Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful city with many amazing things to do. It’s one of the most important cities in the region. Most foreign tourists visit it as a part of their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. According to the legend, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the burial place of the Apostle St.James, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
The city plays an important role in the history of the Camino de Santiago, one of the main pilgrimage routes in Europe. Since the rediscovery of the tomb of St.James in the 9th century hundreds of thousands of people arrived in Santiago following different Camino routes. Even if you’re not a pilgrim the city is a great place to visit. Santiago offers many interesting things to do from visiting historical monuments to wine and tapas tasting.
The top 3 tours in Santiago de Compostela
If you want to see tha main attractions in Santiago de Compostela and don’t have much time I’d suggest these 3 tours. If you do all 3 you’ll get a very good idea of Santiago de Compostela and the Galicia region of Spain.
Amazing things to do in Santiago de Compostela
Visit the Cathedral
The Cathedral is the main attraction of Santiago de Compostela it’s something not to miss. For pilgrims such as ourselves arriving at the Cathedral is the highlight of their journey. If you’re not one of them yet you’ll see many excited people with backpacks and walking sticks on the square around the Cathedral.
The construction of the current Cathedral started in 1075 under the reign of Alfonso VI. It was expanded and modified over the centuries; the last changes to the Cathedral were made in the 18th century. Both the exterior and the interior are impressive. Inside the Cathedral is just as impressive. The richly decorated baroque altar is an elaborate piece of art. You can visit the crypt under the altar with the relics of Saint James. Entrance to the Cathedral is free though you are not allowed to walk around and take photos during masses. You can do a guided Cathedral and Museum tour to learn more about its history.
The best view of the front facade you get from Plaza Obradoiro, a beautiful square in front of the Cathedral. My favorite time to come to Praza Obradoiro is late evening when it gets quiet and you can enjoy the square and the Cathedral with lights.
- Open hours – daily from 7 am to 9 pm
- Entrance – free
Suggested Cathedral tours
Attend the Pilgrims’ Mass
Even if you’re not a pilgrim it’s interesting to visit the Cathedral during the mass. The masses happen several times a day. They last between 30-45 minutes. If you’re lucky you might witness the Botafumeiro Ceremony when a massive silver incense burner attached to the ceiling is swung by 6 specially trained monks. It doesn’t happen every day only on special religious occasions such as Christmas, Easter, etc. In the peak Camino season (August – September) you have better chances to see Botafumeiro some groups of pilgrims book the ceremony for their arrival in Santiago.
Do a day trip to Finisterre & Muxía
A trip to the wild Glacian coast is a great thing to do in Santiago. After admiring the city and enjoying its gastronomy discover unique areas of the Costa de Muerte or the Death Coast. You can rent a car for a day to do the trip, take a bus, or join a full-day guided tour. Finisterre and Muxia are two capes with stunning scenery. The name Finisterre comes from the Latin finis terrae which means “the end of the earth”. In Roman times the cape was considered to be the end of the known world.
Nowadays many pilgrims after finishing their Camino in Santiago de Compostela continue walking towards the coast following the Camino Finisterre. The cape is situated about 3 km away from the town of Finisterre, you can walk there or take a shuttle bus/taxi. At the cape, there is a lighthouse and a hotel/restaurant with spectacular views of the coast. If you are looking for a romantic place to stay Hotel O Semaforo is the perfect option. There are a couple of small sandy beaches on the way. If you join a tour it’ll take you to the lighthouse.
Muxía is another cape about 30 km north of Finisterre, there is a daily bus between the two towns. The scenery at Muxía is not as dramatic as at Finisterre but it’s still very beautiful with a chapel built on the rocks close to the water’s edge. Both capes are great for watching the sunset. There are many places to stay at both capes if you decide to extend your trip and stay here overnight.
Recommended tours from Santiago to Finisterre & Muxía
Do a rooftop tour of the Cathedral
To make your visit to the Cathedral complete, do a rooftop tour. During the tour, you’ll get a unique opportunity to see the top part of the Cathedral from close by and to enjoy bird-eye views of Santiago de Compostela. The guided tour is about 1 hour during that time you can explore the roof and enjoy 360 views of the city and have a look from the top at the squares and streets around the cathedral.
Become a pilgrim for a day
Becoming a pilgrim even for a day is a unique thing to do in Santiago de Compostela. If the Camino de Santiago vibe inspires you for a pilgrimage you can give it a try and spend one day on the Camino. You can start in Padron (the Portuguese Camino) or O Pedrouzo (the Camino Frances). Both towns are about 20 km away from Santiago. Most pilgrims start their last day there.
You can take a bus to either of the towns in the morning, find yellow arrows indicating the Camino route, and follow them to Santiago. If you do it in the summer you’ll see hundreds of pilgrims on the Camino. It’s an interesting experience to become a pilgrim for one day and to see if it’s something you would enjoy doing for a couple of weeks or not. The walk finishes on Praza Obradoiro in front of the Cathedral. If walking 20 km in one day sounds like too much you can do a shorter vision and walk the last 7 km to Santiago with a tour.
As an option, you can walk the last 100 km to Santiago de Compostela. It’s the required walking minimum for getting your Compostela, a certificate that is granted to every pilgrim who’s walked at least the last 100 km to Santiago. The Camino Frances from Sarria is the most popular route to walk the last 100 km.
The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela has a long history. According to historical documents, the first pilgrim on the Camino was Spanish king Alfonso II. He walked from Oviedo to Santiago in the IX century to commemorate the rediscovery of the remains of Apostle St.James. Nowadays this route is known as the Camino Primitivo or the Original Way.
Enjoy local wines and fresh mussels in Rias Baixas
If you enjoy good wines and beautiful scenery then doing a day tour from Santiago to Rias Baixas is a not-to-miss thing. Rias Baixas is situated in the Pontevedra region, about a 1-hour drive from Santiago de Compostela. The area is famous for its wines in particular Albariño, a white grape with thick skin used to produce refreshing white wine, a perfect wine to drink on a warm summer day. The area is very beautiful with vineyards covering the hills and valleys. The best way of doing wine tasting in Rias Baixas is with a tour then you don’t have to worry about drinking and driving. If you want to spend more time in the wine region you can stay for a day or two in Pontevedra.
Rias Baixas tours and activities
Places to stay in Pontevedra
Explore Old Town on foot
Exploring the Old Town of Santiago on foot is a great way to explore the city. Its narrow cobblestone streets with beautiful old buildings, churches, squares, fountains, and parks are made for walking. There are many interesting buildings in Santiago make sure not to miss the main attractions: the Cathedral and Praza do Obradoiro, Abbey of San Martin Pinario, Praza de Quintana, Pazo da Fonseca, Pazo de Raxoi (City Hall), Colegiata de Santa Maria, University of Santiago de Compostela, Convent and Church of San Francisco, Alameda park, and many others. Pretty much the majority of the buildings in the Historic Center of Santiago are remarkable.
If you visit the city in the peak season and want to explore it without tourist crowds early morning is the best time to do it, especially if it’s a Saturday or Sunday morning. You can join Historical Center Guided Tour with Official Guide to learn about the history of the city and its main attractions.
Santiago de Compostela walking tours
Enjoy a cup of coffee with Tarta de Santiago
If you’re a bit tired of sightseeing, take a break at one of the street cafes. Sit down and watch people with a cup of coffee and the famous Tarta de Santiago or Cake of St.James – a must-try dessert in Santiago de Compostela. It’s an almond cake/pie with added lemon zest and brandy served with whipped cream and/or ice cream. The top of the cake is decorated with the Cross of St.James which gives the name to the pastry.
Try Pulpo a la Gallega & Pimientos de Padros
These two typical Galician dishes are very popular in Santiago; you can find them at most bars and restaurants. Both are great to eat as snacks with beer or wine. Pulpo a la Gallega or Pulpo a la Feira is a traditional octopus dish that comes from Melide, a small town 50 km west of Santiago. Octopus is boiled first in a big copper pot after boiling it’s cut into smaller pieces and sprinkled with salt, paprika, and olive oil. Pimientos de Padron or Pardon Peppers is another…
