This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Sunday Opening (Shops / Restaurants)

J

JEGM

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
June 2022 / September 2024
Hello!

I am doing the Del Norte from Irun in September, and I have seen that generally shops and restaurants in Spain are closed on Sunday's. Is this true? How do people get food and drink on a Sunday? Do you need to buy things on Saturday and carry it, or can you find shops open on Sundays?

Thank you! Jonathan
 
Camino wristwatch
Perfect memento/gift in a presentation box. Engraving available, 25 character max.
If you have seen this on the website of the store or the restaurant it is probably true. Why wouldn't it?
 
I've never gone hungry on any Camino route (including the Norte) on a Sunday. Yes, in all but the bigger cities the stores, including grocery stores will be closed, but bars and restaurants are generally open. Spanish people like to go out to eat on the weekends.
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.


You buy groceries on a Saturday.
Sunday you will find bars and restaurants open. Follow local families when they go to a restaurant. They will know the decent places!
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Sunday can be tricky. In Guernica in May 2024 the only place to have dinner (not sandwiches) on Sunday night was the Chinese restaurant—full of pilgrims!
 
In the larger towns, there are usually some small grocery stores that will be open. For example, in Santander this spring, we found a China grocery store (a first for us) that was open on Sunday. But you'd probably only find these in the bigger cities. In the small towns, expect everything to be closed except bars and restaurants.
 
Best lightweight pocket guides
Ideal pocket guides for during and after your Camino. Each weighs just 40g (1.4 oz).
You can almost always find food but it is good to carry a little reserve just in case: nuts, bananas, an orange, gorp, cheese, chorizo, bread or crackers. Keep turning over your food items so they don't spoil by snacking when the opportunity to "top off" presents. Occasionally, you may eat it all up for a dinner shared with other hungry pilgrims. Buen Camino
 
Did part of the Norte this June and hiked from Santoña to Güemes on a Sunday. We had heard some stories of running out of food on Sundays so loaded up at a grocery store on Saturday. We ended up donating all the (less appetizing) food we had bought in the grocery and enjoyed delicious pilgrim meals for breakfast in Santoña, lunch in Noja and a wonderfully memorable dinner at Albergue de Peregrinos de Güemes. We were surprised that most of the bars & restaurants we saw that day were open!
 
On the Norte in March/April, we've never had an issue finding at least one restaurant open on a Sunday, but frequently there have been no groceries. In most cases, we usually get a little extra on Saturday if we remember, but in most cases just buy groceries on the way out of town on Monday or if there is a next town before lunchtime there. You'll usually find something open by 7 or 8 in the morning.
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

B
  • Tags food & drink
    • Will restaurants offer pilgrim menu
    Replies
    26
    Views
    7K
    Karl Oz
  • Tags food & drink
    • Food on Sundays
    Replies
    7
    Views
    2K
    ChrisMayou
    Sunday bus service from Lourenza to Abadin
    Replies
    9
    Views
    2K
    Suz2022
    Menu
    Log in
    Register