The city of Santiago de Compostela is a little stone treasure that nobody should miss visiting at the end of their Camino de Santiago. Strolling through its historic centre, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, soaking up the pilgrim atmosphere in the beautiful Plaza do Obradoiro, savouring its gastronomic delights on Rúa do Franco and visiting its main museums and parks are all part of what you simply have to see in Santiago de Compostela in the space of just one day.
However, there are many places near Santiago de Compostela that are also well worth a visit, whether for their natural, historical or artistic value. If you have a car and a curious spirit, grab a pen and paper, because we are going to show you places you can reach in barely half an hour that will round off your stay in the Galician capital.
Ponte Maceira
For reasons that will be obvious as soon as you see it, this is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Located between the municipalities of Ames and Negreira, about 15 minutes from Santiago, it is a small rural hamlet on the banks of the Tambre river with a beautiful medieval bridge, bathing area, old mills, a pazo (manor house), the Chapel of San Blas and picturesque stone houses that you can easily visit on the same day you spend in Santiago.
Ponte Maceira
The bridge, which dates from the 13th century and was built on an earlier Roman one, allows pilgrims to cross on their way to Finisterre and Muxía. This is where a legend linked to the Apostle James is set: his disciples, Theodore and Athanasius, who were transporting his remains in search of a place to lay them to rest, were fleeing from the Romans and, after crossing this bridge, divine intervention caused it to collapse, preventing their pursuers from following them. The coat of arms of the municipality of Negreira recalls this episode.
Padrón
Just 30 minutes away you will find this historic town on the banks of the Sar river, the municipal capital and practically on the border between the provinces of A Coruña and Pontevedra. Birthplace of the renowned Galician writer Rosalía de Castro, Padrón is the place to try the famous Padrón or Herbón peppers which, as they say here, some are hot and some are not.
If your visit falls on a Sunday, a great option is its traditional market, where you really must try octopus “á feira” at one of the stalls. The nearby town of Iria Flavia, where the writer Camilo José Cela was born, and the legendary site of Santiaguiño do Monte, were both legendary settings in Jacobean history.
Pico Sacro
Also closely linked to the Jacobean legend is Pico Sacro, a sharp peak rising more than 500 m a.s.l., easily recognisable from Santiago de Compostela. Located in the municipality of Boqueixón, you can reach its summit in about 20 minutes by car, where you will find the Chapel of San Sebastián. It is of great importance in the geological history of Galicia, as this is where two tectonic plates collided and fused. Situated at the foot of the last stage of the Via de la Plata, it offers truly impressive views from the top.
Noia
With just a 30-minute drive you can reach Noia, the capital of the municipality of the same name. Noia stands at the start of the Muros and Noia estuary, the northernmost of the Rías Baixas.
Ría de Noia
With a small but elegant historic centre, highlights include the Church of San Martín and the Church of Santa María a Nova, with its cemetery and museum of guild tombstones. A pleasant stroll along its seafront promenade and an aperitif on one of its terraces are the perfect way to complete this charming visit.
Torres de Altamira
Located about 20 minutes away by car in the municipality of Brión, these are the ruins of a medieval castle belonging to the powerful Moscoso family. Declared a Site of Cultural Interest, the visit is brief but the site is steeped in history as a key setting in the Irmandiño uprisings in late medieval Galicia.
Fortress of A Rocha Forte
The closest place to Santiago de Compostela (barely 10 minutes by car) and within its municipal area, these are also the ruins of a medieval castle destroyed after the Irmandiño uprisings. Its stones were reused in other constructions, including in Santiago de Compostela and its Cathedral. Once a symbol of the seigneurial power of the archbishop of Santiago, it is today in the process of being enhanced and signposted as a Site of Cultural Interest and can be visited in the area.
Tapia river beach
For many locals from Santiago, this is their own “city beach”. About 20 minutes away by car, it is a recreational and bathing area belonging to the municipality of Ames. If the sun is shining and you are travelling with children, it’s a great option for a day out. It has a café, car park, green areas, a pool and easy access to bathing in the Tambre river, whose banks still preserve an old mill. There is also a canoeing club that offers activities and courses in summer.
Tapia
Pazo de Faramello
It holds the title of the most visited pazo in Galicia, so it is an unmissable stop; in the words of the Galician writer Emilia Pardo Bazán, “there are many pazos, but Faramello is unique”. Just 20 minutes away by car, in the municipality of Rois, its carefully tended greenery, its location on the banks of the Tinto river and its French-style gardens will make your visit a truly unique experience.
Pazo de Oca
One of the great emblematic pazos of Galicia, it forms part of the Camellia Route, as its gardens are adorned with these trees. Located in the municipality of A Estrada, about 30 minutes away by car, it is a must-see for flower lovers. The Pazo de Oca is a Site of Cultural Interest, and some even call it the Galician Versailles. You can visit it, and we especially recommend doing so between January and April, the camellia blooming season, a spectacle well worth seeing and a great excuse for a little detour if you are spending a day in Santiago.
Pazo de Oca
In conclusion, Santiago de Compostela is much more than the end point of a journey along the Camino de Santiago: its old town, its pilgrim atmosphere and its rich cultural and gastronomic offering make it a true gem that deserves to be enjoyed slowly. But in addition, within a radius of barely half an hour by car there is a whole range of things to do that will enrich any stay in the Galician capital: rivers full of life, the remains of medieval fortresses and ancient noble residences surrounded by spectacular gardens. Exploring these surroundings is a wonderful way to round off your Camino or your visit to Galicia: it lets you connect with nature, delve deeper into Galician history and enjoy the calm of its rural landscapes. In this way, a visit to Santiago becomes not only a goal, but also the starting point for continuing to discover the most authentic essence of Galicia.
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