Starting at Astorga in July

[Rebequa]

I'm pleased to say that I will begin my first Camino in Astorga in early July! I have about 12 days to walk to SDC. This forum has helped me choose shoes, socks, sleep gear, rain gear, pack, and -- well, everything! THANK YOU!

 

[mspath]

Rebequa,
Welcome to the Forum. You must be very excited as July is almost here. Astorga is a fine place to begin with many interesting places to visit. Do catch a glimpse as the "bell ringers" perform on the municipal building while you are there.

Let us know how your camino evolves.

Buen camino.

 

[OLDBIKERIDER]

We are excited for you to be starting in Astorga where we happen to live. Well, actually we are 6 km down the Camino direction in Castrillo de los Polvazares. But if you need anything in Astorga and an angel doesn't light on your shoulder, please reach out to us. I'll try and send you a private message with our WhatsApp info. ¡Buen Camino!

 

[Sean Lad]

Enjoy stay safe

 

[Former member 91017]

Astorga is still my favourite place on the Francés. The Roman archeological museum is worthy of a visit, and there is the open-air site just down the road from the municipal albergue and adjacent to the Spa Via de La Plata hotel. On my 2nd trip I was fortunate to have time to visit the full museum at the Gaudi Episcopate, and dinner in the square with the bell-ringers on the clock of the municipal building is, as @mspath notes, delightful.
Be sure to ask if your accommodations provide a ticket for the pilgrim discount at any of the restaurants in the square.
Also: because Astorga is the reputed birthplace of the tablet chocolate bar, it is also a place that makes beautiful papers (originally for wrapping the bars) so you can find lovely paper there. And, if you’ve forgotten anything, there is a hiker’s supply shop, Hurican, just outside the municipal square.
Buen Camino!

 

[Owensr23]

Good luck. My wife and went from Leon in 14 days in 2016 and spent 2 days in Astorga. The day we arrived everything was closed and it rained for the next 24 hours. I was worth it to stay the extra day.

If your interested, here is our blog. Astorga is day 3-4

https://2016jaxcamino.blogspot.com/

 

[Rebequa]

We are excited for you to be starting in Astorga where we happen to live. Well, actually we are 6 km down the Camino direction in Castrillo de los Polvazares. But if you need anything in Astorga and an angel doesn't light on your shoulder, please reach out to us. I'll try and send you a private message with our WhatsApp info. ¡Buen Camino!

Thank you so much!! Indeed, I am a bit nervous about arriving by train at 18:05, which is so close to closing time for the cathedral, etc. I may take a half day the following day to enjoy Astorga instead of walking early in the morning. It is lovely to "know" someone local! [Heart, heart symbol] [Thankful hands symbol]

 

[Rebequa]

Good luck. My wife and went from Leon in 14 days in 2016 and spent 2 days in Astorga. The day we arrived everything was closed and it rained for the next 24 hours. I was worth it to stay the extra day.

If your interested, here is our blog. Astorga is day 3-4

https://2016jaxcamino.blogspot.com/

Great to know! I was thinking of giving Astorga more time. I will check out your blog!

 

[Rebequa]

Astorga is still my favourite place on the Francés. The Roman archeological museum is worthy of a visit, and there is the open-air site just down the road from the municipal albergue and adjacent to the Spa Via de La Plata hotel. On my 2nd trip I was fortunate to have time to visit the full museum at the Gaudi Episcopate, and dinner in the square with the bell-ringers on the clock of the municipal building is, as @mspath notes, delightful.
Be sure to ask if your accommodations provide a ticket for the pilgrim discount at any of the restaurants in the square.
Also: because Astorga is the reputed birthplace of the tablet chocolate bar, it is also a place that makes beautiful papers (originally for wrapping the bars) so you can find lovely paper there. And, if you’ve forgotten anything, there is a hiker’s supply shop, Hurican, just outside the municipal square.
Buen Camino!

This is enormously helpful!! Great to know about these sights, the discount, and Hurricane as well! Thank you! Say, I haven't booked accommodation because I wanted to go to the municipal albergue, but should I? I don't arrive in Astorga from Madrid until 18:00. Any tips appreciated!

 

[Katriina]

Astorga is a lovely place to start!
Buen camino!

 

[Former member 91017]

This is enormously helpful!! Great to know about these sights, the discount, and Hurricane as well! Thank you! Say, I haven't booked accommodation because I wanted to go to the municipal albergue, but should I? I don't arrive in Astorga from Madrid until 18:00. Any tips appreciated!

I have walked twice specifically to stay in the Spa Via de la Plata… but I found it so worthwhile because of the water spa with hot and cold treatments for legs with 400KM and some 15 days or so on them already. That said, it’s a lovely indulgence that I could never afford at home. In Canadian money such a place would run > $500 a night for a room, but Spouse and I splurged on a suite midway through his camino (when I met him in Fromistá) and it came to about $140 Canadian. They provide a great breakfast, and they provide a ticket for the pilgrim dinner in the municipal square around the corner.

On my first camino I spent my second night in AStorga at the municipal albergue, and it was *spartan*. I’m not sure what lies between those ends of the spectrum for accommodations.

 

[David61]

I love Astorga. Take some time to enjoy it. I can really recommend El Decanso de Wendy for a great stay. Just near the main square and the main attractions plus the breakfast is outstanding!

 

[Ronald H]

I'm pleased to say that I will begin my first Camino in Astorga in early July! I have about 12 days to walk to SDC. This forum has helped me choose shoes, socks, sleep gear, rain gear, pack, and -- well, everything! THANK YOU!

Ahh, Astoria, my favorite town. Good luck to you.

 

[malingerer]

I love Astorga. Take some time to enjoy it. I can really recommend El Decanso de Wendy for a great stay. Just near the main square and the main attractions plus the breakfast is outstanding!

stayed there years ago and thoroughly endorse your recommendation!

Samarkand.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

This is enormously helpful!! Great to know about these sights, the discount, and Hurricane as well! Thank you! Say, I haven't booked accommodation because I wanted to go to the municipal albergue, but should I? I don't arrive in Astorga from Madrid until 18:00. Any tips appreciated!

That early July trip work out for you? Let us know where you ultimately stayed in Astorga, and what your experience there was like. An excellent place to start a Camino, btw.

Astoria is worth a full day of acclimatization and exploration. Gaudi Palace, Cathedral, Cathedral Museum, Chocolate Museum, Roman Ruins Museum, the works.... I plan to give myself one when I pass through again in September. No albergues for snoring old me, however! Back in January when things looked bad and the getting was good, I booked a private room for two nights at a hotel on the Plaza Mayor at a price none of us will ever see again.