Santiago de Compostela is a historic, cultural and charming city. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, as well as the end point of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. It is also home to some of the best restaurants where you can enjoy Galician cuisine.
In order for you to enjoy our city to the fullest, in this article we will explain you why it is worth visiting Santiago, as well as the monuments, squares and viewpoints that are essential to visit in this city, whether you are staying for a day or a weekend.
In addition, we will show you how to make your visit a comfortable experience thanks to our luggage storage facilities, so you can enjoy the city without any burdens. Discover with us the secrets that this Galician city has to offer!
What to see in Santiago de Compostela in a day?
If you only have one day to visit Santiago and want to enjoy the city to the fullest, it is very important to plan your route and the monuments you want to visit. Here is an idea of what your planning could be so that you don’t miss the city’s essentials in one day.
Tomorrow: Discovering Santiago’s old town.
Next, begin your tour of Santiago with the Cathedral of Santiago. Admission is free through the Puerta de Platerías gate, and you can take your time enjoying the interior of the cathedral. It is important to note that backpacks or bags larger than 40×40 cm are not allowed inside the cathedral, nor are pets.
If you want to complete your visit to the cathedral, there are several guided tours available, such as:
- Night tours of the cathedral. Single ticket price: 25 euros.
- Tour of the cathedral museum. From 19 euros (reduced rate) to 23 euros (general rate).
- Visit to the Portico of Glory, with a guided tour for a single fee of 20€ or with an audio guide from 12€.
- Visit to the Carraca Tower with a reduced fee of 12€ and a general fee of 15€.
To compare tickets and find out all the details of what each visit includes, visit the official website of Santiago Cathedral.
After your visit to the cathedral, continue your tour of the city’s most iconic squares, such as: Obradoiro → Quintana → Platerías
Midday: Enjoying Santiago de Compostela’s delicious traditional dishes
Next, you can visit the food market. The best atmosphere is usually from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., especially on Thursdays and Saturdays. If you want to eat at the market, you can go to Hall 5 with the restaurant area (this area is open from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Discover the cultural treasures of Santiago
After lunch, if you fancy a cultural outing, a good idea might be to visit one of the cathedral museums or the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario, just a 4-minute walk from the cathedral. This was one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in Galicia. It is a monastery in which Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical elements coexist due to successive reconstructions. This is one of the great hidden monuments of Santiago that you can enjoy without so many tourists. Visiting hours are: Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The price is usually around 5€ and is free with museum or cathedral tickets.
For more information, visit the Santiago tourism website.
At sunset, a stroll through San Domingos de Bonaval Park is highly recommended. There you can enjoy the sunset and views of the rooftops of the old town.
Another possible plan is to go to Alameda Park or Paseo de la Herradura with the most famous viewpoint in the city, offering an impressive view of the cathedral. This viewpoint can be enjoyed at any time of day, even at night, so you can understand why Santiago Cathedral is a spiritual ‘lighthouse’.
One of the best things to do in the evening is to enjoy a tapas dinner in Santiago’s old town and see the Plaza del Obradoiro with the cathedral lit up.
But if you’re coming for a weekend or two days, what can you visit? Here’s a guide for two days in Santiago de Compostela.
What to see in Santiago de Compostela and the surroundings in 2 days?
If you have more time to explore the city, we recommend that you also visit the surrounding area. Apart from the old town and the cathedral, you can visit places such as the Pazo de Oca, known as the “Galician Versailles”, or the nearby town of Padrón, birthplace of great writers such as Rosalía de Castro and famous for its books.
Another must-see attraction in Santiago de Compostela and its surroundings is Monte Pedroso, a nearby hill offering stunning panoramic views of the city. It is an ideal place to enjoy the sunset, take photographs and breathe in the fresh air.
This is our guide for your days in Santiago during a weekend
Day 1: Old town + Cathedral + markets + sunset
Morning: Cathedral and squares
As with a one-day visit, we recommend visiting Santiago Cathedral first thing in the morning. To complete your visit, we recommend visiting the cathedral museum and going up to see the panoramic view (you can see the prices in the one-day section).
If you are interested in Romanesque art, we recommend the Pórtico de la Gloria: you will need to buy a ticket to visit it. Your ticket will show the time of admission (it is recommended to arrive 15 minutes early).
After visiting the cathedral, take the famous route of Santiago’s squares, passing through Obradoiro Square, then Quintana Square and finally Platerías Square.
For lunch, head down to the Mercado de Abastos to see local produce and the ‘real life’ of the city.
Midday: Mercado de Abastos.
For lunch, you can go to Nave 5.
Afternoon: Monastery of San Martiño Pinario
In the afternoon, enjoy the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario. As we mentioned in the one-day itinerary, it is one of the great forgotten sites of Santiago, but that does not mean it is not worth seeing. It is also very close to the cathedral (300 m away). Admission is only €5, and if you have visited the cathedral and museum, it is free. The opening hours are as follows: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunset: Viewpoint.
For sunset, we recommend Parque da Alameda / Paseo da Ferradura to visit the most famous viewpoint and see the typical view of the cathedral towers at sunset.
Day 2: Museums + Bonaval + modernity in Gaiás or nature and beach.
For the second day, depending on the weather, we recommend either a museum and park route or a nature route in Santiago.
If the weather is bad, you can enjoy one of these four museums in the morning or afternoon:
- Museum of Pilgrimages and Santiago: To learn about the history of the city and the Camino de Santiago. Hours: Tue–Fri 9:30–20:30; Sat 11:00–19:30; Sun/holidays 10:15–14:45; closed Mondays.
- Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People): To see Galician culture. Hours: Tue–Sat 10:00–14:00 & 16:00–20:00; Sun/holidays 11:00–14:00; closed Mondays.
- CGAC (Galician Center for Contemporary Art): Hours: Tue–Sun 11:00–20:00; closed Mondays.
- Museo Centro Gaiás: Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–20:00, but exhibitions are closed on Mondays.
To see more information on the tourism website, in the Santiago museums section.
And if the weather is good, you can enjoy a walk around the Bonaval area, including Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval, or visit Pazo de Oca (the “Galician Versailles”), or head up to Monte Pedroso. You can also enjoy riverside walks such as the riverside path along the Sarela River, Parque de Galeras, or the Sar River trail.
Lastly, if you’d rather see the coast, Santiago is only 30 minutes from the seaside—specifically the Ría de Muros e Noia. If you feel like calm waters and a family-friendly plan, you can visit Praia de Testal in Noia, about 35 minutes from Santiago. If you prefer a famous beach, you can go to the Sanxenxo and O Grove area, although those are about an hour from Santiago. At a similar distance, you can also find a mix of lagoons, beach, and dunes in the protected area of the Corrubedo Natural Park in Ribeira.
Sanxenxo – Viewpoint of the circle of wishes
Corrubedo dunes and lighthouse
Galician Gastronomy at its Finest in Santiago
Finally, you can’t leave Santiago without enjoying its sweets and typical food. From typical dishes such as lacón con grelos (pork shoulder with turnip greens) to the famous Padrón peppers, the city offers endless culinary experiences. We recommend looking for bars and taverns where you can enjoy a traditional atmosphere and try Galician wines.
What’s more, you can’t leave Santiago without trying the tarta de Santiago, an almond-based sweet that is the traditional dessert par excellence. It’s perfect for recharging your batteries after a day of sightseeing.
Would you like to travel to Santiago de Compostela without any hassle?
Travelling to Santiago de Compostela is much easier when you don’t have to carry heavy luggage. With our automated luggage storage facilities, you can enjoy the city freely and with peace of mind. Our luggage storage in Santiago is available 24 hours a day, ensuring that you can move around the city without any worries.
Travelling is now easier
All our lockers are equipped with video surveillance and insurance coverage in case of theft. In addition, our central location makes it easy to access Santiago de Compostela’s main attractions, which is ideal for enjoying all the sights Santiago has to offer without the hassle of carrying your luggage around.
How to book your luggage locker in Santiago
Booking your locker with LockHereNow is very easy. You can do it online through our website and choose the locker size that best suits your needs. Plus, by booking in advance, you ensure availability for when you arrive in the city.
Want a bigger-city route after Santiago? Here’s a complete Barcelona itinerary for 3 days.
