It’s difficult to not have heard of Camino de Santiago by now. The iconic pilgrimage route dates back many centuries, and its most famous route heads from France into the Northwest of Spain, in Santiago de Compostela.
However, many people believe it’s only this one route. In truth, official booking agencies for Camino de Santiago, like Santiago Ways, have many routes to choose from — and they’re all official. In theory, it’s unsurprising, since much of the continent was religious, even in mostly-pagan nations like Lithuania.
With this in mind, below are five routes that you may not have heard of already.
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Lithuania’s Camino
In 2019, Lithuania officially joined Europe’s extensive network of Camino trails; the route was called: Camino Lituano. This modern pilgrimage route stretches around 500 kilometers, from the Latvian-Lithuanian border town Žagarė to Sejny at the historic Lithuanian-Polish border. The route is very thoughtfully divided into twenty manageable stages and it averages around 25 kilometers per section. This makes it a lengthy trail, but one that can be done at a comfortable pace.
Camino Lituano has many historical attractions, many of which are unknown to travellers outside of the country. Being one of the most forest-dense nations in the world with one of the world’s oldest languages, pilgrims will walk through tall trees, old churches and ancient hillforts.
Observation towers along the way are the best way to get panoramic views, seeing as the landscape is quite flat (which also makes it easy for amateur hikers). Historic towns like Punia are the best places to look at Lithuania’s heritage, and many smaller villages are spread out along the way. Because it was recently created, the path is very clearly marked with familiar yellow arrows and the iconic scallop shells.
The Winter Way
The Winter Way (Camino de Invierno) has become an increasingly popular alternative for medieval pilgrims who want a safer passage during harsh winters. Originating in Ponferrada and stretching 263 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela, this route bypasses the ascent of O Cebreiro by following the gentler Sil River valley.
The Winter Way is perfect for experiencing the stunning natural beauty of Las Médulas—a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Roman gold mines—as well as Ribeira Sacra’s river canyons and nearby vineyards.
This is great for hikers who want to avoid crowded trails but still experience a more core, localized Santiago de Compostella trail.
The Mozarabic Way
The Mozarabic Way (Camino Mozárabe) is a unique opportunity to look into the time where medieval Spain was firmly under Islamic rule. This is a part of history that some know little about, but it’s significant as pilgrimage routes were taken by Christian communities living within these Muslim-controlled territories like Mozarabs. These paths then become a safe passage northward towards Santiago de Compostela, with shelters accommodating to them and their religion along the way.
Today’s Mozarabic Way begins in Andalusia, which is in the very south of Spain, not too far from north Africa. There actually multiple starting points, such as Almería, Granada, Jaén and Málaga. They mostly converge at Baena before joining the Vía de la Plata in Mérida. But be warned, there are some mountainous terrains along the way.
Granada’s iconic Alhambra palace complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that will be the must-visit, as it truly embodies Spain’s rich Islamic heritage. Córdoba’s impressive Mezquita-Catedral is also an important site to see.
The Celtic Camino
Camino de Santiago is traditionally a Catholic pilgrimage, and so the Celtic Camino in Ireland is an interesting place to start: with Galicia’s famed pilgrimage tradition. It was historically favored by Irish pilgrims traveling via the merchant ships from Irish ports, and these would head directly to northern Spain’s shores. Today’s pilgrims emulate this tradition differently by first completing part of their journey within Ireland itself, to get the entirety of the experience that they had.
To qualify officially for Santiago’s Compostela certificate, which requires a minimum of 100 kilometers walked, modern pilgrims complete over 25 kilometers on recognized Irish routes. Some good options are Kerry Camino or the trails around Dublin.
Then, get on Spain’s shorter Camino Inglés from A Coruña (75 km) when you arrive. This revives historical connections between Celtic Christianity and Santiago pilgrimages, and realizing the tough, long journey they would have had. Plus, it can make for a mentally stimulating experience, as you traverse two wildly different envionrments within the same trip, giving you a sense of grand adventure.
Camino to Fisterra and Muxía
Unlike traditional Caminos ending in Santiago de Compostela, the Fisterra-Muxía Way begins in Santiago itself. The route heads westward towards the Atlantic coast. It’s historically known as Costa da Morte (“Coast of Death”), where ancient Romans believed Cape Fisterra marked Earth’s westernmost edge. So, this is a different kind of trail, but one steeped in mystery where souls ascended heavenward.
This 120-kilometer coastal pilgrimage actually splits at Olveiroa into two endpoints: Cape Fisterra or Muxía’s Virxe da Barca Sanctuary. So, not only are you heading against the crowd, but you get two options within this unique route. Fisterra symbolizes rebirth through sunset rituals as it overlooks the ocean horizon. Muxía has sacred stones tied to legends of St James’ evangelization efforts.
Travelers will come across serene countryside, much like the other routes around this region, which have various fishing villages offering fresh seafood delicacies and centuries-old traditions. Completing this route grants special certificates, and it makes for an interesting conversation when meeting other Camino de Santiago walkers along the way.
These five unlikely Camino destinations are something a little bit different, particularly for those that have already walked the common routes like The French Way. The idea here was to highlight that the Camino de Santiago network is far from one dimensional—and far from one directional, in fact, offering hikers endless opportunities for discovering new routes.