Best Time to Walk the Camino Portugués: May vs June

I’ve now walked the Camino Portugués twice: once in early May 2024 and again in early June 2026.

Before my second Camino de Santiago, I knew the experience would be different. The weather, crowds, and overall atmosphere naturally change as summer approaches, and I was curious to see how much of a difference just one month would make.

While both months are excellent times to walk the Camino, I definitely noticed some differences along the trail. So if you’re set on walking the Camino in spring but you’re trying to decide between May and June, here’s how they compare based on my own experiences.

Which month is better for the Camino Portugués: May or June?

Weather

Overall, both May and June offer good weather weather, temperature wise, for walking the Camino. I never felt like it was unbearably cold or hot in either month. Mornings were typically chilly and it got warmer throughout the day.

That being said, I experienced a wide range of weather on both of my Caminos. During my first Camino in May, it rained on almost every single day. There were a handful of beautiful sunny days, but for the most part I was pulling my poncho out everyday, and sometimes had it on all day long. Despite the rain, I found the temperatures were perfect for hiking. I never felt too hot, and even when my clothes got wet, I didn’t feel cold while walking.

June was noticeably warmer, but still very comfortable. We had a mix of sunny and partly cloudy days, and it only rained on one of the five days we were walking. However, don’t assume June always means warm weather. On our final morning leaving Padrón, it was only about 45°F (7°C). We were absolutely freezing until the sun came out a few hours later.

So if you don’t mind a high chance of rain, May offers perfect hiking temperatures. But if you’d rather have more sunshine and warm afternoons, June is a great choice.

Read more about walking the Coastal Camino Portugués in May here.

Crowds

The crowd level were definitely the biggest difference I noticed between my two Caminos.

When I walked the Camino in May 2024, the trail felt peaceful. Especially during the first week along the Portuguese coast, I often found myself walking alone for long stretches. There were almost always other pilgrims around, but it never felt crowded. I loved having the space to walk at my own pace, stop for photos, and enjoy the scenery without constantly running into large groups.

Walking the same route in June 2026 felt completely different. From the very first day, I noticed significantly more pilgrims on the trail. Cafés that had been almost empty two years earlier were now packed. I even found myself waiting more than 20 minutes to use the bathroom at one café. At almost every place we stopped at there were long lines for food, drinks, and stamps, something I rarely experienced during my first Camino.

That being said, I don’t think this difference is only because I walked in June. The Camino Portugués has become a lot more popular over the past few years. In fact, it has now surpassed the Camino Francés as the most popular Camino route. So while June is naturally a busier month than May, I also think the difference comes from the growth in popularity in the last two years.

Accommodation Availability

Because of the increase in crowds, I also noticed a difference in accommodation availability during my second Camino.

In May 2024, I booked most of my accommodations ahead of time, but I also changed my plans a few times along the way. I was able to cancel reservations and book highly-rated accommodations just a day or two before arriving without too much difficulty.

June 2026 was a bit more challenging. Even though I booked my accommodations about two weeks before starting, many of my first-choice hotels, homestays, and budget-friendly private rooms were already sold out. Finding accommodation in Santiago was especially difficult, and we ended up booking a hotel that was over our budget simply because there weren’t many options left.

If you’re planning to walk in June, I would definitely recommend booking earlier than you think you need to, especially if you have your heart set on certain albergues or hotels.

Packing

My Camino packing recommendations for May and June are pretty similar because the weather can be unpredictable in both months. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to pack plenty of layers.

For May, I would definitely bring a warm outer layer, such as a fleece or thermal jacket, since mornings and evenings can be chilly. I’d also recommend bringing hiking pants along with a second pair of comfortable pants to wear around your accommodation. Evenings in the albergues can get a bit cold.

In June, you can probably get away with just a lightweight sweater for cooler mornings. And if you’re someone who prefers hiking in shorts, you may not need to pack hiking pants at all.

No matter which month you choose, I would never walk the Camino without a poncho. The weather in northern Portugal and Galicia is usually wet and unpredictable. So even though I didn’t use the poncho on my second Camino in June, I’m very glad I packed it.

Read my full Camino de Santiago packing guide here.

Which Month Would I Choose to Walk the Camino?

If I had to choose between the two, I would pick May, the main reason being the difference in crowds.

While I still loved my June Camino, I found myself missing the quieter trails that I experienced in May. The longer lines at cafés and bathrooms and the larger number of pilgrims in general made the trail feel less peaceful.

That said, I definitely didn’t love the constant rain in May. There were moments when I wished I had chosen a drier month.

So when is the best time to walk the Camino Portugués?

If you hate crowds, walk the Camino in May.

If you hate rain, walk the Camino in June.

At the end of the day though, I don’t think you can go wrong with either month. In my opinion, spring is one of the best times to walk the Camino Portugués. Both May and June offer mild temperatures, beautiful scenery, and long daylight hours – everything you could hope for during a Camino!