS, so you always know how to find the camino.
 
I very much understand. When I stayed the second time, although there had been some improvements, the overall atmosphere was . . . grim.

That second time, I had breakfast the next day at Ages. It was more crowded, noisier, busier. I understand why it would be more of a draw for pilgrims than San Juan.

Nevertheless, the Saint calls me back. If I ever chose to be a hospitalera, it would be there to try to offer some welcome, dignity and comfort to the pilgrims who stayed there.

BTW, there were LOTS of other albergues I enjoyed much more. I tried not to stay in the same places twice. This list is giving me lots of new ideas. But this list is also going to make those places very crowded in the coming months - good for the albergue, bad for me!
 
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I've been using a custom Google Map to save these and all the other albergue suggestions I've collected over the course of planning my Camino

I also do this and my list is both incomplete and public and may be seen at https://maps.app.goo.gl/mBxY8gXkCTuFSeZk8

It is charming, don't you think, how going off topic gives these threads much more interest and value.

BTW, @SabineP and others, I have sometimes taken the liberty of including the Forum name of people who recommended places. As this is a public list then if you prefer that your forum name is not used then pm me and I will edit the list.

Lately I have stopped using Forum names.
 
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IMO MMe Roncal is one of the 'legends of the Camino'. Along with Marcelino Lobato, the 'Fonfria Crepe Extortion Lady', Fr Jose Maria Alonso, Tomas Martinez, Jesus Jato, Eduardo Marino, Gordon Bell, and others that don't come to mind quickly anymore. And I always stop at Pequeno Potala in the Valcarce vallwy--perfect start to assault the oCebreiro hill (a relative easy 10km). Luis and Carlos speak every language and even cook a fantastic vegan/vegetarian meal.
Truth is, there are many favorites and they change with time. I just try to pick those with communal dinners and go along for the ride.
 
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!
I want to get a notebook to enter all the albergue suggestions. I will try one page per town, beginning in Pamplona. Question: how many pages will I need?
Up to you. Besides, notebooks are cheap.
 
I tried to reserve with Maribel for April and asked if they would be open this spring. Answer received yesterday, said they are closed.
 
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It may be an "hospitalera full of heart" who make a place special.
Especially in winter.

November 2014 trudging from Sahagun to El Burgo Ranero was COLD, bleak and solitary.

With great relief I finally arrived at the simple adobe albergue Domenico Laffi and met the friendly hospitalera named Alicia "like Alice in Wonderland!" as she said.

Wonderland indeed! Alice who had just arrived herself would be resident hospitalera for the next two weeks but already had an open fire warming the downstairs common room (there was no other heat) and her lunch was cooking in the kitchen. One other soaked cold pilgrim, Carlos from Madrid, came in. Since it was Sunday and both bars and the village shop apparently closed Alice immediately set the table for three and graciously invited us both to share her meal.

Thus the delicious HOT rice, vegs and salad were stretched with his cheese and my biscuits/bananas. In the spirit of Wonderland we all drank several steaming mugs of HOT sugared tea. Alice enjoyed recounting her many camino memories. I sensed that wherever she might be it would quickly be her 'home'; across the years the camino had become her way of life....

Across the years this visit remains another unforgetable winter memory for me.
 
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Thanks!! Love this line: I guess every albergue would be my favourite right now, if only I could be on the camino again!
 

Your post here will no doubt start an interesting thread.

From my 2018 CF, my top 3 would be:

1. Albergue Anfas- Estella (Lizarra), above all for the great hospitalario Koldo and his staff.

2. Albergue Verde - Hospital de Órbigo, for it's superb vegan food, yoga class an cute cats and dogs.

3. El Refugio - La Faba, on the ascent to O Cebreiro - which unfortunately had a serious fire recently. I hope they manage to restore it. It was a very humble place in a small mountain village.

I guess I could name several others, but these three were special to me at the time.
Now, on to finding out what others have written here. Buen Camino (and also Buen No-Camino)
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Not an albergue, but Casa Waslala in Belorado is my favorite. It’s a pension catering to pilgrims, and Paul & Belmalyn are wonderful hosts.
 
I also stayed here in the fall of 2016, very much enjoyed the accommodations, the food was a bit more traditional (a dish made with rabbit)
 
I share similar memories of the 3 albergues you so fondly speak of!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Referencing my compostellas and guidebooks had me remember a few more albergues that I liked enough to remember. This was all pre-pandemic. No telling how many still open or even if they still are how social distancing will effect the albergue capacity, meals and experience. I hope all new/prospective pilgrims realize this. The Camino has changed just like the rest of the world. Don't read old threads and expect it to be like that. Mind you, I hope I am wrong.

Maison Kaserna in St Jean. Communal dinner and breakfast set out the next morning. I also remember all of us at the table singing Ultreia together before we headed out. Was very nice.
The municipal in ValCarlos. Neat little town and nice albergue for those who choose to take the road less traveled.
Jesus y Maria Albergue in Pamplona. Big and crowded but a cool pilgrim's vibe to it.
Municipal albergue in Estella. Another big and crowded one with a vibe to it.
Santo Domingo de Calzada. Albergue Casa del Santo. Cool town and that's another big albergue that has a good vibe. Big common area and I remember pilgrims singing and playing guitar. Garden out back and chickens in coops.
Carrion de los Condes. Albergue Santa Maria run by the nuns. Lots of mentions about it on the forum. Communal dinner. Singing, guitar playing and a pilgrim's mass and blessing at night.
San Martin del Camino municipal. I remember staying there on a cold night in October. A lot of pilgrims there that night. Big communal meal and lots of wine. The hospitalero a really good guy. Kept the wood split and the fireplace going for us as we gathered around it trying to stay warm and drink more vino.
Astorga, Albergue San Javier. Big albergue. Good vibe. I remember there was an American priest walking the Camino there that night and I assisted him with mass he put on in a spare room in the albergue.
Vega de Valcarce, municipal albergue. Cold late October night. Snowstorm coming in and the next morning walk to O'Cebreiro was a winter wonderland of snow. The hospitalero at the municipal in Valcarce kept the wood split and the fireplace going for the few pilgrims that were there. Myself and 4-5 others.
 
A couple of my favourites not yet mentioned - Casa Magica, Villatuerta, very caring and kind when I arrived with a heavy cold (2014) giving me a bed next to a wall heater and turning it on for me. The dining room and food was of restaurant quality. Also enjoyed En el Camino in Boadilla del Camino - Eduardo was very welcoming, the garden and pool like an oasis in the Meseta. We had a six bed room just for the 3 of us.
 
Join the Camino cleanup. Logroño to Burgos May 2025 & Astorga to OCebreiro in June
A couple of my favourites not yet mentioned - Casa Magica, Villatuerta, very caring and kind when I arrived with a heavy cold (2014)
I also really enjoyed my stay a Casa Magica in 2017. However, the albergue has changed hands since then, so I can't speak to how the new ownership is running it, though the facilities should still be wonderful.
 
In addition to the places that others have mentioned, I will add Albergue Luz, in Fromista. A very comfortable setting with the most exceptional hosts, Anita and Gabriel, who are living the spirit of the camino. They helped us deal with the bedbugs we arrived with, in the kindest, most compassionate way. We had a lovely conversation with them, about what and why they were creating their lovely, welcoming albergue.
 
Hi Puttster My first Camino (C F ) I stayed in Municipals, ineteracted with a lot of Pilgrims. Truely enjoyed it. My second Camino were al Private Albergues I found that the food was better but I didn’t meet as many.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
I want to get a notebook to enter all the albergue suggestions. I will try one page per town, beginning in Pamplona. Question: how many pages will I need?

The question is NOT "how many pages", but a 2nd notebook?
There are so many places and Albergues worth of staying on CF, even neighboring villages.
However, we need about 31 days to walk thru CF. If like to experience all, one may need to walk CF many times.... A mathematical question.

A good Albergue, one may stay again and again.
Albergue Leo in Villafranca del Bierzo,
First time, they treated me very delicious spaghetti for lunch in 2018.
2nd time, they treated me a free breakfast in 2019.
The host María told me if I stay the 3rd time, they will invite me to have dinner with them!
 

I stayed in a hotel in Los Arcos called the Hostal Suetxe (https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-suetxe.html?aid=1365032&label=548293-top300) for two evenings, 31 July 2019 and 1 August 2019. Below is an extract from the book I wrote afterwards.

Juan-Luis, the owner of the hotel is an extraordinary person. In his bar/dining room is a full-scale wood-carved Harley Davidson motorbike, he crafted himself. Not something that vaguely looks like it, but an exact wooden replica of the motorbike. On the wall is a copy of a newspaper article with photos of his full-scale wooden replica of Spanish hero Fernando Alonso's Ferrari F1 racing car.

Every time he sees me, he invites me to sit down with him and enjoy bocata; it is a sandwich with Spanish cured meat and cheese. Then we drink vino tinto from a bota bag (a wineskin made out of leather and used to carry wine). Absolutely a fantastic man. He has mastered the use of a Spanish-English App and that is how we conversed.
 
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Casa Morgade - 10k after Sarria- is not an albergue. But it's very lovely. And a good dinner.
Casa Morgade gets my vote too. An excellent rural setting with nice views, a few curio cabinets, an adequate bar for a cold radler or whatever, the meal was fantastic, fresh Tarta de Santiago, cafe muy caliente, and best of all ... wait for it ... no bunk beds in our room ... and look at the size of those beds!!!

 
Albergue de peregrinos Parroquial de Zabaldika: Run by nuns, communal dinner, retreat in the adjoining church.
This stands out as one of my favourites. I found my faith again after staying here. The hosts and nuns where fabulous.
 
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
Albergue de peregrinos Parroquial de Zabaldika: Run by nuns, communal dinner, retreat in the adjoining church.
This stands out as one of my favourites. I found my faith again after staying here. The hosts and nuns where fabulous.
Albergue de peregrinos Parroquial de Zabaldika: Run by nuns, communal dinner, retreat in the adjoining church.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I want to get a notebook to enter all the albergue suggestions. I will try one page per town, beginning in Pamplona. Question: how many pages will I need?
I would go with 40 knowing that most people do it in 30-35 stages
 
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Camino planner implies my note book would need 183 pages
"From Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela
List of 968 lodgings in 183 localities.
 
Camino planner implies my note book would need 183 pages
"From Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela
List of 968 lodgings in 183 localities.
Sounds like it will be quite a journey!
 
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Zabaldika, as many have mentioned. Overflowing with caritas!

Casa Ibarola in Pamplona - private albergue with private pods.

El Jardin in Muruzabal - another beautifully done private albergue.

Grañon, iconic for a reason.

Liberanos Domine in Rabé, a private albergue with beautiful hospitality

On the Meseta, stars of the camino for me are
San Anton
San Nicolas
Both are traditional, old-school albergues that thrive on caritas rather than mod cons.

Santa Maria in Carrion. The singing nuns, a beautiful experiece. Separate rooms for men and women. But if the nuns are not there it's not the same place.

San Antonio de Padua in Villar de Mazariffe

La Faba - the Albergue next to the church as you enter the village.

And many others.
What more sticks in my mind are the very few bad experiences. I have to say that my one experience of San Juan de Ortega was the coldest, dankest, and least friendly experience of any on a camino. I wish someone with deep poclets, and a wealth of heart could return this place to the oasis of pilgrim hospitality it once was.
 
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Albergue de peregrino de la santa cruz - Sahagun
Gaucelmo Hostel - Rabanal
Municipal Albergue San Rogue - Molinaseca

The three I enjoyed the most predominantly due to the hospitality and ambience, had no issues with any of the accommodation on the CF as was only ever looking for a bed and shower. Even the Albergue in Astorga where the host was half shot at 2pm and I could only manage a cold shower. Ended up having a few laughs with the other Pilgrims when their communal meal turned into a disaster after the same host implied he was an excellent chef but turned out the opposite.
 
I loved my first one in SJPP which was a gentle intro to dormitory sharing and breakfast and then the BIG Roncevalles albergue which was amazing to see so many people packed in and then getting hurried out while the stars were still shining the next morning. The really early birds fumbling in the dark, flashing lights into everyone's eyes and so forth. Thankfully from there on it became more relaxed but what a beginning to life on the Camino!
 
That must have been in the old albergue, before the remodeling and opening of the current building.

Here's an old thread from 2011 talking about the then newly opened Albergue.
 
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
A big positive shout out to my albergue tonight...Acá y Allá, Urdániz, Navarra. A new one for me. Outstanding!
 
These were a few of my favorites from this past spring, April & May.
* Logrono, Winederful - great beds with curtains, etc. in a womens dorm with our own bathroom. Lovely breakfast buffet included in the price, (25€) which seemed a bit high at first, but considering they provided all linens and breakfast, it was ok.
* Hospital de Orbigo, Casa de Los Hidalgos - fantastic host, beds with curtains, plugs and lights, separate facilities for men and women, huge garden, lovely common room and a wonderful breakfast buffet for 5€.
* Fonfria, Reboleira - Just a nice set-up with super friendly staff, but the high point is their traditiona, Galacian, communal dinner in their traditional Galacian "hut". Delicious and unique. If you come in with wet boots, they have a drying pipe running the length of the boot racks.
* Ponferrada, Alberuge Guiana - they seemed to have thought about everything a pilgrim needs. Nice to be in a womens dorm with our own bathroom. Huge kitchen and nice common room. Snack and coffee machines available.
* Portomarin, Albergue Huellas Turistico - loved having a single bed in a room with just 3 other women. Friendly staff and a great kitchen and common room.
* Podrouzo, Albergue Mirador de Pedrouzo - they seemed to have thought of everything a pilgrim needs, had a pool, great kitchen and common room and seperate showers with plenty of space to put your things down to get dressed.

I like Albergue Karma in Sansol, but I think they might have closed? Single beds for 6€ and he made a delicious communal meal, served in his stone cellar for 8€.
 
Here is another thumbs up for Winderful in Logrono. One of the best on the Camino. I stayed there in April. Just a 5 minute walk to the tapas streets.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Thats what I'm looking for!
 
This year I would like to add Casa las Almas in Espinosa. German couple run this small albergue. 5 guests in single, comfy beds with linens & the best dinner & breakfast on the Camino so far. Unbelievably helpful too.

Borda gets high marks for comfort & food.

Rosalia in Castrojeriz for single beds, great dinner & breakfast & friendliness

Zabaldika for dinner & lovely atmosphere
 

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