For winter pilgrims: opening dates of municipal albergues on the Norte

Jan_D said:

Hi folks,

After responding to a couple of recent threads regarding walking the Norte in winter, I thought it might be helpful compile a list showing the seasonal availability of the municipal albergues. I have also included parochial/religious albergues and donativos. For brevity's sake, I have listed the name of the town, rather than the specific name of each albergue. My source was Gronze. If anyone is thinking of walking in winter, and is worried about all the closures listed below, you can go to Gronze to fill in the gaps with private hostels and hotels.

The following list might give you an idea of why it can get expensive walking the Norte in winter, as the municipals tend to charge around €6, whereas private accommodation, even in hostels, is usually more expensive. According to my calculations, at least half of the "cheap" albergues are closed over winter.

This list is just to give you an idea: there is no indication of distances, so knowing that they're "open" might not always be helpful unless you're looking at a map. Anyway I was just killing a bit of time on a Sunday afternoon ... I'll try and pimp it up with more details when I have time (and I'll also add the albergues from Oviedo onwards...)

Opening dates of municipal/parochial/donativo albergues on the Norte

Irun: open 1 March – 31 October
Pasajes San Juan: open 21 March – 20 October
Orio: open all year (in theory) - “call to confirm” in winter
Zarautz: open 1 July – 3 September
Zumaia: open 1 April – 15 October
Deba: open all year
Markina: open 1 April – 15 October
Ziortza: open all year
Etxea (1km off camino): open April – October, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Larrabetzu: open 24 March – 15 October
Bilbao: open 24 March – 15 October
Barakaldo: open 1 June- 30 September
Portugalete: open June-September
Pobeña: open 24 March – 15 October
Castro Urdiales: open all year
El Pontarrón: closed for renovations
Liendo: open all year
Laredo: open all year
Güemes: private donativo, open all year
Colindres and Gama: open all year (located along inland variant)
Santander: open all year
Santa Cruz de Bazana: open all year (in theory), call to check in winter. Closed Saturdays.
Polanco: open all year
Requejada: open all year
Santillana del Mar: municipal = all year; convent = 15 March-15 October
Cobreces: open all year
San Vicente de la Barquera: albergue closed (permanently?)
Serdio: open all year
Pendueles: private donativo, open 1 April- 30 September, closed Fridays
Piñeres: open from Semana Santa-30 October
Cuerres: two private donativos, Easter-October (Andayón albergue closed Mondays)
San Esteban de Leces: 1 February- 31 December (“call at least one day in advance” in winter)
La Isla: albergue closed (permanently?)
Priesca: parochial albergue, open March-October
Sebrayu: open March-October
Muslera and Payariega: private donativos (located close to Sebrayu)
Amandi: private donativo, open March-October
Valdedios: open all year
Vega de Sariego: open all year
Pola de Siero: open all year
Oviedo: open all year

Note that there are no (non-private) pilgrim albergues in ‘destinations’ such as San Sebastian, Guernica, Comillas, San Vicente de la Barquera, Colombres, Llanes, Ribadesella, La Isla, Colunga, and Villaviciosa. If you plan on ending the stage in these towns, you'll need to book private accommodation.

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Kieranodriscoll said:

Jan. Great bit of work. Can't understand why more haven't responded to appreciate it.
Thanks,
Kieran
Dublin

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Jan_D said:

Well to be fair the little elves at Gronze did the work; I just collated the information (which was a labour of love)... But thanks for the appreciation!

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Jan_D said:

Hi folks,

After responding to a couple of recent threads regarding walking the Norte in winter, I thought it might be helpful compile a list showing the seasonal availability of the municipal albergues. I have also included parochial/religious albergues and donativos. For brevity's sake, I have listed the name of the town, rather than the specific name of each albergue. My source was Gronze. If anyone is thinking of walking in winter, and is worried about all the closures listed below, you can go to Gronze to fill in the gaps with private hostels and hotels.

The following list might give you an idea of why it can get expensive walking the Norte in winter, as the municipals tend to charge €5/€6, whereas private accommodation is usually more expensive. Until Gijon, at least half the municipals are closed over winter. From Aviles onwards, there seems to be a drastic improvement in availability

The end-of-stages as listed by Gronze are underlined/in bold. I have highlighted them in red if there are no municipal/parochial/donativo options in these destinations.

Opening dates of municipal/parochial/donativo albergues on the Norte

Irun: open 1 March – 31 October
Pasajes San Juan: open 21 March – 20 October
San Sebastián: no municipal albergue
Orio: open all year (in theory) - “call to confirm” in winter
Zarautz: open 1 July – 3 September
Zumaia: open 1 April – 15 October
Deba: open all year
Markina: open 1 April – 15 October
Ziortza: open all year
Etxea (1km off camino): open April – October, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Gernika: no municipal albergue
Larrabetzu: open 24 March – 15 October
Bilbao: open 24 March – 15 October
Barakaldo: open 1 June- 30 September
Portugalete: open June-September
Pobeña: open 24 March – 15 October
Castro Urdiales: open all year
El Pontarrón: closed for renovations
Liendo: open all year
Laredo: open all year
Güemes: private donativo, open all year
Colindres and Gama: open all year (located along inland variant)
Santander: open all year
Santa Cruz de Bazana: open all year (in theory), call to check in winter. Closed Saturdays.
Polanco: open all year
Requejada: open all year
Santillana del Mar: municipal = all year; convent = 15 March-15 October
Cobreces: open all year
Comillas: albergue closed (permanently)
San Vicente de la Barquera: albergue closed (permanently?)
Serdio: open all year
Bustio: private donativo, open all year
Colombres: no municipal albergue
Pendueles: private donativo, open 1 April- 30 September, closed Fridays
Llanes: no municipal albergue
Piñeres: parish donativo, open from Semana Santa-30 October
Cuerres: two private donativos, Easter-October (Andayón albergue closed Mondays)
Ribadesella: no municipal albergue
San Esteban de Leces: 1 February- 31 December (“call at least one day in advance” in winter)
Vega: private donativo, closed Fridays
La Isla: albergue closed (permanently?)
Colunga: no municipal albergue
Priesca: parochial albergue, open March-October
Sebrayu: open March-October
Muslera and Payariega: private donativos (located close to Sebrayu)
Villaviciosa: no municipal albergue
Amandi: private donativo, open March-October
[*Oviedo variant: Valdedios, Vega de Sariego, Pola de Siero: open all year
Oviedo albergue: open all year*]
Deba (8km before Gijon): open all year
Gijon: no municipal albergue
Aviles: open all year
Muros de Nalón: no municipal albergue
Soto de Luiña: open all year
Cadavedo: open all year
Luarca: open all year
La Ronda: private donativo, open all year (must reserve in advance Nov-Feb)
Piñera: open March-October
La Caridad: open all year
Tapia de Casariego: former municipal albergue, recently privatised, only €8 and does not accept reservations (although advised in winter months)
Ribadeo: open all year
Gondán: closed for renovations
San Xusto de Cabarcos: open all year
Vilanova de Lourenzà: open all year
Mondoñedo: open all year
Gontán: open all year
Vilalba: open all year
Baamonde: open all year
Miraz: Confraternity of St James donativo, open Holy Sunday – 1st week in November
A Cabana: open all year
Sobrado dos Monxes: monastery, open all year
Boimorto: open all year
Arzua: Norte connects with the Frances

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Jan_D said:

Hi folks,

After responding to a couple of recent threads regarding walking the Norte in winter, I thought it might be helpful compile a list showing the seasonal availability of the municipal albergues. I have also included parochial/religious albergues and donativos. For brevity's sake, I have listed the name of the town, rather than the specific name of each albergue. My source was Gronze. If anyone is thinking of walking in winter, and is worried about all the closures listed below, you can go to Gronze to fill in the gaps with private hostels and hotels.

The following list might give you an idea of why it can get expensive walking the Norte in winter, as the municipals tend to charge €5/€6, whereas private accommodation is usually more expensive. Until Gijon, at least half the municipals are closed over winter - in fact, only 5 out of the 20 end-stage destinations have open municipal albergues. From Aviles onwards, there seems to be a drastic improvement in availability over winter.

The end-of-stages (as listed by Gronze) are underlined/in bold. I have highlighted them in red if there are no municipal/parochial/donativo options in these destinations.

Opening dates of municipal/parochial/donativo albergues on the Norte

Irun: open 1 March – 31 October
Pasajes San Juan: open 21 March – 20 October
San Sebastián: no municipal albergue
Orio: open all year (in theory) - “call to confirm” in winter
Zarautz: open 1 July – 3 September
Zumaia: open 1 April – 15 October
Deba: open all year
Markina: open 1 April – 15 October
Ziortza: open all year
Etxea (1km off camino): open April – October, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Gernika: no municipal albergue
Larrabetzu: open 24 March – 15 October
Bilbao: open 24 March – 15 October
Barakaldo: open 1 June- 30 September
Portugalete: open June-September
Pobeña: open 24 March – 15 October
Castro Urdiales: open all year
El Pontarrón: closed for renovations
Liendo: open all year
Laredo: open all year
Güemes: private donativo, open all year
Colindres and Gama: open all year (located along inland variant)
Santander: open all year
Santa Cruz de Bazana: open all year (in theory), call to check in winter. Closed Saturdays.
Polanco: open all year
Requejada: open all year
Santillana del Mar: municipal = all year; convent = 15 March-15 October
Cobreces: open all year
Comillas: albergue closed (permanently)
San Vicente de la Barquera: albergue closed (permanently?)
Serdio: open all year
Bustio: private donativo, open all year
Colombres: no municipal albergue
Pendueles: private donativo, open 1 April- 30 September, closed Fridays
Llanes: no municipal albergue
Piñeres: parish donativo, open from Semana Santa-30 October
Cuerres: two private donativos, Easter-October (Andayón albergue closed Mondays)
Ribadesella: no municipal albergue
San Esteban de Leces: 1 February- 31 December (“call at least one day in advance” in winter)
Vega: private donativo, closed Fridays
La Isla: albergue closed (permanently?)
Colunga: no municipal albergue
Priesca: parochial albergue, open March-October
Sebrayu: open March-October
Muslera and Payariega: private donativos (located close to Sebrayu)
Villaviciosa: no municipal albergue
Amandi: private donativo, open March-October
[*Oviedo variant: Valdedios, Vega de Sariego, Pola de Siero: open all year
Oviedo albergue: open all year*]
Deba (8km before Gijon): open all year
Gijon: no municipal albergue
Aviles: open all year
Muros de Nalón: no municipal albergue
Soto de Luiña: open all year
Cadavedo: open all year
Luarca: open all year
La Ronda: private donativo, open all year (must reserve in advance Nov-Feb)
Piñera: open March-October
La Caridad: open all year
Tapia de Casariego: former municipal albergue, recently privatised, only €8 and does not accept reservations (although advised in winter months)
Ribadeo: open all year
Gondán: closed for renovations
San Xusto de Cabarcos: open all year
Vilanova de Lourenzà: open all year
Mondoñedo: open all year
Gontán: open all year
Vilalba: open all year
Baamonde: open all year
Miraz: Confraternity of St James donativo, open Holy Sunday – 1st week in November
A Cabana: open all year
Sobrado dos Monxes: monastery, open all year
Boimorto: open all year
Arzua: Norte connects with the Frances

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Jan_D said:

Hi folks,

After responding to a couple of recent threads regarding walking the Norte in winter, I thought it might be helpful compile a list showing the seasonal availability of the municipal albergues. I have also included parochial/religious albergues and donativos. For brevity's sake, I have listed the name of the town, rather than the specific name of each albergue. My source was Gronze. If anyone is thinking of walking in winter, and is worried about all the closures listed below, you can go to Gronze to fill in the gaps with private hostels and hotels.

The following list might give you an idea of why it can get expensive walking the Norte in winter, as the municipals tend to charge €5/€6, whereas private accommodation is usually more expensive. Until Gijon, at least half the municipals are closed over winter - in fact, only 5 out of the 20 end-stage destinations have open municipal albergues. From Aviles onwards, there seems to be a drastic improvement in availability over winter.

The end-of-stages (as listed by Gronze) are underlined/in bold. I have highlighted them in red if there are no municipal/parochial/donativo options in these destinations.

Opening dates of municipal/parochial/donativo albergues on the Norte

Irun: open 1 March – 31 October
Pasajes San Juan: open 21 March – 20 October
San Sebastián: no municipal albergue
Orio: open all year (in theory) - “call to confirm” in winter
Zarautz: open 1 July – 3 September
Zumaia: open 1 April – 15 October
Deba: open all year
Markina: open 1 April – 15 October
Ziortza: open all year
Etxea (1km off camino): open April – October, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Gernika: no municipal albergue
Larrabetzu: open 24 March – 15 October
Bilbao: open 24 March – 15 October
Barakaldo: open 1 June- 30 September
Portugalete: open June-September
Pobeña: open 24 March – 15 October
Castro Urdiales: open all year
El Pontarrón: closed for renovations
Liendo: open all year
Laredo: open all year
Güemes: private donativo, open all year
Colindres and Gama: open all year (located along inland variant)
Santander: open all year
Santa Cruz de Bazana: open all year (in theory), call to check in winter. Closed Saturdays.
Polanco: open all year
Requejada: open all year
Santillana del Mar: municipal = all year; convent = 15 March-15 October
Cobreces: open all year
Comillas: albergue closed (permanently)
San Vicente de la Barquera: albergue closed (permanently?)
Serdio: open all year
Bustio: private donativo, open all year
Colombres: no municipal albergue
Pendueles: private donativo, open 1 April- 30 September, closed Fridays
Llanes: no municipal albergue
Piñeres: parish donativo, open from Semana Santa-30 October
Cuerres: two private donativos, Easter-October (Andayón albergue closed Mondays)
Ribadesella: no municipal albergue
San Esteban de Leces: 1 February- 31 December (“call at least one day in advance” in winter)
Vega: private donativo, closed Fridays
La Isla: albergue closed (permanently?)
Colunga: no municipal albergue
Priesca: parochial albergue, open March-October
Sebrayu: open March-October
Muslera and Payariega: private donativos (located close to Sebrayu)
Villaviciosa: no municipal albergue
Amandi: private donativo, open March-October
[*Oviedo variant: Valdedios, Vega de Sariego, Pola de Siero: open all year
Oviedo albergue: open all year*]
Deba (8km before Gijon): open all year
Gijon: no municipal albergue
Aviles: open all year
Muros de Nalón: no municipal albergue
Soto de Luiña: open all year
Cadavedo: open all year
Luarca: open all year
La Ronda: private donativo, open all year (must reserve in advance Nov-Feb)
Piñera: open March-October
La Caridad: open all year
Tapia de Casariego: former municipal albergue, recently privatised, only €8 and does not accept reservations (although advised in winter months)
Ribadeo: open all year
Gondán: closed for renovations
San Xusto de Cabarcos: open all year
Vilanova de Lourenzà: open all year
Mondoñedo: open all year
Gontán: open all year
Vilalba: open all year
Baamonde: open all year
Miraz: Confraternity of St James donativo, open Holy Sunday – 1st week in November
A Cabana: open all year
Sobrado dos Monxes: monastery, open all year
Boimorto: open all year
Arzua: Norte connects with the Frances

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LTfit said:

Just want to add although there is no municipal albergue in Llanes, there are several private ones. Most stay in Albergue de la Estación (If I recall correctly). In Comillas there is also a private albergue which I stayed in last June although I can't recall the name.

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