Santiago de Compostela has been a pilgrims’ beacon since the 9th century, when the remains of St. James drew travelers to its granite lanes and great Cathedral. Today, the city pairs medieval mystique with a lively university vibe—baroque facades, slate roofs, and the melodic echo of Galician gaita (bagpipes) around every corner.

Expect a culture steeped in ritual and appetite: the Botafumeiro censer swings on select feast days in the Cathedral, pulpo a feira (octopus) is sliced warm over paprika, and Albariño pours crisp and saline from the nearby Rías Baixas. Rain is common (locals joke it’s a blessing for pilgrims), so pack a light waterproof and shoes with grip for the polished stone streets.

This 7-day itinerary keeps you mostly in Santiago’s UNESCO-listed old town while unlocking Galicia’s wild edges—Costa da Morte, the wine-laced estuaries of the Rías Baixas, and the dramatic canyons of the Ribeira Sacra. It’s a thoughtful balance of sacred sites, contemporary architecture, market tasting, and salted Atlantic air.

Santiago de Compostela

At trip’s end along the Camino de Santiago, the city’s heart is the Praza do Obradoiro, where the Cathedral rises opposite the historic Parador. Wander lanes like Rúa do Franco and Rúa da Raíña for tapas bars, duck into the serene Monastery of San Martiño Pinario, and cross the green sweep of Parque da Alameda for postcard views of the skyline.

• Top sights: Cathedral and Portico de la Gloria; Cathedral Museum; Praza do Obradoiro; San Martiño Pinario; Mercado de Abastos; CGAC (Contemporary Art Center by Álvaro Siza); Cidade da Cultura by Peter Eisenman; Colexiata de Sar (with its endearingly leaning columns); Parque de Bonaval and the Museo do Pobo Galego.
• Why visit: World-class sacred art, walkable old town, superb seafood and cheeses, and easy day trips to Galicia’s coasts and river canyons.
• Local flavors to try: pulpo a feira; empanada galega; tetilla cheese; Padrón peppers; percebes (goose barnacles) in season; Tarta de Santiago; wines like Albariño, Godello, and Mencía.

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Parador de Santiago – Hostal dos Reis Católicos: 15th-century hospital-turned-hotel right on Praza do Obradoiro; cloisters, stone salons, and history at your doorstep.
• Hotel Palacio del Carmen, Autograph Collection: Former convent with gardens and a calm, refined stay a short walk from the old town.
• Hotel Avenida: Great value near the train station—clean, modern rooms and easy access.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Santiago de Compostela | Hotels.com Santiago de Compostela

Getting there (estimate times and search with our partners):

• Flights within Europe: Many direct/1-stop routes into SCQ. Search and compare on Omio (flights in Europe). Typical fares from Madrid or Barcelona: ~$40–$150 one-way.
• Flights from outside Europe: Connect via Madrid/Barcelona/Lisbon; compare on Trip.com (global flights) or Kiwi.com (global flights).
• Trains: Madrid–Santiago in ~3h20–4h (from ~€25–€70); A Coruña–Santiago ~30–40 min (€6–€12). Check schedules/tickets on Omio (trains in Europe).
• Buses: Porto–Santiago ~3.5–4.5h (from ~€20–€35). Compare options on Omio (buses in Europe).

Day 1 — Arrival, first tastes, and golden-hour views

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Orient with a gentle loop: Praza do Obradoiro for your first Cathedral encounter, then glide to Praza da Quintana and Praza de Praterías to admire the different baroque faces. Stroll Parque da Alameda’s Paseo da Ferradura for the classic skyline view—best at golden hour.

Evening: Tapas warm-up on Rúa da Raíña: try La Tita for famed tortilla slices, then graze at A Taberna do Bispo (razor clams, Galician beef “croca”). For a sit-down, book O Dezaseis in a stone townhouse—order caldo galego and slow-roasted pork shoulder. Nightcap at Modus Vivendi, the city’s venerable bar set in old stables, or catch live folk at A Casa das Crechas.

Day 2 — Cathedral, market flavors, and old-town alleys

Morning: Coffee at Café Venecia (old-school espresso and churros), then meet your guide for the Cathedral, museum, and old town. This gives priceless context to centuries of pilgrimage and the sculpture program of Master Mateo.

Guided Tour Santiago Cathedral, Museum and Old City

Afternoon: Lunch at Mercado de Abastos. Let vendors shuck oysters from the Ría de Arousa, split a still-warm empanada, and pair with a glass of Albariño. Walk to San Martiño Pinario’s immense monastic complex, then pop into CGAC next to Parque de Bonaval for contemporary art and a serene garden.

Evening: A casual tapas crawl down Rúa do Franco. Try Petiscos do Cardeal (zamburiñas—small scallops), Mesón do Pulpo (pulpo a feira on wooden platters), and O Beiro Vinoteca for a Mencía nightcap. If you’re here near a major feast day, check at the Cathedral for the Botafumeiro schedule.

Day 3 — Day trip: Finisterre, Muxía, and the Costa da Morte

Breakfast on the go at Pastelería Mercedes Mora (Tarta de Santiago to share), then set out along the storm-lashed “Coast of Death.” You’ll visit KM 0 at Finisterre, the lighthouse high above the Atlantic, fishing villages, Ézaro waterfall, and windswept beaches. Guides weave seafaring legends with modern life in Galicia’s rugged west.

Excursion to Finisterre + Muxia + Costa da Morte (7 stops)

Back in Santiago, grab a hearty Galician dinner at Pulpería Os Concheiros (simple, perfect octopus and cachelos potatoes) or the cozy O Ferro for grilled meats and seasonal stews.

Day 4 — Day trip: Rías Baixas wine country and mussel boat

Start at bohemian Café La Flor near Porta do Camiño (excellent pastries). Then head south to the Rías Baixas—all glassy estuaries, Albariño vineyards, and granaries on stone stilts. Many tours include a bodega tasting and a “bateas” mussel-boat cruise where you sample fresh steamed mussels with local wine on deck.

Excursion to Rias Baixas with Winery - Optional mussel boat

Return hungry: book Casa Marcelo (Michelin-star, open kitchen; Galician produce with Japanese touches—think sashimi-level fish, pickled clams, and seasonal veg), or opt for a relaxed wine-and-bites evening at O Beiro Vinoteca.

Day 5 — Green Santiago, architecture, and a slow-food dinner

Morning: Walk the University quarter and slip into the Colexiata de Sar to see its famously leaning interior columns. Taxi up to the Cidade da Cultura on Monte Gaiás—Eisenman’s undulating stone complex has sweeping views and rotating exhibits.

Afternoon: Lunch at A Moa (market-led plates and Galician beef). Linger over ice cream at Bico de Xeado, then siesta or browse artisan shops for jet-stone jewelry, ceramics, and embroidered linens. If museums call, visit the Museo do Pobo Galego to unpack Galician identity, music, and craft.

Evening: Celebrate with a tasting menu at A Tafona by Lucía Freitas (Michelin-star; seasonal garden cooking, elegant and precise). If you didn’t snag a table, pivot to O Dezaseis for comforting classics or continue a tapas stroll down Rúa do Franco.

Day 6 — Day trip: Ribeira Sacra, Sil River canyons, and hillside monasteries

Head inland to the Ribeira Sacra, where terraced vineyards cling to canyon walls above the Sil River. Most tours combine scenic viewpoints with a serene boat cruise, and stops at Romanesque monasteries tucked into chestnut forests—an unforgettable contrast to the coast and the city.

Ribeira Sacra Tour; Canyons, Sil River and Ourense

On your return, keep it light with cheese-and-cured-meat boards and a Godello at Petiscos do Cardeal, or swing by Casa das Crechas if there’s a folk session—you’ll hear the city’s musical soul.

Day 7 — Last sips and souvenirs, then departure

Morning: Coffee at Tertulia or a final visit to Mercado de Abastos for vacuum-packed tetilla cheese and tins of Galician cockles to bring home. Step once more into Praza do Obradoiro to feel the pilgrim hum—you’ve earned your own Compostela spirit this week.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at La Tita (one more tortilla!) or a menu del día near the station. If you’re Europe-bound by rail, check Omio (trains); for buses to Porto or other cities, see Omio (buses). Flights within Europe: Omio (flights). Long-haul flyers can compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Practical tips:

• Rain is likely—pack a light waterproof and shoes with grip for slick granite.
• Dinner starts late (9 pm+). For Michelin-star spots like Casa Marcelo and A Tafona, reserve well ahead.
• Pilgrims’ Mass is typically at noon; the Botafumeiro swings only on select dates and special occasions—ask at the Cathedral office while in town.

From cloisters and carved stone to sea-spray and vineyard terraces, this Santiago de Compostela itinerary gives you Galicia’s full palette. May the city’s bells, markets, and Atlantic horizons call you back when you need them most.