Easter accommodation

Basically, the answer to all of your questions is, “Maybe?” Every village, albergue, season, and day varies tremendously, so it’s impossible to give you clear cut answers. You’ll have to address your blanket question to each place you are staying, follow the weather as Easter draws closer, etc.

The Norte is a long route which follows the shoreline and then passes through Galicia. In the springtime, there will likely be rain…but maybe not. All of Spain walks during Holy Week, but they don’t fill the entirety of every stage of every route - again, it will all depend on what part of the Norte you will be on.

In short, hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

I walked on the Frances this past Easter. Burgos to Astorga. I was intimidated by the possibility of crowds over Easter Week so I pre-booked each night well in advance. No need. I am not religious but watching the processions was so uplifting I plan the same walk the same time with my son next year. Buen Camino

Another vague answer I'm afraid, it's hard to say. I have walked a few times during semana santa, the week leading up to Easter Sunday, including on the Norte. The majority of hospitality locations are open, and doing a booming business, but I recall some smaller places closing Easter Friday and Sunday. The real issue to consider is where you will be on those days, as it's a holiday weekend, and things book up. If I was in a tiny hamlet, some cafes may shut - in a larger city, the hostals may be full. I have always emailed ahead of time and booked places on Easter weekend. It wasn't clear to me that I had to, but you will definitely notice Spaniards travelling more that weekend. Getting food is not going to be an issue, there is always somewhere to eat open, but most shops will close on the Friday and the Sunday, so plan ahead for supplies. But walking into San Sebastion or Bilbao on Good Friday? You will find the lower cost accommodations booked out, and the higher priced places readily available....at a higher-still price.

C clearly said:

i have not walked the Norte, but I am confident of the following information, imprecise though it is!

• Is there likely to be challenges getting accommodation over the Easter period ? - Yes, Easter is a very busy time on the Camino and in many towns in Spain.
• Will cafes and accommodation be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday? - It depends. In some small towns, the cafes and restaurants might be closed. Accommodation should be open but could be heavily booked.
• Is April very rainy? Some years, yes, other years, no. You should be prepared for rain, especially in Galicia.
• Is it correct that Alberques no longer provide blankets? - Some do and some don't. It seems that you cannot rely on them being provided.

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Perfect answer for imperfect but perfectly understable questions. People can have a completely different camino experience walking even just a week or two apart let alone what will happen in a year. I am sure things are so different today from your first camino. I walked a few years after you walked your first camino and I can tell you the CF looks and feels completely differently. I think now with Covid and the probability that Covid and its variants are here to stay, with the possibility of some other pandemic erupting, as well as the every changing and troubling weather patterns from climate change who knows the rain, the economics of travel and a whole host of other factors, make predictions even about blankets just about impossible to determine.