Whenever someone asks us which is the best Camino de Santiago route to cycle, we answer with another question: how many days do you have, and how are your legs? There’s no single winner for everyone. But after years delivering bikes on the three big routes, we know exactly what’s waiting for you on each one. This is the comparison we’d give a friend.
Quick comparison
| Route | Typical distance | Cycling stages | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Way | 755 km from Roncesvalles | 10-14 | Medium | The full experience |
| Portuguese Way | 271 km from Porto | 4-6 | Low-medium | First-timers, short trips |
| Northern Way | 820 km from Irún | 12-15 | High | Fit riders, scenery |
Cycling the French Way: the classic that has it all
The king. From Roncesvalles it’s about 755 km to the Obradoiro, comfortably done in 10-14 stages by bike (with an e-bike, plenty of margin). Why is it still the favourite? Because you don’t have to think: flawless waymarking, a bar or a fountain every few kilometres, bike workshops in the bigger towns, and pilgrim atmosphere at all hours. The accommodation on offer is huge — our directory of hotels on the French Way lists them by kilometre. Downsides? Three serious climbs (the Pyrenees if you start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the Montes de Oca, and O Cebreiro) and a fair crowd in summer. Even so: if you’re only ever going to ride one Camino, it’s probably this one.
Cycling the Portuguese Way: the favourite for first-timers
From Porto it’s about 271 km, which works out at 4-6 stages. If you’ve got one week, this is your route. The profile is the gentlest of the big three — no real mountain passes here — and the ride mixes cities worth the trip on their own (Porto, Pontevedra, Padrón) with rural and coastal stretches. One detail almost nobody mentions: by bike, the Compostela requires 200 km, so starting in Tui, at around 120, doesn’t cut it. From Porto, no problem at all. It’s also the route where we rent the most e-bikes; if you have doubts about your legs, there’s your answer. And yes, you can still aim for the Compostela on an e-bike — we cover that in detail in that post.
Cycling the Northern Way: the wild coastal one
About 820 km from Irún hugging the Cantabrian coast, through San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Gijón and Ribadeo. On scenery there’s no contest: it’s the most spectacular of them all, with the sea on your left nearly the whole way. The bill gets paid in your legs, because it’s the toughest by bike — the famous Cantabrian leg-breaker, up and down without pause — and there’s less pilgrim infrastructure than on the French Way. In exchange: far fewer crowds and food that justifies the trip by itself. One for riders with a solid base… or for anyone on an e-bike, which turns the leg-breaker into a demanding but genuinely enjoyable challenge.
So, which one should I choose?
- First time and few days? Portuguese Way from Porto.
- Want the full Camino experience? French Way from Roncesvalles.
- Fit and chasing scenery? Northern Way from Irún.
- Mixed fitness levels in your group, or doubts? Any of the three, on an e-bike.
Whatever you pick, plan realistic stages. Our Camino bike route planner is free, works out distances and climbing per stage, and doubles as a GPS even with no signal. For accommodation, the full guide is in where to sleep on the Camino by bike.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does it take to cycle the Camino de Santiago?
The full French Way from Roncesvalles takes 10-14 days; the Portuguese Way from Porto, 4-6; the Northern Way from Irún, 12-15. On an e-bike you can shorten stages or stretch them with less fatigue.
Which Camino route has the fewest climbs?
The Portuguese Way from Porto has the gentlest profile of the three big routes. The Northern Way is the most demanding, with constant ups and downs along the Cantabrian coast.
Where must I start to earn the Compostela by bike?
You need the last 200 km by bicycle: starting from Porto (Portuguese) or Ponferrada (French) gives you plenty of margin. Sarria or Tui are not enough by bike.
Can I ride these routes on an electric bike?
Yes, all three. We rent e-bikes fully equipped with panniers, delivered to the starting point of your route.
Your bike will be waiting where you start
We deliver Camino-ready bikes and e-bikes to the start of your route, panniers and support included. Book yours here — and if you’ve already got your eye on the Holy Year 2027, book in 2026 and take 10% off with the code BICIGRINO2027.
