One of the things that makes the Camino really special are the donativo albergues. They can be a bit rough around the edges, usually don’t take reservations, and they probably won’t entertain you sending your bags ahead. They are old school, often spartan and frugal, but full of love and generosity. They really capture the true spirit of the Camino.

I’ve put together a list and map of all the donativos along the Camino Francés, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago. Hopefully, I haven’t missed any. I’ve added notes for each one, with more photos and info on the ones I’ve been lucky enough to stay at.

If you’re walking the Camino in 2025, I’d definitely recommend staying in a few donativos. They bring something really special and spiritual to the journey. If you can, try to be very generous with your donation; it helps keep this beautiful tradition going and supports the volunteers who make it all possible.

The first donativo albergue you’ll pass on the Camino Francés is in Zabaldika, about 8 km before Pamplona. It’s easy to miss, so keep an eye out for a fork in the path that leads up a steep goat track. Follow it, and you’ll come to the 13th-century Church of San Esteban and the adjacent Albergue Parroquial de Zabaldika.

The albergue is run by the Sacred Heart Sisters and is one of the most heartfelt and spiritual stops on the Camino. If a sister is there when you arrive, she’ll welcome you with a warm smile, offer you a pilgrim blessing sheet to keep, and invite you to climb the old stone staircase to the bell tower, where you can ring the oldest bell in Navarra, dating back to 1377.

There are 18 beds, and there is a communal vegetarian dinner. When I stayed, we had lentil soup, tortilla, salad, and yoghurt. Everyone helped with cooking and cleaning up, which really added to the sense of community. After dinner, there was a short service and blessing in the church.

Betania in Pamplona is a new addition to the Camino. It opened in 2024, I think. It’s in a restored 17th-century convent building. I haven’t stayed there myself yet, but I’ve read great reports. It has 14 bunk beds, and it’s still a bit under the radar, so usually not full.

There’s a communal dinner each night, and afterward pilgrims are invited into the attached baroque church for some quiet reflection and music.

It’s run, by Father César, and it sounds like a place with real heart.

Albergue Parroquial San Miguel is centrally located in Estella, in a modern-looking building on Calle Mercado Viejo 18, just a short walk from the historic Church of San Miguel Arcángel and also the town center. The albergue has 32 beds spread across two dorms. It’s open from April to October and offers a warm, communal vibe, with shared evening meals and pilgrim blessings. Facilities include a kitchen, laundry, Wi-Fi, and safe bike storage.

Albergue Parroquial Santa María in the heart of Viana, beside the beautiful Iglesia de Santa María on Plaza de los Fueros. It’s been closed for the past few years while the church is being renovated, and as far as I know, it’ll stay closed through 2025 as well.

Albergue Parroquial Santiago El Real is a traditional donativo in the centre of Logroño, attached to the Iglesia de Santiago. It offers simple, communal accommodation for around 30 pilgrims, some bunks, some mats and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Meals are shared, and there’s usually an evening prayer in the church, which you reach through a little tunnel that links the albergue to the church.

Albergue Parroquial San Juan Bautista is one of my absolute favourite resting places on the Camino Francés. It’s tucked away behind the church in the small village of Grañón; you have to walk around the back to find the entrance. Then you climb up this old spiral stone staircase that feels like something straight out of a castle.

From the moment you arrive, it’s warm and welcoming. There’s usually a pot of soup bubbling away and someone offering you tea. You’re given a mat and can choose where to sleep, either in the attic above the kitchen or down in the cozy basement.

Dinner is a shared meal that everyone helps prepare. There’s plenty of wine, and if the weather’s good, it’s served in the little garden outside, the atmpshere is very festive.

After dinner, everyone is invited to a candlelight reflection in the upper church choir loft. It’s a quiet, meaningful moment where people can share thoughts and intentions. It brings everyone together in a really beautiful way.

The Albergue Parroquial in Belorado is a simple, frugal donativo run by the Swiss Camino Friends, right beside the church. It’s basic, no Wi-Fi, but it’s warm and welcoming.

Tosantos is about 25 km from Grañón and has a similar feel, just a little quieter. It’s run by José Luis, who’s deeply committed to keeping the true spirit of the Camino alive.

Like in Grañón, there are no beds—just mats on the floor of the old albergue. Before dinner, we were taken on a tour of the little church built into the caves above the village, which was really interesting.

After dinner, we were invited to a candlelit reflection. Each pilgrim wrote a personal message on a card, sharing reasons for walking, personal challenges, or moments of joy. These cards were then stored away, and we drew messages written by past pilgrims. Reading their words aloud was very moving; there were lots of tears.

Tardajos is a small village just 10 km past Burgos. The donativo Albergue de Peregrinos de Tardajos is run by volunteer hospitaleros from the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Madrid. It has 18 beds spread across a few dorms, and there’s also a lovely garden terrace out back, it’s a quiet spot.

The albergue at the ruins of San Antón is one of the most special places to stay on the Camino Francés. Set inside the remains of a 14th century monastery, it offers a rare chance to sleep beneath ancient stone arches, surrounded by history.

It’s small and rustic, with about ten beds and no electricity or WiFi, which adds to the quiet, timeless feel. Pilgrims share a simple dinner by candlelight and connect over stories in this peaceful setting. Walking through the old archway—part of the Camino itself—is something you won’t forget. If you’re looking for a stay that feels spiritual and meaningful, San Antón is well worth it.

Next is Ermita de San Nicolás, another epic donativo on the Meseta. It’s in a restored 13th-century chapel run by the Italian Confraternity of San Jacopo and offers one of the most unique and spiritual experiences on the Camino.

There are just 12 beds, no electricity, and everything is lit by candlelight. It’s quiet, simple, and completely removed from the noise of everyday life. You will disconnect without even trying.

The Italian volunteers cooked an excellent communal meal, one of the best I had on the Camino. Before dinner, they held a traditional foot-washing ceremony. The hospitaleros gently washed and dried each pilgrim’s feet, an old ritual of service and humility.

And if you’re into stargazing, this is the place. No light pollution, no noise, just the Milky Way stretching across the sky.

Staying at Ermita de San Nicolás isn’t just a night’s rest, it’s something more. One of the most peaceful nights I’ve ever had. I think I left there a little different than when I arrived.❤️

The Albergue de Peregrinos San Roque in Calzada del Coto is a municipal, donation-based hostel exclusively for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Located in the village center, it offers 18 beds across two dormitories and operates year-round.

I stayed at the Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral in Bercianos del Real Camino in 2024, and it really left an impression on me. It’s set in a beautiful old rectory at the edge of a quiet farming town. Dinner was simple but decent, the evening reflection was peaceful, and afterwards we all went out stargazing. There was a real sense of community here with lots of hugs.

I really like the Albergue de Peregrinos de Calzadilla de los Hermanillos, it’s along the Vía Trajana, the quieter route between Sahagún and León that follows the old Roman road. The stretch through here has a real sense of solitude, and that’s exactly why I love it, just you and the wide open Meseta. The albergue has 34 beds in shared dorms, run by volunteer hospitaleros from the Federación Española, and I think it’s open year-round.

The Albergue de Peregrinos Doménico Laffi in El Burgo Ranero is managed by volunteer hospitaleros from the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de León. While it doesn’t offer communal meals, it provides a well-equipped kitchen and dining area for pilgrims to prepare their own food. The albergue is housed in a traditional adobe building and offers 30 beds across shared dormitories. It operates year-round, with volunteer hospitaleros present from spring through late summer.

The Albergue de Peregrinos Don Antonino y Doña Cinia in La Virgen del Camino is a municipal donativo with 40 beds, just a short walk from the Basilica. It’s open from April to October in a modern building on the edge of León. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it’s peaceful and usually quiet, since most pilgrims stay in the city. If you’re looking for a low-key alternative to busy León, this could be a great option.

The Albergue de Peregrinos de Villadangos del Páramo is about 20 km past León on the main route that follows the road. I’ve always taken the quieter scenic option, so I haven’t stayed here myself, but it sounds like a nice stop with 48 beds in a renovated school building and open all year.

La Bohème is different from most other donativos, which are usually run by volunteers and often have a religious energy. This place feels more like a private albergue that just happens to operate on a donativo model.

It’s run by David from France, who’s incredibly generous and welcoming. People seem so happy when they leave that they probably end up donating more than they would have paid if there was a set price.

The place is cool, funky, and fun, with a laid-back, slightly hippie atmosphere. David is very much the host and entertainer, he even joined us for dinner. He’s also a talented singer, and with all the instruments lying around, a jam session can start at any moment.

When we stayed, the vegetarian risotto was excellent. There was plenty of wine, and the fridge was stocked with beer, soft drinks, pretty much anything you could want. We felt totally taken care of here. I would 100% recommend staying here.

Refugio Gaucelmo is one of my favourite donativos, right in the heart of Rabanal, a classic Camino village and absolutely beautiful. It’s run by the Confraternity of St James from the UK, and when I stayed there a few years ago, they served afternoon tea like something out of the British Raj.

Foncebadón was once a forgotten, abandoned, and crumbling village, made famous by Shirley MacLaine, Paulo Coelho, and the wild dogs they met along the way. But it has scrubbed itself up in recent years and now has a rustic charm, even a hint of Camino chic. At the far end of town, the Albergue Parroquial Domus Dei, housed in the old church, keeps the traditional spirit alive. With 18 beds and a warm, simple atmosphere, it welcomes pilgrims from April to October.

After Foncebadón, it’s a long, tough downhill slog to El Acebo, but worth it. The village is full of charm, with narrow streets and stone houses that feel like stepping back in time.

The Albergue Parroquial Apóstol Santiago is near the church and offers 22 beds in a communal dormitory. It’s open from April 1st to October 31st.

When I stayed there in 2024, they didn’t have a communal dinner, but they provided a basic breakfast of toast and coffee.

The Albergue Parroquial San Nicolás de Flüe in Ponferrada is one of the biggest albergues on the Camino, with around 180 beds for pilgrims with a credencial. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the city centre, has a peaceful garden and a chapel, and offers daily pilgrim blessings and Mass during the summer.

For such a big albergue, it was very well organised. There’s no communal meal, but the kitchen is well set up if you want to cook your own dinner.

Tucked away in the tiny village of Valtuille de Arriba, just before Villafranca del Bierzo, Acogida La Biznaga is a really charming spot. Run by Rocío and Susan, this cozy, donativo-based albergue has just 6 beds and is known for its genuine hospitality and peaceful setting. They serve a home-cooked communal dinner for €10 and offer breakfast by donation, creating a family-style atmosphere that many pilgrims cherish.

After leaving Triacastela, take the detour through Samos—it adds about 6 km to your walk but is well worth it for the peaceful forest paths and the chance to visit one of Galicia’s oldest monasteries. The Albergue del Monasterio de Samos is inside the monastery itself; it’s very spartan and no-frills, just a mattress in a basic dorm, but it’s a memorable and quiet place to stay. You can also take a guided tour of the monastery, which gives a real sense of its long history and monastic life.

The only donativo I found in the last 100 km stretch was Albergue La Fuente del Peregrino, a lovely little spot. It has about 10 beds, and I think they take reservations. It’s a Christian albergue run by a U.S. mission; alcohol is not allowed. Even if you’re not staying, it’s worth stopping by to say hi.