Location: Santiago de Compostela
Top Things to do in Santiago de Compostela
Top Restaurants in Santiago de Compostela
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Santiago de Compostela That You Shouldn't Miss
If you see nothing else in this World Heritage city, you simply must visit the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, an awe-inspiring confection of baroque architecture. Once you’ve regained composure, head out on a bicycle to see the rest of this glorious city. Foodies and boozehounds will delight in a guided gastronomy tour, while modernists will enjoy the Galician Center of Contemporary Art.
Restaurants in Santiago de Compostela
1. Camino de Santiago
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,083 reviews
A network of paths leading to a church holding the remains of St. James (Santo Iago), the patron saint of Spain...
Reviewed By davidsJ5671XD
We had booked a self-guided tour on the Portuguese Camino with Walks in Spain for September 2020 having been very happy with the arrangements they made for our 2008 Sarria to Santiago trip. My wife and I are both in our 70’s and have become very anxious with the Coronavirus about travelling. I called Paul to express our concerns expecting to at least forfeit our deposit and was pleasantly surprised when after explaining that we couldn’t rebook for next year he offered to return our deposit. I am impressed with the integrity and professionalism of this company, thank you Paul.
2. Plaza del Obradoiro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,327 reviews
Large, pleasant city plaza containing the church of St. James.
Reviewed By VadimM67 - Murmansk, Russia
Local residents joke that the 4 buildings surrounding the square around the perimeter embody the 4 pillars that hold Santiago de Compostela: religion (Cathedral), power (City Hall), tourism (- Parador-Hostal de Los Reyes Catholicos) and education (San Xeronime College). Of course, the main thing on the square is the magnificent West facade of the Cathedral. It is good day and night. Despite its medieval status, this Baroque beauty is relatively recent by historical standards. The facade was completed in 1740 by the architect Fernando de Casas Novoa . There`s Palace Raxoi behind. The City Hall is located here now. St. James in the form of a statue will be found here also. It was believed that his statue helped in the fight against the Moors during the Reconquista. If You look at the North side you can find the former hospital for pilgrims, built by the ideologues of the Reconquista, zealous Catholics and persecutors of Jews and Moors by Queen Isabella of Castile and king Ferdinand of Aragon. The Parador for pilgrims is now here. Finally, the 16th-century College of San Xeronime is located on the South side of the square. In addition to contemplating the Baroque beauty of the Cathedral, interesting performances are played out in the arcades of the city hall in the late afternoon. Perhaps this will be the best end of the day.
3. Gelmirez Palace
4. Cathedral De Santiago de Compostela
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,536 reviews
Reviewed By PilatesLady58 - Norwich, United Kingdom
The cathedral is an incredible building with its impressive baroque facade and is the culmination for some of a long journey along the Camino to reach Santiago. At the moment it’s best viewed from the outside only as there is major restoration work going on for holy year in 2021 when the work will be completed. It’s still worth visiting the cathedral museum which has some interesting artworks on display. You can also access the cloister and get views out over the square by the cathedral to the surrounding countryside. I’m sure it will be amazing when it’s done but currently the interior is literally a building site!
5. Museo do Pobo Galego
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 570 reviews
The Museum of Galician People was created in 1976 with the objectives of research and the preservation, dissemination, defence and promotion of Galician culture in all areas, and, specifically, to create and develop a museum at the service of these goals. The first rooms were opened in 1977. The Museum has permanent galleries dedicated to the sea, the trades, the land, el costume, the music, al habitat and architecture, the society and the press and printing. The criterion used in its creation aims to provide an overall view of all the different facets that define the culture of Galicia. Far from enclosing this complex cultural phenomenon within the physical realm of the museum, the aim is to provide a compendium of the diversity of Galicia which can serve as a reference for evaluating the variety of forms within the group and to encourage interest in first-hand knowledge and the search for future alternatives.
Reviewed By FJGonzalezG - Bethesda, United States
The Museo do Pobo Galego is housed in the Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval, outside the old walled city near the Porta do Camiño (gate to the Camino Francés). This is an ethnographic museum on the Galician people and their culture, which for centuries has included migration to other parts of Spain and the Americas. This part is interesting, but the highlight is a magical triple helical staircase of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the work of architect Domingo de Andrade. The stairwell swirls with three separate ramps that lead to different floors. Supposedly, the idea was to provide privacy, though I suspect it also provided segregation of ranks or classes. The rungs of the ladder are said to be made of a whole piece, set in an outer rib fit without joining the wall or each other. My wife and I explored the stairs like children, eventually making our way to the top floor, from where you have a great roof-top view of the city.
6. Museo Catedralicio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 363 reviews
Reviewed By rayporsche - Ottawa, Canada
This museum is located on the gallery floor above the street level of the Cathedral de Compostela. The museum contains rare historical artifacts and dramatic presentations of religious memorabilia, illustrates the evolution of the Cathedral and of the citystate from the first humble monument to Saint James up to the present era. The art here is gorgeous. You wander through the museum at your own pace, absorb what you wish and learn about the past in this historical venue. The Cathedral may be closed for renovation through much of 2019-2020 so this museum will be a worthwhile educational and tourist stop in the interim.
7. Monasterio de San Martin Pinario
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 579 reviews
Reviewed By VadimM67 - Murmansk, Russia
Given the renovation of the Cathedral built up with scaffolding, San Martin Pinario is more interesting for non-religious tourists to visit. Though of course, he relics of St. James are of incommensurably greater value than the carved benches of the monastery for pilgrims. San Martin Pinario is the second largest monastery in Spain after San Lorenzo in Escorial. But as you know, it is not the size that determines the value. The main southern facade of the monastery faces the Plaza de La Immacolata. Contrary to the city's tradition, the statue of St. Martin of Tours crowns the facade, not the St. James of Mavrovica. Martin is shown on a horse giving his clothes to a beggar. The Church of the monastery is another masterpiece of Galician Baroque performed by the different architects including Fernando de Casas y Novoa, who created the facade of the Cathedral. It was completed in 1652 and is a single-nave Church on the sides of which are placed six chapels. Three of them were touched by the genius of Fernando de Casas y Novoa. However, the general interior of the Church of San Martin Pinario was created by Mateo Lopez. The composition of the Benedictine Church of San Martin Pinario is similar to the famous Jesuit Church Il Gesu in Rome. The main altar is unusual, it faces traditionally to the nave, and the back side-to the choir of the monastic community. The main theme of iconography in the Church is dedicated to the image of the virgin Mary, who, according to the dogma of the immaculate conception, interrupted the sinfulness of the world. One of the side chapels is dedicated to the so-called English virgin, a symbol of English Catholics who fled from England from the persecution of Henry VIII. Baroque choirs are of no less artistic value. This masterpiece was created by Matteo de Prado from 1639 to 1647. the Monastery has not operated since the XIX century and part of the premises belongs to the Museum of religious art. You can get inside through the Church of St. Martino. A good collection of religious artifacts is located here: utensils, paintings, sculptures. The Church is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10: 30 to 13: 30 and from 16: 00 to 19: 00. Admission: 4 EUR for adults, 3 EUR for students, pilgrims and people over 65 years of age.
8. Museo Casa de la Troya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
The Casa de la Troya Museum is located in the heart of Santiago de Compostela old town, very close to the church of St. Martin Pinario the Cathedral. The museum re-creates the environment and decoration of a students' dormitory and Santiago's university life of late 19th century. The recreation is based in the novel by Alejandro Pérez Lugín “La Casa de la Troya” (House of the Troy). From 1886 to 1906 the house was a guest house for students. The 90s restoration reconfigured the rooms and chambers just like the guesthouse that appears in the novel. Following the reception in the ground floor, the first floor reproduces the former hall and study area (apart from being the rehearsal room for the Tuna of Santiago at some point) and the respect hall, the space for receiving the students' families. In the second floor the visitor will see the bedroom. The kitchen is located in attic the highest part of the house. The visits are guided and last approximately 20 minutes.
9. Parque de la Alameda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 697 reviews
Reviewed By BuenosAiresFoodie - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Enjoyed strolling through this park on a regular basis and seeing the changing seasons and locals out enjoying the green space. Nice lookouts towards the cathedral and central Santiago.
10. Colegiata del Sar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By Leophant - San Juan, Caribbean
Although it was a wet, rainy afternoon, the unusual church- the inclined columns - made the trek worthwhile
