5 Best Rias Baixas Day Trips from Santiago de Compostela

One of the things you must do in Santiago de Compostela is visit the Rías Baixas. This is the coastal part of Galicia known for its unusual geological formation. The rías have land jutting out into the sea, creating unique natural conditions that attract tourists.

Visiting this area of Spain from Santiago de Compostela is a unique opportunity to sample the cuisine, admire the beautiful landscapes and visit the beaches. The villages in the Rías Baixas also hide beautiful architectural structures, ancient histories and much more. What are you waiting for to discover this natural paradise?

Seafood and wine is undoubtedly a combination that will delight your palate. If you like the idea, I invite you to take a day trip from Santiago to the Rías Baixas, tasting premium wines and exquisite mussels. This excursion lasts approximately five hours and costs an average of £50.

After departing by private bus from Santiago, the first stop will be a walk through the vineyards in Albariño. There, you will learn all about white wine production from your local guides. You will also have the opportunity to taste up to three different types of exclusive wine.

The next activity will be a tasting of mussels boiled in Albariño wine. Your guides will take you to a restaurant near the iconic Playa A Lanzada beach. Let your taste buds delight in this menu. This excursion will undoubtedly be one of the best day trips from Santiago de Compostela.

At the end of the activities, your guides will take you back to the starting point in Santiago de Compostela. Please note that this excursion focuses mainly on food and drink. If you want to see the tourist sites and are short on time, I recommend choosing another type of excursion.

Details of interest

• Price: around £45.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Transport: private bus and walking tour.

A Lanzada Beach is one of the largest beaches in Galicia, famous for its beauty, which is why it attracts many tourists. To go on an excursion to this beach and explore its surroundings, you must travel from Santiago de Compostela for approximately 50 minutes. This tour costs approximately £35.

A Lanzada Beach is located between the municipalities of Sanxenxo and O Grove. In the vicinity of A Lanzada Beach, you will find one of the most important archaeological sites in Galicia. This site consists of several parts, including the Castro de La Lanzada, a factory and a necropolis.

Your guide will tell you the story behind all these places that were once the centre of Galicia's first salting factory. Then it's time to enjoy the beach. Take advantage of the sun, sea and sand to relax for over an hour.

Before returning, it's a good idea to try the traditional local food. If you want to try a little bit of everything, I recommend taking a food tour. If you don't feel like it, you can always visit one of the restaurants recommended by your private guide. Once you've finished your meal, it's time to return to Santiago.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £55.
• Duration: around 4 hours.
• Transport: private vehicle and walking tour.

Cambados is one of the most beautiful villages in Galicia according to various rankings, and there are many reasons why. I recommend visiting it with a private guide who will take you to see the pazos (manor houses), churches and the A Pastora viewpoint. The excursion to this municipality takes an average of three hours and costs approximately £30.

After a journey of around 45 minutes from Santiago de Compostela, you will arrive in Cambados. Among the sites you will see is the Plaza de Fefiñáns, one of the most beautiful squares in Galicia. During August, this square hosts the Festa do Albariño, the second oldest wine festival in Spain.

You will also visit the Church of San Benito, where you can appreciate the different architectural styles that combine in this structure. Afterwards, you will pass by the ruins of the Church of Santa Mariña located in the Cambados cemetery. This is an iconic site as it was named a National Monument in 1943 and belongs to the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe.

Another important visit is the Mirador de A Pastora, located at the top of Monte da Pastora, where you can watch a romantic sunset. From there, you will see the Arousa estuary and the O Grove peninsula. In just 10 minutes, you will reach the highest point, the "Piedra del Calvario". After this tour, it will be time to return to Santiago de Compostela.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £27.
• Duration: around 3 hours.
• Transport: private vehicle and walking tour.

For this excursion, you will meet your private guide in Santiago de Compostela and board a bus to Pontevedra, a city located in the Rías Baixas. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival, you will begin a walking tour with your local guide through the best-preserved historic quarter in Galicia. This tour has an average price of £27 and lasts approximately 4 hours, including the round trip.

Pontevedra, also known as the City of Lérez, is the capital of the Rías Baixas. The first thing you will see on your tour is the Sanctuary of the Pilgrim Virgin. Its base is shaped like a scallop shell, the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Afterwards, you will take a tour of the Plaza Peregrina, the Plaza Estrella, the Plaza de la Herrería and the Plaza de la Leña.

Your excursion would not be complete without a visit to the Provincial Museum of Pontevedra, which consists of six buildings. Admission is free and you can learn a little about the history of this town.

Finally, you will visit the Parque de las Islas de las Esculturas, an open-air museum where the sculptures are integrated into the surroundings. Take advantage of the opportunity to take the best photographs before returning to the starting point in Santiago de Compostela.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £27.
• Duration: around 4 hours.
• Transport: private vehicle and walking tour.

One of the things you can do in Santiago de Compostela in 3 days or more is a full-day tour of the Rías Baixas. It will be an even better experience if you also include a cruise. Does that sound good? The experience lasts approximately ten hours and costs an average of £45.

On this excursion, you won't have any time to waste. After travelling by bus for around 50 minutes, you'll arrive in Pontevedra. Here, you'll take a short walking tour to get to know the town a little. You'll do the same in Combarro, Cambados and O Grove.

Although you may not spend much time in each of these places, it will be the best way to discover all that the natural treasure of Rías Baixas has to offer. When you arrive in O Grove, also known as the seafood capital, it will be time to board a catamaran for a relaxing cruise through the Arosa estuary.

On board this cruise, you can enjoy mussels and Albariño wine produced in the area. You will also learn how this food is produced and then enjoy the best selection of wine. At the end of the cruise, your guide will take you back to Santiago de Compostela.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £45.
• Duration: around ten hours.
• Transport: private vehicle, walking tour and catamaran.

Traveller Tip
When going on a cruise, not everyone thinks about sun exposure. That's why I recommend bringing sunscreen on this excursion to protect yourself not only when you're on the catamaran, but throughout the entire trip.

The Rías Baixas are home to things that all travellers should see, because they combine the tranquillity of natural beauty with the fascination of a unique landscape. But it's not just a place full of high-quality seafood, it's also home to wines produced in the area.

In the different villages of the Rías Baixas, you will also find old buildings and ruins that tell the story of Galicia. Not only will you be able to appreciate the architecture and sculptures surrounding the squares and churches, but also the nature of this area. The Rías Baixas is home to the oldest and most unique trees in Galicia.

If you visit during the warm season, you should know that the beaches of the Rías Baixas are the best in Galicia and another destination you cannot miss on these excursions. You will find beautiful crystal-clear waters and clean sand to relax and sunbathe, especially in summer.

The Rías Baixas is the coastal side of Galicia, so you'll be very close to the sea and the sun can be a little stronger on this side. That's why one of my top tips is to use sunscreen at all times, not just when you go to the beach. Needless to say, bring your swimsuit so you can enjoy the sea.

On the other hand, food is essential when travelling. Although you can visit different restaurants in the area, I recommend asking your guide if there will be any snacks or lunch along the way. Some excursions include a tasting of typical local food.

Taking a guided tour of the Rías Baixas will help you explore the area with all five senses. Tours usually have a main attraction, such as seeing the architecture or sampling the traditional cuisine. The best part is that an expert guide will take you to the highlights of the Rías Baixas.

On the other hand, if you travel on your own, you will have to do some research beforehand. If you don't have time to do this, you will have to ask the locals where the places you want to visit are located. This can be a bit tedious, especially if you just want to relax on your holiday, so I recommend calculating the cost of a guided tour.