All direct flights to Santiago de Compostela from the UK & Ireland

Mark Says

It's the third holiest site in Christendom, the final stop on the world-famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It boasts a jaw-droppingly beautiful cathedral, a wonderfully preserved medieval quarter, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Western Europe. Need any more reasons to visit Santiago de Compostela?

For such a historical heavyweight, Santiago also retains a refreshingly youthful air, students making up over a quarter of its population. And it's a good job too: all that old-world solemnity needs a bit of livening up every now and again. Such hustle and bustle, and a regular raft of cultural events, can give visitors a feeling that the city is bigger than it actually is. Consequently, we'd recommend taking at least a few days to explore the place properly: not only for historical sites like the Catedral del Apóstol and the Monasterio de San Martín Pinario, but also to savour the medieval ambiance of its winding streets and squares like Plaza de la Quintana and Plaza de Platerías.

One thing you will do in Santiago is eat well: the surrounding region produces some of Spain's finest seafood, meat, peppers and wine. Try washing down some pulpo (octopus) with a glass of crisp Ribeiro white for full effect.

Santiago is also the gateway to Galicia, Spain's greenest and most north-westerly region. Its lovely rías ' a series of estuaries cutting into the rugged Galician coast and dotted with beaches, villages and small resorts ' are reason enough to get out into the country surrounding Santiago, as are the region's luscious rolling hills, secret hidden monasteries and its surprising proximity to Portugal.

As for when to visit, just remember that winters can be cold in these parts and rain has been known to make the occasional appearance&