Santiago de Compostela is the most famous city in Galicia and is the destination of the Camino de Santiago. On this page you will find my suggestions for the best things to do in Santiago de Compestela.
Read more practical information about how to visit the city in my Guide to Santiago de Compostela
See also: The best views of Spain: city by city
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Take a look at Santiago’s modern art scene
Direction
Rúa de Ramón del Valle Inclán, 2, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Telephone
+34981 54 66 19
Web
Visit the website
A very good (and free!) Modern Art Gallery in Santiago is the Centro Galego de Arte Contemporáneo, which focuses on the Galician art scene but also has exhibitions by more international artists. And not far away is the Eugenio Granell Foundation Museum, dedicated to the work of the surrealist painter from A Coruña. It is also worth visiting the Cidade da Cultura no Monte Gaias (pictured)
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Santiago’s cathedral
Direction
Praza do Obradoiro, s / n, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Telephone
+34981 58 35 48
Web
Visit the website
The cathedral of Santiago is one of the oldest in Spain. It contains the tomb of Santiago, which is nominally the reason why pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago (although the pilgrimage is actually much older than that).
See more photos of the Cathedral of Santiago .
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Try the Galician seafood
Direction
Galicia, SpainGet directions
Web
Visit the website
Galicia is famous for its octopus or octopus. If you find the slippery texture too much for you, Galician food has plenty of other dishes worth trying.
Read more about Galicia Food ,
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Participate in a Burn
Direction
Rúa do Vilar, 47, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Telephone
+34981 56 44 59
The queimada is both a way to treasure the evil spirit and a steaming drink to rid you of the rain-induced sadness, often induced by the climate of Santiago de Compostela .
Lar das Meigas in the city center organizes regular burnings.
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Walk to Santiago!
Direction
Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Santiago de Compostela is the destination of the Camino de Santiago. You traditionally walk from your own home. These days most of the people who want to do the whole thing walk from the French border. But the minimum that is accepted as “having done” the Camino is walking the last 100 km (most people start from the town of Sarria if they want to do this). These 100 km take most people three or four days. There is a certificate waiting for you in Santiago if you complete it!
Read more about the Camino de Santiago
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Visit Finisterre
Direction
Fisterra, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Finisterre (Fisterra in Galician) is the ancient final destination of the pilgrimage that today is known as the Camino de Santiago. The westernmost point of the Roman Empire (well, not quite, but who counts) Finisterre’s position at “the end of the world” has been important to pagans ever since. The treacherous waters (which have earned the coast here the name ‘The Cape of Death’) have enhanced the apocalyptic atmosphere here.
You can take a bus here or walk from Santiago; the trip lasts approximately three days.
See photos of Finisterre or read about my Camino de Finisterre .
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Take a day trip to A Coruña
Direction
Tower of Hercules, Av. Navarra, 15002 A Coruña, La Coruña, SpainGet directions
A Coruña is the other important city in Galicia. The Tower of Hercules, the beautiful coastline and some excellent restaurants are some of the attractions of A Coruña. Read more about A Coruña and How to get from Santiago de Compostela to A Coruña .
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Alameda Park
Direction
15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Telephone
+34 650 12 55 89
Web
Visit the website
Take a walk through the picturesque Alameda Park. There is a great view of the city from here.
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Cathedral museum
Direction
Praza do Obradoiro, S / N, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Telephone
+34881 55 79 45
Web
Visit the website
Learn about the history of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in its excellent museum.
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Pilgrimage Museum
Direction
Praza das PraterÃas, 2, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, SpainGet directions
Telephone
+34881 86 73 15
Web
Visit the website
If you have walked to Santiago, or even if you haven’t, the pilgrimage museum is a fascinating display of how historic this route is.
