Place to visit
Camino de Santiago, Germany: what it is and when to go
The first stretch of the German Way of St James from Fulda to Mainz. It starts in the episcopal city of Fulda and heads for the Kinzig valley as far as Wächtersbach. Wooded hills and villages with stone churches, without great difficulty. The best time to visit is April to October. In June there are 16 h 11 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 49. 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 Fulda - Frankfurt - Mainz (Teilstrecke Fulda - Wächtersbach)
- Where
- Germany
- Best time
- April to October.
- Nearest airport
- FRA Frankfurt am Main, 78 km as the crow flies
- Website
- jakobswege-europa.de
- Trail network
- International
- Run by
- Fränkische St. Jakobus-Gesellschaft Würzburg e.V. (c/o Ökumenische Initiative „Jakobsweg von der Fulda an den Main“) und dem Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund
- Coordinates
- 50.4061, 9.48447
What you will see here
- The start from Fulda's historic centre and its Baroque quarter
- The forests and hills of eastern Hesse, with gentle climbs
- Kinzigtal villages with fountains and stage churches
- Waymarkers and shells at track junctions
Accommodation is scarce between villages: phone ahead, especially if you're walking on weekdays out of season.
What it is and where
Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Jakobsweg Fulda - Frankfurt - Mainz (Teilstrecke Fulda - Wächtersbach)) in Germany (Schlüchtern).
It is in Schlüchtern, where this site lists 21 more places to see, 9.5 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 50.4061, 9.48447; the nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA, Frankfurt am Main), 78 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
- International
- Run by
- Fränkische St. Jakobus-Gesellschaft Würzburg e.V. (c/o Ökumenische Initiative „Jakobsweg von der Fulda an den Main“) und dem Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund
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.
Best from April to October. With snow or mud the forest tracks become slow going.
- JanPossible8:16
- FebPossible9:47
- MarPossible11:33
- AprBest time13:32
- MayBest time15:14
- JunBest time16:11
- JulBest time15:48
- AugBest time14:18
- SepBest time12:21
- OctBest time10:26
- NovPossible8:42
- DecPossible7:49
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 16 h 11 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 49. 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
- Hessenweg 5 (Teilstück Taufstein - Bad Brückenau)Hiking1.5 km
- In der Kiesel bei HintersteinauNature reserve in Hesse, Germany3.5 km
- BergwinkelmuseumMuseum in Schlüchtern, Hesse, Germany7.1 km
- Kloster SchlüchternMonastery7.3 km
- ReffenstraßeHiking7.6 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 Fulda - Frankfurt - Mainz (Teilstrecke Fulda - Wächtersbach) 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 11 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 49.
How do you get to Camino de Santiago?
The nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA), 78 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 Hessenweg 5 (Teilstück Taufstein - Bad Brückenau), In der Kiesel bei Hintersteinau, Bergwinkelmuseum. The rest is in the Germany guide.
Keep reading
- Schlüchtern21 places to see in and around Schlüchtern, Germany: Große Haube, Großer Nickus, Stiftes. 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.