Santiago de Compostela Travel Guide

The culmination of the legendary pilgrim’s trail, Camino de Santiago (Saint James’ Way), Santiago de Compostela’s magical medieval city, has been one of the Christian world’s most important pilgrimage sites for centuries. With its piercing spires, elegant palaces, and romantic plazas, some say it is the most beautiful city in Spain. While that claim is hard to prove, there is no denying the magnetic appeal of Santiago’s mix of majestic medieval architecture, a buzzing café culture, and a storybook historical center where ancient monuments, modern boutiques, and wonderful restaurants rub shoulders along narrow cobblestone streets.

Santiago’s compact old town is a work of art crowned by the soaring Romanesque cathedral, built between the 11th and 13th centuries in honor of Santiago (Saint James), who believers say was buried here in the first century AD. When his remains were rediscovered in the 9th century, Santiago became an important pilgrimage site, drawing the faithful across Europe.

Even today, more than a millennia later, the Camino de Santiago, which begins in France and stretches across northern Spain, is one of the world’s most beloved and most-used pilgrimage trails. It’s living a modern renaissance, with thousands of hikers and cyclists visiting it yearly. Gourmet travelers also follow the Camino de Santiago route across Northern Spain, visiting wine country and monuments en route – La Rioja, Basque Country’s Txakoli region, and the exquisite region of Asturias with its Cider and artisan cheeses are all on the way.

The pilgrims’ reward upon reaching Santiago is a modern city village that still clings tightly to its medieval past. The city acquired the height of its influence in the 11th century, but its role as a pilgrimage site assured steady growth and a wealth of churches, monasteries, and palaces for hundreds of years. Even today, more than two dozen churches, convents, and monasteries are open for visits to the city center.

But history and austere old buildings aren’t the only things Santiago has to offer. Thanks to the presence of the 16th-century university, one of Spain’s oldest and most respected, there is a lively student culture and a buzzing nightlife. The ancient city center is packed with atmospheric bars and pubs; some of the best drink spots are around the Rúa da Congo, the Rúa San Paio de Antealtares, and the Plaza de Cervantes. Even during the day, Santiago boasts one of Spain’s best café cultures, with wine bars, coffeehouses, and old-timey cafés packed along its cobblestone streets.

Just outside the city are the lush green forests of Galicia (this area is called “Green Spain” for a good reason!), creating the ideal place for rural getaways or walks. A bit further on is the breathtakingly beautiful Galician coast, where rías (inlets) score the shoreline. Rias Baixas is the famous wine country here, producing fabulous Albariño wines. Tiny fishing villages, remote beaches, and busy resorts are dotted along these picturesque rías that can all be enjoyed on your tour of Santiago de Compostela and the region of Galicia.