albergue camino
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What is an albergue?

The word albergue comes from Spanish and means a shelter or hostel. I first encountered this term on the Camino de Santiago (and I will discuss it in this context; and here I explain what the Camino is). So an albergue is a place where pilgrims (i.e. those traveling to Santiago) can get shelter.
When we used this form of accommodation, we always had to show our credentials – thanks to this, the owners saw that we were walking the Camino.

albergue camino

I would divide albergues into three types according to price:

  1. Expensive – usually private. Often, the offer includes several private rooms, with their own bathroom, etc. If these are occupied, there are also group rooms, but there are several people in such a room. Prices tend to range from around 30€* for a private room and €20 for a shared room
  2. Moderate – they are cheaper and the rooms are shared with a dozen or so people. The standard is also lower. Prices are usually around 10-15€
  3. For a donation – you give what you feel like. Most often, there is a box in a visible place where everyone puts as much as they can. In our experience, such places were the best – the people who ran them did it from the heart. These places had their own charm and soul. We could feel at home here. Twice we were lucky enough to get our own room! In the evening, together with other pilgrims, we ate dinner prepared by the owner. Every time we came across a place like this, I felt so inspired! However, it wasn’t always like this. Sometimes they were ordinary rooms with a dozen or so bunk beds, a bathroom and a microwave.
Breakfast in an albergue

I would recommend Camino to anyone! But unfortunately it has its „dark side”, especially when it comes to albergues. We liked to go in the morning, eat and rest at noon, and then continue hiking until the evening. But in the evenings it is difficult to find a place to sleep under the roof, because most pilgrims end their day in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we often had the impression that the Camino was a race from albergue to albergue.

albergue

We slept in a tent most of the time, but there were days when we used the albergue – one of us got sick, there was a storm, etc. It was often possible to make a reservation, so it’s worth calling and asking to be sure of sleeping in a bed 🙂 .
Sometimes, when booking by phone, not everyone could speak English, so it’s worth learning a few basic phrases or using a translator efficiently before the Camino.

I would come back to Camino just for the amazing atmosphere provided by the albergue. For warm, shared meals, for conversations over coffee, for the „Camino spirit” that the albergue gave ♥.

 

*prices are based on our own experience from the Camino del Norte route in 2023. Prices on other routes, during different months, etc. may vary 🙂

 

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