The best time to walk the Camino Frances May or September?

[Scuba]

Hi all

I imagine this question has been asked already, but I cannot seem to find an answer. When is the best time of the year to walk the Camino Frances? I have heard conflicting opinions;…. May versus September. Some people say it’s better in May because the country side looks green and fresh. Others say May can be cold. Some say September is better, but the country side looks burnt. Others say September is too busy. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as my wife and I are planning to walk our first Camino next year.

 

[Robo]

You may not be surprised to hear..........
Those are the two busiest months
Great minds (like everyone) think alike.........

Where are you planning to start?

 

[Anhalter]

May and September are both very busy. There are regularly reports of big waves of pilgrims at that time. You can still be lucky and get "between" the waves, but do not expect things to be empty either way.

For me it was always a natural decision to walk in May. Lots of public holidays to work with (helps with taking that time off work) and i like the season very much. Great to see how things come to live during the time you walk. There might also be an argument to be made, that infrastructure and people are not as exhausted by tens of thousands of pilgrims as they might be by the end of summer.
Weather can be unpredictable, but yes, i would guess theres a bit of a higher chances of bad weather in May than in September. I can live with that, but if it is important to you it might be worth considering.
And of course i can think that September can also be a wonderful time to walk. Just if i personally had to chose, i would always go in Spring.

 

[Ianinam]

As written before: both months are exactly the busiest months of the year. In these weeks every day hundreds of pilgrims start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and in Roncesvalles (245 beds) much to our regret we have to send away many pilgrims every day who did not make a reservation. Which of the two choices you take: be prepared and make your reservations from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port through Pamplona.

 

[Lexicos]

I've walked it once in May and once in September.
I prefer May.
I prefer Spring to Autumn.

Some of the pros and cons are detailed above from our fellow pilgrims.
I hope to do it again in May-June in 2025.
Either way, it's a great walk., at any time.
Buen Camino.

 

[dougfitz]

I've started on the CF in Mar and early May. It was starting to warm up by mid-Jun, and I wouldn't want to have left SJPP any later than the first week. My experience walking later in the year is on the St Olav's Ways in Sweden and Norway - not particularly helpful for you!!

 

[David Tallan]

Hi all

I imagine this question has been asked already, but I cannot seem to find an answer.

Probably because while there has been a lot of discussion, no consensus answer has emerged. It seems some people are spring people, others are autumnal. Some, who are walking from SJPP prefer to avoid both May and September, finding it too crowded. They may go deeper into the shoulder seasons with April or October, or prefer the summer warmth, or even the solitude of winter.

For me, the best season is whenever you have the opportunity.

 

[Joe.Iozzi]

Days are longer in May, nearly three hours more daylight in May than in September. Sunrise is around 8 o'clock in mid-September, making an early start difficult.

 

[lbrown498]

The best time is whenever you can arrange it. I went in October, and it was beautiful!

 

[SioCamino]

I walked this year in August, starting 15th August from Logroño, arriving to SdC on the 11th September and Fisterra on the 15th. It was a great camino, the weather was hot but not too hot (I didn't walk in the afternoons but didn't generally start before first light), there were plenty of beds, I was never in a full albergue and there was a nice number of Pilgrims (at least until Sarria), plenty of company if you wanted it and plenty of solitude while walking. It was pretty perfect!

 

[dfox]

Hi all

I imagine this question has been asked already, but I cannot seem to find an answer. When is the best time of the year to walk the Camino Frances? I have heard conflicting opinions;…. May versus September. Some people say it’s better in May because the country side looks green and fresh. Others say May can be cold. Some say September is better, but the country side looks burnt. Others say September is too busy. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as my wife and I are planning to walk our first Camino next year.

It boils down to the kinds of experience you would enjoy or want to enjoy.

 

[t2andreo]

I have walked the entire Camino Frances (CF) twice, from late April through the end of May. It is beautiful, but can get crowded.

Consider that Easter is late in 2025. I believe it falls on Sunday 20 April. So, the CF will experience a big surge in departures from Saint Jean Pied de Porte (SJPdP) from around 14 April, through the end of April. May pilgrims use their holidays and several bridge days" to be able to walk the two weeks straddling Easter, without using too much time off.

Because of this, you will not be alone much, from the end of April through the first week or so of June.

In fact, were I to plan to walk the CF again - and I am thinking about it - I am seriously considering starting from SJPdP in the last week of September.

Although there is a final, in-season surge in mid-September, by the last week of September, most of that added traffic will be ahead of you. Walking in October is very pleasant, and the crowds start to reduce as the days shorten. Typically, albergues do not close for the season until the beginning of November.

Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[JabbaPapa]

Well, depends on your walking speed, but I'd suggest some point in June and get to Sarria at the start of July.

 

[Bedspring]

I started this year 4th June and had perfect weather, about an hour of rain, and one day a bit too hot, some people in May had 4 weeks of rain IIRC, and this led I assume to the riot of flowers I saw. Personally I valued the lighter mornings, so for me that would preclude September. But the weather is the weather ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Anamiri]

Spring is flowers and birds, especially storks. But can be cold and wet, Ive walked in a hot May, and also in a cold one. Ive walked in a incredibly hot September, and a much cooler one. By September all the plane trees are in leaf providing shade in villages and towns. May I occasionally needed a headlamp, September I needed it every day.
They are both busy months.

 

[Scuba]

You may not be surprised to hear..........
Those are the two busiest months
Great minds (like everyone) think alike.........

Where are you planning to start?

Robo, thanks for getting back. We are planning to start from SJPdP.

 

[Scuba]

I walked this year in August, starting 15th August from Logroño, arriving to SdC on the 11th September and Fisterra on the 15th. It was a great camino, the weather was hot but not too hot (I didn't walk in the afternoons but didn't generally start before first light), there were plenty of beds, I was never in a full albergue and there was a nice number of Pilgrims (at least until Sarria), plenty of company if you wanted it and plenty of solitude while walking. It was pretty perfect!

Hi SioCamino, thanks your response. Did you notice the country side? Did the vegetation still look green and fresh (as I’m told it does in May)?

 

[Scuba]

It boils down to the kinds of experience you would enjoy or want to enjoy.

dfox, thanks for getting back to me. Part of what I am seeking is information on the experience in May versus September. Are there any significant differences?

 

[Robo]

Robo, thanks for getting back. We are planning to start from SJPdP.

I have left from there twice in the last week of April.
The weather was good, not much rain, quite warm into May.
But it's busy.........

Haven't tried it in September.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Spring is my favorite month to walk and I usually start in mid-April. I also have been adding in the fall the last three years and have started late September. I also once walked the month of June.
I will never walk in hot summer or winter months...nope, nada.

 

[SioCamino]

Hi SioCamino, thanks your response. Did you notice the country side? Did the vegetation still look green and fresh (as I’m told it does in May)?

It varies along the way. The vines were ripening in La Rioja, the meseta was golden and then the mountains and Galicia were green and lush - but that reflects the poor summer (a fair bit of rain and not much sun) that they had.

 

[trecile]

Hi SioCamino, thanks your response. Did you notice the country side? Did the vegetation still look green and fresh (as I’m told it does in May)?

I have walked in both May and September, and I can tell you that the vegetation is definitely does not look green and fresh in September.

These photos were taken in the same place:

May



September



September is a lovely time to walk, but definitely different.

 

[Little TT]

In 2022 we walked the first half of the Camino from SJPDP to Carrion de las Condes starting on May 4th, apart from a misty first day we had beautiful weather and not 1 day of rain, the countryside and especially the Meseta looked beautiful, very lush and green with an abundance of flowers.
In September we started from Carrion on the 8th and walked to Santiago . Again we had great weather, only 1.5 days of rain. However the countryside was quite brown and dusty and although we I still loved every minute of it if I was to do it again ( and I will ) I would go for May. We didn’t find it super crowded until we reached Sarria but we pre booked our rooms and it was fine. I’m sure whenever you choose to do it it will be a great experience.

 

[tomjane40]

Hi all

I imagine this question has been asked already, but I cannot seem to find an answer. When is the best time of the year to walk the Camino Frances? I have heard conflicting opinions;…. May versus September. Some people say it’s better in May because the country side looks green and fresh. Others say May can be cold. Some say September is better, but the country side looks burnt. Others say September is too busy. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as my wife and I are planning to walk our first Camino next year.

I have done the Camino Frances May 15 - June 26 2024, and September 10 - October 15 2017. Both were wonderful. Weather can change at any time, so all you can do is look at past history for those times. We had great weather both times. Only a couple days of rain each time. The big difference we noticed was the scenery. In May you get the beautiful red poppies. In Sept/Oct you get the last of some sunflowers and the pumpkins, changing leaves, and falling chestnuts. As for weather, in May/June of this year, most days were in the 70's. Much cooler than we had expected, but turned out to be perfect hiking weather. Our Sept/Oct trip the mornings were very dark and cool, daytimes great for hiking, and then the evenings again were cool. You can't go wrong with either time in my personal opinion.

 

[Maurice Frank]

Consider planning to walk in May so if anything crashes your plans you have September as a Plan B.

 

[emmanuel]

I prefer to walk a green Meseta dotted with red flowers, not a dried-out one. The rest of the Way, before and after the Meseta, is green also in September.

 

[feenzo]

The best time is whenever you can arrange it. I went in October, and it was beautiful!

Likewise a couple of days of Rain but otherwise excellent

 

[Old Kiwi]

I have started one Camino towards the end of May and others mid June. I prefer the mid June starting time. You get to see a lot more festivals at that time. I had the odd day of rain but mostly the weather was perfect.

 

[good_old_shoes]

Well, any time is a good time for a Camino.

But personally, I'd avoid may and september if possible, because it is the busiest time of the year for a walk from St. Jean.

I prefer not to make reservations, and I don't like the drama about accommodation that is sometimes in the air during very busy times.

I walked in april this year, when it was also very busy (together with may and september one of the most busy months) and always got a bed when I wanted one without booking. But bed availability seemed to be a major concern for many others, who seemed overall very stressed about it. That stress affected me too sometimes, and I prefer to avoid that.

For me, personally, june and july are perfect months for a start from St. Jean.

Good weather, not too busy (until O Cebreiro/ Sarria), no need for reservations, all accommodation open, campsites open, too.

Summer is more relaxed, in my experience.

But it's a personal preference, of course.

 

[LisaWalker]

Hi all

I imagine this question has been asked already, but I cannot seem to find an answer. When is the best time of the year to walk the Camino Frances? I have heard conflicting opinions;…. May versus September. Some people say it’s better in May because the country side looks green and fresh. Others say May can be cold. Some say September is better, but the country side looks burnt. Others say September is too busy. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as my wife and I are planning to walk our first Camino next year.

My two cents. May is my favourite because …… poppies. I’ve walked both times of year. Fields of dead sunflowers in September.

 

[Bob Howard]

I have opined before that I think June is an ideal month--verdant and not "crowded". On 4 of my 5 Camino, I started about May 20 finishing towards th end of June. There were plenty of days I barely saw anyone while walking. By the late middle of May the big late April to early May crush is greatly diminished--although actually, it's mostly just SJPDP to Pamplona when a bed may be more difficult to find. And, all the way up to June 21 the days are getting longer and then pretty much plateaus for a week or two, before getting noticeably shorter. Before, we start arguing about how hot it is in June, the average high temperature in Burgos is 75(F).

 

[LisaWalker]

Days are longer in May, nearly three hours more daylight in May than in September. Sunrise is around 8 o'clock in mid-September, making an early start difficult.

And by mid October sunrise was at 8.45. If I ever went again it would be May and I’d walk on my own and start each day early so I’d finish up early afternoon to rest and not be walking at 5pm.

 

[60LifeChange]

I've walked it once in May and once in September.
I prefer May.
I prefer Spring to Autumn.

Some of the pros and cons are detailed above from our fellow pilgrims.
I hope to do it again in May-June in 2025.
Either way, it's a great walk., at any time.
Buen Camino.

My first time, so I went with May of 2025. Hope to leave St Jean on May 5th (Cinco De Mayo) and see what happens next. While I have made reservations as far as Zubiri? Nothing more than that, as I am questioning whether or not I will make it to Paris on time, much less to Zubiri. Life tends to happen, and in traveling I have learned to roll with the changes. But quite excited about the process of planning it and see what may come my way.

 

[aureus]

Why not in summer? For me, this is the most comfortable temperature and weather.

 

[bestfootforward]

My first time, so I went with May of 2025. Hope to leave St Jean on May 5th (Cinco De Mayo) and see what happens next. While I have made reservations as far as Zubiri? Nothing more than that, as I am questioning whether or not I will make it to Paris on time, much less to Zubiri. Life tends to happen, and in traveling I have learned to roll with the changes. But quite excited about the process of planning it and see what may come my way.

Yes, that's the funny thing about life. It has a habit of getting in the way of your plans. But as you say, just roll with it and assuming all goes as you hope, May is a lovely time on the CF. You won't be disappointed. Buen Camino!

 

[peregrino_tom]

And by mid October sunrise was at 8.45.

According the internet, technically it's about 8am and getting about a minute later each day. Then on 26 October the hour changes and sunrise is an hour earlier. Yes, I really enjoy walking October/Nov (and also start of June, and also August, and February this year in Porto was very mild and often sunny..).

When is the best time of the year to walk the Camino Frances? I have heard conflicting opinions;…. May versus September.

It's worth noting that climate stability isn't what it was - for decades we could predict fairly accurately when it would be dry and sunny - nowadays snow, heatwaves and floods can all pop up at unexpected times, so, checking old weather patterns for a pleasing walk is not as useful as it once was.
If you are planning on staying in traditional accommodation such as municipal albergues then finding a time when these are less likely to be full is useful. If you spend two or three days at the start of May/September struggling to find first-come first-served beds (esp. before Pamplona), then you start to get up earlier and walk faster and more anxiously, entering the bed race, where your fellow walkers appear less like your brothers/sisters-in-arms - and more like your competitors... I'm not saying this always happens in May/September (and there are ways to 'box clever' to minimise the risk), but it is something worth considering in your decision-making.