Santiago de Compostela Holiday Guide: Cathedral and Camino
Provincia da Coruña · Galicia · Spain · 99,536 residents
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Way of Saint James
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Castle da Rocha Forte
Palacio de Rajoy
Castriño of ConxoSantiago de Compostela is the end point of the Way of Saint James, the Catholic pilgrimage whose route runs right up to the cathedral of the archdiocese. Around that cathedral sits a tight cluster of palaces and monasteries, from the Palacio de Gelmírez, the former archbishop's palace, to San Martiño Pinario and Saint Pelagius of Antealtares, all a short stroll apart. This is an inland city of around 99,500 people, set at 843 feet in Galicia's green interior, with its own airport just 7 miles away and direct flights from the United Kingdom. Expect a city of stone, scholarship and rain, rewarded by a warm, notably dry August.
Why go
- Stand where the Way of Saint James ends, at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
- Direct UK flights land at Santiago de Compostela airport, about 10 minutes' drive away.
- August is the driest month, with only 5 rainy days and highs near 26°C.
Top sights in Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral, Palaces and Monasteries
Everything begins with the Way of Saint James, the pilgrimage route that finishes in the heart of the city, and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela it leads to, barely a minute's walk from the main square. Facing it, the Palacio de Rajoy fronts the same square, while the Palacio de Gelmírez, once the archbishop's palace, adjoins the cathedral itself.
Within roughly 0.1 to 0.2 miles you also reach the Monastery of Saint Pelagius of Antealtares, San Martiño Pinario monastery and the group of religious buildings known as Las Huérfanas. A little further out, about 0.4 miles away, the Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval stands beside the Museum of the Galician People, devoted to traditional Galician culture, and the Galicia Contemporary Art Center; both museums suit families. The Convento de Santa Clara is about 0.4 miles away and the Pazo de San Lourenzo about 0.6 miles. For something older, the Castriño of Conxo archaeological site lies about 1.5 miles out and the ruined Castle da Rocha Forte about 1.9 miles.
Tours and tickets for the city's sights can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Way of Saint James
- 2Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
- 3Castle da Rocha Forte
- 4Palacio de Rajoy
- 5Castriño of Conxo
- 6Convent of San Domingos de Bonaval
- 7Galicia Contemporary Art Center
- 8Monastery of Saint Pelagius of Antealtares
- 9Pazo de San Lourenzo, Santiago
- 10San Martiño Pinario monastery
- 11Museum of the Galician People
- 12Las Huérfanas
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1protected area- 2cathedral
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
In the centre · Photo
Roman Catholic cathedral of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain
- 3castle
- 4palace
- 5archaeological site
Castriño of Conxo
1 mile from the centre · Photo
archaeological site in Conxo, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
6monasteryConvent of San Domingos de Bonaval
In the centre · Photo
cultural property in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
7museum
8monasteryMonastery of Saint Pelagius of Antealtares
In the centre · Photo
monastery in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
9monasteryPazo de San Lourenzo, Santiago
1 mile from the centre · Photo
cultural property in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
10monastery
11museum
12monastery
Tours & tickets in Santiago de Compostela
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Santiago de Compostela can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Santiago de Compostela
Staying Near the Cathedral or Beyond
Santiago is inland, so the choice is about how close you want to be to the cathedral rather than to a beach. Staying in the historic centre puts the cathedral, the palaces and most monasteries within a few minutes' walk, and you share the streets with pilgrims arriving on the Way of Saint James, which makes it the livelier option.
Addresses towards Bonaval, Santa Clara or San Lourenzo, around half a mile out, are still walkable yet a touch quieter. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare areas for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Santiago de Compostela and the villages around it is a hire car from Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), about 10 min away.
Best time to visit Santiago de Compostela
When to Visit Santiago
- 13°CJan208 mm
- 14°CFeb105 mm
- 14°CMar189 mm
- 19°CApr88 mm
- 19°CMay121 mm
- 23°CJun108 mm
- 25°CJul50 mm
- 26°CAug19 mm
- 23°CSept116 mm
- 20°COct378 mm
- 17°CNov196 mm
- 13°CDec146 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
August is the standout month: highs of about 26°C, lows around 16°C, just 19 mm of rain and only 5 rainy days. July comes close, with highs near 25°C and 9 rainy days, and it is also the hottest stretch alongside August. June and September both reach about 23°C, though September is noticeably wetter.
This is a rainy city for much of the year. October is the wettest month by far, with around 378 mm across 19 rainy days, and January and November are also very wet. Winter highs sit at around 13°C in December and January, so pack layers and a proper waterproof outside summer. As Santiago is inland, there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 5°C | 208 mm | 5 h |
| Feb | 14°C | 5°C | 105 mm | 8 h |
| Mar | 14°C | 7°C | 189 mm | 7 h |
| Apr | 19°C | 8°C | 88 mm | 10 h |
| May | 19°C | 10°C | 121 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 23°C | 14°C | 108 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 25°C | 14°C | 50 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 26°C | 16°C | 19 mm | 11 h |
| Sept | 23°C | 13°C | 116 mm | 9 h |
| Oct | 20°C | 13°C | 378 mm | 6 h |
| Nov | 17°C | 10°C | 196 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 13°C | 5°C | 146 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Driving from the UK
Santiago de Compostela airport (SCQ) is only 7 miles from the city, roughly a 10-minute drive, and has direct flights from the United Kingdom. A Coruña airport (LCG), about 30 miles away and some 43 minutes by car, also has direct UK flights and makes a sensible alternative. Asturias airport (OVD), also served directly from the UK, is about 135 miles away, around 3 hours 12 minutes by road, so it is worth considering only if fares or schedules suit you far better.
Driving all the way from Calais takes roughly 17 hours at the wheel, so plan overnight stops if you bring your own car.
By air
- Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)7 miles, about 10 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- A Coruña (LCG)30 miles, about 43 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Asturias (OVD)135 miles, about 3 h 12 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 17 h 14 min without stops.
Santiago de Compostela is good for
Around Santiago de Compostela
Day Trips from Santiago
Padrón and the coastal town of Ribeira are both about 11 miles away, close enough for a relaxed half day. Lalín lies inland around 27 miles to the south-east, while Muros, at about 27 miles, is a classic Atlantic outing.
Carnota (about 28 miles), Cambados and Palmeira (both about 29 miles) and Dumbría (about 30 miles) round out the options. Car hire from either nearby airport makes these easy to combine.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Santiago de Compostela?
Santiago de Compostela airport (SCQ) is about 7 miles from the city, roughly a 10-minute drive, and has direct flights from the United Kingdom. A Coruña airport, about 30 miles and 43 minutes away, is the nearest alternative with direct UK flights.
When is the best time to visit Santiago de Compostela?
August is the best month, with highs around 26°C, just 19 mm of rain and only 5 rainy days. July is also warm and fairly dry. October is the wettest month, with about 378 mm of rain over 19 days.
Does it rain a lot in Santiago de Compostela?
Yes, outside summer it is a wet city. October, January and November see the heaviest rain, and even spring months have 11 to 18 rainy days. Only July and August are reliably drier, so bring a waterproof whenever you travel.
Is Santiago de Compostela good for families?
It can be. The Museum of the Galician People and the Galicia Contemporary Art Center, both about 0.4 miles from the centre, suit families, and the compact centre around the cathedral is easy to explore on foot.
Can you visit Santiago de Compostela without walking the Camino?
Absolutely. The cathedral, palaces and monasteries are all within easy walking distance of each other, and direct UK flights to the city's own airport make it a straightforward city break. Tours and tickets can be booked on this page.