15 Best Things to do in Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Santiago de Compostela is the top of the journey for a lot of who’ve launched into the lengthy pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago to attain this holy website. For others, it’s only the start of a fun-filled trip. Regardless of what brings you to this stunning historic metropolis, you’ll need to know what there may be to do there. We right here at Road Affair have executed all of the heavy lifting for you and compiled a listing of the very best issues to do in Santiago de Compostela. Whether you’re an outside fanatic, a thrill seeker, or a historical past lover, this record has one thing for everybody. So begin scrolling to plan your subsequent nice journey! 

Stroll Through Parque Alameda

This stunning Sixteenth-century park is the best place for a day stroll. Not solely does it supply shady spots to sit and calm down, however the park can be house to botanical gardens stuffed with decorative bushes and vibrant shrubbery. Visitors can uncover many sculptures and monuments all through the grounds, plus take pleasure in an exceptional view of Miradouro da Catedral. If there may be one factor you shouldn’t miss in your stroll, it’s the lovers’ eucalyptus tree. The tree branches from this tree completely body the previous city of Santiago, providing a picturesque postcard view. A stroll by Alameda Park is unquestionably probably the greatest free issues to do in Santiago de Compostela.

Visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

As talked about earlier, Santiago de Compostela is a very talked-about pilgrimage vacation spot, and it has been for the reason that Middle Ages. That is as a result of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the reputed closing resting place of one among Jesus Christ’s apostles, Saint James the Great. It’s one of many final remaining church buildings stated to be constructed over the grave of an apostle. 

Even when you’re not non secular, the cathedral is a must-see in Santiago de Compostela. The Gothic and Baroque stylings combine with its Romanesque design to create a very magnificent architectural expertise. Visitors are welcome daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and may roam by the church whereas admiring the main points and designs. Those who want to be taught extra in regards to the historical past and artwork of the cathedral can go to the on-site museum. Guided excursions of the remainder of the constructing, together with the north tower, are additionally obtainable, or guests can go for an audio information. It’s greatest when you book your tickets to the cathedral in advance here. 

Walk Through the Mercado de Abastos

If you’re on the lookout for contemporary native meals or need to attempt among the native delicacies, then head on down to the Mercado de Abastos Food Market. 

This conventional market is the best place to store for native meals. Visitors can decide up some regional cheese and wine or make their method to the restaurant constructing (Building 5), the place they’ll pattern selfmade Galician meals, contemporary seafood, or tapas. The market is open Monday to Saturday and most busy between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 

Go on a Wine and Seafood Tour 

If you’re a wine or seafood lover and are questioning what to do in Santiago de Compostela, then take into account reserving this day tour from GetYourGuide. 

This is the right tour for {couples} or small teams of associates wanting to uncover the encircling area. The first cease on the tour is at a premium vineyard the place guests will get a full tour of the fields and cellar, adopted by a wine tasting of three of the vineyard’s most unique wines that aren’t discovered in any common market. After a tour of the vineyard, it’s time for a go to to the seashore of La Lanzada, the place guests will be taught in regards to the historical past of the realm. Afterward, hop on the boat and sail to the island of La Toja, the place you may take pleasure in an all-you-can-eat mussel buffet accompanied by as a lot wine as you want to. Other highlights of this tour embrace the gorgeous fishing village of Combarro and excursions of estuaries. The tour is performed in each English and Spanish and lasts roughly 9.5 hours. 

Learn About Galician Life on the Museo do Pobo Galego

This implausible museum is ideal for anybody who desires to be taught extra about Galician life and tradition. 

The Museo do Pobo Galego is situated in a transformed Thirteenth-century convent and homes hundreds of artifacts, with the primary focus being on utilitarian items as an alternative of ornamental. This is as a result of the primary aim of the museum isn’t to showcase essentially the most stunning artifacts with creative worth or artifacts from excessive society however as an alternative to remind guests of the way in which most Galicians used to reside. The assortment consists of garments, instruments, furnishings, and way more that have been the muse of beliefs, customs, and existence in the Galician space. 

The museum is open daily apart from Monday and presents free entrance on sure holidays and days. It additionally presents free entrance for college students underneath 18 and people who are unemployed. 

Sample Famous Local Dishes

Santiago de Compostela has some critically unimaginable dishes that you simply want to attempt when visiting. 

The first must-eat dish is pulpo a la gallega (recognized domestically as polbo á feira). This is a Galician delicacy of boiled octopus topped with sea salt and Spanish paprika. When cooked correctly, this dish is bound to fulfill all of your seafood cravings. The greatest eating places to order this meal at are El Mesón Do Pulpo, Bodegón Os Concheiros Pulpería, and Restaurante María Castaña. 

The second must-try dish is the tarta de Santiago, also referred to as an almond tart. This is the right method to end off a conventional tapas meal or pulpo a la gallega. The tart is made with out flour, so even those that are gluten illiberal can take pleasure in it. This smooth, moist cake is topped with powdered sugar and pairs completely with a cup of espresso. Most include an imprint of the cross of Santiago on the highest, making it 100% Instagram-worthy. The greatest place to attempt the Santiago tart or Santiago cake is at Pastelería Mercedes Mora. This family-run bakery was the primary to high its tarts with the well-known powdered sugar cross of Saint James. 

Explore Pazo de Oca

Next on the record of the very best locations to go to in Santiago de Compostela is that this breathtaking 18th-century stone mansion that options impeccable gardens.

Located a few 25-minute drive from Santiago de Compostela, Pazo de Oca is a hidden gem. According to the Ducal House of Medinaceli Foundation, those that have visited have dubbed this nice mansion the Generalife of the North and the Galician Versailles due to its placing magnificence and structure that can’t be described until it’s in contrast to different buildings of well-known magnificence. 

The grounds and courtly gardens are large and have a lake in the center, grand fountains, and an orchard. Exploring the complete property isn’t any fast process, but it surely’s nicely definitely worth the time to go to for “the inseparable unity of water, stone, and vegetation that makes this monument a masterpiece of architecture, engineering, and garden design,” in accordance to the historian and tutorial Javier Sánchez.

Visitors can decide to go to simply the gardens or the backyard and the palace inside. If you intend on visiting the inside as nicely, tickets should be bought in advance. 

Listen to Live Galician Music at Casa das Crechas

This quaint Celtic pub is the place guests can pay attention to conventional Spanish music nearly each evening of the week. 

If you head to the downstairs bar space round 10 p.m., you’ll probably hear reside conventional flamenco, Celtic, people music, jazz, or gaita (Galician bagpiping) music. Couple this with 100 thirsty pilgrims who’ve been strolling for weeks on finish, and also you’ve received fairly the social gathering! The environment is implausible in the bar, and it’s usually fairly packed due to its repute for excellent reside music. Check the bar’s Facebook web page or web site in advance to see upcoming occasions and gigs. 

Learn About History and Architecture on a Free Walking Tour

Santiago de Compostela is a stupendous previous metropolis with loads of breathtaking structure and historic monuments, buildings, and squares. The greatest method to be taught in regards to the metropolis is with a free strolling tour with Santiago Freetours! 

This is a wonderful method to go sightseeing in Santiago de Compostela, and it solely prices as a lot as you assume the tour deserves. If you haven’t heard of the emergence of free strolling tour corporations, the concept is that they’re accessible to all vacationers. At the top of the tour, you pay what you may (or need), whether or not that’s €5, €25, or nothing in any respect. Santiago Freetours presents loads of totally different routes for evening and day excursions, together with guided excursions of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Night excursions are adult-only.

Explore Spanish Artwork on the Contemporary Art Center of Galicia

Another free and enjoyable factor to do in Santiago de Compostela is to go to the Contemporary Art Center of Galicia. 

Not solely does the museum home tons of of breathtaking works, however the constructing itself is a piece of architectural genius. The museum primarily focuses on Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American artists. After wandering among the many artworks, guests can head to the espresso store for a day tea or snack after which head to the bookstore to browse for a memento. The museum is free to enter and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m.

Hike Monte Viso

Enjoy unimaginable panoramic views of town in addition to some funky monuments on the high of Monte Viso. 

This is a good exercise for households or nature lovers as there are numerous paths round Monte Viso to discover. On high of getting breathtaking views, the hill is dotted with mythological-themed monuments that make the hike simply that a lot better for these with youngsters. If you’re fortunate, you may also come throughout the cave with a (considerably creepy) monument inside. 

Visit the USC: Museo de Historia Natural

This is a good museum to go to for households or these in geology, zoology, or botany. 

The Museum of Natural History (Museo de Historia Natural) options tons of mounted animal species, together with marine animals, birds, mammals, and extra. There can be a piece of the museum devoted to fossils, meteorites, and minerals. Visitors can decide to go on a guided tour or discover the museum on their very own. If you want to to do a guided tour, it’s requested you guide your spot in advance. The museum additionally hosts many workshops each month, so be certain that to verify their occasions calendar to see upcoming workshops. Entrance to the museum is free on the primary Wednesday of each month. 

Watch the Pilgrims Arrive at Praza do Obradoiro

Praza do Obradoiro is the primary sq. and foremost Santiago de Compostela attraction for these ending the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago is an 825-kilometer path beginning in Portugal, however there are additionally a number of different routes one can take to arrive at Santiago de Compostela. To earn a pilgrimage certificates, one should stroll a minimal of 100 kilometers. Pilgrims end in the Praza do Obradoiro. On the bottom in the sq., you’ll discover a stone slab that reads Kilometer Zero, marking the top of the lengthy journey for a lot of drained pilgrims. Even when you didn’t stroll the path, you need to nonetheless get an image with the slab and/or people-watch because the pilgrims attain their closing steps. 

Enjoy the Nature in Parque do Lago

Parque do Lago is one other superbly maintained park in Santiago de Compostela. It options a stupendous lake that guests can take pleasure in a picnic round and an previous oak forest space that has been transformed right into a leisure area. The park additionally options many strolling trails the place guests can immerse themselves in the native nature and revel in a leisurely stroll. 

Explore Pazo do Faramello

One of the preferred mansions to go to in Galicia, Pazo do Faramello is not going to disappoint. 

The property is designed in a Baroque civilian Compostelean model with notable Italian inspiration and is simply over 31 acres. In the early 1900s, the manor was the summer time house of King Alfonso XIII and Prince Louis of Bavaria once they got here to go to Santiago de Compostela. The house additionally served as one of many foremost settings in one of the widespread Spanish books of the early twentieth century, La casa de la Troya by Alexandro Pérez Lugín. 

Today, vacationers got here to take a guided tour of the grounds, together with the French gardens, the chapel, and the cellar, the place they may end off the tour with a wine tasting. Two different notable spots you’ll see on the tour are the commercial paper mill, the primary ever in Galicia, and the unique Camino de Santiago path that runs alongside the property. The tour lasts simply over an hour and is free for youngsters. You have to guide your tour in advance by calling the reservations quantity on their website. 

Now that you simply’ve discovered about all of the unimaginable vacationer sights in Santiago de Compostela and a few lesser-known ones, what are you ready for? It’s time to set out in your subsequent journey and revel in all that Galicia has to supply!