The capital of Galicia and the final destination for the pilgrims who embark on the Camino de Santiago. Santiago de Compostela in Spain has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and its monumental beauty makes reaching this city a reward in itself. Santiago de Compostela is extraordinarily well preserved and offers many attractions. Between its Galician gastronomy and its cobbled streets, you’ll get to know the soul of the city.
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Things to see in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Plaza del Obradoiro
The Plaza del Obradoiro is the monumental centre of Santiago de Compostela and the place where all the routes through the city start. It is one of the most important places in the city and welcomes the thousands of pilgrims who arrive on the Camino de Santiago.
In addition, this square is home to several buildings of great importance such as the Cathedral, the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, the Colegio de San Xerome, and the Palacio de Raxoi, the seat of the Santiago City Council. Marvel at the different architectural styles of the square, which took more than 700 years to make. Give this square the time it deserves and take it every detail.
Cathedral of Santiago
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the most outstanding work of Romanesque art in Spain and one of the essential places to see in Santiago. For many, it is the main reason to visit the city and the final destination on the Camino de Santiago, which draws pilgrims to the tomb of the apostle St. James. If that’s not reason enough to visit, this famous cathedral was the cornerstone of the city’s construction.
Nowadays, this cathedral holds an extraordinary and extensive history of Santiago de Compostela, which competes with its beauty and popularity. This is without a doubt a visit that you cannot miss on your trip.
Ciudad Vieja (Old Town)
Santiago de Compostela’s Old Town was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 for its cathedral and the historic complex that surrounds it. Beyond its historic importance, you fall in love with the Old Town of Santiago straight away. This cobbled streets and local traditions perfectly integrate with the different architectural styles. The result of this mixture makes the old town the perfect cocktail of tradition, fun and good atmosphere. Without a doubt, another of the must-see places to visit in Santiago de Compostela Spain.
Alameda Park
The Alameda Park is one of the most popular natural spaces in the city to rest and disconnect. This park has three areas: the Alameda promenade, the Santa Susana carballeira and the Herradura promenade. Moreover, the Alameda Park has a great location in the city centre and is the main urban garden in Santiago.
There are also several viewpoints in this park where you can enjoy a perfect panoramic view of the city. The best known viewpoint is located on Paseo de la Herradura, just at the foot of Santa Susana hill. From here we can admire a spectacular view of the cathedral standing out among the historic buildings of the city. It is the perfect postcard image of Santiago.
Abastos Market
The Mercado de Abastos de Santiago is one of the most interesting places in the city and is well worth a visit during your trip. The current structure was built in 1941, but the Mercado de Abastos de Santiago has been in operation for three centuries and has become a gastronomic reference point for the city, full of the highest quality products in Santiago.
Plaza de la Quintana
The Plaza de la Quintana is an iconic stop to make in Santiago de Compostela. This central square is made up of the southern façade of the Cathedral, the façade of the “Casa de la Parra”, the “Casa de la Conga”, and the cloistered monastery of San Paio de Antealtares. Divided in two by stairs, the Plaza de la Quintana is a meeting point you cannot miss when in Santiago.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to see in and around Santiago de Compostela
Cabo de Finisterre
The Romans thought that this was the westernmost point of the earth and, therefore, the world ended here. It was the “finis terrae“, so it has been considered for centuries the limit of the known lands, the frontier of the beyond, the End of the World. Since the beginning of time, Fisterra has evoked a deep mystery in the souls of pilgrims. There are many who feel the place has a certain magic and special aura.
The real secret of Cape Fisterra is that it has the Costa da Morte’s wild landscapes and breathtaking beaches. But it also offers the most moving sight of all, the most impressive sunset in Spain, over the immensity of the ocean, the sea at the end of the world.
It marks the end point of the Camino de Santiago, and is the perfect reward for the pilgrim who travels to the last stage. It is one of the most spectacular and captivating parts of the Camino, and this cape is the ideal ending for those who finish their journey. There are many who drop the stones they have been carrying all along the way, both symbolically and literally, and make a wish.
Food in Santiago de Compostela
If you want to know about Santiago’s gastronomy, this city has everything you are looking for and more. The Mercado de Abastos market is home to a wide variety of quality local products that you can try and take home with you. In addition, in the historic streets and the Ensanche there are plenty of places selling the typical local products. You cannot leave this city without trying the famous tarta de Santiago, scallops, Galician octopus, as well as Galician empanadas, a delight for the senses.
What to see in Santiago de Compostela in one day?
Santiago de Compostela is a small city that can be easily covered in one day. If you have a day to visit this city, you will be able to get to know the essence of Galicia and Compostela, discovering its most interesting places. Here is a small itinerary of the places to see in Santiago de Compostela in one day.
- Plaza del Obradoiro
- Cathedral of Santiago
- Old Town
- Plaza de la Quintana
- Parque de La Alameda
- Mercado de abastos
¿Que ver en Santiago de Compostela en 2 días?
With two days in the city, you will be able to get to know their traditions in depth, and you will have time to discover all the places of interest in Santiago de Compostela. On your second day, we recommend taking an trip to explore the area around Santiago de Compostela. Discover the place where the end of the world was located and complete your trip in an extraordinary way by visiting the famous Cape Finisterre.
Tips for your trip to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Santiago de Compostela has mild temperatures throughout the year. In summer temperatures are around 20ºC.
- We recommend packing a waterproof jacket and warm clothes, as it can rain at any time of the year.
- The Cathedral of Santiago is open all day long, from around 9 a.m. to about 8.30 p.m.
- The airport is about 10 km from the city. Taxis will take you to Santiago for a fixed fare of €21. There is also a bus service to the airport.
How to organise what to see in Santiago to Compostela?
If you have doubts about how to get organised before travelling, and you don’t really know how to plan your travel itinerary, you can take this post as a reference and combine it with the suggestions on the Passporter website and app. There you will also find a wide variety of ideas and inspiration about what to see and do in Santiago de Compostela.
If you have any queries about how to create your own itinerary, read our post: How to create your itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Santiago de Compostela can be reached by plane, train, bus or road. Santiago has a national airport located 10 km from the city.
Santiago de Compostela is a city with a simple structure. You can get around on foot very easily, as its historic centre has most of the city’s points of interest and all of them are easy to reach. However, Santiago also has public transport, such as the bus, which will take you to the furthest stops from the centre. There is also a taxi service.
You will find many restaurants in the old town as well as in the new area. The traditional wine area in Santiago de Compostela is located in Rúa do Franco and Rúa Raíña. If you are looking for pubs and bars, you will find them in the area of San Paio de Antealtares and Porta do Camiño and in the streets around Praza Roxa.
It is used only on religious feasts designated by the Archbishopric, or when someone has requested it as an offering, which is very frequent during the high season and especially during the Holy Years (Jacobean years).
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