Nájera

Camino de Santiago stage town on Camino Francés

Nájera, in La Rioja Alta, is the classic end of the long Logroño stage on the Camino Francés — about 29 km through vineyards via Navarrete and the gentle climb to the Alto de San Antón, with only modest elevation change but little shade on hot days. Pilgrims cross the bridge over the Río Najerilla into the old quarter, squeezed between the river and red sandstone cliffs riddled with man-made caves once used as refuges. In the 10th and 11th centuries Nájera was a royal seat of the Kingdom of Pamplona-Nájera. Legend says that in 1044 King García Sánchez III followed his falcon, chasing a partridge, into a cave and found an image of the Virgin with a vase of lilies, a lamp and a bell; he founded the Monastery of Santa María la Real on the spot, consecrated in 1052. Today you can visit the cave at the back of the Gothic church (built 1422–1453), the royal pantheon of Navarrese kings and queens, and the 16th-century Cloister of the Knights. The municipal albergue on Plaza de Santiago, just after the bridge, is run by volunteers and cannot be reserved (first come, first served); several private albergues are also in town. Azofra is about 6 km on and Santo Domingo de la Calzada about 21 km.

• 184 kmfrom route start
• 498 mElevation
• 5 · 6albergues · hotels
• 27.9 kmfrom Logroño
• 21.1 kmto Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Highlights

• End of the ~29 km vineyard stage from Logroño via Navarrete
• Monastery of Santa María la Real, founded by García Sánchez III and consecrated in 1052
• The legendary cave of the Virgin, the royal pantheon and the Cloister of the Knights
• Old quarter between the Río Najerilla and red cliffs dotted with man-made caves
• Volunteer-run municipal albergue on Plaza de Santiago (no reservations); Azofra ~6 km on

Albergues in Nájera

• Albergue Puerta de Nájera
• Albergue Calle Mayor
• Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal de Nájera
• Albergue de Peregrinos Sancho III - La Judería
• Albergue El Peregrino

Hotels & guesthouses in Nájera

• Najera ↗
• Hotel San Fernando
• Hostal Hispano
• Pension San Lorenzo
• Hostal Ciudad de Nájera
• Albergue Nido de Cigüeña

Lodging names from OpenStreetMap; check availability before you walk.

Stages through Nájera

Nearby towns

Nearby stages

Frequently asked questions

Where can I stay in Nájera?

5 albergues and 6 hotels in Nájera.

How far is Nájera from Logroño?

27.9 km from Logroño, 21.1 km to Santo Domingo de la Calzada on the Camino Francés.