Visit Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Galicia’s grand capital, Santiago de Compostela has long been a powerful draw. For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have hiked a trail across the Spanish countryside to peer up at the soaring spires of the city’s eponymous cathedral.

While trekking the Camino de Santiago is a religious journey for many, the city is of interest to visitors of all stripes thanks to its blend of tradition and modernity.

The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture, sits alongside a daring contemporary art scene and thriving food landscape — and you can explore this rich cultural heritage on a walking tour.

You might wander the narrow, cobbled streets crammed with historic buildings, museums, and grand plazas, sample fresh local produce in the central market, or enjoy a visual feast during a tour of the modern art museum.

Alternatively, follow in the footsteps of countless pilgrims with a stroll along the final stretch of the French Way, the Camino’s most well-known route into the city.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

With its soaring towers, arches, and windows festooned with architectural frills, Santiago de Compostela’s eponymous cathedral is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The building, which dates to 1075 and is believed to hold the remains of Saint James Apostle, is the final destination for pilgrims trekking the Camino de Santiago.

Inside, you’ll discover a statue of the saint rising above the gilded Baroque altar, and the Portico de la Gloria, a monument featuring hundreds of intricately carved sculptures. Various traditions have taken root here — the swinging of a giant botaumeiro incense vessel to the sound of nuns chanting is one of the most hypnotic.

Old Town

Compact and closed to traffic, the city’s UNESCO-listed Old Town is entirely negotiable on foot, and you can wander the narrow granite streets at random, or unpack its vast history with a private guide.

You’ll be introduced to Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture — from nunneries and monasteries to some of the oldest university buildings in Spain — and along the way discover museums, gardens, and cafe-lined plazas filled with people. City life revolves around the Praza do Obradoiro, a monumental granite square whose grandeur puts it among the world’s greatest historic piazzas.

Galician Contemporary Art Centre

Santiago de Compostela boasts a thriving, daring modern art scene, and nowhere is this more visible than the Galician Contemporary Art Centre. Housed in an award-winning building designed by renowned Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza, the space features some of the most ground-breaking works in the international art scene. The permanent collection highlights the work of Galician artists alongside Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American artists living overseas, like Spanish sculptor Moncho Amigo. Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year. While here, you can also explore the sculpture garden and the upper urban terrace, which affords some of the best views of the city’s historic quarter.

Walking food tour

Santiago de Compostela is an excellent city for food, and you can explore its culinary highlights with an epicurean expert. You might visit one of many tiny tapas bars, known locally as tascas, to sample pulpo a la gallega, an octopus dish the locals have a passion for. Alternatively, pause at a bakery to taste Tarta de Santiago, an almond cake proudly adorned with the cross of Saint James, or stop at a streetside bar to sip albariño wine, a crisp white made from Galicia-grown grapes.

Mercado de Abastos, a central food market, showcases the region’s finest produce. Here, you’ll find the freshest seafood, including monkfish, oysters, and scallops — their shell the symbol of the Camino de Santiago.

Camino de Santiago

Dating to the 9th century, the Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage to the final resting place of Saint James the Apostle. Though the length of each route is different, with some starting as far flung as Lisbon or Paris, all are hundreds of miles long and weave through the Spanish countryside to Santiago de Compostela’s cathedral.

The pathways attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year — walking, cycling, and collecting stamps in a Pilgrim Passport. For many, the journey is about spiritual reflection while also taking in Galicia’s dense forests, green hills, and fields of wildflowers.

You can walk the final stage of the French Way with a private guide, who’ll lead you along the last 15 km (nine miles) of the Camino’s most well-known paths and into the city. We can also arrange for you to hike a longer stretch of the French Way over five days, a 115km (71 miles) route that will take you around Galicia’s soaring mountains, deep river valleys, and remote stone villages.

Best time to visit Santiago de Compostela

Located in the north of Spain, Santiago de Compostela enjoys mild temperatures year-round, but experiences frequent rain during winter months. We recommend visiting between March and May, to make the most of the pleasant temperatures. The ideal time to walk the Camino de Santiago is between May and June or in September, to avoid the summer crowds.

Festivals, events and seasonal reasons to visit

Santiago de Compostela has several festivals, the biggest of which is Festas do Apóstolo, a celebration of Saint James, the patron saint of the city. A blend of religious traditions and vibrant Galician culture, festivities take place during the last two weeks of July.