Santiago de Compostela Travel Guide
For details of what to do and see in Santiago de Compostela, Spain check out our Santiago de Compostela guide to car hire in Santiago de Compostela.
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With a long and vibrant history, including its claim to being the final resting place of St James - one of the twelve apostles, Santiago de Compostela has been one of the most popular destinations in northwest Spain for more than a thousand years, and shows no signs of losing its popularity.
The city has an enormous number of stunning monuments, most notably the cathedral of St James, to which Christians have made pilgrimages for hundreds of years. There are also numerous other smaller churches and statues that have been paid for by the pilgrims, and many other historic attractions to see in and around the city.
Of course, if Santiago de Compostela were nothing but a pilgrim's destination, then it would still attract thousands of visitors, but in recent years, the city has started attracting a huge number of tourists for other reasons - most notably its excellent nightlife.
The city is home to one of the top universities in Europe, and has an enormous student population. Santiago de Compostela is a town that despite the weight of ages that presses down upon it is unrelentingly modern. The average age of residents seems to be under thirty, and there is a café culture in the city to rival anywhere else.
People from all over the world come to Santiago to see the sights and soak up the atmosphere, and if you also take the time out to explore the Galician countryside around the city, then you will be rewarded with excellent beaches, friendly people, and good weather throughout the year.