Camino de Santiago, Germany: what it is and when to go

What you will see here

• Cologne Cathedral at the end of the stretch, home of the Shrine of the Three Kings
• The hills and forest of the Bergisches Land on the way out of Lindlar
• Village chapels and churches linked to the cult of St James along the Heidenstraße
• The shift from open country to urban outskirts on the descent towards the Rhine

There's no network of pilgrim hostels as in Spain: book accommodation in the villages before setting off, because some stages have nothing open.

What it is and where

Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Jakobs-Pilgerweg Heidenstraße (Teilstück Lindlar - Köln)) in Germany (Lindlar).

Leipzig - Halle - Kassel - Korbach - Winterberg - Schmallenberg - Elspe - Attendorn- Meinerzhagen - Marienheide - Köln

It is in Lindlar, where this site lists 104 more places to see, 13 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 50.97793, 7.17187; the nearest main airport is Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, Düsseldorf), 45 km as the crow flies. How to get around Germany (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.

Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)

Trail network

National

It is one of the Hiking places in Germany. In Kokai 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.

In spring and autumn the dirt surfaces of the Bergisches Land hold up better; it's a rainy area, and in winter the forest stretches are muddy.

In June there are 16 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 43. 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.

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. Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 110 police.

In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

What is nearby

• X30 Neandertalweg [Bergisch-Gladbach]Hiking800 m
• Bensberg CastleChâteau in Germany1.4 km
• [<9] Wanderweg 9 des KEV Bergisch GladbachHiking1.7 km
• X11a Rheinischer Weg Bergisch GladbachHiking1.8 km
• Cardinal Schulte HouseConvention centre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne1.9 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Germany guide.

More in Germany: Hiking

• Camino de Santiago: Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
• E3 European long distance path: walking path
• E9 European long distance path: walking path, Europe
• E1 European long distance path: walking path
• Via Alpina: hiking route across the Alps from Trieste to Monaco
• Dreisesselberg

Every Germany place under Hiking, each with its season, is on its page.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• Lindlar104 places to see in and around Lindlar, Germany: Bensberg Castle, Altenberger Dom, Strunde. Best time: April to October.
• Hiking4887 places for hiking in Germany, from Camino de Santiago to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: April to October. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
• GermanyBefore travelling to Germany: 6 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. For Spanish citizens, entry only takes an ID card (DNI).
• Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.