Camino de Santiago by car

There are at least four ways to Santiago: the French Way, the Silver Way, the Portuguese Way and the North Way. All of them offer great driving routes, but we are focusing on the best-known today... Do you feel like driving the French Way of St James?

If we need to hire a car our trip will start in Pamplona, about an hour south of Roncesvalles. Logroño is an hour from Pamplona, and we will spend our first night here. Administrative capital of the Rioja region, I would go for a hotel in the city centre to make sure no-one will have to drive after dealing with the best wines in Spain.

Burgos could well be the next stop, but there is little to see in Burgos aside from the Cathedral. I'd rather visit the Museum of Human Evolution in the nearby Atapuerca. Staying in Burgos is the best option, so you can see the Cathedral.

Burgos Cathedral - you've seen it.

The drive between Burgos and León is just two hours, so you should be in León in time to see the Cathedral and San Isidoro (the Sistine Chapel of Romanesque Art) before tasting the local tapas (some say they are the best in Spain).

San Isidoro's Royal Pantheon

Astorga is less than an hour from León, and I would choose a hotel with spa to experience the Camino like the pilgrims do (though they'll go to the spa for a different reason). The Cathedral of Astorga and the Episcopal Palace by Gaudi are a must in Astorga. There are a couple of restaurants in the city worth the visit (Serrano and La Peseta), but if you are the ox-beef meat kind of person your restaurant is a half-hour from Astorga, El Capricho (probably the best steak in the world).

I'd spend the next morning in the spa before heading to Castrillo de los Polvazares to taste a true maragato stew. You can get to Ponferrada following the Camino, but I'd rather go back to Astorga and use the highway. You'll miss Foncebadón, but both you and the pilgrims will be safer.

There is little to see in Ponferrada, and a Parador in Villafranca del Bierzo, a charming village with lots to see and little to do.

The next stop is Lugo, the city with the Roman walls. I wouldn't hurry. On your way to Lugo you can wander around the Ancares, After that you are already in Galicia, and one day far from Santiago. Lugo is an old town that used to be much more important 2,000 years ago, but you will find affordable hotels and restaurants.

The trip to Santiago de Compostela is just 90 minutes, and once you get to Santiago you are free to indulge yourself...