Camino Francés - Day 23: León to Hospital de Órbigo
I started early to avoid walking in the heat. Leaving León through an industrial area with a slight uphill. I wanted to visit the basilica in La Virgen del Camino, but it wasn’t open yet, so I just looked around and moved on. There was an option to take a longer alternative route that adds extra 3km, but since my planned walk was already 32km, I stuck to the main path. The route passed through towns every few kilometers, offering plenty of rest spots, but it mostly ran alongside a busy road so I pushed on instead of taking much of a break.
Reaching Hospital de Órbigo was a relief after walking next to traffic all day. The highlight was the medieval bridge, once used for jousting—I had fun imagining the matches as I crossed it. After checking into my albergue, I went to a nearby supermarket, got lunch, and relaxed in the large yard.
Route Overview
Distance: 33.76 km (Hostel Quartier León Jabalquinto → Albergue Verde)
Total elevation gain: 199 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 6 hr 51 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Cost Breakdown
Accommodation: Albergue Verde (Reserved via WhatsApp) — €16
Food: €25.7
