# Camino de Santiago, Germany: what it is and when to go > A stage of the Franconian Way of St James between Lichtenfels and Bamberg, via Zapfendorf. It follows the Main valley through open countryside and villages, and ends in Bamberg's old town. It's waymarked and takes one or two days. The best time to visit is April to October. In June there are 16 h 07 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 52. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/frankischer-jakobsweg-lichtenfels-bamberg/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain · Hiking - **Local name:** Fränkischer Jakobsweg Lichtenfels-Bamberg - **Where:** Germany - **Best time:** April to October. - **Nearest airport:** FRA Frankfurt am Main, 171 km as the crow flies - **Trail network:** National - **Distance:** 46.6 km - **Coordinates:** 50.01859, 10.9494 ## What you will see here - The start from Lichtenfels, within sight of the Basilica of Vierzehnheiligen and Banz Abbey - The Main valley among fields and groves - The arrival in Bamberg's historic centre - Village churches and chapels of the Franconian way > A railway runs along the Main valley parallel to the route, so you can shorten the stretch or return to the start without retracing your steps. ## What it is and where Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Fränkischer Jakobsweg Lichtenfels-Bamberg) in Germany (Wattendorf). [Weg 1003b] Jakobsweg Lichtenfels-Zapfendorf-Bamberg It is in [Wattendorf](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/wattendorf/), where this site lists 30 more places to see, 13 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 50.01859, 10.9494; the nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA, Frankfurt am Main), 171 km as the crow flies. How to get around Germany (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=50.018592%2C10.949397) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=50.018592%2C10.949397) - **Trail network:** National - **Distance:** 46.6 km It is one of the [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/senderismo/) places in Germany. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Camino de Santiago is **April to October**. Spring to autumn. In Bamberg, bear in mind that in summer and at festival time accommodation sells out. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 8 h 19 | | February | Possible | 9 h 49 | | March | Possible | 11 h 33 | | April | Best time | 13 h 31 | | May | Best time | 15 h 11 | | June | Best time | 16 h 07 | | July | Best time | 15 h 44 | | August | Best time | 14 h 16 | | September | Best time | 12 h 21 | | October | Best time | 10 h 27 | | November | Possible | 8 h 44 | | December | Possible | 7 h 52 | In June there are 16 h 07 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 52. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Germany in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Germany To enter Germany there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Germany checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 110 police. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Filialkirche](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/heilige-drei-konige/): Cultural heritage monument D-4-71-214-27 (0) in Zapfendorf, Bavaria · 1.7 km - [Filialkirche](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/st-maria-magdalena/): Cultural heritage monument D-4-71-214-89 (0) in Zapfendorf, Bavaria · 2.1 km - [Schloss Unterleiterbach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/schloss-unterleiterbach/): Château · 2.1 km - [Brauhof Rattelsdorf](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/brauhof-rattelsdorf/): Brewery · 4.7 km - [Ebensfelder Brauhaus](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/ebensfelder-brauhaus/): Brewery · 5.4 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Germany guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/). ## More in Germany: Hiking - [Camino de Santiago](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/camino-de-santiago/): Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain - [E3 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/ruta-europea-caminar-e3/): walking path - [E9 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/europaischer-fernwanderweg-e9-deutschland-schleswig-holstein/): walking path, Europe - [E1 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/european-long-distance-path-e1/): walking path - [Via Alpina](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/via-alpina/): hiking route across the Alps from Trieste to Monaco - [Dreisesselberg](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/dreisessel/) Every Germany place under Hiking, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/senderismo/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Camino de Santiago? It is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Fränkischer Jakobsweg Lichtenfels-Bamberg in the local language) in Germany. ### When is the best time to visit Camino de Santiago? April to October. In June there are 16 h 07 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 52. ### How do you get to Camino de Santiago? The nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA), 171 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=50.018592%2C10.949397) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Germany is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Germany map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Filialkirche](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/heilige-drei-konige/), [Filialkirche](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/st-maria-magdalena/), [Schloss Unterleiterbach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/schloss-unterleiterbach/). The rest is in [the Germany guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/alemania/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/157064), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41150), CC0. More about Camino de Santiago on [Wikipedia](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakobsweg). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).