What to do in Santiago de Compostella with kids? Santiago de Compostella is a beautiful city in northwestern Spain and best known as the terminus of the famous pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago. But this historic city is also great fun to visit with kids! Santiago de Compostella has a car-free old center, beautiful squares, parks and a cozy atmosphere. An ideal city to visit with kids! In this blog we share the best activities and sights to do in Santiago de Compostela with kids.
Best travel time Santiago de Compostela with kids
The best travel time to visit Santiago de Compostela with kids is from June through September. Then the temperatures are the highest and you have the least chance of rain. In many places in Spain it gets very hot during the summer months, but in Santiago de Compostela this is not so bad.
Even in the hottest months of the year (July and August) the temperature is between 15 and 25 degrees. An excellent temperature for a city trip with kids. Of course, July and August are the busiest months in the city and accommodation prices rise during this period.
Transportation to and in Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is easily accessible by car and train. It is also possible to fly to the city, as the city also has an international airport. This airport is a 15-minute drive outside the city. You can easily rent a car at the Santiago de Compostela airport and explore the region that way.
We always rent a car in Spain through the organization Sunny Cars. Sunny Cars has a very nice package of insurances and conditions, so you always have peace of mind on the road. Together with our daughter, we have rented a car many times through this organization and are always very satisfied. Look online to rent a car at Santiago de Compostela airport.
The city itself is quite compact and you can walk around here with kids just fine. However, the city is somewhat hilly which can be tiring for young kids to walk around. You can also use the bus and cab in the city, if you do not have a car at your disposal.
Children’s activities Santiago de Compostela
#1 Center
You must, of course, visit the historic center during a city break to Santiago de Compostela with kids. This old center has also been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. A great advantage of the old city is that it is car-free, making it also very suitable for kids. The city’s most famous landmark is the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
The cathedral is located on a large square and you can see the inside of the cathedral for free. Keep in mind that especially in the summer months it can be extremely crowded at this cathedral. There are also regular pilgrim services held in this cathedral. You can book a tour of the cathedral through the website of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
When you book a tour, this includes climbing the roofs of the cathedral where you will have a beautiful view of the surroundings. Also, with a tour you will have access to the museums, the cloister, the Portico of Glory, the library and the Treasury.
Unfortunately, the tourist train no longer runs through the city center, but if you want more background of the city you can book a Free Walking Tour of the city.
Several such tours of the city are offered online, and most of them boil down to the same thing. You go out with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide and get an explanation of the city and its sights. Afterwards, you can then decide what amount of money you give to this guide for all the information you got during the tour.
#2 Alameda Park
You can divide Santiago de Compostela into two sections. You have the historic center of the city and the newer part (Zona Nueva), where there are more of the stores. Between the two neighborhoods is a very nice park that you can visit with kids in Santiago de Compostella. The Alameda Park is an urban park that is considered the green lung of the city.
The city park is quite quiet, making this a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city with kids. The park is green and the shade of the trees and the occasional wind make it nice and cool in this park. The city park is located on a hill and from the park you have a nice view of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
There are several statues in the park that you can take pictures with. Unfortunately, there is no playground to be found in this city park. On Sundays there are often things organized in the park, and regularly there are also stalls in the park where you can go for something to eat and drink with kids.
#3 Abastos Market
This is an indoor market that you can visit in Santiago de Compostela with kids. The market mainly sells a lot of food items and you have different alleys in the markets with different products in each alley. It’s not so much a tourist market, so you walk fairly among the locals.
With kids, it can be impressive to see the live crabs and severed pig’s heads at the stalls in the market. The most lively market is in the early morning. Don’t expect too much from it, as it’s not that much, but it’s fun to walk around and possibly eat something. Prices for food and drinks are not too high.
#4 Camino de Santiago
Most tourists who visit Santiago de Compostella do so after completing a pilgrimage of many miles. You can’t really say there is a specific route to Santiago de Compostella to walk, since there are several hiking routes. These pilgrims often walk hundreds of kilometers and of course with young kids that is way too hard. With older kids, of course, you can walk part of the route.
To get the Compostella, you must be able to prove that you have walked at least 100 kilometers to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostella. The most popular and well-known hiking route to Santiago de Compostella is the Camino Francés (French Route). About half of all hikers to Santiago choose this route. This route is just over 800 kilometers long.
Of course, you can also choose to walk part of the route with kids (maybe one day) or just bike the route. Most walkers walk about 25 kilometers per day, and biking is fine for kids. So there are many options for completing this route with kids. It is busiest on this route in the months of July and August.
#5 La Coruna
You can make a great day trip to La Coruna from Santiago de Compostela with kids. By train you can get to the center of La Coruna from the center of Santiago de Compostella in about half an hour. Here you can visit the old center of La Coruna, where Plaza de Maria Pita is the central square of this center.
La Coruna also has a pleasant promenade where you can go for a bite to eat and a drink. La Coruna is located by the sea, so it is also possible to go to the beach (Playa de Riazor) in this city with kids. That way, even during a city break to Santiago de Compostella you can go to the beach with kids for a day.
Furthermore, in the city you can go to a nice aquarium, where they have a lot of different kinds of marine animals and they have a nice viewpoint in the city, where you can take a glass elevator to go to. Therefore, you can have a great time for a whole day in this city with the family.
Family-friendly restaurant Santiago de Compostella
You can eat and drink in Santiago de Compostela with kids just fine, as there are plenty of nice and family-friendly restaurants in the city. Of course, you have many Spanish restaurants in the city center, where you can go for tapas with kids. In addition, you have several international restaurants where you can eat in Santiago de Compostella with the family. We list below some family-friendly restaurants in Santiago de Compostela.
Sicilia in Bocca: This Italian restaurant is located slightly outside the city center, but within walking distance to the center. You can eat different pastas and pizzas here with kids, and the restaurant also has tasty Italian desserts. The price-quality ratio of this restaurant is very good!
Sibuya Urban Sushi Bar Santiago: If you as a family love eating sushi, then this Japanese restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Santiago de Compostela where you can go to eat sushi.
Mercado La Galiciana: this is a kind of hall where several international food stands are gathered under one roof. We always love this kind of restaurant, since you can order from many different international cuisines and this way there is always a suitable choice for our daughter. You eat at long tables and the atmosphere in the restaurant is very informal and therefore very family-friendly.
Family-friendly hotel Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is a tourist place and therefore there are many family-friendly accommodations you can book in Santiago de Compostela with the family. We list the best rated accommodations where you can sleep with kids in Santiago de Compostela. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Hotel Capital de Galicia
Mid-range accommodation: Hotel San Lázaro
Luxury Accommodation: Oca Puerta del Camino Hotel
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Santiago de Compostela.
