On an extended weekend, thanks to a public holiday, my partner and I went to Santiago de Compostela. It’s a beautiful city in the northwestern region of Galicia, which is known for its rainy climate and delicious food.
Santiago is an interesting city with a unique history. It is the destination of multiple pilgrimage routes called the “Camino de Santiago”. These routes converge and end in the city of Santiago. The atmosphere in the city is similar to that of the finish line in a marathon: exhaustion and celebration. The longest route, in fact, is over 1,000 km long!
The official finish line is a gate that opens up to the cathedral’s plaza. There, you will find hundreds of individuals crying, celebrating, and resting on the floor. On most days, you will find at least one street musician playing traditional music on the bagpipes there.
Pilgrims, upon entering the cathedral, will traditionally hug the statue of Santiago. You can enter the cathedral for free, but be prepared for long lines! It took us about an hour and a half just to enter the church. Just like all the cathedrals you will find in major cities, it was massive, beautiful, and ornate with intricate details found throughout.
One of the biggest draws to the city for me, however, was the food. Hiking 1,000 kilometers on the Camino de Santiago would definitely work up a healthy appetite, and the city is well equipped for that. Unlike food found in the south, a lot of the dishes were heavier and with greater quantity. Regardless, everything was incredibly delicious.
One of our favorite restaurants (Bar La Tita) was a bar that provided a tapa of tortilla de patatas with every beer served. You can also find an open market with a wide variety of options to drink and eat.
Be prepared for perfectly cooked, fresh seafood and a wonderful variety of savory dishes.
Don’t skip out on breakfast either! They have a traditional bread called “Pan de Coca” – cocaine bread. Apparantly, it got its name from the texture of the bread, but I found it just as addictive.
We spent the first few afternoons trying all the foods, exploring the city, and visiting its beautifully scenic parks. It rained at least once every day, so always bring a rain jacket and umbrella whenever you go out. Typically, it was just a light rain, but at times there were storms that forced us to stay in for the evening.
One of the most memorable parts of our extended weekend was the guided tour we took of the Finisterra (end of the world) and the nearby villages. We learned about the history of these locations, the importance of the pilgrimage to Santiago, and were able to visit amazingly beautiful small towns around the area. The tour guide gave all the information in both Spanish and English and was fun and charismatic. Best of all, it was cheap and convenient.
For your convenience, there are organizations that curate life changing experiences for those living abroad. Check them out!
We Love Spain – Create unique experiences and fully take advantage of living abroad. We Love Spain organizes trips and excursions for international students and young professionals studying and working in Spain. They have a wide variety of amazing travel options for everyone.
And if you are interested in getting more bang for your buck when travelling, use platforms like Omio to shop around, compare thousands of travel options, and get the best offer available.
(receive €10 to spend on train, bus, flight, or ferry tickets with Omio when using my link.)
As mentioned before, I highly encourage everyone to explore Spain and make memories while living abroad. It is incredibly easy and cheap to do compared to traveling from the U.S.
Check out another travel post – Fun Trips Around Madrid
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Santiago de Compostela
On an extended weekend, thanks to a public holiday, my partner and I went to Santiago de Compostela. It’s a beautiful city in the northwestern region of Galicia, which is known for its rainy climate and delicious food. Santiago is an interesting city with a unique history. It is the destination of multiple pilgrimage routes
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