Place to visit
Camino de Santiago, Germany: what it is and when to go
A German stretch of the Way of St James that runs from Erfurt, in Thuringia, down to Coburg, in Franconia. It's waymarked with the pilgrim shell and links with other routes heading south and towards Switzerland. It crosses open country, forest and small villages, with very few people compared to the Spanish routes. The best time to visit is April to October. In June there are 16 h 13 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 47. 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.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain · Hiking
- Local name
- Jakobsweg Erfurt - Coburg
- Where
- Germany
- Best time
- April to October.
- Nearest airport
- FRA Frankfurt am Main, 190 km as the crow flies
- Trail network
- National
- From
- Erfurt
- To
- Coburg
- Run by
- Deutsche St. Jakobus-Gesellschaft Region Mitteldeutschland
- Coordinates
- 50.61637, 11.07178
What you will see here
- The start in Erfurt, with its cathedral and the Merchants' Bridge
- The transition from farming Thuringia to the Franconian Forest
- Village churches and former pilgrim hospices along the way
- The arrival in Coburg, beneath the Veste Coburg fortress
Pilgrim infrastructure is sparse: book a bed in advance, especially in the small villages.
What it is and where
Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Jakobsweg Erfurt - Coburg) in Germany (Stadtilm).
[Weg 1003]
It is in Stadtilm, where this site lists 45 more places to see, 12 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 50.61637, 11.07178; the nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA, Frankfurt am Main), 190 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
- From
- Erfurt
- To
- Coburg
- Run by
- Deutsche St. Jakobus-Gesellschaft Region Mitteldeutschland
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.
Spring to autumn. In winter some forest stretches have snow and few places to stay are open.
- JanPossible8:14
- FebPossible9:46
- MarPossible11:33
- AprBest time13:33
- MayBest time15:16
- JunBest time16:13
- JulBest time15:50
- AugBest time14:19
- SepBest time12:22
- OctBest time10:25
- NovPossible8:40
- DecPossible7:47
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 16 h 13 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 47. 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
- Familienbrauerei H. SchmiedeknechtBrewery2.1 km
- Barigauer HöheNature · Mountains2.9 km
- Langer BergNature · Mountains3.7 km
- Thüringen, Der Lange BergHiking4.8 km
- SchulberghütteHiking5.8 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
What is Camino de Santiago?
It is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Jakobsweg Erfurt - Coburg 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 13 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 47.
How do you get to Camino de Santiago?
The nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA), 190 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Germany is explained in its country guide.
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 Familienbrauerei H. Schmiedeknecht, Barigauer Höhe, Langer Berg. The rest is in the Germany guide.
Keep reading
- Stadtilm45 places to see in and around Stadtilm, Germany: Paulinzella Abbey, Bach Church, Arnstadt, Liebfrauenkirche, Arnstadt. 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.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Camino de Santiago on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.