Place to visit
Camino de Santiago, Switzerland: what it is and when to go
A Swiss stretch of the Way of St James that runs from Basel into the Jura, following the Birs valley to Laufen. You walk between limestone villages, forest and meadows, with the usual Swiss trail signage and the scallop shell as reference. It's a transitional stage: few steep climbs and plenty of train and bus connections. The best time to visit is May to October. In June there are 15 h 44 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 16. 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
- Chemin de Compostelle, Basel -Laufen
- Where
- Switzerland
- Best time
- May to October.
- Nearest airport
- BRN Bern, 63 km as the crow flies
- Website
- camino-europe.eu
- Trail network
- International
- From
- Basel
- To
- Laufen
- Coordinates
- 47.48013, 7.56161
What you will see here
- The start from Basel's old town, beside the Rhine
- The Birs valley, wedged between limestone walls
- The villages of the Laufental and their wayside churches
- The finish in Laufen, with a station for the train back
The railway runs alongside almost the whole way, so you can split the stage at any intermediate station and get back easily.
What it is and where
Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Chemin de Compostelle, Basel -Laufen) in Switzerland (Basel).
It is in Basel, where this site lists 144 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 47.48013, 7.56161; the nearest main airport is Bern Airport (BRN, Bern), 63 km as the crow flies. How to get around Switzerland (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
- From
- Basel
- To
- Laufen
It is one of the Hiking places in Switzerland. 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 May to October.
It works best from spring to autumn; in winter the valley floor tends to be damp, with ice on the shaded stretches.
- JanPossible8:39
- FebPossible10:01
- MarPossible11:35
- AprPossible13:23
- MayBest time14:54
- JunBest time15:44
- JulBest time15:24
- AugBest time14:04
- SepBest time12:19
- OctBest time10:35
- NovPossible9:02
- DecPossible8:16
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 15 h 44 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 16. 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 Switzerland in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to Switzerland
To enter Switzerland there are 7 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Switzerland checklist. Currency: Swiss franc (CHF); plugs: Type J · 230 V · 50 Hz (the European type C fits; the three-pin Schuko doesn't); emergencies: 112 · 117 police · 144 ambulance · 1414 air rescue (Rega).
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
- ViaSurprise - Etappe 6Hiking1.2 km
- Frohberg CastleCastel in Aesch in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland1.4 km
- Schalberg RuinsCastle ruins in Pfeffingen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland1.8 km
- Ruins EngensteinCastle ruins in Pfeffingen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland1.9 km
- Ruins MünchsbergCastle ruins in Pfeffingen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland2.2 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Switzerland guide.
More in Switzerland: Hiking
- Camino de Santiago: Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Säntis: peak in northeastern Switzerland
- Lake Baldegg: lake in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
- E1 European long distance path: walking path
- Monte Rosa Hut: mountain hut
- Tour du Mont Blanc: long distance hiking route in France, Italy and Switzerland
Every Switzerland 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 (Chemin de Compostelle, Basel -Laufen in the local language) in Switzerland.
When is the best time to visit Camino de Santiago?
May to October. In June there are 15 h 44 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 16.
How do you get to Camino de Santiago?
The nearest main airport is Bern Airport (BRN), 63 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Switzerland is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Switzerland 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 ViaSurprise - Etappe 6, Frohberg Castle, Schalberg Ruins. The rest is in the Switzerland guide.
Keep reading
- Basel144 places to see in and around Basel, Switzerland: Kunstmuseum Basel, Three Countries Bridge, Basel Minster. Best time: December to March and May to October.
- Hiking1112 places for hiking in Switzerland, from Camino de Santiago to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: May to October. Each with its own season by altitude and dayligh
- SwitzerlandBefore travelling to Switzerland: 7 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. Switzerland is in Schengen but not in the EU or the European Economic Area, and tha…
- 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.