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    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago de Compostela

    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago De Compostela; Places to visit in Santiago Compostela

    Are You Wondering Which Places To Visit in Santiago de Compostela?

    Santiago de Compostela is a city where there are many places with tourist sites that can be visited depending on the number of days you decide to spend there. Some sites have free access and others require payment to enjoy an unforgettable experience. Here is a list of the top 10 tourist attractions you can see in Santiago de Compostela.

    We also recommend you to plan in advance the reservation of some of the tourist sites to enjoy without worries.

    RECOMMENDED: Best Restaurants in Santiago de Compostela & Nightlife in Santiago de Compostela: Top 5 Best Places To Go Out

    1. Santiago Cathedral

    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and by the European Parliament as the First European Cultural Itinerary
      • It is the place where the pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago ends
      • More than 150,000 people walk it every year
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • General admission: 12 €
      • Reduced admission: 10 €
      • Free access: Priests, men & women religious and ICOM members
    4. SCHEDULE
      • BASILICA
        • Open every day: From 07 am to 09 pm
      • SEPULCHRE AND EMBRACE OF THE APOSTLE SANTIAGO
        • Open every day: From 08:30 am to 09 pm
      • MUSEUM
        • From Monday to Sunday: From 10 am to 08 pm
      • ARCHIVE-LIBRARY
        • From Monday to Friday: From 09:30 am to 01 pm only researchers
      • OFICINA DE ACOGIDA AL PEREGRINO (Rúa Carretas, 33)
        • From 09 am to 07 pm
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING

    2. Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos

    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago De Compostela; Places to visit in Santiago Compostela
    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Is considered the oldest hotel in Spain
      • Is made as a tradition that the first 10 pilgrims to arrive are provided with three days of breakfast, lunch and dinner
      • It was formerly a hospital to provide shelter and assistance to pilgrims arriving in poor condition during the 16th century
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • General admission: 3 €
      • Free access: Mondays
      • Since it is a hotel, you can only visit the interior courtyards and the chapel
    4. SCHEDULE
      • Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sun: From 12 pm to 02 pm // From 04 pm to 06 pm
      • Saturdays: Closed
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING

    3. Parque da Alameda

    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago De Compostela; Places to visit in Santiago Compostela
    1. DESCRIPTION
      • It is a park with a French garden style
      • There are several viewpoints where you can enjoy the views of the city
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • Free access
    4. SCHEDULE
      • 24/7
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING

    4.Galician Center of Contemporary Art

    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago De Compostela; Places to visit in Santiago Compostela
    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Its objective is to spread contemporary culture to the people
      • Has several exhibitions and activities for those who want to enjoy this form of cultural art
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
      • Car: NEAREST PARKING 2hrs: 4 €
      • Bus: Lines  1, 4, 5, 8, P2, P6 “calle San Roque stop” & Lines 6, 11 and P4 “calle de San Pedro stop”
      • ——->PLAN YOUR JOURNEY
    3. PRICES
      • Free access
    4. SCHEDULE
      • Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun: From 11 am to 08 pm
      • Mondays: Closed
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING
      • NO LINKS

    5. Praterias Square

    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago De Compostela; Places to visit in Santiago Compostela
    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Several monuments can be seen apart from the horse fountain located in the central area of the square:
      • The Platerias building facade (Romanesque style)
      • Santiago Cathedral
      • Pilgrimages and Santiago Museum
      • Cabildo’s House (Contemporary Baroque style)
      • Dean’s House (18th century palace house)
      • Clock Tower (guides pilgrims to Santiago Cathedral)
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • Free access
    4. SCHEDULE
      • 24/7
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING
      • NO LINKS

    6. Pobo Galego Museum

    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Inside there is a library that aims to be a bibliographic reference of Galician culture
      • It has paintings and sculptures related to the marine and agrarian world
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
      • Car: NEAREST PARKING 2hrs: 4 €
      • Bus: Lines  1, 4, 5, 8, P2, P6 “calle San Roque stop” & Lines 6, 11 and P4 “calle de San Pedro stop”
      • ——->PLAN YOUR JOURNEY
    3. PRICES
      • General admission: 4 €
      • Reduced admission: 1.5 €
      • Groups: 3 € p.p.
    4. SCHEDULE
      • Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat: From 11 am to 06 pm
      • Sundays & public holidays: From 11 am to 02 pm
      • Mondays: Closed
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING
      • No online tickets

    7. Cidade da Cultura de Galicia

    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Built on top of the Gaias mountain
      • This complex is composed of several buildings and several areas oriented to cultural matters such as an opera, museums, entertainment exhibitions related to the Galician culture
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • Free access
    4. SCHEDULE
      • GENERAL
        • Monday – Sunday: From 08 am to 10 pm
      • GAIAS CENTER MUSEUM
        • Monday – Sunday: From 10 am to 08 pm
        • December 24 & 31: From 10 am to 03 pm
        • December 25 & January 1: Closed
        • Exhibitions are closed on Mondays
      • FONTAN BUILDING
        • Monday – Sunday: From 10 am to 08 pm
      • GALICIAN LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE
        • Monday – Sunday: From 09 am to 09 pm
        • December 24, 25, 31 & January 1: Closed
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING

    8. Old Town

    Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Santiago De Compostela; Places to visit in Santiago Compostela
    1. DESCRIPTION
      • It is a place where the magic of Santiago de Compostela is preserved, with its narrow streets, historic houses and castles that make it a welcoming city
      • Places where you can taste very good quality dishes of Galician gastronomy
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • Free access
    4. SCHEDULE
      • 24/7
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING
      • NO LINKS

    9. Museum of Pilgrimage

    1. DESCRIPTION
      • Has 3 floors where works of art and objects from the early Middle Ages to the present day of the pilgrimage are exhibited
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • General admission: 2.40 € 
      • Reduced admission: 1.20 €
      • Free access: Under 18 y/o , > 65 y/o, retired people, unemployed people, cultural and educational volunteers 
    4. SCHEDULE
      • Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri: From 09:30 am to 08:30 pm
      • Saturday: From 11 am to 07:30 pm
      • Sundays & Holidays: From 10:15 am to 02:45 pm
      • Mondays: Closed
      • January 1, 6 / May 1 & December 24, 25 and 31: Closed
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING
      • No online tickets

    10. Faramello Palace

    1. DESCRIPTION
      • On the outskirts of the city, there is an incredible palace from the early 18th century
      • Before being a palace, it was a paper factory, the first in the whole region of Galicia
    2. HOW TO ARRIVE BY CAR OR BUS
    3. PRICES
      • General admission: 12 € Includes guided tour + glass of godello Pazo do Faramello wine tasting
      • Free access for children under 12 y/o
      • Reservations required
      • Special tours are organized for organized groups any day of the week
    4. SCHEDULE
      • Open every day: From 12 pm to 05 pm
    5. LINKS FOR BOOKING

    FAQs About Traveling to Santiago de Compostela

    1. What is the best time to visit Santiago de Compostela with few tourists?

    Spring and Fall are the best months to visit the city since during this period it is not usual to do Christian pilgrimage routes (Camino de Santiago), and the number of visitors drops radically. It is also advisable to visit the city during the week to avoid large crowds, especially on Sundays.

    2. What is the best and the worst season for visiting Santiago de Compostela?

    The best moment to visit Santiago de Compostela is during Summer (June to September), where temperatures are very pleasant and rarely exceed 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit)

    The worst weather in Santiago de Compostela is during the Winter where temperatures can be cold and with high humidity in the environment, and rainfalls are very abundant, especially in November.

    3. Are there any specific dress codes for visiting religious sites in Santiago de Compostela?

    While there is no strict dress code, it is advisable to dress modestly when visiting religious sites such as cathedrals or churches out of respect for their significance, especially if you are going to visit the insides of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, as it is a very religious site considered a temple of catholic faith.

    It is recommended to book tickets online in advance for popular attractions like the Santiago Cathedral, to avoid long queues and ensure entry at your preferred time slot. 

    Although, for the rest of the monuments and museums, they do not have online sales, so it is recommended to go to the location with plenty of time or at a time when it is not too crowded.

    5. Are there any famous landmarks near Santiago de Compostela worth visiting?

    Yes, within a short distance from Santiago de Compostela, you can explore iconic landmarks such as Mirador Gundián, is a viewpoint where you can see two spectacular bridges, and is only 23 minutes by car. 

    Also, you can visit a very nice typical Galician village called Pazo da Peregrina, with its iconic chapel and its auxiliary buildings.

    6. How can I get around Santiago de Compostela easily?

    Santiago de Compostela has an excellent public transportation system, but we recommend walking to all the sites (except the ones we mentioned that are far away), as the maximum time within the old town from both opposite points of the city does not exceed 15 minutes walking.