Galicia - unique destination in the northwest of Spain
Galicia – a hidden gem in northwestern Spain, where the rugged beauty of the Atlantic meets the lush, green hills. This unique destination offers a perfect blend of vibrant culture, breathtaking nature, captivating history and exquisite cuisine.
The Spanish region of Galicia, with its wild, unspoiled coastline, deep green valleys, traditional villages and majestic mountains, is the perfect place for hikers, adventurers and lovers of nature. The Way of Saint James, one of the most famous pilgrimage routes in the world, passes through the heart of this fascinating region. The westernmost point of mainland Spain is Punta Laxial at Cape Cabo Touriñán about 20 kilometers north of Santiago de Compostela and a good 60 kilometers away is Cap Fisterra, known as the “end of the world”.
Galician culture is rich in traditions, legends and music. Here the traveler experiences a unique blend of Celtic and Spanish influences that shape the identity of the region. The vibrant city of Santiago de Compostela, the spiritual heart of Galicia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its impressive cathedral, historic squares and medieval alleys, is a place that simply must be seen.
And then there’s the cuisine! Galicia is famous for its high-quality seafood, including mussels, scallops (vieiras), crabs, langoustines and various types of fish such as sardines and sole. The “Festival of the Holy Scallop” in Cambados is an example of the regional importance of these ingredients. Some excellent cheeses are produced in the region, including San Simón da Costa, a lightly smoked cow’s milk cheese, and Tetilla, a mild, pear-shaped cheese. The region’s wines are also very well known. Albariño, a fresh and aromatic white wine from the Rías Baixas area, is one of the region’s most popular wines.
Vacation in Galicia
We're going to the beach! It's off to a fantastically beautiful beach! Playa de las Catedrales is one of the most spectacular and beautiful beaches in northern Spain.
I am standing on a viewing platform on a cliff overlooking the river Eo, which forms the border between Galicia and Asturias here. On the Galician side is the small coastal town of Ribadeo, which I will visit for a short city walk.
I am standing in a large square. Around me are laughing, singing, dancing and sometimes limping people who are happy that their path ends here in Santiago de Compostela.
Viveiro is located in Galicia and is one of the liveliest towns in the coastal region. Spaniards in particular know the place. One of the most elaborate Good Friday processions in the region takes place here, attracting numerous visitors.
What could be better than sitting relaxed on a train, letting the landscape pass you by and listening to the rattle of the wheels. Clearly, a train that travels as a rolling hotel! Traveling in northern Spain on the Transcantábrico, the Costa Verde Express, taking excursions in the region and falling asleep in your own…
Search for suitable accommodation
Booking.comTravel information about Galicia
Arrival in Galicia
By plane
About 15 kilometers northeast of Santiago de Compostela is the largest airport in the region. International connections are offered there.
In addition, there are two smaller airports in the region with national air service.
By Bus
Many major cities in Galicia are served by long-distance buses.
By train
From Madrid, a high-speed train serves various cities in Galicia. Some connections run several times a day.
Train traffic within northern Spain has not yet been fully converted to the fast trains. It takes a lot of time to cover the distances between the citie
On the way in Galicia
By car
Many places in the region are only easily accessible by car. The highways (autopista) are mostly toll roads, while the four-lane expressways (autovia) are free and some run parallel to the highway.
The cities often have many one-way streets and quite heavy traffic.
By bus
Connections between cities and to resorts are very good, but in the countryside there are often only one or two buses a day. As a rule, bicycles are carried free of charge. Within larger cities, there are buses that also serve the surrounding countryside.
By train
Galicia has only a few railroad lines:
Ferrol – A Coruña – Santiago de Compostela – Pontevedra – Vigo – (Porto).
A Coruña – Lugo – Ourense – Vigo
Santiago de Compostela – Ourense – (Madrid)
The fares are quite reasonable.
Along the north coast a narrow gauge railroad.
Parking in the city
The parking situation in cities is often difficult. If you park in a no-parking zone, you will quickly be towed away. It is better to look for a paid parking lot or a parking garage (attention: these are sometimes adventurously narrow and poorly lit) a little outside.
Best time to travel
The climate in Galicia is significantly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and can be described overall as distinctly mild, but also very humid. Winters are usually mild, but characterized by heavy rainfall, while the summer months are not too hot. On the coast, average annual temperatures range from 13.8°C (A Coruña) to 14.7°C (Vigo). Inland, in Ourense, the annual average is about 14°C. In the mountains, on the other hand, average temperatures are much lower, ranging from about 8°C to 10°C.
The northwestern part of Galicia records about 150 rainy days per year, making it not only the rainiest region in Spain, but also one of the rainiest regions in Europe. Due to this frequent rainfall, the region remains green even in summer. The landscape is dominated by cabbage fields and pole beans raised on corn. However, there are also palm trees and bougainvillea, which give the picture a certain exoticism and remind of the southern English landscape.
Towards the southeast, the climate tends to become drier and the number of rainy days decreases significantly. In the southeast of Galicia there are only about 50 rainy days per year. The vegetation and landscape therefore show somewhat different characteristics than in the rainier northwest, and the region becomes drier and more Mediterranean.
Language
The Galician language (Galic, Galic. Galego, Spanish Gallego) attained the status of official language alongside Spanish in the region of Galicia in 1982 and is spoken by about four-fifths of the population. Because of its common origin with Galician-Portuguese, Galician bears a remarkably high resemblance to Portuguese. However, since the end of the Middle Ages, both language varieties have developed in parallel and relatively independently of each other, resulting in differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. Nevertheless, there are abstract features of morphosyntax that argue for considering Galician and Portuguese as variants of a common language system. For this reason, Galician studies is still often considered part of Lusitanian studies, which deals with Portuguese language and culture.
In the past, similarity to Portuguese was considered a measure of Galician’s purity by some figures, such as Manuel Murguía, an author of an important Galician history work and the first president of the Real Academia Gallega. At the beginning of the 20th century, Johan Viqueira called for the adoption of Portuguese orthography for Galician. Portuguese often served as a point of reference, and leading figures of Galician nationalism used its membership in the extensive Portuguese-Brazilian linguistic area as an argument against feelings of Galician inferiority and linguistic isolation.
Today, however, speakers of Galician are increasingly demanding that their language be recognized as a standard Romance language in its own right. They emphasize the uniqueness and autonomy of Galician and want it to be respected and promoted as a language in its own right.