Best Tours and Day Trips from Santiago de Compostela
Galicia as a whole is marvellous and if you take advantage of your visit to Santiago you can get to know the surrounding area to live well and eat better.
Santiago de Compostela in the midst of nature | ©Galicia Photo Tour
Galicia is one of the regions of Spain with the most history behind it. Its capital is famous for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, but the city and its surroundings hold many more secrets for the traveller.
1. Guided tour of the old town of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is one of the most visited cities in the world. The reason for this is the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage that thousands of travellers (religious or not) make on foot every year from different parts of northern Spain, culminating in its cathedral, which houses the remains of the apostle.
However, there is much more to the city of Santiago de Compostela than its Cathedral and the best way to discover it is by taking a guided tour of the city's historic centre. Best of all, many of these tours are based on the free tour concept, so price is not an issue.
What is a free tour?
On a free tour, the traveller is only obliged to pay for the reservation fee and you can book online to secure your place, which is highly recommended considering the high demand for these tours.
An expert guide will take you and a group of a maximum of 30 people to the most important places in the city while telling you about its history from a dynamic and practical point of view, far removed from the information you can find in any guidebook. Once the tour is over, you are the one who sets the price for the guide's work.
Itinerary
In Santiago de Compostela, this tour focuses on the old part of the city. It is available in English and Spanish and lasts about two hours. The group departs from a meeting point in the city centre (often the cathedral square). From there the tour covers:
- The main squares near the cathedral
- The streets of the old town
- The food market
- The hidden monuments in the centre
- The Alameda Park
Why I like this option
If you only have a few hours in the city, my recommendation would be to dedicate them to this tour. Firstly because the city is within walking distance and this tour will show you everything you need to see, and secondly because the atmosphere created by the guides with the group and their recommendations and stories have an added value that you won't find on any other tour.
Ana's Traveller Tip
In Galicia, whether in summer or winter, it rains very often and the tours are not usually cancelled due to rain. Don't forget to bring an umbrella and suitable footwear.
2. Excursion to Finisterre from Santiago de Compostela
In ancient times, Cape Finisterre was thought to be the edge of the known world, being the westernmost point of continental Europe. It is also the last point on the Way of St. James. You can visit the place and its surroundings on a day trip to Finisterre from Santiago de Compostela.
When you reach Cape Finisterre you will see a cliff washed by the so-called Costa de la Muerte (Coast of Death) due to the number of shipwrecks that occurred there in the past. The view is breathtaking, especially if the sea is rough, and you will need warm clothes no matter what time of year you go. But the tour doesn't end here.
What this tour consists of
On the trip to Finisterre, an hour's drive from Santiago, you'll also see some of Galicia's most beautiful landscapes, fishing villages, the Ézaro waterfall and Galician places of worship, among other points of interest.
The tour will be guided by a professional guide who will take you in an air-conditioned vehicle from a meeting point in the centre of Santiago de Compostela. The tour lasts one day and is available in English and Spanish.
Lunch is not included in the price of the tour, but you will have time to eat at your leisure during the tour. I recommend that you ask your guide for recommendations as Galician food is renowned throughout the country and the prices are quite affordable.
3. Excursion to the Rías Baixas from Santiago de Compostela
When we talk about the Rías Baixas, we refer to a group of beaches and coastal areas located on the west coast of La Coruña, about 50 minutes away from Santiago by road. To get there it is convenient to know the roads in the area, so I recommend this organised excursion to the Rías Baixas from Santiago.
You can book your place online for the day that suits you best and an expert guide will pick you up at the meeting point in the centre of Santiago. It includes a boat trip along the estuaries with mussel and wine tasting. You can do the tour in English or Spanish and you can cancel the tour for free with 24 hours notice if your plans change.
Itinerary
- Pontevedra and its historic centre, one of the best preserved in Galicia. Here you will find monuments such as the ruins of Santo Domingo or the church of La Peregrina.
- Combarro; a town whose buildings can be taken as an example of popular architecture. It is here that you will take the boat ride with a tasting included.
- La Lanzada beach, one of the most famous and extensive beaches in Galicia. As a warning, it is common to find cloudy weather and very cold water on the beaches of Galicia, but the natural beauty is still breathtaking.
- The town of Cambados, with its 17th century square, its arched bridge, its popular buildings and its famous church of San Benito.
4. Excursion to Lugo from Santiago de Compostela
Another essential excursion from Santiago de Compostela is the day trip to Lugo and the beaches of Ribadeo. With this experience you will get to know the north-eastern part of Galicia, which borders Asturias, passing through the inland city of Lugo. The trip will take less than two hours and you will see unique natural landscapes.
This excursion covers one of the lesser-known areas of northern Spain, making it an ideal way to avoid the crowds and get in touch with nature.
What this excursion consists of
Throughout the day you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will tell you about the history of all the places you are seeing. The price of the tour is 60 euros and includes the services of the guide, the visit fees and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle from a meeting point in the centre of Santiago de Compostela. This is what you will see:
Lugo
Lugo as your first stop. This city with more than two centuries of history was one of the greatest exponents of the Roman Empire and is known for both its city walls and its cathedral, two monuments that you will visit on this tour with a professional guide.
Little Ribadeo
This is one of the most charming places on the Galician coast. The image you will see there will be the opposite of the grandeur you will find in Santiago de Compostela.
Las Catedrales Beach
The area's Natural Park and natural enclaves such as the well-known Playa de las Catedrales, a spectacle to behold unlike any other beach you have seen to date.
5. You may also be interested in
If you are going to make a trip to Santiago de Compostela and its surroundings, you cannot miss the jewel in its crown, the Cathedral of Santiago, so I recommend you take a tour and marvel at its architectural beauty. If you want more information, take a look at this article on Visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.