Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia and the destination of all six CaminoFinder routes. The old town around the cathedral is a World Heritage site.

The Camino Francés arrives here about 764 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

This is where CaminoFinder’s six routes end. The Francés, Inglés, Portugués, Portugués Coastal, Primitivo and Norte all arrive in the city. The Compostela is a separate Cathedral document, issued at the Pilgrim Office.

For the Cathedral, the pilgrimage ends at the tomb of the Apostle, in the cathedral. The old town around that church was inscribed as World Heritage in 1985 (UNESCO list no. 347).

The Pilgrim Office — the Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino — is at Rúa Carretas 33. It belongs to the Cathedral. There the Cathedral stamp is applied to the credential, and the Compostela is issued.

The Compostela is a historical document in Latin. The Cathedral issues it in person, to the pilgrim, free of charge. It is not issued by telephone, online, or in someone else’s name. A Christian or spiritual motive is required.

The Cathedral currently grants it to those who walk or ride on horseback at least 100 continuous kilometres toward Santiago on the same recognized Camino, finishing with at least the approach to the Cathedral. Bicycle pilgrims must cover 200 kilometres under the same conditions. If the pilgrimage began outside Spain on a recognized Camino, at least 70 of those continuous kilometres must be in Spain.

The Cathedral sets those rules. CaminoFinder’s Francés distance into Santiago — about 764 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port — is route geometry, for planning the walk rather than for the Compostela.

The official credential is issued by the Office or by bodies authorized by the Cathedral. On the minimum stretch the Office asks for at least two stamps a day. A separate distance certificate also exists; it is not the Compostela. A Holy Year, or Jubilee, is not the same as the Compostela: the Cathedral says one can be received without the other.

On arrival the Office currently asks pilgrims to register — including with a QR code — and then collect the Compostela with the code or ticket they are given. Confirm the procedure there; it can change.

Hours are not listed here; check them at the Office. There is also a digital credential — follow the Cathedral’s own instructions for using it. Registered Galician lodging is not shown on this page.

The previous CaminoFinder place on the Francés is O Pedrouzo. There is no next place: this is the route end.

The cathedral stands at the heart of the old town, on Praza do Obradoiro. The tomb is in the cathedral. How visits, masses or rites run on a given day is for the Cathedral to say.