Camino Frances

Family Cycling on the Camino Frances

Rate:
Price: Starting from 801€ per person
  • Activity Walking or Cycling
  • Distance 111 km
  • Duration 7 Nights
  • Difficulty Moderate
  • Tour Type Family Caminos
  • Time To Go Year Round

Family Cycling on the Camino Frances

The Family Cycling on the Camino Frances package is the perfect cycling holiday for your family.

The Camino Frances is the most popular Camino de Santiago route. On this route, you will cycle to Santiago from Sarria, the most popular starting point on the Camino. This family package is perfect if you want to cycle the Camino at a leisurely pace. We recommend cycling in the morning and spending the rest of the day at leisure to make the most of it. With the perfect combination of nature and culture, this itinerary will suit all your family’s needs and wants.

As one of the favourite Camino routes among pilgrims, the Camino Frances (French Way) offers all the services for a family trip. You will cycle to Santiago through the lush countryside and charming villages. En route, you will have plenty of opportunities to stop for delicious food and refreshing breaks.

Cycling the last 100km is a great experience for the little ones. After a day on the trail, they will have time for some fun! There is always something to do in parks, museums or just some playtime at your accommodation!

We have selected family-friendly accommodations so everyone can relax after a fun cycling day. All our partners have long been established and have a wealth of knowledge to share about the local area. Each night, you and your family will receive a warm welcome, as your package includes a combination of rural hotels and family-run businesses. On your last night, you will stay in a central hotel in Santiago.

Finally, on day six of your adventure, you will arrive in Santiago. Visiting this beautiful city is the perfect conclusion to your Camino experience, and we strongly recommend staying an extra night. Whether you are a foodie or a history buff, Santiago de Compostela has something for everyone. Buen Camino!


This itinerary is for people with kids (16 yo and under). If your party is made of adults only, look at the Cycling Camino Frances from Ponferrada to Santiago.

Map of the Family Cycling on the Camino Frances

Itinerary of the Family Cycling on the Camino Frances

Sarria

Stage: Sarria

You arrive in Sarria.

22 km

Portomarin

Stage: Portomarin

Your first day on the Camino will take you to the town of Portomarín, 22Km from Sarria. It is a great introduction to the Camino, with no difficulty as the terrain is completely flat for the whole day. Expect a calm walk through pretty villages and peaceful hamlets under the shade of oak trees and along quiet country roads. The numerous villages along the way offer plenty of opportunities to stop. Along the way, you will spot many Galician traditional ‘hórreos’ (granaries). Visit the beautiful Romanesque church in the village of Barbadelo. Portomarin is a charming village located on the bank of the River Miño, which you will cross on your arrival.

If the weather allows, you and your little ones can spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool of your accommodation or choose to play board games in the common living room. Yet, if they still have energy, a visit to the Motor Museum in Miniature will spark their curiosity. Through more than 1000 miniature models of cars, they will learn how vehicles evolved in times and how they reflect an ever-changing way of life. A pedagogic visit that will be enjoyed by both children and adults!

Your accommodation in Portomarin is located only a few minutes walk from the old town center. Right on the edge of the village, it offers both easy access to all amenities and the quietness needed for a peaceful night. With a focus on local and seasonal produce, the dinner served at the hotel restaurant will showcase the best of Galicia traditional dishes

22 km

Palas de Rei

Stage: Palas de Rei

This morning you are up for a small challenge, as the Camino rise uphill steadily at the start of your walk.

On the way to Palas de Rei stop to visit the Romanesque church in Eirexe, with its portal featuring a sculpture of Daniel with animals, as well as Pilgrim Santiago. As you pass through local farms, hamlets and picturesque churches, you will truly start feeling the connection with the Camino. You will find numerous cafés along the way, as many opportunities to meet the locals and pilgrims alike.

The youngest ones will be spoilt on arrival at Palas de Rei. They will find at the accommodation a childrens’ playground and a large shaded garden providing them a safe environment to play. It is the ideal place for the whole family to relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

Full of charm, your accommodation provides all the comforts your family will need. With a spacious terrace, it is the perfect place for al fresco dining

14 km

Melide

Stage: Melide

The Camino trail continues downhill, passing the village of Casanova and the delightful village of Leboreiro. The mix of woodlands and villages will make this short section a very entertaining and enjoyable experience.
Melide holds a special place on the Camino, as it is at the junction of the Camino Francés and the Camino del Norte, which means you are likely to meet fellow pilgrims and hear interesting stories. If time allows, we recommend that you explore the authentic medieval streets of this charming village.

For the little ones who fancy some playtime outdoors, we recommend the popular San Roque children’s playground, right in the center of the village, where they will be able to play with the local youngsters. Melide is famous for its exquisite octopus, known to be the world’s best, so make sure not to miss it before you leave and try it for dinner in one of the many pulperías.

You will stay at a modern and centrally located hotel that will offer all the comforts for you and your family

14 km

Arzua

Stage: Arzua

After a hearty breakfast, your day on the trail will take you to Arzua, 14km from Melide. The Camino crosses several streams and follows a track bringing you to the village of Boente and the church of Santiago. The medieval village of Rivadiso is your last stop before reaching your final destination for the day. Upon leaving Rivadiso, you will cross a Roman bridge over the River Iso before completing the last 3km to Arzua. The village of Arzua is famous throughout Galicia for its creamy and tasty cheese, the Arzua-Ulla cheese.

To arouse your young ones’ curiosity, we recommend a visit to the Honey & Cheese educational center where they can learn about the origins and the methods of production from ancient times to the present days. It is a great opportunity for them to connect to the territory of Galicia as well as food and nature.

For your night in Arzua, we have selected a charming central hotel, with an outdoor swimming pool for the whole family to enjoy. An authentic dinner will be served on-site so you can fully experience the Galician hospitality

19 km

Rua Pedrouzo

Stage: Rua Pedrouzo

This section of the Camino offers a nice variety of terrains and landscapes. You will sometimes follow the road on a good side walking path, venture through picturesque meadows, and cross eucalyptus tree forests. It is an enjoyable walk with no difficulty and numerous possibilities to stop at cafes along the way for a drink or a snack.

After a good day on the trail, your children will be pleased to see that your accommodation has a pool where they can make the most of the warm Spanish afternoon. The spacious garden and terrace make it a perfect place for the whole family to enjoy some relaxing time together.

In Rua-Pedrouzo, your rural hotel offers the perfect combination of countryside charm and modern comfort, with a spacious garden and swimming pool (opening dates to be checked). During the summer season, you can allow yourself a lazy day by the pool. The local chef’s signature dishes served in the restaurant will be the perfect conclusion to your day.

20 km

Santiago de Compostela

Stage: Santiago de Compostela

Today you are setting off for your final day on the Camino before discovering the majestic city of Santiago.

Rows of tall eucalyptus trees line your journey to Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy 368m) and it is from here that you can catch your first glimpse of the Cathedral of Santiago.

After visiting Santiago Cathedral and recovering from your walk, take time to explore this gem of a city, small and vibrant. Its old town will enchant you. In Santiago the Compostela you will find not only pilgrims but also locals and students, enjoying a few bites and socialising over a glass of wine in the many bars, restaurants, and cozy cafes.

The city also has numerous options for children to have fun. If after five days on the Camino they fancy a little bit of time off, we recommend the little train. It is a great way for the whole family to discover the city while resting their legs! The natural history museum is very popular among families. Even the youngest ones are eager to learn about animals and their natural habitat. Of course, if it is some playtime they are after, you will find a good number of playgrounds scattered around the city.

In order for you to be at the heart of it all, we have selected a centrally located hotel. On top of its rustic charms and views of the old town, it offers a peaceful garden.

Accommodation

Standard Hotels

We have hand-picked hotels and guesthouses along the Camino for their character and warm hospitality. Up to 3-stars, you will be staying in the centre of town and close to your Camino trail. All rooms are en-suite with bathroom. For our family packages, we have hand-picked establishments with outdoor space and swimming pools where possible. Where accommodation with private outdoor space is not available, we have selected comfortable hotels with spacious common areas as well as a convenient location close to recreational areas and sights. As your comfort is our priority, we try to book hotels located within walking distance of the Camino. Despite our effort, on rare occasions your accommodation can be located a few kilometers away from the trail, so we organise transportation to/from your accommodation.

Standard Hotel & Guesthouse

Access

How to Get There

Live information on Rome2Rio. We can also arrange private transfers if you prefer, just ask us.

 

Sarria

Santiago de Compostela Airport 120km: Fastest is to take a combination of 2 buses: First, from Santiago airport to Lugo bus station (1h50, every day at 7:10, 11:10, 16:10, 18:40 + 20:10 except on Saturday). See www.monbus.es. Then, take a local bus from Lugo bus station to Sarria bus station (30min). The total cost for the journey is roughly €10pp. Alternatively, you can book a taxi transfer from Santiago Airport to Sarria, costing approx €120. Or a taxi from Lugo to Sarria costs approx €50. There is also a direct bus between Santiago de Compostela bus station and Sarria, but it only departs approximately once a day (except Saturdays and Sundays). 2h30 travel time. See www.monbus.es.

A Coruna Airport 120km: In A Coruña, a bus from the airport to the train station (Line 443 stop: Avenida A. Molina) departs every 30 min. See www.autoscalpita.es. There is a direct train from A Coruña to Sarria four times a day (2h-2h30). See www.renfe.com.

Vigo Airport 180km: From Vigo, you will have to travel to Santiago de Compostela by bus (1h) www.movelia.es or train www.renfe.es; and then follow instructions from Santiago to Sarria above.

Madrid Airport 487km: In Madrid, there is a train from the airport (Terminal 4) and the train station (Chamartin). There is a night train from Madrid Chamartin to Sarria (once a day/ 8h30), as well as three other trains per day connecting Madrid and Sarria (one direct, two with change of train, 6hr approx.). For details, times and tickets, see www.renfe.com.
It is also possible to take a bus from the airport in Madrid to Lugo (3 times a day, taking 6h30-7h30). From Lugo to Sarria, you can take a bus from the bus station or a train from the train station (4 times/ day – 30min). Lugo’s bus and train stations are approximately 1km apart (taxis are also available at the stations).

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela Airport 11km: There is shuttle bus from Santiago city centre to the airport, departing every 30min. Bus stops are the city centre (Plaza de Galicia),  train station (Estación de Ferrocarril) and bus station (Estación de Autobuses). See www.monbus.es.

Vigo Airport 90km: From Santiago, you can take a train to Vigo Guixar (see www.renfe.com) or a bus to Travesia de Vigo (every hour). You should take a city bus from Travesia de Vigo to Vigo Airport (every 30 min).

A Coruna Airport 70km: From Santiago, you can take a train to A Coruña (30 min approximately) and then take a bus from Alfonso Molina (line 4051) to the airport (every 30 min, takes 20 min around). Monbus has services from Santiago to A Coruña Airport (every 3 hours); see monbus.es/en for details.

Porto Airport 210km: There is a direct bus connection between Santiago (Estación de Autobuses) and Porto airport once or twice a day (taking 4h or 6h resp.). See www.alsa.es.

Whats Included

  • Included: Conveniently located family-friendly accommodation, with either family or connecting rooms and indoor and outdoor space for everyone to play or relax. Holiday Pack on your mobile phone (Route ebook and Google Maps) and a 24/7 support number assisting with your trip, for instance, organising a support vehicle if needed.
  • Not included: Flights, drinks, city tax, Travel Insurance (Recommended)
  • Optional: Luggage transfers (On by default. One bag up to 20kg per person), dinners (On by default, where available), bike rental and accessories (On by default) and airport transfers, etc.

Note on Accommodation: We aim to book you into each of the towns listed on the itinerary; however, in case of low availability, we may book you two nights in the same town with provided transfers. If you are booking a Superior collection or Country cottages, please note it is subject to availability and, therefore, cannot be guaranteed. Superior/Country cottage accommodation may be away from the route with included transfers—more details on Country cottages.

Have questions? Read our FAQ articles.

Specialist:Aurelie

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Aurelie

Specialist:Aurelie

Aurelie originally comes from the south of France but her passion for travels brought her to Ireland for the first time in 2006. She loves to hike and connect with nature and has travelled all arou...

More byAurelie

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