Things to do in Santiago de Compostela With the Family
Santiago de Compostela, the capital city of the Galicia region of North West Spain, is a fascinating place to visit all year round. With its landmark 11th century cathedral, iconic Monte do Gozo hill lined with religious sculptures, and being world-renowned as the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, it’s hardly surprising that each year thousands of travellers from around the world visit this beguiling city.
Visitors of all ages, ethnicities and tastes enjoy exploring the winding streets of Santiago de Compostela and witnessing its unique culture and traditions.
If you’re thinking about travelling to the Galician capital with children, take a look at the following great things to do in Santiago de Compostela with the family.
Climb to the roof of the cathedral
The mighty Cathedral of Santiago is a leading attraction of the city and one that never fails to enthral young visitors, particularly if they climb to the roof.
The rooftop cloisters comprise of secret passageways that never fail to get children’s imaginations working overdrive. As you can imagine, the views from the cathedral’s roof are spectacular.
Enjoy a picnic in the city parks
Santiago de Compostela is one of the greenest cities in Spain, home to many beautiful parks, which tempt passerbys to stop for a rest and seek shade from the sun by sitting on the grass under the boughs of a tree.
One of the main parks in the city is known as Alameda, which is home to fantastic views of the old town and the university campus.
Sample Santiago de Compostela sweets
The Galician capital is well-known for its culinary delights and the many restaurants that line the cobbled streets are typically teeming with visitors keen to enjoy distinct Galician flavours.
Children and adults with a sweet tooth can make the most of the city’s esteemed traditional desserts, including the Tarta de Santiago, – aka the ‘Pie of Saint James’. This mouth-watering sweet comprises of an almond base and a figure of Saint James is drawn on the top of the tart with powdered sugar.
Visit Santiago library
Book enthusiasts of all ages will be in their element at Santiago library. Hailed as ‘Hogwarts in Santiago’, this 18th century building belongs to the university. The library was inaugurated in 1924 and is beautifully preserved with polished wooden bookshelves and old-fashioned lamps, resonant of a scene from Harry Potter.