A Coruña is the capital of the Galicia region, in northwestern Spain. It is not as historic or famous as nearby Santiago de Compostela, but it is worth a day or two.
There are airports in La Coruña, Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo.
Number of days to spend in La Coruña
La Coruña is quite large, so although there is not much to do, one day might not be enough. Give yourself two.
Hotels in La Coruña
For hotel reservations in La Coruña, an excellent and easy-to-use site is Venere. They have hotels for all budgets and a clutter-free website that allows for hassle-free accommodation booking.
If you are looking for an inexpensive bed in a dorm, try Hostelworld.
Three things to do in La Coruña
- Climb the Tower of Hercules: the lighthouse at the end of La Coruña offers you excellent views of the Rías , the estuaries that dominate the coast of Galicia.
- Eat seafood at c / Franja: Right off the pretty main square, Plaza de Maía Pita is c / Franja, where the Galician Octopus is at its best and is reasonably priced. Just don’t eat on the boardwalk – the food is no better than c / Franja, but it will be more than double the price.
- See the Romanesque churches in the old town – La Coruña’s old town is small and compact and has some lovely churches. See these photos of La Coruña for more details.
Day trips from La Coruña
The coasts of Galicia are the most interesting areas around here. Near La Coruña is Ferrol, the birthplace of the former dictator General Franco.
Although Santiago de Compostela is more central and better for exploring the west, the bus from La Coruña to Fisterra is faster than the one from Santiago.
It will be hard to see a lot if you trust the poor public transport in Galicia. Alternatively, take a guided tour from A Coruña – they are good value for money and bundled into a single day of sightseeing.
Distance to La Coruña
- From Madrid 593km – 5h45 by car, 7h by bus, 9h by train, 1h flight (with Iberia).
- From Barcelona 1108km – 12h by car, 16h by train, 15 by bus, 1h30 by flight (with Iberia).
- From Seville 925km – 10h by car, 14h by bus, 1h20 by plane. It does not rain.
First impressions of La Coruña
La Coruña is big and bright, modern and spacious, making it very different from the old world charms of Santiago de Compostela to the south.
If you arrive by public transport, you are quite far from the city. It is best to take a taxi downtown. The heart of La Coruña is Plaza María Pita, a beautiful square with dollhouses and a magnificent town hall. Opposite the town hall, you have the new town stretching out to your left, with its excellent restaurants and all the typical shops.
Behind you (through the arch) is the crowded port and Avenida de la Marina, famous for its large number of Galleries . To the right of Plaza María Pita is the old town, where you’ll find a series of pretty Romanesque churches, a military museum, and the Jardin de San Carlos, which features the tomb of General Sir John Moore, a British sailor who died. in battle protecting La Coruña.
North of Plaza María Pita, at the far end of the peninsula, is the Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse with Roman ancestry, although it is said that Hercules himself built the first lighthouse in this place.
