Spain: A Budget travel guide to Santiago de Compostela
The final stop on Spain’s epic St. John’s Way pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela has much more in store for visitors than just the holy relics housed by its world-famous cathedral — although the cathedral is certainly worth a visit.
Full of granite edifices with greenery springing out of hidden crevices and decorated with gargoyles, in our opinion, Santiago is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
Its maze of streets is packed with quirky shops, ancient churches, monasteries, and charming plazas. The pedestrianized medieval old town has recently been added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Add to that a multitude of options to eat and sleep on the cheap, and you’ve got a budget paradise. Let’s explore, Cheapos!
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Visiting Santiago de Compostela on a budget
Getting there and getting around
While there aren’t any direct US flights to Santiago, you can fly on budget airlines from cities around Spain and the rest of Europe. Round-trip flights from Barcelona start at around €30.
That said, depending on your dates, you may want to just spring for a round-trip ticket to Santiago with a stop in a major European hub. At the time of writing, we found a round-trip itinerary with Iberia for €684 with a connection in Madrid.
Most of what you’ll want to see in Santiago is located around the city’s historic medieval core referred to locally as the “zona monumental,” and you can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes flat (if you don’t get distracted on the way). Should you want to venture further afield to something in the city’s modern quarter, it’s only a leisurely walk or short bus ride away.
Cheap and free things to do in Santiago de Compostela
One of the best free things to do in Santiago de Compostela is just walking around la zona monumental and getting lost. It seems like no matter how many times you walk around the old town, you always stumble upon something new — maybe a Galician gaitero (or bagpiper), your new favorite dive bar, or even just vendors handing out free samples of Santiago cake.
Another good choice on a budget? One of the city’s parks and a picnic. Start by shopping for some goodies at Santiago’s Mercado de Abastos, and then head to Alameda Park for some nice views of the old town and the cathedral. While you’re there you can pay your respects to a curious local monument known as the Dos Marias, a tribute to two ladies who garnered fame in the 1950s and ’60s for dressing up in wild clothes and flirting with college students.
Looking for a more challenging hike? Take the one-hour climb up Monte Pedroso for a panoramic view of Santiago and surrounding areas.
Museums
If you’re one of those folks who likes to check out a few museums wherever you go, Santiago has a few worth visiting, especially on free days. The Pilgrimage Museum, where you can learn everything you always wanted to know about St. James Way and other pilgrimages from around the world. It is free Saturdays after 2:30 pm and all day on Sundays.
If you’d rather learn about Galician history, try free Sundays at the Museo do Pobo Galego — even if you don’t care about the artifacts, it’s housed in a historic Convent.
Finally, don’t leave without touring the Cathedral. It’s 100% free to check out the relic of Saint John, the Portico de Gloria, and the Corticela chapel (although in spring and summer you may have to wait in line). If you can, plan to catch a mass at noon — you might get to see the famous Botafumeiro, a massive 170-pound-plus incense holder swung around.
For more tips, you can check out the official tourism website for Santiago de Compostela.
Inexpensive Eats in Santiago
Santiago may just be the perfect place to feast on a budget. Great grub and potent alcohol come at very reasonable prices here. Cheapos will also be very happy to hear that the long-held tradition of a free tapa with your drink (alcoholic or otherwise) at a bar is still observed.
That said, as a general rule, if you’re too close to the cathedral, and the menu is in three or more languages, you’re probably in a tourist trap. Most places around town offer up Galicia’s best-known fare — octopus, savory pies, and Santiago cake, but that doesn’t mean what they’re offering is the best quality or price.
For some of Santiago’s best octopus, known locally as pulpo á feira, head to the unassuming Bodegón Os Concheiros (Rúa de Berlin, 3) where the octopus is freshly made, as opposed to the rubbery reheated nonsense you find in some bars around Spain and expect to spend €8 to 10 for a feast of tapas with friends.
Some other good budget options are A Moa on Rúa de San Pedro and O Cabalo Branco at Praza da Pescadería Vella.
For a nice cup of coffee or tea with a slice of rich almondy Santiago cake, or thick Spanish chocolate with churros fried in house, head to Café Iacobus (Rúa da Senra, 24).
Or for a heartier snack, stop by Colmado Victoria (Rúa do Hórreo, 53) and pick up a slice (or a whole pie to share) of Galician empanada with codfish and raisins.
Hotel Alda Algalia is a charming boutique hotel just a few minutes from the cathedral. Photo: EuroCheapo/Booking.com
Cheap hotels in Santiago de Compostele
Lodging is very affordable in Santiago de Compostela, although rooms can fill up far in advance. Pilgrims who make the trek tend to plan ahead, so you should do the same.
If you don’t mind hostels, bunks start at around €12 per person per night.
One of our favorite hotels is the cozy Hotel Alda Algalia, located right in Santiago’s old town. Ancient stone walls and exposed wood beams add character to this highly-rated stay where rooms with private bathrooms start at around $100 per night.
If you’re traveling with family or in a group, a triple or quadruple room would be a good bet —centrally located digs start at around €95 for rooms with four beds.
Know your dates? Search for affordable rooms at more than 200 hotels in Santiago de Compostela.
Your budget tips for Santiago de Compostele
Have you been to Santiago de Compostela? Share your tips in the comments below!
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