Best Things To Do in Santiago de Compostela

Santiago is much more than the goal of the pilgrimage. Santiago de Compostela has a lot to offer and I have selected the must-see places in the city for you to enjoy it to the full:

Without a doubt, the first thing to do in Santiago is to visit the famous cathedral where the remains of the apostle are buried. Entrance to the main nave is free, but if you want to see it in depth you can buy tickets to go up to the rooftops, visit the Portico de la Gloria and the cathedral museum. On a guided tour of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral you will have a guide at your disposal who will explain everything you need to know about the different areas of the cathedral and its surroundings.

I would definitely recommend the guided tour, so that, as well as entering the church, you can visit places such as Obradoiro square, Quintana square, Platerías square, the Abastos market and Alameda park accompanied by a guide. This is the best option if you want to learn about the history and architecture of one of the most visited cathedrals in the world.

If you want to take some splendid photographs with you when you return from your trip, I recommend going up to the rooftops to see the panoramic view of the city and then going to the Alameda park to photograph the cathedral itself. I'll tell you here everything you need to know to organise your visit: Visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The historic centre of the city has many things to see and, after visiting the Cathedral, the first thing I advise you to do to discover them all is to book a place on a tour of Santiago de Compostela. With this experience you will not only locate all the points of interest of the Galician capital; thanks to the guide who accompanies you, you will learn about the history and legends of the city in a much more authentic and original way than with any travel guide.

What will you see on a guided tour of Santiago de Compostela? Places like the Cathedral, the four squares that surround it, the monuments scattered around the centre, the most authentic streets of the city, the Abastos market or the Alameda park. Here is a selection of what, for me, are the best: Best Tours and Day Trips from Santiago de Compostela.

Ana's Traveller Tip

The guides who do this type of tour are experts who also live in the city. Don't hesitate to ask them for advice on where to eat in Santiago or what places to visit.

Santiago de Compostela is a city that you can see in just a few days, so it is very likely that you will have enough time during your trip to visit nearby places. If you rent a car and know the roads you can do it on your own, but you can also book organised excursions to places like Finisterre, the Rías Baixas or Lugo.

Finisterre

Cape Finisterre is a cliff-top area with breathtaking scenery that was once considered the end of the known world as the westernmost point of the European continent. It is located an hour's drive from Santiago and is surrounded by fishing villages, Galician places of worship and natural sites such as the Ézaro waterfall. If you want to see the splendour of nature in this region, a trip to Finisterre is for you. You can read more in my article about the best excursions to Finisterre and Costa da Morte.

The Rías Baixas

On the other hand, Rías Baixas is a group of coastal areas located on the west coast of La Coruña. This is another ideal excursion for nature lovers and for those who want to get to know the essence of Galician culture. If you visit with an organised excursion you will also get to know the city of Pontevedra, whose historic centre is one of the best preserved in Galicia. Here is our selection of the best excursions to Rias Baixas from Santiago de Compostela.

Lugo

Finally, the trip to Lugo, a city with more than two centuries of history famous for its cathedral and city walls, also includes the beaches of Ribadeo which border Asturias. Whether you take this trip in summer or winter, you'll discover landscapes that are well worth a visit, but in summer you can also enjoy a swim.

After the Cathedral, the food market is the most visited place in the city. Here you can observe the daily life of the city at close quarters, but you can also sample authentic Galician gastronomic delicacies. You'll mainly find food such as fruit, seafood, fish and homemade sweets.

In addition, the market has several Michelin-starred restaurants and others where the food you buy can be cooked for you on the spot. The market is closed on Sundays, but on other days it is open from 8am to 3pm, and on Saturdays the atmosphere is even more special.

If you don't mind walking and want to take advantage of your trip to get some exercise, the climb up Mount Pedroso is highly recommended for one of the best panoramic views of the city. From there you'll see the cathedral stand out in the middle of a natural setting, which is especially beautiful at sunset. The walk up Mount Pedroso takes about an hour from Ponte da Asén street, but you can also make the climb by car.

Another popular place for travellers is the Alameda Park, known for its views of the Cathedral of Santiago. This park is considered the green lung of the city and an ideal place to relax and unwind; you'll find oak, chestnut and eucalyptus trees.

If you take a guided tour of the city, you will probably be told the meaning of many of the statues in this park such as Valle-Inclán or Rosalía de Castro. This park is open 24 hours a day and inside you can have a picnic.

It will be difficult to land in Santiago de Compostela without having heard of Galician food beforehand, as it is famous throughout Spain. Of course, seafood dishes are the most popular, but you'll find all kinds of specialities in both prestigious restaurants and small bars run by locals.

The best thing to do is to take one of the organised tours to sample Galician gastronomy or, at least, ask someone from the city for recommendations on what you can't miss. Some of the most typical dishes are Galician-style octopus, pork shoulder with turnip tops, Galician broth and empanada. It is essential to accompany them with a good local wine.

Galicia is a land full of legends and for this reason, of all the museums you can visit in the city, my recommendation goes to the Museo do pobo Galego, located outside the historic centre of the city. It is located in the convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval, so the building itself is worth a visit.

Visiting hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, but on Sundays it is only open in the morning. The museum was created in 1976 and is aimed at learning more about Galician culture. Take your time to see it and don't rule out eating in the surrounding area.

After the Escorial Monastery in Madrid, this is the largest religious building in Spain. Its façade, its golden choir stalls and its main altarpiece are architectural exponents of the Spanish Baroque. You can visit it every day from 11am to 7pm and take the opportunity to take a relaxing stroll through its gardens.

This convent was inhabited by the Franciscan order in the 18th century and today it has been converted into a hotel and restaurant where many visitors come simply because they are interested in its architecture and history.

Tradition has it that this place was ordered to be built by Saint Francis of Assisi to welcome pilgrims at the end of their journey. If you decide to try the "pilgrim's menu" in the restaurant, it will be another unique opportunity to enjoy Galician gastronomy in a privileged setting.

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Whether you travel in summer or winter, as you can see, Santiago de Compostela and its surroundings has a lot to offer the traveller in search of rich gastronomy, spectacular beaches, unique architecture and adventure in the nature of the Galician capital. And don't miss out on the many plans to enjoy the nightlife of Santiago de Compostela. In any case, whether you travel for one day or stay three days in Santiago, make the most of the city and enjoy its landscapes!