Things to do in Galicia, Spain

Perfect if you love the great outdoors, it’s just as tempting for those who want to discover some of Spain’s best food and wine, go birdwatching or lose themselves in some little-known history. Here’s our pick of the best things to do in Galicia.

If there’s one thing Galicia is famous for, it’s the historic Camino de Santiago which leads to Santiago de Compostela. One of the most important medieval pilgrim routes, there are actually 10 routes of the St James Way making up the network, the most popular being the Camino Frances which takes around four to six weeks to complete in full.

But you can experience shorter sections, such as the final scenic 75-mile stretch from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Allow five days and seven nights, joining fellow walkers and pilgrims from around the world as you collect stamps for your Camino Pilgrims passport and soak up the views of the spectacular countryside along the way.

Whether you’re walking part of the Camino or not, you shouldn’t miss a visit to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia. Rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries, the Old Town is an attractive mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture, with the imposing and ornate Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at its heart.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Santiago de Compostela

Dating from 1075, the cathedral towers above the town; head inside to marvel at the soaring arches, while the tomb of St James lies beneath the altar. The cathedral’s museum houses some of its treasures, including the giant censer, or botafumeiro.

Save time to visit the nearby Museum of Pilgrimages and Santiago too for more information about the Camino and the city’s place in religious history. Or browse the Mercado de Abastos for some of the area’s delicious food, before relaxing in one of the city’s parks and the string of cafes and bars dotted throughout the Old Town.

Set on a headland with the Atlantic crashing onto the coast around the city, the Roman lighthouse now known as the Tower of Hercules was built in the 1st century CE, a light to shine at the far edge of the civilised world. While the exterior was added in the 18th century, the inside is still mostly original and this UNESCO-listed site is the only Roman lighthouse in the world still in use.

There are some astonishing panoramas if you fancy climbing the 234 steps, as well as an outdoor sculpture park with works by Galician artists. Don’t miss the Compass Rose of the Celtic Nations here either, a mosaic with symbols for the seven Celtic nations including Galicia, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall.

Nicknamed the City of Glass for the harbour-front buildings with their many windows, A Coruña has its own enticing Old Town to stroll around, with history linked to Sir Francis Drake who suffered a rare defeat just off the coast. Picasso also lived here for a time, with a museum in his former home, while the town’s other attractions include Domus, a museum dedicated to the human body, a science and technology museum, and the Aquarium Finisterrae.

Further to the east of Galicia, the town of Lugo was once the Roman city of Lucus Augusti and its walled perimeter is the best-preserved of the entire Roman Empire. Stretching for around 1.3 miles, it was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s still possible to walk around the walls, enjoying some fantastic views down over the old town and passing the five original gates and 85 towers, before exploring some of the other Roman sites in the town. Highlights include the old temple at A Domus Do Mitreo, along with the Casa dos Mosaicos, a former Roman manor house containing wonderful mosaics, plus a string of other ruins, including baths and pools.

The Camino de Santiago is far from the only walking route to enjoy in Galicia, with a series of trails to discover Spain’s green north. Mixing coastal scenery, riverside trails and countryside, there’s plenty to discover on a walking holiday in Galicia too.

Galicia walking route

The region has around 20 official coastal walks, another 20 leading along rivers and through forests, and more taking you to waterfalls, up peaks and past historic landmarks, so you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Even the little island of A Toxa, connected by a causeway, has its own walking trails, as well as routes taking you past the beaches of the O Grove Peninsula. Or the Lighthouse Way takes you from Malpica to Cape Finisterre along the shipwreck-strewn Costa da Morte, while trails also lead through the idyllic national parks of the Cies islands.

Galicia’s mix of estuaries, rugged coast and forest means it’s a perfect place for spotting birds, with an impressive variety of species to spot on a Galicia birdwatching holiday.

Skylark

Around the waters of the estuaries, you can see wading birds galore, plus little egrets, cormorants and grey herons hunting. Or look out for terns, gannets, kittiwakes and storm petrels near the islands off the coast. In the forests and farmland of the gentler countryside, skylarks, Eurasian nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers are commonly sighted too, while you could even spy an elusive short-toed lark.

The north’s cooler temperatures and rainier winters mean that beaches might not top your list of things to do in Galicia, but the region has some spectacular ones, including two of the best beaches in Spain.

Praia As Catedrais is known for its rock formations, with arches, towers and caves in the towering cliffs. Best visited at low tide, this wild and dramatic spot is the perfect place to walk and marvel at the shapes caved out by time and tide, from the stone pinnacles to soaring structures and even arches within arches.

Or in the Cies Islands National Park, Praia de Rodas has been named one of the loveliest in the world. This curving sweep of white sand is set against the glimmering blue waters of the Atlantic, with unspoiled forest and rocky cliffs behind the sands. You’ll need to take a 40-minute ferry from the mainland to reach it, with restrictions on visitors, but this idyllic spot is well worth the effort.

Flowers and plants thrive in Galicia’s cooler climate, with some spectacular gardens across the region. And it’s a particularly good place to see camellias, introduced to Galicia’s stately homes from Japan.

Don’t miss Pazo da Oca, called the ‘Galician Versailles’ for its camellia walks, as well as the baroque gardens. Or at Pazo de Rubianes, camellia gardens surround the estate’s vineyards, where you can taste the local Albariño wines after strolling through the landscaped grounds.

Pazo Quinteiro da Cruz also has some lovely woodland paths to wander, along with its own camellia displays, while the medieval Castelo de Soutomaior houses displays on local history alongside its rose and camellia gardens.

Shellfish farming is a traditional way of life in Galicia, especially around the scenic Rias Baixas, four estuarine inlets on the region’s south-western coast – the scallop shell has long been the symbol for pilgrims travelling the Camino de Santiago. So it’s little surprise that the area’s seafood is renowned across Spain, especially scallops and mussels.

Mussel stew

Gourmets will love indulging in the freshest seafood a stone’s throw from the sea on a food holiday in Galicia, but browse the market in Santiago and you’ll also find other mouth-watering local products, such as tetilla cheese and Galician empanadas, often made with tuna or octopus.

With almost 9,000 hectares of vines and 465 wineries across Galicia, wine has been made here for millennia. Most famous for its Albariño grapes, the area’s white wine is known for its refreshing notes of citrus and apple – the perfect accompaniment to the local seafood. Local winery Bodegas Granbazán has been named among the top 100 vineyards to visit in the world, with guided tours to help you learn more about the local winemaking process, as well as the opportunity to sample a few vintages.

That’s not the only grape to look out for though, with two other white grapes grown in the area; the tropical fruit flavours of Godello, and Treixadura, with notes of peach and apricot. Or red wine lovers can enjoy Mencia, a grape which creates fresh, floral reds.

Explore our range of holidays to Spain, including a range of Special Interest holidays in Galicia