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Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: Our most recommended tours and activities

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: Tour and Portico Option

1. Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: Tour and Portico Option

Experience a journey into the past discovering the history of the Apostle Santiago and get to know the Cathedral Museum and the Cathedral in all its splendour with this tour, choosing the option that best suits your tastes: guided tour only Museum and Cathedral or the option that includes the Portico of Glory. Get to know every corner of our beautiful Cathedral, discover its Romanesque architecture, learn about the construction throughout the centuries and admire the Chapel of Relics, the Royal Pantheon, the Chapter Library and the famous Botafumeiro. Enjoy it like a local with our official tour guide.

Santiago de Compostela Full-Day Tour From Porto

2. Santiago de Compostela Full-Day Tour From Porto

Discover 2 charming southern Europe on a full-day sightseeing tour from Porto. Cross the border into Spain to explore the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia and stop to see Valença do Minho on the way back to Porto.  Board a comfortable van or bus and embark on a journey to one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the world, Santiago. See the Caminhos de Santiago (St. James Way) pilgrim trail and visit a magnificent 11th-centuty cathedral. Admire the architecture that was originally built in a Romanesque style, today the cathedral is an amalgam of harmonious influences. Have the opportunity to attend mass and enjoy free time to go for a stroll in the UNESCO World Heritage city center. Begin the drive back to Porto, stopping at Valença do Minho, a historical village in the north of Portugal, located right on the border between Portugal and Spain. Valença was important during the middle ages and it was part of "Caminhos de Santiago".  See how the city is dominated by a fortress of two towers and a double wall before returning to your meeting point in Porto. 

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and Museum Guided Tour

3. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and Museum Guided Tour

Explore the history of Santiago de Compostela on a guided tour of the cathedral and its museum. One of the 3 most important centers for Catholic pilgrims in the Christian world. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral has historically been a place of pilgrimage on the "Way of St. James" (Camino de Santiago) since the early Middle Ages. Enter the magnificent monument to discover why, as your guide takes you to see the tomb of Saint James and much more. Look at the resplendent main altar and the intricate chapels surrounding it, and learn about the rituals and traditions. Hear about the historical and architectural importance of the cathedral, and further your knowledge in the museum where you can discover the treasure of the Cathedral, the library and all the important art works.

Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral, Museum, and Old Town Tour

4. Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral, Museum, and Old Town Tour

Discover the city 100% by our tour that combines a walking tour through the city and a tour of the Museum and the Cathedral of Santiago: get to know its past and fall in love with its essence. We start the tour at Obradoiro Square where our guide will be there with an orange umbrella waiting for you: we will stroll through the millenary streets of the old town, you will enjoy a 40 minutes-break between the tours and you will continue with a guided tour to the Cathedral Museum and the interior of the Cathedral with our official guides.

From Porto: Santiago de Compostela Full Day Tour

5. From Porto: Santiago de Compostela Full Day Tour

Depart immediately for Santiago de Compostela. At 11:00 AM you will experience the famous Pilgrim Mass. This special mass is held each day to recognize the pilgrims who have travelled along the Way of St. James to arrive at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. You will have the chance to be a part of a historical ceremony that has been taking place since the 9th Century. At the beginning of the mass it is traditional for the home country and starting point of all the pilgrims to be announced. Following the mass you will get a chance to learn more about the historic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela which is dedicated to St James, one of Jesus’ apostles, and is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site.

Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral & Museum Private Tour

6. Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral & Museum Private Tour

Uncover the art inside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela on this guided tour. See religious iconography and the reputed burial place of the apostle Saint James. Visit the library where the Codex Calixtinus (the main witness for the Book of Saint James) is held.  Meet your guide and begin at the ground floor of the Cathedral's Museum which has four rooms where you can see the remains that were found in different archaeological excavations. View a map to determine what was standing on this site before the Cathedral.  Admire the spectacular stone choir of Master Mateo and various examples of religious iconography such as busts, statues or wooden carvings. See depictions of both of the Apostle Santiago in his three versions (pilgrim, soldier, and saint). Listen as your guide tells you about each version and hear about different biblical characters. Upon reaching the second floor, will leave the cloister to focus on the library where the famous Codex Calixtinus is kept.  Arrive at the third a floors which is dedicated to different tapestries from both the Flanders school, as well as the so-called Goya Tapestries made in the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid. Head to the the balcony for views from above the Plaza do Obradoiro. Afterwards go back to the second floor to visit the cloister and access the Cathedral without having to wait in line.  Enter the temple to enjoy its different chapels. Follow your guide to the main altar, the holy door, and see what is said to be the tomb of the apostle Saint James. 

Santiago Complete With Tickets

7. Santiago Complete With Tickets

Join us for a complete Santiago experience that covers all angles of this beautiful city. Our tour begins at 10:00 AM with a visit to the historic center, where our knowledgeable guide will take you through the winding streets, hidden alleys, and vibrant squares that make up the heart of Santiago. Next, we'll head to the Portico of Glory, where you'll discover the fascinating history of this masterpiece by Master Mateo. Marvel at the intricate details of each character and learn about the message that the Pórtico conveys to pilgrims. After a short break, we'll continue our journey with a tour of the Cathedral Museum and the interior of the Cathedral of Santiago (tickets included).

Santiago de Compostela Private Guided Tour

8. Santiago de Compostela Private Guided Tour

Take in the major sights of Santiago de Compostela on a 2-hour guided walk. Visit the city’s best-known squares, the Cathedral, the City Hall and the Hostel of the Catholic Monarchs. Learn about the history of the Camino de Santiago and the legend of St. James. See the many symbols of the city, including the shell, the arrow and the azabache, all of which are important elements to understanding the secrets of Santiago. In addition, you’ll see the market, the university and Cervantes Square. The tour ends at the operator’s office, where you’ll be introduced to typical products from Galicia. Receive free maps, souvenirs and information about other activities.

Santiago de Compostela: Old Town Private Tour

9. Santiago de Compostela: Old Town Private Tour

On this walking tour of the city of Santiago, discover the most important monuments and places in the city. This tour is free-form, so your tour guide will adapt each individual tour to the participants' moods and desires. The first part of the tour is focused in the main squares surrounding the Santiago Cathedral, your guide will fill you in on their histories and tell you fascinating stories that will help you to understand the significance of what you're seeing. Understand the meaning of the shells, the origin of the Botafumeiro, why the city is called Compostela, and more. The second part of the tour escapes the most touristic parts of the city to enter into the downtown area from the eyes of a local. Discover the local market, hidden squares and narrow streets while your guide gives you the best recommendations for some tapas, lunch, dinner and nightlife. Finish off the tour where it started, and let your guide help you figure out what else you'd like to do in Santiago or any other part of Galicia.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral: Tickets and Private Tour

10. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral: Tickets and Private Tour

We will start at the cathedral museum to visit ancient ruins, the Choir of Master Mateo, the library, the chapter house, the cloister, the balconies... Did you know that the Codex Calixtinus is known as the first travel guide? Next, we will go inside the Cathedral of Santiago to visit all its chapels in depth, analyze the main altar, the organs, the botafumeiro Do you know when it works and the speed it reaches? We will continue walking and we will see what is special about the Corticela and, of course, we will visit the tomb of Santiago Apostle! A sight not to be missed with a local guide specialized in Art History. Let yourself be impressed by one of the greatest pilgrimage centers of all Christianity.

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What people are saying about Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 1,079 reviews

The trip was well worth it. Our guide (Pedro) was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The stop in Valença do Minho was surprisingly interesting. This was a great option for a short trip to Santiago de Compostela. My family and I were able to get into the Cathedral by not having lunch with the rest of the group. Be aware that there can be a long line to get in the Cathedral and it could take all of your time.

Our guides Francisco and Alex were simply amazing. Francisco is like a walking Google, explaining every detail about the historical St James Cathedral. The places we visited were great and we started the tour on time.

our guide cum driver (Tiago) from Living Tour drove us safely to n from. along the way to Santiago, he also gave good information on the destination.

The trip was satisfying, though I wish we could have stayed in Galicia a little longer.

Diego was a great guide; engaging and able to answer queries very well