Santiago de Compostela

Catedral de Santiago de Compostela (Plaza del Obradoiro)

The end of the “Way of Saint James” and one of Europe's most famous landmarks; its baroque façade looks over Obradoiro Square. Historians record that Almanzor raided it in 387 AH / 997 CE and carried its bells to the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba.

Cubiertas y Museo de la Catedral

A guided tour over the stone rooftops of Santiago Cathedral, with views of Obradoiro Square and the old town, along with the cathedral museum and the monastery.

Cidade da Cultura de Galicia

A vast architectural complex by Peter Eisenman on Monte Gaiás, with undulating stone buildings that look like part of the hill. It contains a museum, a library, free exhibitions and a Galician forest.

Museo do Pobo Galego

The museum of traditional Galician life in the monastery of San Domingos de Bonaval. Its most famous feature is the unique triple spiral staircase from the 17th century.

Museo das Peregrinacións e de Santiago

A free museum in Praza das Praterías that explains the phenomenon of pilgrimage to Santiago and the history of the city. From its upper floor there is a close view of the cathedral.

CGAC – Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea

A white granite building by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza (1993), next to Bonaval, showing free contemporary art and with a roof terrace with a view.

Parque da Alameda

The largest and loveliest of Santiago's gardens, with ancient oak trees and the “Paseo da Ferradura” walk, which gives the most famous view of the cathedral.

Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval

A terraced garden on the site of the old monastery, among the oak trees and the friars' orchard. From its top there is a lovely view of the cathedral towers, especially at sunset.

Monte Pedroso

The highest viewpoint over Santiago: a forest path climbs to a summit with panoramic views of the city, the cathedral and the surrounding mountains.

Parque de Belvís

A green valley in the heart of the old town, with meadows, children's play areas and a walkway overlooking Santiago's rooftops. Quiet and with few tourists.

Casa Rural Pazo de Sedor

· Arzúa

A Galician country house (“pazo”) from the 18th century near Arzúa, with quiet rooms and home cooking, on the French Way.

Parque Natural de Corrubedo

· Ribeira

The largest moving sand dune in Galicia, with coastal lagoons and a long wild beach, crossed by wooden walkways and bird hides. The visitor centre gives out route maps.

Easy to reach · needs a car

50 minutes by car from Santiago; car park at the visitor centre, and level wooden walkways partly suitable for wheelchairs.

Fervenza do Ézaro

· Dumbría

The only waterfall in mainland Europe whose river (the Xallas) falls straight into the sea. It drops about 40 m from Monte Pindo at the Galician “Coast of Death”. On some summer nights water is released from the dam and the waterfall is lit up, a majestic sight.

Easy to reach · needs a car

A roadside car park at the foot of the waterfall; a short, level walk. The flow depends on the dam — check the timetable. The upper viewpoint is reached by a mountain road. Few facilities.

Cabo Fisterra – Faro

· Fisterra

“The end of the earth” to the Romans: a rocky headland on the Atlantic that was thought to be the last known land, and the end of the “Way of Saint James” (marker 0.00 km). Lighthouse of 1853 and a legendary sunset view over the ocean.

Fervenza do Toxa

· Silleda

One of the highest waterfalls in Galicia, it drops about 30 m through dense oak and chestnut woods. A viewpoint on large rocks shows it in full before you go down to its base.

Moderate effort · needs a car

45 minutes by car from Santiago; from the car park, about 15 minutes' descent, then a climb back up on the way back.

Parador Hostal dos Reis Católicos

• One of the city's best hotels
• Romantic

The pilgrims' hospital built by the Catholic Monarchs in 1499 on Obradoiro Square, in front of the cathedral; one of the oldest hotels in the world.

Hotel Monumento San Francisco

• One of the city's best hotels

An old monastery near the cathedral, with an indoor pool and a historic dining hall.

Hotel Palacio del Carmen, Autograph Collection

A five-star hotel in an old convent with quiet gardens, near the Alameda park and a ten-minute walk from the cathedral. It has ample parking and an excellent breakfast.

Hotel Altaïr

• Boutique

A small, renovated boutique hotel in the old quarter, a five-minute walk from the cathedral. Some rooms have a courtyard or private terrace.

Hotel Pazo de Altamira

• Boutique

A historic stone mansion with modern facilities, next to the Mercado de Abastos in the old quarter. Some rooms have glazed balconies overlooking the market and the churches.

Hotel NH Collection Santiago de Compostela

A four-star hotel with gardens, an outdoor pool and an indoor pool, in a quiet area a 10–15 minute walk from the old town. Its rooms are spacious and suit families.

Mercado de Abastos

Santiago's historic market with its stone arcades. The second most visited place after the cathedral, it sells Galician seafood and cheeses, and some restaurants will cook what you buy.

Rúa do Vilar, Rúa Nova y Rúa do Franco

The three parallel stone arcaded streets that run from the cathedral to the Alameda park, with shops selling silver jewellery, black amber (azabache) and Santiago cake.

Praza da Quintana

A wide terraced square behind the cathedral, where the “Holy Door” opens in Jubilee years, bordered by the silent monastery of San Paio. One of the city's most beautiful corners at night.

Café Casino

Occupies the old halls of the “Casino de Santiago” (a social club founded in 1873) on Rúa do Vilar, with its ornate ceilings, carved wood and a grand piano in the middle of the hall. An elegant café where pilgrims go after reaching the cathedral.

Termas de Cuntis

· Cuntis

A thermal complex in the town of Cuntis between Santiago and Pontevedra, with a pool half indoors and half outdoors, at 28 degrees, and basins at 33 degrees. Clean and reasonably priced.