Camino de Santiago with Kids — Family Guide 2026

Camino de Santiago with kids: an unforgettable family adventure

More and more families are walking the Camino de Santiago with their children. Walking together through the Galician countryside, sleeping in charming villages and sharing the pilgrimage creates memories that last a lifetime.

But walking the Camino with kids requires planning, flexibility and choosing the right stages. Timing is also key: check our guide to the best time to walk the Camino if you are travelling as a family.

What age can children walk the Camino?

• 0-3 years: Feasible in a baby carrier. Very short stages (8-12 km).
• 4-6 years: Can walk 5-8 km, alternating with pushchair. Enjoy exploring but tire quickly.
• 7-10 years: Ideal starting age. Can walk 10-15 km with frequent stops.
• 11-14 years: Nearly full stages (15-20 km). Can carry a small backpack.
• 15+ years: Practically at adult pace.

Family-friendly stages: shorter, flatter

Sarria - Portomarín (22 km → split into 2 days)

Stop in Barbadelo (km 9).

Portomarín - Palas de Rei (25 km → split into 2 days)

Stop in Gonzar or Ventas de Narón.

Palas de Rei - Arzúa (28 km → split into 2 days)

Stop in Melide (km 15) for octopus. The second day of 13 km is perfect for shorter legs.

Arzúa - O Pedrouzo (19 km)

Flat with good terrain. Manageable from age 8-9.

What to pack with kids

• Sun protection: SPF50 and hat at all times
• Rain gear: — poncho style
• Comfortable broken-in trainers:
• Energy snacks: fruit, nuts, cereal bars
• Children's first aid kit: blister plasters, anti-chafing cream, ibuprofen
• Light entertainment: notebook, cards
• Pilgrim credential: for everyone — children love collecting stamps

Why an apartment beats an albergue for families

Pilgrim hostels with kids mean real problems:

• Rigid schedules: doors locked at 22:00, lights off
• Noise: shared bunks with 20-40 people
• Shared bathrooms: impractical with small children
• No kitchen: cannot prepare food for your children

The ideal alternative: private accommodation with a kitchen where the family has its own space.

Palas de Rei: the perfect family stop

Casa Andaina offers what a pilgrim family needs:

• Full house for up to 10 people: — space for large families or two families together
• Fully equipped kitchen: — cook dinner on the kids' schedule, warm bottles, store snacks
• Private bedrooms: — proper rest without disturbing others
• Town centre: — supermarket, pharmacy and restaurants steps away
• Directly on the Camino: — walk out the door and follow the yellow arrows

Activities for kids along the Camino

• Pilgrim journal: draw, stick stamps, write a Camino diary

• Nature treasure hunt: collect leaves, count hórreos, spot scallop shells

• Camino legends: age-appropriate stories

• Reward stops: ice cream in Melide, river splash at Ribadiso

• Photography: give them a camera for their own Camino photos

• Counting kilometres: waymarkers as a countdown to Santiago

Final tips

• Do not obsess over distance.: 8 km in a day is perfectly fine.
• Book accommodation ahead.: You cannot improvise with children.
• Start with the last 100 km.: Sarria to Santiago: manageable stages and a guaranteed Compostela.
• Listen to your kids.: A taxi between villages is not cheating. Services like Taxi Castro in Palas de Rei make these short hops easy.
• Celebrate the arrival.: Let the children experience Santiago Cathedral their way.

The Camino de Santiago with kids is a different version and, for many families, the most meaningful one. If you are looking for family accommodation, Casa Andaina in Palas de Rei is waiting for you.