Alessandro Colao

The Camino Francés (French Way) is the most iconic and popular of the Camino de Santiago routes. Spanning roughly 780 to 790 km, it traditionally begins in the French Pyrenees town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, crosses into Spain, and finishes at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. 

The classic pilgrimage route typically takes 30 to 35 days to complete on foot and is broken down into about 36 daily stages. 

• The Route: The trail passes through the dramatic Pyrenees, the vineyards of La Rioja, the flat expanses of the Meseta, and the mountainous terrain of Galicia. Major cities along the way include Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, and León.
• Facilities: Because of its immense popularity, it boasts the most developed infrastructure, including a vast network of pilgrim hostels (albergues). 
• The Final Stretch: To receive your official certificate (Compostela), you only need to walk the final 100 km. The small town of Sarria is the most popular starting point for this. 

If you are planning to walk the French Way, tell me: I can help you break down the specific stages, budgeting, and preparation tips!

If you’re traveling through Italy, Spain, and the Camino de Santiago, convents, monasteries, and family-run bed & breakfasts are often the best value. Here’s a good guide:

Convents & Monasteries (€25–60 per night)

These are usually clean, quiet, safe, and often include breakfast.

Some excellent choices include:

• Rome – Religious guesthouses (€35–60)

• Assisi – Franciscan convents (€30–50)

• Loreto – Pilgrim houses (€25–45)

• Santiago de Compostela – Seminary and religious guesthouses from about €23–40 with breakfast.

• Carrión de los Condes (Camino) – The Monastery of Santa Clara offers guest rooms from about €22 for a single.

In Italy, many convent guesthouses typically charge €50–100 for two people, with breakfast often included, though simpler accommodations can cost less.

Bed & Breakfasts (€40–80 per night)

Family-run B&Bs are common throughout Italy and Spain and usually offer:

• Private bathroom

• Breakfast included

• Free Wi-Fi

• Local hosts with sightseeing advice

They often provide better value than chain hotels.

Camino de Santiago

The least expensive accommodations are:

• Municipal pilgrim hostels (albergues): €8–15

• Church/parish hostels: Donation or €10–15

• Private albergues: €15–25

• Religious guesthouses: €20–40

Since you’re planning to drive from Naples to Santiago de Compostela, I can also create a route that lists the best convents, monasteries, and affordable B&Bs at each overnight stop, keeping your accommodation budget around €40–60 per night while staying in interesting historic towns.

There are several reliable ways to find convents, monasteries, and inexpensive B&Bs before or during your trip.

For convents and monasteries:

• Monastery Stays specializes in religious guesthouses throughout Italy and parts of Europe.

• Santuario Hospitality (Ospitalità Religiosa) is one of Italy’s largest directories of convents, monasteries, and religious guesthouses. You can search by city, region, or date.

• Cammini d’Europa has information on pilgrim accommodations along many pilgrimage routes.

For the Camino de Santiago:

• Gronze is one of the best resources for albergues, monasteries, and pilgrim accommodations.

• Wise Pilgrim provides accommodation listings and route planning.

• Buen Camino App is a popular mobile app that helps pilgrims find nearby places to stay.

For affordable B&Bs:

• Booking.com lets you filter by “Bed and Breakfast,” price, guest rating, and breakfast included.

• Airbnb often has private rooms in family homes that are comparable in price to B&Bs.

A few tips that can save you money:

• Search using the Italian terms “Casa per Ferie” (holiday house) or “Ospitalità Religiosa” (religious hospitality). These often reveal convents that don’t appear on mainstream booking sites.

• Book directly with the property whenever possible. Many convents offer lower rates than third-party websites.

• If you’re traveling in September or October, reserve at least a few weeks in advance, especially in popular destinations and along the Camino.

Since you’re planning to drive from Naples to Santiago de Compostela, I can also prepare a day-by-day list of convents, monasteries, and B&Bs along your exact route, including approximate prices, parking availability, and contact information. That can make booking much easier.

October is an excellent time to make this trip. The weather is usually pleasant, there are fewer crowds than in summer, and religious guesthouses are generally easier to book. I would recommend reserving accommodations 2–3 months in advance for the more popular destinations.

Here’s an economical route from Naples to Santiago de Compostela with stays that typically cost €35–65 per night.

Day

Destination

Approx. Drive

Suggested Stay

1

Naples

—

Don Giustino Centre or Home San Francesco (religious guesthouse) 

2

Assisi

4 hrs

Franciscan convent guesthouse

3

Siena

2 hrs

Convent or family B&B

4

Lucca

2 hrs

Monastery guesthouse

5

Genoa

2½ hrs

Religious guesthouse

6

Nice, France

3 hrs

Budget B&B

7

Avignon

3 hrs

Monastery or convent stay

8

Carcassonne

3 hrs

Historic B&B

9

Pamplona

4 hrs

Pilgrim guesthouse

10

Burgos

2½ hrs

Monastery guesthouse

11

León

2 hrs

Pilgrim residence

12

O Cebreiro

2 hrs

Pilgrim hostel

13

Santiago de Compostela

2½ hrs

Seminary or monastery guesthouse

For your budget, expect approximately:

• Accommodation: €40–60/night

• Breakfast: usually included.

• Parking: available at most religious houses.

• Total lodging for 13 nights: roughly €550–750.

I can also create a much more detailed package for you that includes:

• 🗺️ Daily driving maps

• ⛪ Recommended convents and monasteries with contact information

• 💶 Estimated nightly prices

• 🚗 Parking information

• 🍽️ Affordable local restaurants

• 📍 The best sightseeing stops each day

• 📖 A printable 40–50 page travel guide that you can take with you.

I think this would make your October journey much easier and help keep your costs low while still seeing the best of Italy, southern France, northern Spain, and the Camino route.