While walking the , unless you are doing just a single day then you will likely want to stay overnight on one of the many hostels and refuges (albergues) that are stationed along the routes. As I’m focusing on the Camino Francés , here is my list of all of the Refuges that are along that route, as well as the top 10 refuges in Santiago de Compostela, the final destination City.

All About Camino Accommodation & Albergues At St Jean Pied De Port and other refuges, you can obtain a list of all the current refuges in Spain. When I obtained one of those lists I added the details to my set of “Lozano” maps.

I have reproduced this list here with comments on the refuges that I have actually stayed at. This list used to be found on a Finnish website that I used to refer to in the links section, but which is now inaccessible.

I have rated each refuge with my own star rating to indicate how good I thought it was. Only a few get the 5 star rating and one or two get only a single star because they were so awful. Since the beginning of 2004, a holy year, the number of refuges has greatly increased.

You are more likely to find one in small out of the way places than before. Also the bigger cities and towns tend to have at least three now due to the large numbers of pilgrims which were expected during the holy year.

The newer refuges tend to much better equipped than the traditional ones and one or two very old ones have closed down either permanently or for refurbishment.

In general the refuges in Galicia are modern, built due to the visit by the Pope in 1992. However they seem to have been built cheaply and they all had problems with the electricity supply which frequently failed leaving no cooking facilities or hot water. My cynical side says that this was so that the local bars did some extra business.

Refuges operate on a “first come, first served” basis. Preference is usually given to walking pilgrims and then to the cyclists. You cannot book a place in advance and most hospitaleros will not allow car pilgrims to stay there or allow a support car to “book” beds before hand. Quite right too, in my opinion.

In the unlikely event of having a horse with you then your options are very limited unless you also bring a tent with you.

When the refuges are full, which is frequent in the better months, then there are often many “hostels” or “pensions” (small private hotels or B&B) which are usually very nice and only $15 a night or thereabouts.

They have the benefit of having hot water and usually a private shower and of course a private bedroom! I used them a lot on my second Camino as the refuges were almost always full from Burgos onwards even in late May.

To stay in a refuge, you need to have obtained a pilgrim’s passport or credential. These can be obtained in most of the major cities on the camino. Or from one of the camino organisations listed above or from the pilgrims offices in St Jean Pied De Port and Roncesvalles .

The hospitalero will usually stamp these with their special stamp when you sign in to the refuge. Some of the stamps are quite artistic. Also bars and hotels often have a stamp and of course the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) will also have a stamp.

Finally, you need to have at least two stamps per day when walking the last 100KM of the Camino if you want to obtain the Compostela when you reach Santiago.

In the costs column in the table below, a “?” means I don’t know the price, a “D” means it a donativo or donation, otherwise the number is the price in Euros.

Click on the refuge name in the left hand column to see a mini-review and picture of that refuge.

Refuges & Albergues Info & Ratings Table

Camino Francés Route Refuges & Albergues Mini Reviews

Welcome to my series of mini reviews on pilgrims albergues or refuges along the Camino Francés route of the Camino de Santiago. As a pilgrimage route dating back to the Middle Ages, the Camino has been welcoming pilgrims from all over the world for centuries. While the journey itself can be challenging, the reward of arriving in Santiago de Compostela is well worth the effort. Starting in the French town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and stretches across northern Spain to the city of Santiago de Compostela, covering a distance of approximately 780 kilometers.

Along the way, pilgrims can find a variety of accommodations, including hostels, refuges, and albergues, that cater specifically to their needs. These refuges range from basic and affordable to more luxurious and upscale, offering something for every budget and preference.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful refuge to recharge your batteries, or a lively and social atmosphere to connect with fellow pilgrims, I hope that this series of mini reviews will help you find the perfect place to rest and rejuvenate along your journey.

Albergue Municipal Ospitalia in St Jean-Pied-de-Port

Not sure what to say about this one as it is likely to be your first experience of an albergue. I found it to be ok every time I have stayed there. The town has really good restaurants. Anyway, here is my attempt at a comprehensive review of the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia

If you’re starting your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in St Jean-Pied-de-Port, the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia is an excellent option for a comfortable and affordable stay. This refuge is located in the heart of the town, providing easy access to shops, restaurants, and other amenities.

Location and Accessibility

The Refuge Municipal Ospitalia is located in the center of St Jean-Pied-de-Port, making it an easy stop for pilgrims starting their journey. The refuge is just a short walk from the train station and bus stops, making it easily accessible by public transportation.

Address: 55 Rue de la Citadelle, 64220 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France (Google maps link)

Telephone: +33617103189

Facilities and Amenities

The facilities at the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia are clean and comfortable, with spacious dormitories and clean bathrooms. While the facilities may not be as modern as other hostels in the area, they’re more than adequate for a comfortable stay. There’s a lovely courtyard on site, providing a peaceful space to relax and unwind.

Staff and Service

The staff at the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia are friendly and welcoming, providing guests with a warm and hospitable experience. They’re always available to answer questions or provide assistance when needed, making for a stress-free stay.

Atmosphere and Community

The atmosphere at the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia is lively and social, providing a great opportunity to meet other pilgrims and exchange stories. The refuge is popular among pilgrims starting their journey in St Jean-Pied-de-Port, providing a sense of camaraderie and community.

Value for Money

The cost of staying at the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia is incredibly affordable, with rates ranging from €7-€12 per night. This makes it an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers who still want a comfortable and welcoming place to stay.

Conclusion

Overall, the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia is an excellent option for pilgrims starting their journey in St Jean-Pied-de-Port. While the facilities may not be as modern as other hostels in the area, the warm and welcoming staff and lively atmosphere more than make up for it. For an affordable and social stay, I highly recommend the Refuge Municipal Ospitalia.

Huntto

I did not stay here but talking to people who did, they said it was an excellent private refuge.

Huntto 2

After Huntto and about 8Km from St Jean Pied Du Port is another new private refuge built by the side of the road. This breaks up the journey so you don’t have to walk the whole way to Roncesvalles in a single day which is a great improvement. You have to book ahead though as it’s often full.

Roncesvalles

Be careful of this one due to the stupid rules about vacating the albergue during mass. See my diary for the reasons. I had a very bad experience here.

Update: They have now dropped the rule about vacating the refuge during mass and they have moved the whole refuge into another much larger building with vastly better facilities. I can now recommend it as well as the albergue above the bar and also the “La Posada” hotel also in the village. I have now stayed at all three places.

Zubiri

If the weather is bad, this can be one of the worst refuges on the camino as the toilet facilities are very poor and get dirty very quickly. When the weather is good it’s ok. There are no curtains on a very big picture window and a very bright light outside. You may have difficulty sleeping, I did.

Update: The refuge situation in Zubiri has changed considerably. There are several new small refuges, particulary on the short road from the bridge to the main road. The old refuge is still there and used as an overflow. There are also several small pensions opened up and sign for these can be seen all over the place and in the bars.

Larrasoaña

I finally got to meet the hospitalero and mayor in 2004. The refuge is very good, although there are no obvious shops or restaurants in the village. I say “no obvious” because this year I arrived early and waited about 4 hours outside the refuge. I observed various people driving up to a particular house nearby the refuge and walking out again, with satisfied looks, a few hours later and sometimes with silver foil packages in their hands. I can recommend the little bar right at the end of the village on the left. The owner is a real character and he sells a few pilgrim items in the bar shop.

Update: The refuge situation in Larrasoaña has also changed. In 2007, there was an overflow building to the main refuge and the bar at the top of the town had re-opened again.

Trinidad De Arre

I stayed here on my second camino and liked this one. We had wonderful weather after a day or two of damp weather and I have never seen so much washing out to dry in the hot sun at a refuge before.

Pamplona

A reasonable refuge in the center of the city. It’s up a long narrow flight of stairs though so it can be difficult to get up there with a backpack on and somebody else trying to come down the stairs.

Update: Again, lots of changes here with the old refuge closed down but many new ones opened up. Personally I still prefer to walk on until I reach Maribel’s refuge in Cizur Minor.

Cizur Minor

This is Maribel Roncal’s privately run refuge. Over the years she has updated the facilites considerably from the origonal garden house. There are no shops in the village so you need to buy food in Pamplona first or use the several good local restaurants. Or walk the 10KM to Cizur Major which has a supermarket. Maribel has upgraded all the facilities and there is now a second annex with excellent showers.

Puente La Reina

There are two refuges here, one on the way into the town and one on the hill on the way out of town. Also many hostels and two “parador” style hotels on the way in. On my first camino, the refuge had a system of triple bunks in a very dark and damp room in part of a building. Now the whole building is used and they have new but squeaky beds. The refuge on the hill is a brand new modern one with good beds and washing facilities. It also has its own restaurant. The hotel “Jueke” has an albergue in the basement of the building with also has excellent facilities. Not many people stay there though as it is not very well advertised. I only know because I stayed in the hotel this year in order to get a hot bath.

Estella

A good refuge on the way into town. Be careful of the breakfast though as it is a big con. Don’t buy it, get your own food. Can be noisy this refuge as the hospitalero seems to like playing loud music during the day. When I was there the first time, it was the same “enya” track several times a day!

Villamajor De Monjardin

A really good, Dutch run refuge. They provide an evening meal and an excellent breakfast. This was the first place I managed to find brown bread! It was freshly baked that morning, delicious!

Los Arcos

This main one is run by some camino group. This is the famous “massage” refuge where the guy comes in every day to give foot or back massages. It didn’t try one myself as I didn’t like the look of him but people I asked said they were very good.

Update: There are now four albergues in Los Arcos. The municipal one and three private ones. All are fairly obvious when walking into the town. The first one I got to looked very nice inside. I didn’t look at the second. The third is accessable through a garage and is next door to the municipal one. I am told by someone, who’s opinion I respect, that it was very good.

Torres Del Rio

I stayed in this one in 2004. I found it very “cozy” although there are not many facilities there.

Viana

This is one of the few refuges that still have triple bunks.

Logroño

A very big refuge on the left down a side street after you cross one of the big bridges over the river. It had a very nice fountain/pond in the grounds where you could bathe your feet. Actually very close to the town center and the restaurants.

Navarrete

This was a good refuge. When I was there, the hospitalera was a singer and did a special kind of evening service for the pilgrims although she is not ordained. She liked giving people hugs.

Nájera

You need to have walked all the way from Logroño for this one, as sometimes one of the hospitaleros will not let you stay here if you stopped anywhere else on the way. There was not a very nice atmosphere here and I walked on to Azofra which was much nicer, although the refuge itself was not so well kept. I would rather have a nice hospitalero and a bad refuge than the other way round.

Azofra

A nice hospitalero, but the refuge itself is a bit run down. It was full when I arrived with a group of German women and we were put into the “barn” where some famous king had slept. It was memorable to me for the guy playing the organ and for the birdsong.

Santo Domingo De La Calzada

This is the town where they keep the cock and the hen in a golden cage. Comes from a miracle which occured when a boy, who had been strangled, came back to life at the same time as the mayor’s dinner, which was roast chicken, also came back to life.

Grañón

The best refuge on the camino. There is a special atmosphere here. Very friendly and hospitable. No beds, just mats, but very comfortable. Very few spaces though. The priest, if he is there, will take your name and say a prayer for you every day until a date you specify for reaching Santiago.

Redicilla Del Camino

Unknown

Belorado

I found this refuge to be a bit cold. It is right next to a church. On my second Camino, they had to open up an annex in a garage nearby to handle the huge number of pilgrims staying there. The second time there were storks up on the roof.

Quatro Canciones

This is a brand new refuge in Belorado, set up as the old one is being repaired and upgraded. It was a little cramped but was nice and warm and had excellent showers and washing facilities. It’s quite close to the old one, just one street away.

Villafranca Montes De Oca

An awful dirty damp refuge in a tiny village which seems to be just one big truck stop. The refuge is right next to the road which is very narrow here and there is an endless stream of huge lorries passing by day and night. I would not recommend it except that the next one “San Juan De Ortega” can be worse.

Villafranca Montes De Oca 2

A very nice new refuge has been built on the other side of the road and on the hillside. I could not get inside to look but from the outside it looked excellent. Built for the huge numbers of pilgrims expected in 2004.

San Juan De Ortega

A very cold and unfriendly place now that the priest who used to serve the garlic soup is no longer there. I cannot recommend it. There is only one very small bar here and no shops.

Atapuerca

This appears at, first sight, to be a very basic refuge. However be careful, as it’s very expensive at 7 euros a night and is actually owned by the hotel next door. It’s really a pityless commercial exploitation of the refuge system and in March 2004 in the winter conditions we had then, the pathetic wood stove provided no heating whatsoever and we all froze in the unheated sleeping room.

Burgos

It seems to take forever to get through Burgos on the way to this one as it is near the outside of the city on the other side from San Juan.

Update: In 2005, the was a second refuge in the center of town but over the river in a converted old building. This was a very nice refuge but I don’t remember seeing many signs to it recently so it may have closed again.

Update: There is also another smaller refuge in the belfry of a church in the center of town fairly near the cathedral. It was nice and warm when I stayed there in 2007.

Tardajos

A nice little refuge on the way to Hornillos del Camino. If the Burgos refuge is full then this one is worth the extra walk.

Hornillos Del Camino

The refuge here is right before the church on the right as you walk up the only street in the village.

San Bol

This one is supposedly run by a templar society and has the “benefit” of having no toilet facilities whatsoever and no food or shops. Both times I have been there, the same hospitalero was there and he seemed to be a rather depressed chap. Maybe he badly needed the loo!!

Hontanas

There is now a nice refuge here and two albergues. One bar here has the famous “Vitorino” who does the trick with the wine where he pours it on his forehead, runs it over his nose, and then drinks it in his mouth without spilling a single drop. The bar is a dirty place but the food is good. I was there in circumstances where we were very glad of the warn fire. It was also memorable for the endless number of dishes of food which he brought out for our meal. I have never eaten so much pork in my life at one meal.

Update: Vitorino’s bar was closed up when I walked past it in 2006.

Castrojeriz

The hospitalero here does not speak any English but has made many signs in pictures to show where the facilities are. It was memorable for the worst coffee I ever tested, ever! They play gregorian chanting music quite softly in the morning to wake you up. If the refuge is full then I can recommend the La Chava Hotel where Antje and I stayed in 2002.

Update: Alas the hospitalero died in a train crash a few years ago and the refuge is under new management now.

Itero Del Castillo

Unknown

Boádilla Del Camino

There are three albergues here. One of the left immediately you enter the village. The second is in a building sharing a bar in the middle of the village. The third is right next to the church in the middle of the village but was closed for repairs in March 2005.

Frómista

The local mayor owns all the hotels here and financed the refuge without a usable kitchen so you have to eat in his restaurant as well! The food is good though.

Población De Campos

I have always passed this place in the morning and it has never been open. But it always looked as if it had been occupied the night before.

Villalcázar De Sirga

A good refuge here only a few miles before Carrión De Los Condes. The Camino to this point is right next to the main road and passes though what feels like an endless sequence of bollards. The only reason I could see for having so many was to stop cars from the road driving onto the camino path!

Carrión De Los Condes

There are two refuges here. The old one on the way in to the town insists on having three people to a room to prevent any hanky panky. The other one is in the town center next to the church and has working washing machines.

Calzadilla De La Cueza

Immediately on your left just before you walk into the village. There is a large mural on the wall. Try the spicy garbanzo bean soup at the bar at the other end of town, it’s delicious.

Ledigos

Small refuge

Terradillos De Templarios

Unknown

Moratinos

Although not stictly a refuge, Rebecca’s house “The Peacable Kingdom” is very welcoming of pilgrims.

Sahagún

One of the traditional refuges. The sleeping area is in the loft of the church and has an echo and occasionally small mice.

Calzada Del Coto

Unknown

Bercianos Del Real Camino

Unknown

El Burgo Ranero

There is a new refuge run by a brazilian chap now.

Reliegos

The refuge is a little tricky to find and its best to ask at the bar immediately on your left as you reach the plaza. There is a shop, but is closes early.

Mansilla De Las Mulas

Quite a nice new refuge in a converted building.

León

This one is part of a convent. It’s inside a very large building but the actual sleeping room itself is quite small. There are male and female toilets and a small kitchen. The hospitalero was very friendly.

Villadangos Del Páramo

We took the alternative route after Virgen Del camino and missed seeing this one.

Hospital De Orbigo

Hospital De Orbigo (New)

Hospital De Orbigo (Old)

There are actually two albergues here. The old one can be found by taking the road off to the right half way across the bridge and walking straight on for 500 meters. The newer one is found by walking across the bridge and into the old main street until just about the end. It is on the right hand side.

Astorga

Pretty awful municipal albergues in an old school building. The rooms are on two levels and although there are loads of beds, the showers are minimal and you have to queue most of the time. The kitchen, although big had only a very basic two ring cooker. It did not work when we tried it.

Murias De Rechivaldo

Unknown

Santa Catalina De Samoza

Unknown

El Ganso

This one has the famous “cowboy” bar. I didn’t find the refuge itself.

Rabanal Del Camino

Rabanal Del Camino (British)

Rabanal Del Camino (Italian)

There are three refuges here, One run by the British. Allegedly they give you breakfast of tea or coffee and toast with marmalade. This year we stayed at the “Italian” one which was very nice. The “British” one was full. The third refuge is a horrible municipal one next door to the “Italian” one.

Foncebadón (albergue)

A brand new one is being built here. When we walked through this year it was not yet finished but there was a new albergue/hotel which was nice. There was no sign of any wild dogs.

Manjarin

This is Thomas the Templar’s refuge. Although Thomas is a really nice person, I would not really recommend staying here unless you have a particularly adventurous spirit as there are allegedly no toilets or showers.

El Acebo

The refuge itself is very small and most of us ended up staying at the unofficial one which was behind an excellent bar/restaurant.

Riego De Ambró

This is a fairly new refuge built in a converted barn. People I talked to who stayed here had only good things to say about it.

Molineseca

I found this refuge a little strange and I would not have wanted to stay there as it felt very funny. However Antje says that it was OK when she stayed there last year.

Ponferrada

A brand new refuge built by the town in the park near the castle. I seem to remember it contained a lot of marble.

Cacabelos

This one is very strange. It is divided up into little sheds with two bunks per shed. It is built in the grounds of the church on the way out of town. I stayed there for many hours one late afternoon and not a single person wanted to stop and stay there. However this year there were loads of people staying there and I found it very good when you want some privacy with your companion.

Villafranca Del Bierzo

Villafranca Del Bierzo (Old)

Villafranca Del Bierzo (New)

There are two refuges here very close too each other. The newer one is the first one you come across and the older one is run by the famous Jesus Jato. The new one has washing machines. They do a strange fire thing here. The famous “old” plastic sheet refuge no longer exists.

Vega De Valcarce

This one is quite old and has a bar in the bottom half of the building. There is actually another refuge here as well.

Ruitelán

This one is run by two Buddhist brothers who will prepare a reasonable evening meal. However they play “Also Sprach Zarathustra” in the morning to wake everyone up!

O Cebreiro

I didn’t like the atmosphere here at all. It was very strange and I didn’t fancy staying more than a few minutes to look around. In 2002, my partner and I stayed in the refuge as we were both too knackered from the long climb up, but luckily it was the first refuge where we got any warmth. We needed it, as it snowed the next day.

Hospital Da Condesa

A new refuge. You need to buy food at Linares first as there is no bar or any shops here.

Triacastela

There are two refuges here. A very modern but slightly unpleasant one in the middle of the town and an older one on the way out of town. The older one was closed when I walked past it in October 2000 but it looked like it would have opened later that day.

Calvor

The first refuge if you take the right hand path at Triacastela. A modern refuge with good facilities. But no bar or shops except in nearby Sarria.

Samos

The first albergue if you take the left hand path at Triacastela. The famous monastery with the Gregorian chanting. But a cold place as it is a monastic building. There is an excellent albergue across the road.

Sarria

The kitchen has no pots to cook with. This is also true of many of the refuges in Galicia.

Barbadelo

There are no shops here but there is a restaurant run by a local woman who seems to own everything in the village.

Morgade

Unknown

Ferreiros

Unknown

Portomarín

One of the dirtiest albergues I have seen. We all refused to stay there and walked to the next one at Gonzar. The second time I looked in, it was full.

Gonzar

They have a habit of turning off the electricity here so that you have to use the bar next door to eat and for warmth.

Hospital De La Cruz

Unknown

Ventas De Naron

Unknown

Ligonde

Unknown

Palas De Rei

Unknown

Casanova

Unknown

Melide

Unknown

Ribadiso De Baixo

A refuge of character. Excellent washing facilities here for some reason.

Arzua

See the comment for Sarria.

Santa Irene

Unknown

Arca

Looked for it but couldn’t find this one.

Monte De Gozo

A huge, horrible, holiday camp style refuge.

Santiago de Compostela

Another huge refuge with a problem with theft. I would not recommend that you stay here but rather in one of the excellent hotels in Santiago. Treat yourself as you deserve it for getting this far!

Update: A second refuge has been opened soon after Monte De Gozo which has 50 beds, a washing machine and a dinning area where people can eat. The price is 5 Euros.

Top 10 list of albergues in Santiago de Compostela

These top 10 refuges offer a range of options to fit different budgets and preferences. From affordable and cozy Refuges to luxurious and tranquil retreats, there’s something for everyone along the Camino de Santiago. Whether you’re a first-time pilgrim or a seasoned veteran, these refuges provide a comfortable and welcoming place to rest and recharge during your journey.

1. Albergue Seminario Menor

• Description: A former seminary converted into a modern Refuge with comfortable beds, laundry facilities, and a terrace with stunning views.
• Location: Rúa de San Pedro, 33, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Google maps link)
• Rating: 9.1/10
• Price Range: €14-€16 per night

2. Albergue Peregrinos San Lázaro

• Description: A peaceful refuge located on the outskirts of Santiago, in A Coruna with a garden, chapel, and outdoor seating area.
• Location: 15707 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain (Google maps link)
• Rating: 8.9/10
• Price Range: €5-€9 per night

3. Albergue Acuario

• Description: A welcoming and affordable Refuge in the heart of Santiago’s historic district with clean and cozy rooms.
• Location: Rúa da Raíña, 10, 15704 Santiago de Compostela
• Rating: 8.7/10
• Price Range: €10-€15 per night

4. Hospedería San Martín Pinario

• Description: A historic refuge with elegant rooms, a library, and a restaurant serving traditional Galician cuisine.
• Location: Praza da Inmaculada, 3, 15704 Santiago de Compostela
• Rating: 8.6/10
• Price Range: €70-€130 per night

5. Albergue Turístico Salceda

• Description: A well-equipped and modern albergue located on the Camino de Santiago with a bar, restaurant, and bicycle rental.
• Location: Rúa do Castro, 38, 15896 Salceda de Caselas
• Rating: 8.5/10
• Price Range: €12-€14 per night

6. Albergue de Peregrinos de Conxo

• Description: A comfortable and clean refuge located on the outskirts of Santiago with a garden and friendly staff.
• Location: Rúa da Estrada, 62, 15706 Santiago de Compostela
• Rating: 8.3/10
• Price Range: €6-€8 per night

7. Albergue The Last Stamp

• Description: A stylish and cozy albergue in the heart of the city with comfortable beds and a rooftop terrace.
• Location: Rúa do Pombal, 18, 15705 Santiago de Compostela
• Rating: 8.2/10
• Price Range: €15-€20 per night

8. Albergue Roots & Boots

• Description: A trendy and eco-friendly albergue with a communal kitchen, garden, and bicycle rental.
• Location: Rúa das Hortas, 23, 15703 Santiago de Compostela
• Rating: 8.1/10
• Price Range: €15-€20 per night

9. Albergue San Francisco de Asís

• Description: A welcoming refuge located in a historic building with a courtyard, bar, and communal kitchen.
• Location: Rúa da Acibechería, 11, 15704 Santiago de Compostela
• Rating: 8.0/10
• Price Range: €14-€16 per night

10. Hotel A Quinta Da Auga Relais & Châteaux

• Description: A luxurious and tranquil retreat located on the outskirts of Santiago with a spa, outdoor pool, and gourmet restaurant.
• Location: Paseo da Amaia, 23B, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain (Google maps link)
• Rating: 7.9/10
• Price Range: €90-€150 per night