Santiago de Compostela, the cathedral from inside, from above and from afar.

Santiago is a small city with an enormous cathedral in the middle. Everything worth seeing is less than twenty minutes' walk from the Praza do Obradoiro, and almost all of it revolves around the church: you see it from inside in the basilica and the Pórtico de la Gloria, from above on the granite roofs and from afar in the Alameda and on Monte Pedroso. In between, the Mercado de Abastos and the stone streets of the old town, which is a World Heritage Site.

How do I get there from A Coruña, Pontevedra or Lugo?

By car, on the motorway. From A Coruña it is an hour on the AP-9; from Pontevedra, another hour on the same motorway heading north. From Lugo and from Ourense allow an hour and a half. Without a car, the Eje Atlántico train links A Coruña and Santiago in about 30 minutes, and trains also arrive from Pontevedra, Vigo and Ourense; the station is about twenty minutes' walk from the cathedral. For a Sunday, the train is the most comfortable option from A Coruña: you don't have to look for parking.

Where do I park?

Outside the old town, which is pedestrian. There are public car parks on the edge of the old city; the hotels in the centre, such as the Costa Vella or the Virxe da Cerca, will tell you the nearest one. The Parador, right on the Obradoiro, has a paid garage for its guests. Once parked, don't move the car again: everything is done on foot.

How long do I need?

A day is enough for the essentials: the basilica, the roofs, a stroll along rúas do Vilar and Nova, lunch and the Alameda at sunset. With a night you add the cathedral museum, the Mercado de Abastos in the morning and the climb up Monte Pedroso to see the whole city.

What else is there outside the cathedral?

If you arrive on foot, the last stage of the Camino Francés is 20.2 km from O Pedrouzo; from March to October you can do just the final part, from Monte do Gozo, with a guide. To eat with explanations, the Santiago Experience food tour combines market, old town and lunch or dinner, and the Galician wine and cheese tasting lasts a short afternoon. At night, the secrets and legends route leaves from the Quintana or the Obradoiro. In the rain, the Museo do Pobo Galego, in Bonaval, and the Cidade da Cultura on Monte Gaiás, with a free architectural tour.

Which tickets do I need to buy?

The basilica is free and open every day from 7:00 to 21:00; you enter by Praterías, without a rucksack. What you pay for is the Museo Catedral, which sells timed themed tours. The roofs and the Carraca tower cost €15 (€12 reduced) and include the museum and the Gelmírez palace for seven days. The museum on its own, €9. The Pórtico de la Gloria is seen with a ticket and a maximum of 25 minutes. Buy at the Obradoiro ticket offices or on the museum website, and arrive fifteen minutes before your time. If you prefer to be told about it, the guided tour by Optimus Tours covers museum and basilica from €25.

When to go

Santiago works all year: it often rains, but almost everything is under cover. May, June, September and October are the best months, with long days and fewer groups than in summer. In July, around the festival of the Apostle, the city fills up and hotels put prices up. Remember that the Mercado de Abastos is open only Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 to 14:00. At the end of 2026 the Holy Door opens for the Holy Year 2027: expect more visitors throughout next year.

Where do I eat and sleep?

For Sunday lunch, the Café de Altamira, opposite the market, with market cooking and a Bib Gourmand; for a special meal, A Tafona, with a Michelin star, which on Sundays opens at midday only. From Monday to Saturday, O Dezaseis is the eating house on rúa de San Pedro. To sleep, the Parador right on the Obradoiro; the Hospedería San Martín Pinario, simple and opposite the cathedral; or two hotels with gardens, the Virxe da Cerca and the Costa Vella.