Do you need a sleeping bag on the Camino?

The time of year that you choose to walk the Camino de Santiago may influence your decision as to whether you pack a sleeping bag or not. If you are walking in off-season, any time before March or after September, then you may wish to carry a lightweight sleeping bag rather than sleep sheet.



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You can sleep in pilgrim hostels which are often the cheapest option. The donativo is an accommodation that is not “free” if you respect your host who will give you most of the time food and a place to sleep, but you can give your fair price.

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One pair of nighttime shorts/pants You will often wear them to dinner both in the albergues and out in restaurants. And there will be days when everything is dirty, so you wear your nighttime pants and t-shirt on the trail. For this reason, I recommend quick-dry clothes even for bedtime.

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While not as common, some pilgrims opt to carry a tent and camp along the way. It offers a close connection to nature, though it's essential to camp in designated areas and respect the environment.

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Public bathrooms are not frequent on the Camino de Santiago. But, cafes, restaurants and bars are frequent, you may find one or two during the day, and these all have bathrooms that customers can use.

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Mornings on the Camino This was mainly around 6-7am with a quick half hour to brush teeth and get ready for the day before setting off. Most Pilgrims stay in an albergue or hostel, where they'll have access to a shared kitchen to prepare breakfast if they want.

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Most albergues do not supply sheets and towels, so plan to bring a lightweight one-season sleeping bag and pack towel. If you really want to save weight, consider carrying just a sleeping bag liner if you are walking in summer.

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Albergues (Pilgrim Hostels) The system of pilgrim hostels (known in Spanish as “albergues”) are a unique feature of the camino, especially the Camino Francés, which allow pilgrims to sleep in dormitory-style accommodations for arou d €8-20 per night.

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Each pilgrim provides his or her own bedding, which is usually either a sleeping bag or sleep sack. Most albergues have blankets and pillows available for use, and some offer disposable sheets. Pilgrims are also expected to provide their own toiletries and towel.

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I will not recommend wearing heavy, waterproof boots on a hot dry Camino in summertime (July/August). Walking in the shoulder season (May, June, and September), can be good, but rain is possible. We walked a very wet Camino Primitivo during this time and waterproof boots worked fantastically.

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Of course, there are some nice spots where a couple of friends were able to camp, like a small secluded beach on the Camino del Norte, but in general they were forced to pitch their tent in the garden of some albergues. It must be said that wild camping is not welcome in Spain.

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In general, it is not allowed to camp in a vehicle outside of designated areas. The Spanish government's position is that if you're not in a designated camping area, you're wild camping, regardless of whether you're sleeping in a tent or a vehicle.

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