Of the different pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela, the most frequented one is the French route, coming into Spain at Roncesvalles (Navarre) and at Somport (Aragon). Most pilgrims take the Roncesvalles route, through Navarre, to Santiago, which joins the Somport route at Puente La Reina, Navarre.

Having taken a rest in Zubiri after an exhausting journey, the pilgrim will begin the second stage of the Route, which passes through Iiárraz and Esquízoz, before arriving in Larrasoaña. Here, he will find the "Sociedad de Amigos del Camino" (Society of Friends of the Route), where he will be provided with any information he might need. 

Before leaving Pamplona for the third stage of the Route, you might want to visit this beautiful and important city in the Middle Ages. Its magnificent Gothic Cathedral (14th century) includes one of the most beautiful Ogival Cloisters in Europe, and was famous in the Middle Ages for the meals that were served every day to the pilgrims.

In Puente la Reina, final stop of the third stage, you can visit the Church of the Crucifijo (12th, 14th centuries), which was built by the members of the Order of the Temple.

You can also tour the Church of Santiago (12th century), located on the Mayor Street, which contains one of the finest multicolored sculptures representing the Apostle Santiago that can be found along the Santiago Route. 

Estella, commonly known as "the small Toledo", offers numerous Medieval precious gems: the Church of San Pedro de la Rúa, from the 12th century, which includes a beautiful Cloister where stands the capital made of twisted columns; the 12th-century Church of San Miguel, with its marvelous Late-Romanesque Façade; the Church of the Santo Sepulcro, built in the 12th century, which also contains a magnificent Romanesque Façade; the 12th century Church of San Juan Baustista; the Gothic-style Church of San Pedro de Lizarra; and the Palace of the Reyes, dating back to the 12th century. 

Before starting the sixth stage of the Route, which will be headed to Logroño, pilgrims can stroll along the Mayor Street in the noble village of Los Arcos, stop in front of the façades of its stately homes and view the blazons which decorate them. Then, travellers can go in the Parish Church of Santa María (16th century) and admire the different artistic styles there represented.

In Logroño pilgrims have the opportunity to visit a city whose old quarter still has the atmosphere of a Medieval borough. The Rúa Vieja, the oldest street of the city, and the Mayor Street are the paths used by pilgrims in order to pass through Logroño. On their way, they can visit the Church of Santiago el Real, which contains a 17th-century image representing the Apostle´s apparition in Clavijo.

On the eighth day of their journey pilgrims say goodbye to Nájera, but before, they can travel to Azofra, not included on the Santiago Route, and visit the San Millán de la Cogolla sanctuaries, which were of great importance in Medieval Christian Spain. In San Millán you can find the Cañas Monastery, as well as two of the most relevant and well-known sanctuaries in Spain: the Suso Monastery (6th to 11th centuries) probably the most ancient in the Iberian Peninsula, and the Yuso Monastery (11th century). 

The nineth stage of the Route leaves La Rioja Province and enters Burgos Province. Leaving Santo Domingo de la Calzada behind, it continues to Grañón. On its ouskirts pilgrims will see the Cruz de los Valientes (the Brave´s Cross) in memory to the scene of the Juicio de Dios (God´s Judge), which was held between the representatives of Grañón and Santo Domingo over the ownership of a pasture.

In Belorado pilgrims can drink water, like its predecessors used to, from a Medieval Fountain, and pray in the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Belén, once a hospital. Another monument is Santa María´s Parish Church that was rebuilt in the 16th century on the ruins of the ancient Church of Virgen de la Capilla. It contains fascinating sepulchres, a chapel and a beautiful Renaissance Altarpiece. Walkers can also visit San Pedro´s Church (17th century) and Virgen Bretonera´s Abbey. 

The eleventh stage of the Route leaves San Juan de Ortega and heads for Agés and , on its way, passes the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rebollar (18th century). In Agés, where there used to be iron mines, travellers can pray inside the Parish Church (16th century). Then, the Route leaves the village through a Romanesque Bridge of a single span and arrives in Atapuerca, known worldwide for its prehistoric remains. Here walkers can visit San Martin´s Parish Church (16th century).

The route leaves Burgos and passes through Villalvia first and then Tarjados, an ancient pre-Christian village that at one time had a hospital near the Church of San Juan. Travellers can visit the Parish Church of La Asuncion, from the 13-18C, that contains a beautiful transept from the 18C, and the Convent of the Paules, which includes the remains of a doorway from the Santo Domingo Palace (16C).

The route continues towards Rabé de las Calzadas, where pilgrims can see the Parish Church of Santa Marina, with a splendid doorway from the 13C. 

Having taken a good rest, pilgrims begin the 13th day of the journey along the Route to Santiago, which takes him first to San Antón, where are the ruins of the Antonianos´Convent, 14 C. Then the route continues towards Castrojeriz, an old Celtic town, which was repopulated by Sigericón at the end of the 7 C. In this historic town -at one time it contained seven hospitals- pilgrims can pray inside the Church of Santa María del Manzano and enjoy an polychrome wood image of the Virgin. 

After leaving Frómista, the Route begins its 14th stage at Población de Campos, where pilgrims can visit the small chapels of San Miguel and Socorro, both from the 12 C, and the Gothic Parish Church of Magdalena. Then, the Route crosses the villages of Villovieco; Revenga de Campos, where stands the church of San Lorenzo that contains a carving of the Saint from the 18 C; and Villarmentero de Campos, where pilgrims can tour round the church of San Martín, and admire its Mudéjar coffering, a plateresque retable and a beautiful Calvary. 

At the 15th stage of the Route, pilgrims can deviate from the traditional itinerary and stop by Calzada de los Molinos. The Romanesque church of Santiago contains a High Altarpiece representing the Apostle Santiago.

The ruins of the monastery of Benevivere, from the 12 C are also worth a visit. Further on, the itinerary crosses Calzadilla and arrives at Cervatos de la Cueza, where stand the churches of Santa Columba and San Miguel.

The 16th stage takes pilgrims to León, an important Community along the Route to Santiago, full of history and art. But before entering this region, the Route passes through some villages in the Palencia region; including Santa María de las Tiendas, where stands a country house built over the ruins of a 11-12 C hospital; Lédigos, donated to the Church of Compostela by Doña Urraca; Terradillos de los Templarios, a town that, as indicates its name, belonged to this religious-military order; Moratinos; and San Nicolás del Real Camino, a municipality that contains a brick church with a 18 C retable.

The route starts this day, after having left Sahagún, in Calzada del Coto. At the entrance of this village, the Jacobean Street, the route forks in two, uniting again in Mansilla de las Mulas: the Royal French Route, which goes through El Burgo Renero; and the Hermanillos road, which goes along the antique Roman Calzada Trajana.

Following the French Route, the pilgrim will first arrive at Bercianos del Real Camino, where the El Salvador Church stands, with a carving of Saint Joan the Baptist and a painting of the Stations of the Cross inside, both from the sixteenth century.

A day full of history for the pilgrim, during which he’ll see some of Spain’s most important Roman monuments. The eighteenth stage starts crossing Mansilla de las Mulas, a village with city walls and towers that was resettled by Fernando II in 1181. The village was of strategic importance during the Dark Ages, from which it inherited monuments like the Saint Martin Church (thirteenth century), restored in 1989 and today home to the Casa de Cultura of the town council; the Saint Mary Church, built in the eighteenth century on top of an earlier temple; the Saint Augustine Monastery (sixteenth century) and the hermitage of the Virgin de Gracia, various times restored.

Pilgrims leave the town of León and continue their journey along the Route towards Trobajo del Camino, with a small chapel dedicated to the Apostle Martyr. Then pilgrims arrive at La Virgen del Camino, where legend states that the Virgin appeared in front of a shepherd in 1506, and asked him to build a shrine. 

At this stage the Route first takes pilgrims to San Martín del Camino, where is the site of an old hospital. Then the itinerary continues towards Hospital de Órbigo. In this town were held in 1434 the famous jousts organised by Suero de Quiñónez, during which he challenged many European knights.

Pilgrims will find the church of San Juan, built by the Knights Hospitaller. After leaving this epic village the Route crosses Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias and leads pilgrims to San Justo de la Vega, where stands a Parish Church that contains a carving of San Justo from the 16 C, and a retable from the 17 C. 

After leaving Rabanal del Camino the route continues across the region of León. The first village that appears is Foncebadón, the onetime important center in the Middle Ages that has been abandoned. Here took place a Council in the 10 C, and a century later, the hermit Guacelmo founded a hostelry for pilgrims. Some kilometers off the municipality, surmounting a peak that the Romans dedicated to Mercury can be seen the Ferro Cross, on top of a stick fixed to a big heap of stones .

Traditionally travellers bring a stone from their places of origin and deposit it on the heap.The itinerary continues towards Manjarín, an abandoned village that once had a hospital. The Route crosses El Acebo, at whose entrance is the Fountain of the Trout. The houses have exterior staircases and slate roofs. 

The first day of journey in Galice starts in Liñares and continues in the Condesa Hospital. This village also has a church and a hospital for pilgrims with a style and structure similar to those of the hostelries of Santa María la Real and the neighbouring Cebreiro. The nickname "the Countess" that goes with the name of the village is a tribute to the founder of the hospital, at the end of the 9 C.

The Route leaves Palas de Rei and continues towards La Coruña province. Not far away, Santiago de Compostela awaits pilgrims. The Route first crosses San Julián del Camino, a small village where stands a Romanesque church with an interesting transept, then it continues to Outeiro da Ponte, where is the Castle of Pambre, one of the best preserved fortresses in Galicia.

Further on, pilgrims pass though Pontecampaña, Casanova Mato, Porto de Bois and Campanilla. On leaving this last village, the Route enters the province of La Coruña. 

The final day has come. Pilgrims begin their last day of journey along the Route to Santiago. Along it, pilgrims have travelled by part of the Spanish territory, and have enjoyed many of the countless wonders the country treasures, as a result of centuries of history, where the Route of Santiago has played an important role.

The itinerary leads to Burgo, followed by Arca, San Antón, Amenal and San Paio. Further on, the Route arrives at Lavacolla, where pilgrims used to wash and make themselves presentable before entering the town of Compostela.