Where to Sleep in Palas de Rei: Albergues, Hotels and Rural Houses

Accommodation in Palas de Rei: all the options

Palas de Rei is a key stop on the last 100 km of the Camino Francés. It sits at the end of the second stage from Sarria (after 47.5 km of walking over two days) and is the departure point for the longest stage of the final stretch: the 29 km to Arzúa.

The town has around 3,500 inhabitants and, thanks to the Camino, offers a varied range of accommodation for every budget. From public albergues at €8 to charming casas rurales on the outskirts.

Public albergues

Xunta de Galicia Albergue

• Price: €8 per night
• Beds: 60
• Facilities: Bunk beds, shared bathrooms, basic kitchen, heating
• Booking: Cannot be booked in advance (except in low season via the Camino app). First come, first served
• Hours: Opens at 13:00. In high season, arriving before 15:00 is recommended to secure a bed

Advantages

• The cheapest option
• A genuine pilgrim atmosphere, ideal for socialising
• Central location on the Camino

Drawbacks

• No advance booking in high season
• Large shared dormitories (snoring, noise)
• Curfew and lights-out time (usually 22:00)
• One night per pilgrim only

Private albergues

Private albergues offer a middle ground between the public albergue and a guesthouse. They tend to have smaller rooms, better upkeep and the option to book in advance.

General features

• Price: €12-18 (bunk bed), €30-45 (double room)
• Advantages: Advance booking, smaller rooms, sometimes breakfast included
• Typical facilities: WiFi, washing machine, dryer, lockers, rest area

There are several private albergues in Palas de Rei's town centre and surroundings. Some of the best-known are on the main street, following the Camino route.

Tip

Book in advance if you're coming in high season (May-October), especially at weekends. Private albergues in Palas de Rei fill up quickly because it's a strategic point on the Camino.

Guesthouses and hostals

Guesthouses (pensiones) are the ideal choice if you want a private room at a good price. Palas de Rei has several in the town centre.

General features

• Price: €30-55 per double room
• Facilities: Private room with bathroom, WiFi, some with their own restaurant
• Main advantage: Privacy and rest. After two days of walking, sleeping without other people's snoring is worth its weight in gold

What Palas de Rei guesthouses offer

• Clean, simple rooms
• Private bathroom in most
• Central location, just metres from the Camino
• Some include breakfast
• Friendly, personal service

Hotels

Palas de Rei has a few hotels offering a higher level of comfort.

General features

• Price: €50-90 per double room
• Facilities: Room with full bathroom, television, WiFi, restaurant, parking in some cases
• Best for: Pilgrims seeking total rest, couples, pilgrims with a more generous budget

Hotels in Palas de Rei tend to be on the main road or a few minutes from the centre. Some offer additional services such as spa or jacuzzi — something enormously appreciated after a long stage.

Casas rurales in the surrounding area

Casas rurales (rural houses) are an excellent option for pilgrims seeking tranquillity and contact with the Galician countryside. Around Palas de Rei there are several restored farmhouses offering rural accommodation with great charm.

General features

• Price: €45-80 per double room (depending on season and property)
• Facilities: Character-filled rooms, garden, green areas, breakfast with local produce in many
• Setting: Restored Galician stone houses, hórreos (traditional granaries), estates with fruit trees

Casa Andaina

A short distance from Palas de Rei you'll find Casa Andaina, a casa rural highly rated by pilgrims. It's a lovingly restored Galician stone house surrounded by nature with views of the typical inland Galician landscape. It offers comfortable rooms, breakfast with local produce and a peaceful atmosphere — perfect for resting before tackling the demanding stage to Arzúa.

For pilgrims looking for more than just a bed for the night, the casas rurales around Palas de Rei offer an experience that perfectly complements the Camino: authentic Galicia, away from the hustle and bustle.

What to see in Palas de Rei

Besides resting, Palas de Rei has some points of interest worth visiting:

Castle of Pambre

About 4 km from the centre of Palas de Rei stands the Castle of Pambre, one of the few Galician castles to survive the Irmandiño Wars of the 15th century. It's a 14th-15th century fortress in excellent condition, with a keep and walled enclosure. It can be visited (free entry) and the views from the top are spectacular.

It's a short trip you can do in the afternoon if you arrive in Palas with time to spare. If you'd rather not walk any more, a taxi from Palas de Rei will take you there and back in 15 minutes.

Church of San Tirso

In the centre of Palas de Rei, the parish church of San Tirso has a Romanesque doorway dating from the 12th century. Worth a quick stop.

The town itself

Palas de Rei is a living town, not just a Camino stop. It has supermarkets, pharmacies, ATMs, several restaurants with a menú del peregrino (pilgrim set menu, €10-13) and bars where you can try wines from Ribeira Sacra, one of the most spectacular wine regions in Galicia.

Where to eat dinner in Palas de Rei

After a long stage, dinner is sacred. Palas de Rei has several restaurants with a pilgrim set menu including a starter, main course, dessert, bread and a drink for €10-13.

What to try

• Pulpo á feira: Galicia's signature dish — tender octopus with olive oil, paprika and coarse salt
• Caldo gallego: A hearty soup with turnip greens, potatoes and pork fat. Wonderfully restorative after a day's walking
• Empanada gallega: Savoury pie filled with tuna, cockles or meat, depending on the day
• Queso de Arzúa-Ulloa: The local cheese with Denominación de Origen (protected designation). Creamy and mild
• Filloas: Galician crêpes, typical of the area. Served for dessert with honey or custard

Organise your logistics from Palas de Rei

Palas de Rei is a good base for organising the logistics of the days ahead:

• [Luggage transport](/servicios/transporte-equipaje): Send your backpack to Arzúa to walk the 29 km of the longest stage light
• [Taxi between stages](/taxi-palas-de-rei): If you need to shorten a stage or reach a point that's not on the route
• Day trips: The Castle of Pambre, the nearby Portodemouros reservoir or a visit to OurWay.Travel to arrange experiences complementing the Camino (gastronomy, wineries, landscapes) are all interesting options

If you have any questions about transport, accommodation or logistics in Palas de Rei and the surrounding area, call us on +34 659 99 31 39. We're local and we know every corner.