Santiago area

Around the city, the nearby municipalities boast enough options and attractions to entice visitors to stay just a little longer. We offer a few recommendations for sights, natural getaways and local gastronomy in the area around Santiago.

Curro de Sabucedo (wild horse festival), A Estrada

Santiago’s surrounding area, crossed by the Ulla River, encompasses some twenty municipalities in southern A Coruña province and northern Pontevedra, offering many unquestionable attractions.

Landscape along the Ulla River

Panoramic view of Sacro Peak

Ulla River at Catoira, Route of the Ria of Arousa

Gardens of Pazo da Oca, A Estrada

Fraga de Catasós (Lalín)

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Sacro Peak (Boqueixón) is an absolute must-see. It is one of the most mythical mountains in Galicia. Its characteristic clearly visible silhouette rises at a height of 533 meters above sea level, and it is located southeast of the city.

The wealth of heritage in historic towns such as Padrón and Melide is directly linked to the Way of St. James. There are a number of manor houses, including Pazo de Oca (A Estrada), with spectacular gardens, and Pazo de Santa Cruz de Ribadulla (Vedra), whose highlights include camellias and ancient olive trees.

Sacro Peak (Boqueixón) is an absolute must-see. It is one of the most mythical mountains in Galicia. Its characteristic clearly visible silhouette rises at a height of 533 meters above sea level, and it is located southeast of the city.

The rivers near Compostela offer a number of waterfalls, called fervenzas in Galician. These include Fervenza do Toxa (Silleda) and Fervenza de Insua (Val do Dubra). There are unique forests like Fraga de Catasós (Lalín), with chestnut trees over thirty metres in height. Mountain ranges such as O Candán (district of Deza) display the characteristic relief of old mountains and large open spaces. More intimate spots include Carballeira de Santa Minia, an oak wood in Brión, and the Botanical Garden (Padrón), among other points of interest.

The gastronomy of the Compostela area features peppers from Padrón or Herbón, as well as seasonal salmon, trout and lampreys. Cocido gallego (chickpea stew) is the star of an annual festival held the week before Carnival in the town of Lalín. There is a great deal of livestock farming in the district, featuring the celebrated ternera gallega (Galician young beef) and cockerel (Vila de Cruces and O Pino hold festivals celebrating it). The Arzúa-Ulloa Designation of Origin produces delicious local creamy cheeses. Traditional sweets include melindres (small round glazed donuts) from Melide, filloas (crêpes) from A Baña (where they are cooked on a stone) and Boqueixón, almendrados (almond biscuits) and rosquillas (donuts), as well as the local spirits from Ulla.

Lastly, new transport links with the district of Barbanza and the Ría de Muros e Noia make it possible to get to the beach (river or Atlantic) in less than 30 minutes by car. Tapia river beach and the nearby beaches of Boa (Noia), Broña (Serra de Outes) and Esteiro (Muros) are just a few examples.

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