Tips on How to Get the Free Pilgrim Meal in Santiago de Compostela

I hadn’t known about the free pilgrim meal until after walking my second Camino de Santiago route from Porto. I had joined a Free Walking tour where my local guide had mentioned it and how he had received the free pilgrim meal a few years back. I was inspired to someday receive this gift…

After my most recent Camino, I was the first pilgrim to officially collect my Compostela from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela. With my certificate, I was given a “Golden Ticket” for the free pilgrim meal.

The first ten pilgrims to arrive in Santiago de Compostela are offered a free meal from the luxurious Hostal Reis Catolicos, a gift as a nod to their deep roots and connection with the Camino de Santiago.

Here’s all you need to know about this unique experience for pilgrims.

Table of Contents

• History of the Hostal Reis Catolicos and the Camino de Santiago
• How the Free Pilgrim Meal Ticket Works
• What to Expect at Restaurante Enxebre for the Pilgrim Meal
• Is the Free Pilgrim Meal in Santiago de Compostela Worth it?
• Conclusion | A Quick Overview of the Pilgrim Meal in Santiago de Compostela

History of Hostal Reis Catolicos & Camino de Santiago

The Hostal Reis Catolicos had humble beginnings and was built as a pilgrim hospital that provided shelter and care for those medieval pilgrims who had made the grueling journey into Santiago de Compostela.

Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon gave life to this project after completing the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela during the 15th century. Towards the end of the Reconquista, pilgrims were in decline and they had hopes to revitalize the Camino de Santiago. This included providing more resources for those who walked the way, especially to those pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela.

Sadly, many medieval pilgrims would die undertaking the journey and those who did arrive were oftentimes sick and needed care and treatment.

In 1499 they funded the project to build the Hostal Reis Catolicos right next to the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela in the Obradoiro Plaza (west facade). A couple of years later, construction started on the hostel/hospital and the building began welcoming pilgrims in 1509 and has been welcoming pilgrims ever since.

If you look at the grand entrance of the Hostal Reis Catolicos you may spot Isabella and Ferdinand carved into the facade. A gentle reminder of who funded the project.

By 1953, the hospital was moved out of the building and it was renovated only to be acquired by the Parador Hotel network. This makes the Hostal Reis Catoliocs one of the oldest hotels in Spain if not the actual oldest.

Although still called the Hostal Reis Catoliocs, the Parador Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel. Sleeping at the Parador Hostal Reis Catoliocs is a modern-day treat for pilgrims arriving in Santiago de Compostela. It is one of the best places to sleep in Santiago de Compostela.

As a commitment to their humble roots as a resource space for pilgrims since the medieval ages, the Parador Hotels offers the first ten pilgrims who arrive in Santiago de Compostela a free lunch, every single day the restaurant is open. By receiving the pilgrim meal, you are taking part in a hospitality tradition that has spanned over 500 years! How cool is that?

How the Free Pilgrim Meal Ticket Works

To receive the free pilgrim meal ticket from the Parador, you must collect a Compostela from the Pilgrim Office. That means that you must walk the last 100 Km of any Camino de Santiago route and collect two stamps per day in your Credencial (Pilgrim Passport). You must also walk the Camino for religious or spiritual reasons.

The Pilgrim Office issues the Compostela. Be one of the first ten pilgrims to arrive in Santiago de Compostela for that day. There is now an electronic ticket system that produces a QR code, so you should know what number you are upon arrival.

The volunteer issuing the Compostela will simply ask you if you would like the free lunch at the Parador. Some pilgrims are short on time or don’t wish to accept the voucher, so always ask even if you are in the first 30 or 40 pilgrims of the day.

If you agree to take the free pilgrim meal ticket they will hand you the ticket with your Compostela.

Tips for Collecting the Free Pilgrim Meal Ticket

As the Camino de Santiago continues to gain popularity, it can be harder and harder to receive a free meal voucher from the Parador. Some days thousands of pilgrims arrive each day to collect their Compostela. You can check daily pilgrim statistics here.

Here’s how I lucked out and some tips for receiving the free meal voucher.

• Consider walking in the offseason. I walked a Winter Camino and absolutely loved it. During the winter months, some days as few as 50 pilgrims arrive each day. There are better chances of being in the first 10 compared to the summer months when thousands of pilgrims can arrive daily.
• Sleep Close to Santiago de Compostela. I prefer sleeping closer to Santiago de Compostela to arrive early in the morning. I try to sleep around 10 Km from Santiago de Compostela no matter which route I walk.
• Collect Your Compostela Right Away. Be mindful of the opening times of the Pilgrim’s Reception Office as the hours vary by season. Typically during the offseason, it opens at 10:00 and during the peak and shoulder seasons at 9:00.
• Odds are Better as a Solo Traveler. If arriving in Santiago de Compostela as part of a large group the chances of receiving the voucher are much less than those arriving as a solo traveler. Some pilgrims in my group showed up late in the day and still received the free meal voucher because there were only one or two spots still available.
• The Famous Galician Rain May Increase Your Chances. On my arrival day, it was dumping rain early in the morning. There were no pilgrims when I arrived in the plaza as I think most were deterred by the morning showers.

Make sure you keep your voucher and hold on tight to it! If you lose the ticket, you’re out of luck as they won’t reissue a ticket.

What to Expect at Restaurante Enxebre

The free pilgrim meal is hosted at Restaurante Enxebre, the restaurant located below the hotel. The street leads pilgrims to the Welcome Center if you turn right, or continue down to Hortas Street which leads pilgrims to the Camino Finisterre Muxia route.

The meal offering is for lunch and is at 13:00. This encourages pilgrims to attend the noon mass at the Cathedral and then walk over to enjoy lunch.

Present your free lunch voucher and be ushered to the back pilgrim table.

The meal consists of an appetizer and local wine. They offer water and serve local red and white wines. Our appetizer was a tuna empanada. Additionally, the pilgrim meal includes a starter (we had soup), a main (beef), and dessert (Tarta de Santiago).

The food was good and filling and the service was fast and efficient. I thoroughly appreciated my free pilgrim meal!

Is the Free Pilgrim Meal in Santiago de Compostela Worth it?

For me, the meal was a great experience because you get to celebrate the end of a journey with people from all walks of life. I shared my meal with pilgrims from Spain, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, and beyond. All of us had walked different Camino routes and we were able to share our journey.

As I walked during the Winter, it was interesting to hear everyone’s experiences. Interestingly enough, I was the only pilgrim who had walked the Camino de Invierno, the Winter Way.

I think the free pilgrim meal in Santiago de Compostela is a unique experience and I am glad that I was able to experience it once in my lifetime. As I have received this gift, I will not seek it out again. I think it’s a neat opportunity for pilgrims to experience the hospitality that has been provided to pilgrims since the Middle Ages.

Conclusion | A Quick Overview of the Free Pilgrim Meal in Santiago de Compostela

In short, this is a quick overview of the free pilgrim meal that is offered by the Parador Hotel in Santiago de Compostela. I was lucky to receive the voucher after completing my most recent Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

This guide includes the history of the Hostal Reis Catolicos and its deep connections to pilgrims since the medieval ages. I’ve also included what to expect at the meal and tips for receiving the voucher.

I think the free lunch voucher is a nice little bonus after walking the Camino de Santiago.

Have you received the free pilgrim meal voucher after walking the Camino de Santiago? What did you think? Is there anything I need to update in this guide? Let me know in the comments below!

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