Spain
The Atlas

Destinations

Browse where to go by trip role, region, or category. Every place carries an editorial judgment, not a star rating.

Trip Role
Region
Category
34 places
Ancares, Os
Worth a Detour
Comarca

Ancares, Os

Galicia

A mountain range on the Lugo-León border, with slate villages and round thatched pallozas.

Monasterio de San Martiño Pinario
Recommended
Monastery

Monasterio de San Martiño Pinario

Galicia

Spain's second-largest monastery, Baroque and immense, facing the cathedral — its churrigueresque facade and twin-squared cloister dwarf everything on the plaza.

Source Verified
Torre de Hércules
Optional
Historical Site

Torre de Hércules

Galicia

A Roman-built lighthouse from the 2nd century AD, still operational, on the coast near A Coruña.

Source Verified
Camino Inglés
Optional
Camino Route

Camino Inglés

Galicia

The short one — the route medieval English and Northern European pilgrims sailed to before walking to Santiago. Five days from Ferrol.

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A Guarda
Worth a Detour
Town

A Guarda

Galicia

A fishing town at the mouth of the Miño, with Portugal a short hop across the water.

Courel, Serra do
Worth a Detour
Comarca

Courel, Serra do

Galicia

Galicia's quietest mountain: chestnut and oak forest, a fossil ridge, and villages of four houses.

Playas de Cíes
Recommended
Beach

Playas de Cíes

Galicia

A protected paradise of white sand and turquoise water, representing the pinnacle of Spanish coastal beauty

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Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Essential
Cathedral

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Galicia

Historic endpoint of the Camino de Santiago featuring a grand cathedral and the famous swinging censer

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O Berbés (Vigo)
Recommended
Fishing Port

O Berbés (Vigo)

Galicia

Vigo's old fishing quarter and fish market, where the boats land and the prices are set.

Camino Finisterre–Muxía
Optional
Camino Route

Camino Finisterre–Muxía

Galicia

The only Camino that doesn't end in Santiago — it starts there. Walk west to the Atlantic at Finisterre and the shrine at Muxía.

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Convento de San Francisco
Optional
Monastery

Convento de San Francisco

Galicia

Gothic Franciscan convent, traditionally founded by St Francis himself on pilgrimage in 1214.

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Piornedo
Worth a Detour
Village

Piornedo

Galicia

The best-preserved group of pallozas in Spain: round stone houses under conical thatch.

Devesa da Rogueira
Essential
Hike

Devesa da Rogueira

Galicia

The finest surviving patch of Atlantic woodland in Galicia, on the north face of the Courel.

A Coruña
Overnight
City

A Coruña

Galicia

A breezy Atlantic peninsula city home to the world's oldest working lighthouse and elite seafood

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Baiona
Overnight
Town

Baiona

Galicia

A historic port with a commanding fortress and quiet charm on the southern Galician coast

Source Verified
Parador de Santiago (Hostal dos Reis Católicos)
Recommended
Historical Site

Parador de Santiago (Hostal dos Reis Católicos)

Galicia

The world's oldest hotel, in a former pilgrim hospital with a fine cloister.

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Santiago de Compostela
Trip Anchor
City

Santiago de Compostela

Galicia

The sacred granite-built pilgrimage destination at the end of the Camino de Santiago

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Alameda Park & Old Town Santiago
Optional
Plaza

Alameda Park & Old Town Santiago

Galicia

A park promenade with the defining view of the cathedral spires above the granite old town.

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Sarria
Overnight
Town

Sarria

Galicia

The most popular starting point for those completing the final 100km to Santiago.

Source Verified
Portomarín
Quick Stop
Town

Portomarín

Galicia

A town relocated above a reservoir, featuring a distinctive fortified church.

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Arzúa
Quick Stop
Town

Arzúa

Galicia

Famous for its local cheese and final convergence with other pilgrimage routes.

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Folgoso do Courel
Overnight
Village

Folgoso do Courel

Galicia

The small capital of the Courel: a handful of houses, one bar, and the road through the range.

Palas de Rei
Quick Stop
Town

Palas de Rei

Galicia

A quiet town set in the rolling forests and agricultural lands of Galicia.

Source Verified
Candín
Quick Stop
Village

Candín

Galicia

The main village of the León side of the Ancares, at the foot of the range's highest ground.

Praia de Carnota
Recommended
Beach

Praia de Carnota

Galicia

The longest beach in Galicia, backed by dunes near the village of Carnota.

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Pontevedra
Quick Stop
City

Pontevedra

Galicia

A walkable Galician city with a well-preserved old town.

Source Verified
Vigo
Base
City

Vigo

Galicia

A bustling fishing port serving as the primary gateway to the spectacular Cíes Islands

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Playa de las Catedrales
Recommended
Beach

Playa de las Catedrales

Galicia

A tidal beach in Galicia known for its natural rock arches, with access limited by tide times and a summer permit system.

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Triacastela
Quick Stop
Town

Triacastela

Galicia

A valley town in the green hills of the Galician countryside.

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O Cebreiro
Quick Stop
Town

O Cebreiro

Galicia

A mountain village of ancient stone pallozas, with wide views over the surrounding hills.

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Seoane do Courel
Quick Stop
Village

Seoane do Courel

Galicia

A stone village under the Devesa da Rogueira, with the best access to the old woodland.

Monasterio de San Xulián de Samos
Recommended
Monastery

Monasterio de San Xulián de Samos

Galicia

Benedictine monastery on the Camino Francés, continuously occupied since the 6th century — two cloisters, one Renaissance, one Neoclassical, set deep in a river gorge.

Source Verified
Navia de Suarna
Quick Stop
Village

Navia de Suarna

Galicia

A small town on the Navia with a medieval bridge, at the entrance to the Ancares from the north.

Combarro
Quick Stop
Village

Combarro

Galicia

A waterfront village on the Galician coast, known for its traditional stone granaries.

Source Verified
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