Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santiago de Compostela?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santiago de Compostela?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Santiago de Compostela, Spain? Most people spend one to two days in Santiago de Compostela during their visit. After all, the religious city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, discover the nearby hiking trails, learn about the history of the town, and taste delicious cuisine.
Santiago de Compostela is a famous Christian city that is the final destination of the Camino de Santiago. The trail has long served as a pilgrimage for Christian travelers and adventurers. Today, particularly during the summer months, you'll find hikers flooding into town to see the Cathedral of Santiago and the other Christian sights around town.
Do you have one or two days to visit Santiago de Compostela? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Santiago de Compostela?
One day is usually not enough time to experience the religious city of Santiago de Compostela, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, discover the nearby hiking trails, learn about the history of the town, and taste delicious cuisine. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around one to two days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend a day in Santiago de Compostela
When visiting Santiago de Compostela, you absolutely can't miss the Cathedral of Santiago as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. Galician food has plenty of fresh seafood, lots of local beef, and regional vegetables that are seasonal and locally grown. Make sure you try the polbo á feira (boiled octopus), pimientos de padrón (fried green peppers), and steamed mussels.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tapas Tour of Santiago de Compostela ($44)
- Queimada Experience Show and Tasting at Santiago de Compostela ($16)
Santiago de Compostela is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Many visitors reach the city on foot by doing the pilgrimage of the Camino del Santiago. The city itself and small and fairly walkable as well.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Santiago de Compostela?
Many visitors choose to spend around a weekend in Santiago de Compostela. This would give you the chance to experience the city's most popular activities such as the museums and landmarks, the hiking, and the historic old town. Since many visitors prefer to spend around one to two days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the religious destination.
The Cathendral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
How to spend 2 days in Santiago de Compostela
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Santiago de Compostela will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
Santiago de Compostela is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. The iconic Cathedral of Santiago has long attracted pilgrims and travelers from around Europe and the world. The spectacular sight includes a museum and the crypt and tomb of Saint James. Another interesting sight in town is the former hostel for pilgrims, the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos. Also make sure you visit Plaza del Obradoiro and the Galician Center of Contemporary Art.
A few tour suggestions include:
- PRIVATE Cathedral and museum tour SPANISH or ENGLISH ($82)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. As a university city, much of the nightlife is created by the student population. You'll find a lot of bars around Rúa de Santiago de Chile and Rúa de San Pedro de Mezonzo as well as along Rúa do Franco.
The public transit in Santiago de Compostela is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are buses around town that are operated by Tralusa.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Santiago de Compostela, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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