ES · Galicia · 42.88°N 8.54°W

santiago de compostela

Pilgrims in the cathedral square, granite arcades and Galician seafood.

Best time
May–September has the best chance of dry days, though Galicia gets rain all year. Late July is busy around the feast of Saint James; winter is cool and very wet.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Madrid, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul (about 17–19 hours all in), then take the fast train to Santiago, about 3.5 hours, or a 1-hour flight. Spain is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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ES · Galiciasantiago de compostela42.88°N 8.54°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Pilgrims in the cathedral square, granite arcades and Galician seafood.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSantiago de CompostelaES, Galicia
KLsantiago de compostela
≈ 11,393 km from KL, as the crow flies
Santiago Cathedral 2021 - west panorama

Photo: Fernando Pascullo · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Santiago de Compostela is where the Camino ends, and the cathedral square fills with walkers in boots hugging and taking photos. The old town is all granite arcades and seafood counters, and it's worth a stay even if you arrive by train.

Makan

  1. Pulpo á feiraTender octopus with olive oil, paprika and coarse salt, served on a wooden plate.Map ↗
  2. Pimientos de PadrónSmall green peppers fried and salted; the odd one is fiery.Map ↗
  3. Tarta de SantiagoAlmond cake dusted with icing sugar around the cross of Saint James.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Cathedral and Praza do ObradoiroPilgrims finish under the cathedral's baroque towers; inside, they queue to hug the statue of Saint James.Map ↗
  2. Old-town arcadesGranite streets like Rúa do Vilar and Rúa Nova, with arcades that keep you dry in the rain.Map ↗
  3. Mercado de AbastosThe city market, where some stalls will cook the seafood you buy.Map ↗
  4. Alameda ParkA leafy park on a ridge, with the classic view of the cathedral towers.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The giant incense burner, the Botafumeiro, swings only at some services and on feast days, so treat it as a bonus.
  • Halal meat is rare here, but Galician seafood (octopus, scallops, hake) is the easy alternative, and very good.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.