Santiago de Compostela

Travel Guide
Photo provided by Turismo de Santiago
Explore this ancient city built around a shrine to one of the Twelve Apostles. It is packed with historical landmarks: museums, churches and a palace.

Santiago de Compostela is a Spanish city in the Galicia region built around a prominent shrine of Saint James the Great. The city has been an important Catholic pilgrimage route since the ninth century with many intriguing landmarks. Visit the historic center, now a UNESCO site.

Relax and enjoy a picnic in Alameda Park. Relish the calm atmosphere in the serene grounds with unobstructed views of the city’s landscape, which includes the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Go to the old town to gaze up at the giant gothic structure, identified as the burial place of St. James the Great, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. This is a popular pilgrimage site for Catholics. See the intricate façade bathed in light at night.

See the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Museum inside the building. Peruse ancient artifacts, religious symbols, tapestries, rugs and furniture. The cathedral and museum sit on Obradoiro Square, a large plaza in the historic center. Here, you can find the Palacio de Rajoy, a wide 18th-century structure. It serves as the Town Hall and contains Galicia’s presidential quarters.

Spend several hours at the Museum of the Galician People to learn about the region’s culture, history, music, art, industry and archaeology.

Stroll down the Mercado de Abastos de Santiago (Santiago Supplies Market). Haggle with vendors over the price of fresh food products, including meat and fruit. Taste local cheese and fresh fish. Browse stalls of clothes and perfumes.

In the Plaza de la Quintana area, locate the San Martino Pinario Monastery. The buildings are now an educational institution.

This part of the country has hot, dry summers and mild, very wet winters with one of Spain’s highest winter rainfalls. The Galician language is still widely used in the city, although almost everyone understands Spanish. 

Santiago de Compostela is located in northwest Spain, just north of Portugal. Learn about its rich history before crossing the border for additional Iberian adventures.

Where to stay in Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral which includes a church or cathedral, heritage elements and religious elements

Santiago de Compostela City Centre

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

Travelers to Santiago de Compostela City Centre praise its stunning cathedral. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to make a stop by Galicia Plaza and Alameda Park.

Santiago de Compostela City Centre
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral which includes a church or cathedral, heritage elements and religious elements

Santiago de Compostela Historic Centre

5/5(21 area reviews)

Travelers to Santiago de Compostela Historic Centre praise its stunning cathedral. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to make a stop by Plaza de la Quintana and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

Santiago de Compostela Historic Centre
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El Ensanche Zona Nuova

Unique features of El Ensanche Zona Nuova include the historic sites and coffeehouses. Make a stop by Plaza Roja or Galicia Plaza while you're exploring the area.

El Ensanche Zona Nuova
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San Lazaro

5/5(2 area reviews)

San Lazaro is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Congress and Exposition Center of Galicia and San Lazaro Stadium.

San Lazaro
Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Parador de Santiago de Compostela
5 out of 5
Plaza do Obradoiro 1, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruna
The price is CA $446 per night from Jun. 9 to Jun. 10
CA $446
CA $491 total
includes taxes & fees
Jun 9 - Jun 10
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (968 reviews)
"The sheer atmosphere of the Parador is truly amazing: the corridors filled with furniture, the vaulted central crossing, the grand staircase. It feels as if you’ve gone through a portal to the past. The breakfast offerings are extensive. We had lunch at Dos Reis, which in an equally remarkable setting ..."

Reviewed on May 14, 2024

Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Hotel Praza Quintana
Hotel Praza Quintana
3 out of 5
Rúa Da Conga, 9, Santiago de Compostela
The price is CA $194 per night from May 19 to May 20
CA $194
CA $214 total
includes taxes & fees
May 19 - May 20
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (677 reviews)
"The location was perfect and the service was beyond great. The lady at the front desk each morning was very helpful"

Reviewed on May 11, 2024

Hotel Praza Quintana
NH Collection Santiago de Compostela
NH Collection Santiago de Compostela
5 out of 5
Avenida do Burgo das Nacions s/n, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruna
The price is CA $170 per night from Jun. 16 to Jun. 17
CA $170
CA $187 total
includes taxes & fees
Jun 16 - Jun 17
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (858 reviews)
"Ubicación, servicio, limpieza todo excelente"

Reviewed on May 13, 2024

NH Collection Santiago de Compostela
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Apartamentos Ciudad Santiago
Apartamentos Ciudad Santiago
1 out of 5
Av. da Mestra Victoria Míguez 41, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña
Stay at this apartment in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Santiago de Compostela Cathedral ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
"Great place clean with very good amenities. Washer and dryer was perfect. Very good parking"

Reviewed on Mar. 21, 2024

Apartamentos Ciudad Santiago
I Loft Santiago by Upper Luxury Housing
I Loft Santiago by Upper Luxury Housing
4 out of 5
Rúa de Maruxa Mallo, 7, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an airport shuttle (surcharge). Popular attractions Obradoiro Square ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (11 reviews)
"Great modern apartment. Bed is two singles put together, and if you go to the middle it creaks. There’s too much light in the apartment when lights are switched off, from sensors and sockets. I like a room completely dark so struggled to sleep on my first night because of the light coming from the ..."

Reviewed on Apr. 21, 2024

I Loft Santiago by Upper Luxury Housing
Rúa Travesa
Rúa Travesa
3 out of 5
Rua Travesa, 21, Santiago de Compostela
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy free WiFi, an in-room espresso maker, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Santiago de Compostela ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (48 reviews)
"Beautiful building, very convenient, in the middle of the historic town, Noelia (property manager) was amazing. Always communicating and very helpful."

Reviewed on Oct. 17, 2023

Rúa Travesa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Santiago de Compostela

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
18
" "5 - Excellent 58.064516129032256%
4 - Good
13
" "4 - Good 41.935483870967744%
3 - Okay
0
" "3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
Sep. 23, 2019

They need public washrooms and garbage and recycle cans

5/5 - Excellent

Denise
Aug. 14, 2019

Beautiful town. Amazingly rich with history.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
Jul. 17, 2019

Enjoyed our stay. Historic churches and quaint sidewalk cafes. If you have time, take the 30 minute train ride to A Coruna. Beautuful seaside city to spend a day and overnight.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
Jun. 28, 2019

A great end point for the Camino journey experience.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
May 18, 2019

Nicely organized hotel and of good value for Euro's charged. Two things would enhance the rooms - brighter light bulbs and larger beds. The bed frame was bigger than the bed and too small for 2 people! Inn keeper-go that extra cm and do it right!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
May 9, 2019

This city is doable in a day unless you want to visit the museums, galleries and all the cathedrals and monasteries. And even at that you could do it all in a day and a half. May 2019 the cathedral was undergoing major restoration.

Cities near Santiago de Compostela