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The Santiago de Compostela International Airport, named Aeropuerto de Lavacolla, is located just outside the capital on Santiago-Lugo road, km. 11. National flights leave from here, as well as international flights from north-western Spain. This is also the only airport in Galicia that has transcontinental flights: routes to Caracas and Buenos Aires during high season.  Located on Rúa do Hórreo, the RENFE Station offers travellers two daily trains that connect Santiago with Madrid (Talgo and Expreso) and one train to Bilbao. There are also fourteen other trains that go to A Coruña daily, eleven to Vigo and eight to Ourense. Outside Galicia, three trains connect Santiago with Oporto via Vigo and there are also connections with France via the A Coruña-Vigo-Barcelona line.
The Estación Central de Autobuses (Central Bus Station) on Calle San Cayetano, w/out no., connects the main towns of Galicia and also offers routes to other national and international destinations, including Madrid, Gijón, Bilbao, Irún, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland.
It is best to travel through the city on foot, bearing in mind its size and characteristics. However, Santiago has various car parks throughout for visitors who prefer to use their own car. Those using public transport have ten city bus lines to choose from, which connect the centre with the closer suburban neighbourhoods.
Thanks to its geographical location, Galicia has a humid oceanic climate, which is characterised by mild temperatures all year round. The annual average temperature is around 15ºC, with 8ºC in the winter and a comfortable range in the summer, typically varying between 20-27ºC. Rainfall is quite frequent in the springtime, autumn and especially during the winter. |
Galician gastronomy is known for its healthy and varied seafood cuisine. Although it is often said, Galicia undoubtedly offers the best selection of the freshest fish and seafood in the entire country. For that reason, everyone who visits Santiago should make some of the many seafood restaurants in the historic district a priority stop.
Typical dishes include scallops, Galician-style octopus, shoulder of pork with turnip tops and the famous Galician empanada (stuffed pastry). Other popular dishes are Galician stew, made with ham, beef, chicken and chorizo, with turnip tops or cabbage, potatoes and chickpeas. Amongst the cakes and pastries, the Santiago almond cake is particularly noteworthy. Lastly, there is nothing better than savouring one of the area’s more popular wines, such as the Albariño or Ribeiro, to accompany any type of menu.
 Roberto:
San Julián de Sales. Vedra (10 km)
Tel. 981 511 769
Specialty: fish. Traditional and creative cuisine.
Loin of lamb in its own sauce, scallops on a bed of potato purée with coral vinaigrette.
Closed Sunday evenings
Price: average
Toñi Vicente:
Rosalía de Castro, 24
Tel. 981 594 100
Upscale Galician cuisine. Scallop salad with vinaigrette, grouper with wild and basmati rice.
Closed Sundays
Price: average
Moncho Vilas:
Av. de Villagarcía, 21
Tel. 981 598 637
Specialty: seafood and fish. Lobster salad and oven-roasted, split sea bream with almonds.
Price: average
Casa Sexto:
C/ Raíña, 23
Tel. 981 571 407
Specialising in traditional Galician cuisine: tripe, stew, hock and all types of seafood.
Price: average
Don Quijote:
C/ Rúa das Galeras, 20
Tel. 981 586 859
Specialty: seafood and grilled meats.
Price: average
O Barril:
C/ Rúa do Franco, 34
Tel. 981 585 688
Specialty: roast ham.
Price: average
Las Huertas:
C/ Las Huertas, 16
Tel. 981 561 979
Traditional and innovative cuisine. Tasting menus.
Price: average
 The city has a wide range of accommodations for all types of budgets, from B&Bs and hostels, to hotels, rental flats and country homes. Depending on the time of year, it is highly advisable to make reservations well in advance. For example, by April, many of the hotels are already fully booked for summer.
Hotel Meliá Araguaney *****
C/Alfredo Brañas, 5
Price: high
This luxurious five-star hotel ensures a pleasant and cosy stay. It sets itself apart from the rest by offering the most complete and personalised service in the city. Its location is also noteworthy, as it is situated right in the centre of Santiago de Compostela’s shopping district and just metres away from the historic monument area.
Hotel Casa de las Artes *
Trav. de Dos Puertas, 2
Price: high
Located in the historic district, this hotel is just 50 metres from the Santiago Cathedral. Restored in 1999, it is housed in a stone building with three floors and a penthouse level.
Apartamento Algalia
C/ Algalia de Arriba, 26, 3º
Price: average
With capacity for four people, this top-floor flat features a master bedroom, living room with two sofa beds, kitchen, bathroom and guest toilet. It is located in the historic district just 200 metres from the Cathedral.
Pensión Santa Rita *
C/ Fray Rosendo Salvado, 4, 4º-5º
Price: low
With reasonable prices, this is an ideal place for pilgrims. It is located in one of the city’s shopping districts (which offers cinemas, supermarkets, restaurants, etc.) right in the centre of Santiago, just 5 minutes from the Cathedral. Since ancient times, Santiago de Compostela has always been a place par excellence for shopping, since it was not possible in the city’s surrounding villages. Today, this activity continues to thrive, giving way to its several different shopping areas. Santiago has 4 large shopping centres, each one with its own unique characteristics, which enhances the richness and authenticity of the city’s offering.
The shops around the Cathedral feature a multitude of items related to Santiago and its local traditions. Ceramic glazed tiles, lace, clogs and other hand-crafted products can be found throughout the historic district’s shops. The Virxe da Cerca markets are excellent places to explore the delights of traditional Galician craftsmanship. Pulpeiras (octopus stalls), wine and spirits are common sights in these markets.
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 Many of the city’s visitors are pilgrims who have travelled from all over Spain and Europe. They come to the end of their long journey in the Galician capital of Santiago de Compostela. The Santiago Route is travelled on foot, bicycle or horseback and brings together the religious, spiritual, sports-related, cultural, economic, etc., as it has for centuries.
But once they have arrived, they cannot leave without visiting a few of the attractions and monuments. Naturally, the main starting point is none other than the Cathedral, located in the historic district. Once inside, one can visit the main Chapel, which features the image of Santiago, the Museum and the Cloister. Each of its façades faces a plaza that carries its name: El Obradoiro, Azabachería, Quintana and Platerías.
After leaving the Cathedral, it is a good idea to stroll through the maze of stone streets in the old part of town. Here, one can discover a series of architectural monuments, meet people from all over the world, and visit some of the pubs, to taste the delights of traditional Galician gastronomy. This area also has dozens of souvenir shops throughout, which offer a variety of gifts and traditional, handcrafted products to ensure that tourists do not forget their visit to Santiago.
By going down the hectic Rúa do Franco, one reaches the Colegio Mayor de Fonseca, a beautiful Renaissance building that dates back to 1532. At the end of Rúa do Franco, a street off to the right leads to the Plaza de Platerías, from whose southernmost corner extends the street, Rua do Vilar. From here, one can admire the Casa del Deán, a small, yet grandiose, Baroque palace. It was previously a residential area, which has now become an area of concentrated administrative activity. At the end Rúa do Vilar is the Plaza del Toral, one of the city’s most lively areas.
Last but not least, the Colegiata de Santa María do Sar (12th century) is a must-see monument. As a result of the many structural restorations it has undergone, it is now classified as “Santiago’s best preserved Romanesque building”. Large buttresses had to be added in the 13th century in order to support its pillars and sloping walls. Without a doubt, it is a building worthy of admiration.
The Pablo Galego Museum is Galicia’s most important anthropological and ethnographic museum. Alongside the many photographs and antique pieces, there are Galician painting and sculpture exhibitions of 20th century work by great artists such as Asorey, Eiroá and Buciños.
Alameda Park is one of the best places to spend the summer, where one can enjoy the shade provided by hundred-year old oak trees. Travelling down the path that goes towards the south campus of the University, we come upon the statues of the Archbishopric of Figueroa, Rosalía de Castro and Pais Lapido. In the past, the park encircled a pre-Roman fortress. That space is now home to the Santa Susana Church.
Another of Santiago’s green areas is Bonaval Park, located in the San Pedro neighbourhood. It was designed by architect Álvaro Siza and landscape gardener Isabel Aguirre.
 As one of the main cultural capitals, Santiago is home to an impressive and world-renowned Cathedral, various parks, 46 churches and 34 convents.
Monuments:
The Cathedral is the most significant monument in Santiago de Compostela, and even in Galicia. It’s main façade, Obradoiro, was created by stonecutters at the beginning of the 18th century. However, it was in 1077 when Alfonso the 7th first ordered the Cathedral to be built. The tomb of the apostle Santiago is located below the altar in the eastern part of this grandiose building. By entering through the western entrance, one can see the famous Pórtico del Maestro Mateo, considered an architectural relic.
The Palacio de San Jerónimo sits at the southern end of Plaza del Obradoiro. Initially intended to be a hospital, it was later converted into a hall of residence for students with few resources. Currently, it houses the Vice-chancellor’s Office of the University.
Thanks to Doña Violante, wife of Alfonso the 10th (the Wise), the Santa Clara Convent was erected, which dates back to 1260. Particularly noteworthy is the façade, created by Simón Rodríguez and considered to be a pivotal work in Spanish Baroque history. Its ground plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with one single nave and domes over the centre of the cross. It is presently occupied by a community of Franciscan monks.
The Santa María Salomé Church is situated very near the Teatro Principal. It is a small Romanesque church crowned with a 17th century Baroque tower. It is the only one in Spain dedicated to the mother of the apostle Santiago.
The Plaza de Platerías owes its name to the numerous silversmith workshops that were located there in ancient times.  Santiago de Compostela’s history is marked by the discovery of the tomb of the apostle Santiago, found by a hermit in the Libredón forest. This was the most important discovery at the beginning of the 1st century. The city then became a place where Christians from all over came together. Today, the pilgrimage to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is one of the most important routes in the world. Construction did not begin on the Romanesque-style Cathedral that stands there today until 1077, and it was not completed until 1211.
Nobility, as well as the main religious orders, chose this city-sanctuary as a place of residence. Sponsored by the strong power of the Church, the University was founded at the beginning of the 16th century more than 500 years ago. It is one of the oldest and most important in Spain. This educational centre began with only 500 students. In recent years however, around 34,000 students have passed through its classrooms. Together with tourism, the University is one of Santiago’s more important economic drivers.
In 1993 (Holy Year), the town welcomed almost seven million tourists, providing one of the best cultural offerings at that time. That same year, the pilgrim’s road to Santiago de Compostela was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Today, Santiago shares the cultural capital with other European cities.
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