The Camino de Santiago routes in May
Do you want to do the Camino de Santiago in May? May is an ideal month to enjoy the landscapes on the Camino de Santiago. Spring paints the pilgrim routes with colours and the calm is still breathed along them.
In this post on our blog about the Camino de Santiago we would like to tell you what climatic conditions you will find on the main routes of the Camino de Santiago in May. We will also take advantage of most of the various festivals held in May in the different villages that cross the Jacobean routes.
Doing the Camino Frances in May
The Camino Frances to Santiago in May is quite lively because it is already high season. However, you will not yet find the crowds of pilgrims that are recorded in the summer months.
If you are interested in this route, you can check the characteristics of its stages in this article in which we dedicate a section to the Camino Frances. Without a doubt, May is one of the best months to visit the Camino Frances!
If you have already decided, and want to do the Camino de Santiago from Sarria, tell us details of the trip you want to take and we will gladly organize it for you.
The climate on the Camino Frances in May
May is a warm month. Most days you will enjoy temperatures around 20 degrees centigrade. Even on the Castilian plateau, where temperatures tend to be lower.
May festivals on the Camino Frances
With spring in all its splendour and proximity to summer, the festivities in the villages through which this famous pilgrim route crosses begin to proliferate. Here are some of them.
Roncesvalles in May
Whether you start the Camino de Santiago Frances from Sant Jean Pied de Port or from Roncesvalles, in May, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the events of worship to the Virgin of Roncesvalles that take place throughout this month.
Pilgrimage to the Virgin of Puy
At the end of stage 5 of the Camino Frances is Estella. This town celebrates on May 25th the pilgrimage of the Virgin of Puy. You will be surprised to see that the typical dress of this pilgrimage is very similar to that used in the San Fermin festivals in Pamplona.
Nájera
Nájera, a village on stage 8 of the tour is also partying in May. On May 1st, the town commemorates the proclamation of Ferdinand III as King of Castile and also holds a medieval market.
The festival of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo de la Calzada celebrates its patron saint festivities from 10th to 15th May. The festivities are declared of National Tourist Interest. In it, you will find many events based on local traditions and rites.
15th May on the Camino Frances
On May 15th you will find various towns on the Camino Frances that celebrate the Feast of San Isidro. Some of them are: Boadilla del Camino and Frómista (stage 15), Terradillo de los Templarios (stage 17) and Berciano del Real Camino (stage 18).
Second Sunday in May
The second Sunday in May is an ideal day to get to Melide. The town celebrates the Feast of the Melindre that day. It is one of the most important gastronomic festivals in the region, not in vain, these small doughnuts are very famous in Galicia.
The Camino Portugues in May
In May you will find beautiful landscapes on the Portuguese Way. The biggest difficulty of doing this route in May is to choose which of its two paths to follow.
The Central Camino Portugues has beautiful inland landscapes in May, while the warm spring temperatures invite you to follow the coast to enjoy its beautiful beaches. The good news is that they converge at different points, so if you have time you can enjoy both.
If you want to know more about these two routes, you can consult the article we dedicate about the Camino de Santiago Portuguese. We love both of them!
The Portuguese climate in May
Temperatures in Portugal, in May, are higher than in northern Spain. In May the average temperature of this route ranges between 18 and 22 degrees centigrade.
Despite the warm temperatures in Portugal, if you plan to finish your route in Santiago de Compostela, you will have to take with you some warm clothes and a rain jacket. In May the temperatures in Galicia are somewhat fresher and there is always the likelihood of rain.
What to do in May on the Camino Portugues
Along the Camino Portugues to Santiago, you will find various celebrations during the month of May. The village of Azambuja hosts the May Fair from 26th to 30th in that month.
The Queima das Fitas in Porto takes place during the first week of May, a week-long festival that, if you stop by, you cannot miss. It’s a party where college students who finish their studies burn their books. A great way to understand the strong influence of the student community in this city!
Redondela is the locality that holds the most events during the month of May. So it doesn’t matter when you pass through, you’ll find the Fiesta dos Maios, Fiesta del Choco or the International Puppet Festival, which is held at the end of the month.
Doing the Camino del Norte in May
May is a good month to enjoy the Cantabrian Sea, therefore it is also a good month to do the Camino del Norte. Beaches and mountains await you on this route!
If you want to know more about this route, you can check out our article on the Camino del Norte. In it, you will find links where you can learn more about what to see and what to do on this route.
The May climate on the Camino del Norte to Santiago
During the month of May, on this route you will find temperatures ranging from 12 to 15 degrees. This is a good month to do the tour because the chances of rain in May are lower than during previous months.
Celebrations during May on the Camino del Norte
On the Camino de Santiago del Norte, during the month of May, in addition to enjoying its beautiful landscapes and its beaches, you can participate in various popular festivals. Below we talk about the main celebrations that take place in May.
Irún in May
The beginning of the Camino del Norte, Irun, hosts two celebrations in May. One is the April Fair that is held the first week of the month. The other is the one known as Sagardo Eguna, a festival where you will have the opportunity to taste the best ciders in the region.
Deba and its festivals
Deba is a village that is located at the end of the third stage on the Camino del Norte. This town hosts three events in the month of May.
Pilgrimage Day takes place on the first Saturday in May. The third Sunday of the month is celebrated Debarra Day, where you can enjoy music, dances and other traditional activities. Finally, at the end of the month, theatre week is held in the Basque language.
Doing the Vía de la Plata in May
In another article on our blog we told you that La Vía de la Plata is the longest of all the pilgrim routes. Therefore, when talking about it, it refers to several sections, some of which have the title of Camino, such as the Camino Mozarabe or the Camino Sanabres.
The climate in May on the Via de la Plata
One of the best times of the year to do this very long route is in May. If you leave from the south in early May, you won’t find much heat. In fact, May is one of the last recommended months to do the southern sections of this route.
What to do in May on La Vía de la Plata
If in all Spain, in May, festivals already begin to proliferate in all towns, this fact becomes even more evident in the southern villages, where in May they already enjoy summer temperatures. Below we talk about the main festivities that you will find on the Route de la Plata during the month of May.
Almadén de Plata in May
Almadén de Plata is at the end of the third stage on the Via de la Plata, departing from Seville. In this town, you will find two events during the month of May. In the first fortnight the Cruz de Mayo is celebrated and the following weekend, the Pilgrimage of the Divine Shepherd.
San Isidro Labrador
The festivities of San Isidro Labrador are held on May 15th. On your route you will find various villages with pilgrimages and festivities in honour. Some of them are Monesterio (stage 4), Fuentes de Cantos (stage 5), Villafranca de los Barros (stage 7), Galisteo (stage 14), Baños de Montemayor (stage 16), Montemarta (stage 22), Granja de Moreruela (stage 23) and La Bañeza (stage 26).
Cáceres is extra busy in May
Cáceres is the place that holds the most events during the month of May. If you stop by, it won’t be hard to find a festival.
The city celebrates on May 1st the Pilgrimage of Santiago de Vencáliz. The first Sunday of the month is the Feast of Our Lady of the Mountain and the second is that of St. Lucia. In addition, during May the famous WOMAD Music Festival is organized in the city.
The Camino Primitivo to Santiago in May
May is a suitable month to make the Camino Primitivo. Temperatures are already much milder and the route ceases to be as inhospitable as during winter months.
The temperature on the Camino Primitivo in May
While at the highest points of the route you will still find temperatures below 10 degrees, for most of the route the thermometers will be around 15 or 20 degrees. The climate is ideal to face the climbs presented on the Camino Primitivo.
Festivals on the Camino Primitivo in May
During your trip along the Camino Primitivo, you will find two villages that celebrate their festivities in May. One is Grado, located at the end of the first stage. This town hosts the Flower Festival and the spring market in mid-May; and from 28th to 30th, the Skewer Contest.
Granjas de Salime is another place where you will find popular events during the month of May. On May 15th it celebrates the Feast of San Isidro and on the 29th, the Festival of Remedies.
Doing the Camino Ingles to Santiago in May
The biggest drawback you will find in May on the Camino Ingles is the rain, but in Galician lands it rains almost all year round, so May is not a different month. Don’t forget to wear waterproof clothing!
The Camino Ingles is an excellent route if you have a few days to escape onto the Camino de Santiago. The route can be completed in approximately 5 days. If you want to find out more about the stages on the Camino Ingles, you can check the article that we dedicate to the stages of this route.
If you decide to do the Camino Ingles in May, you will find various localities that host festivals during the month. In the first stage is Neda. A town that celebrates the Fires of San Ramón throughout May and June.
At the end of stage 2, in Betanzos, the second weekend of May the Wine Festival takes place. In Sigüeiro (stage 4) you will find the Trout Festival.
The Camino de Finisterre in May
The Camino de Finisterre is a particularly beautiful route. The peak season has not yet arrived on the Camino de Santiago, so in May you can enjoy a Camino de Finisterre much quieter than during the summer.
If you decide to do the Camino de Finisterre during the month of May, you may have the opportunity to witness the celebrations associated with the Day of the Muñeira. These festivities are held in Cee, a town located on the third stage of the route.
With all the data we have provided in this article and the information that you will find in the articles that we have been recommending, you know everything you need to know to do the Camino de Santiago in May. If you make your trip between May and June or between April and May, don’t forget to read the articles you’ll find on our Camino de Santiago blog about those months.
Before saying goodbye, we want to remind you that if you decide to find an agency specialized in the Camino that will help you organize your trip, in Santiago Ways we will be happy to do so. You can get in contact with us or leave us a comment in this article or in the Facebook page of Santiago Ways.
Buen Camino!
Thank you for this lovelly site concerning Spring time on the Santiagos Way. I definetely will go on may]jun!
Buen Camino <3
Hi, Adellia.
Thank you very much for your kind words. We’re so happy to be part of your research for the Camino de Santiago. We love to be as useful as possible for our pilgrims.
Please have in mind we’re always here to help you organizing any route of the Camino de Santiago once you decide when to start walking.
Best regards,
Santiago Ways Team