• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Camino del Norte

The 9th edition the Lightfoot Guide will let you complete the journey your way.
Is it possible to do Camino del Norte in Sept 2023 without reservations?
My previous experience , Irun - Santander, was that tourist or surf towns required some planning ahead unless you have a big budget. I suppose you could avoid reservations by staying in more obscure places or by being first to arrive at a Donativo. So much depends on your comfort level and how you deal with the daily challenges. How far are you willing to walk when cold, wet, or tired? Sleep on a porch?

Hard to give advice on this issue when so much depends on you.
 
Last edited:
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
I plan on doing it without reservations!! Perhaps we'll meet along the Way!!
Me three and my friend walking with me four. God willing!!! Three weeks to go!!! That being said, I have a reservation for the night we arrived and just made one in an albergue in San Sebastian as I’m afraid that is a big destination and I don’t want to be stuck at pricey hotels.
 
Hi,
I walk the Norte regularly (each summer, or Easter)as I love it so much.
Nowadays I tend to go as far as Santander.
The only real bottle necks are San Sebastian and also Deba.
Deba has 1 albergue only and access is frustrating as you must first go to the tourist office before the Albergue. The tourist office closes during the day and as such you cannot guarantee a bed until it opens they register you and give you a ticket. Opening(or more importantly closing) hours of Tourist need to be checked in advance of arriving. In Deba there is only one Pension, Zumardi, a nice place but regularly booked out.
Having said that if you organize yourself and know the timingsof tourist office
you should be ok as the Albergue has 56 beds.
All other stage ends , Getaria, Markina, Gernika, Bilbao etc , all have options to consider.
Also worth pointing out I mainly travel alone, occasionally, with my wife (Where I book Zumardi,Deba well in advance)

Best of Luck its a beautiful route.

Peter
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Me three and my friend walking with me four. God willing!!! Three weeks to go!!! That being said, I have a reservation for the night we arrived and just made one in an albergue in San Sebastian as I’m afraid that is a big destination and I don’t want to be stuck at pricey hotels.
I’ll be there too !!
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Me three and my friend walking with me four. God willing!!! Three weeks to go!!! That being said, I have a reservation for the night we arrived and just made one in an albergue in San Sebastian as I’m afraid that is a big destination and I don’t want to be stuck at pricey hotels.
What albergue did you use in San Sebastian and would you recommend it please?
 
What albergue did you use in San Sebastian and would you recommend it please?

We stayed at Albergue La Sirena, which is a youth hostel, but they charge you more if you are not in your young years. It was well located, great hospitality, great price for San Sebastian. I would stay there again and we actually stayed two days cause my knee was in big time pain after doing the whole route from Hondarribia taking the coastal routes so we needed a rest day! :)
 
Join our full-service guided tour of the Basque Country and let us pamper you!

Most read last week in this forum

I use Alltrails a lot here in the US, in Iceland, on the Via Podiensis and a bit on the CF. Will it be useful on the Norte? For example, people here say the "warm up" from Biarritz to Irun (or...
Last May I walked the first part of the Norte in the opposite direction, from Santander to Irun. Since I only had two weeks and couldn't reach Santiago anyway, I wanted to swim against the tide...
Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto. I did the first 200 km of the...
I thought I had this all figured out, but I have ended up with 2 train tickets from San Sebastian (I don't even know if it's the airport or the town) to Irun, instead of ONE that goes all the way...
Hi! I’m a Camino newbie planning on walking Camino del Norte this May-June. I have previous hiking experience and do well on longer distances and so on, but not any super recent multi day long...
I’m on day 2 of the CDN and I’m just blown away by the views. Day 1 Irun to San Sebastián, day 2 San Sebastián to Askizu Buen Camino

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Similar threads

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top