Galicia, Spain

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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Introduction
Galicia, in the green, rain-washed north-west corner of Spain above Portugal, is a region apart — Celtic in spirit, with its own language, bagpipes and misty landscape, and famous for the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela, a ravishing coast of estuaries, and the finest seafood in the country. For travellers it offers the great cathedral and the end of the Camino, the beaches and Albariño wine of the Rías Baixas, the wild 'Coast of Death', Roman walls and a deep, distinctive culture quite unlike the rest of Spain.

Discover Galicia

Santiago de Compostela, the Galician capital, is one of the great pilgrimage cities of the world and the emotional climax of the Camino de Santiago — the medieval Way of St James that, over a thousand years, drew the faithful across Europe and which, revived, now brings travellers of every kind walking and cycling along its routes to this point. At its heart, the cathedral, where pilgrims arrive with relief and emotion into the vast Praza do Obradoiro, is a masterpiece behind whose baroque façade lie the Romanesque Pórtico da Gloria and the shrine of the apostle, with the giant Botafumeiro incense burner swung across the transept on special days. Around it, the UNESCO World Heritage old city is a beautiful, atmospheric labyrinth of granite squares, arcaded streets, churches, convents and pilgrim-filled bars and restaurants — among the loveliest historic centres in Spain. Whether or not you walk the Camino, Santiago is a moving and magnificent place to spend a day or two, ideally lingering in its tapas bars over Galician seafood and wine.

Travel Types

Santiago & the Camino

The pilgrim cathedral and UNESCO old city of Santiago de Compostela, goal of the Way of St James.

Rías Baixas & Beaches

The estuary coast, the Cíes Islands' famous beach, and the Albariño wine country of Cambados.

Wild Coast & Roman Sites

The Costa da Morte and Cape Finisterre, the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña and the Roman walls of Lugo.

Seafood & Celtic Culture

The best seafood in Spain — octopus and percebes — plus bagpipes, hórreos and a green, misty landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Not at all. While Santiago is the goal of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and many arrive on foot or by bike, the city is easily reached by train, bus, car or its own airport, and is well worth visiting in its own right. The magnificent cathedral, the beautiful UNESCO old city of granite squares and arcades, and the lively tapas-and-seafood scene reward any traveller. That said, walking even a short final stretch of the Camino into the city adds a memorable sense of arrival.

Galicia's cold, nutrient-rich Atlantic estuaries (rías) produce exceptional shellfish and fish, and it's widely considered the best seafood region in Spain. Specialities include pulpo á feira (Galician-style octopus with paprika and olive oil), percebes (prized goose barnacles), scallops (the symbol of the Camino), mussels from the ría rafts, razor clams and the daily catch, all simply prepared to let the quality shine. Pair them with the region's crisp Albariño white wine — a highlight of any visit.

Galicia is the green, rainy corner of Spain, so the warmer, drier months from late spring to early autumn (roughly May to September) are the most reliable, with summer best for the beaches and the Cíes Islands. Even then, expect the occasional Atlantic shower — it's what keeps Galicia so lush. The Camino is busiest in summer; spring and autumn are quieter and pleasant for walking and sightseeing. Winters are mild but wet.