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Things to do and see in La Coruña and Galicia Galicia : To get a better idea of the region of Galicia please check out the following link: Once at the site, click on “geography of Spain” link on the left hand side of the screen. This will take you to a map of Spain . Once you are at the map, click on the top left hand region in green (Galicia). Here you will find some basic information on the region. Climate: Galicia during the summer has very moderate temperatures but unpredictable rainfall. In the peak of summer (July and August) temperatures range from 65F to 75F (approximately 15C-23C). La Coruña : For more info on the city of La Coruña , please click on the following link: Other practical addresses and places in La Coruña are listed below. If you are not sure how to get there, please ask the concierge at the hotel, and they will be able to help you. Hairdresser: Zamuz Address: Calle Federico Tapia 10 (tel. 981-121-788) Loida Peluquerias Address: calle Cabo Santiago Gomez (tel. 981-261-227) Spa: Loida Balneario Spa Address: calle Emilia Pardo Bazan, 21 (tel. 981-112-745 or 981-126-793) Shopping: One of the best places for shopping is Calle Real (no cars allowed) there you will find the following clothes stores; Adolfo Dominguez, Simorra, Kira Fernandez, Roberto Verino, Antonio Pernas, Zara and Mango. Other stores: El Corte Ingles (department store). Portico Basico, Piñeiro and Casa are very nice home decorating stores. Places to Eat: The narrow lanes stretching west of Plaza de Maria Pita ( La Coruña own version of Plaza Mayor of Madrid and Salamanca ) are good places to search for good food. Calle de la Franga in particular is lined with good options (don't be afraid of all the octopus around!). Good for people watching and to have a coffee/drink is Plaza de Maria Pita and/or Paseo de la Marina. For beautiful views have lunch at the Domus Restaurant inside a great museum called Casa del Hombre or “Domus” which is located in the Paseo Maritimo de Riazor. Going out: Calle de la Estrella and Troncoso are great places to have some wine and tapas and is usually very lively starting at 9-9:30pm . Also around Plaza de Maria Pita is also very lively around this time. Later on after having tapas you can go to either to La ciudad vieja (literally means the “old city”) or el Orzan (near the beach) for a few drinks. Beaches in La Coruña proper: About a 5 minute stroll from the 3 hotels recommened you have 2 city beaches, Riazor and Orzan. Running: For those of you into running we recommend the Paseo Maritimo. This is a nice 5.5 mile loop that gives you nice views of the entire city. If you will “do it”, do it in the morning (before 1pm) because the Paseo gets very crowded in the afternoon Other Places in Galicia : If you are spending a week or more in Galicia, listed below are some places you will enjoy. For a detailed map of Galicia, click on the icon below:
Santiago de Compostela: You can not leave La Coruña with out a visit to Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela, known as the 'Town of the apostle' is the capital of the region of Galicia . The city has over 89,000 inhabitants and is located at an altitude of 260m above sea level. The city is just 76km from La Coruña . Santiago de Compostela is probably best known as the final destination of the legendary medieval way of pilgrimship, “Camino de Santiago” (The Way of Saint James), now considered by Unesco to be a World Heritage Site. Today the city attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its fantastic monuments. The city is named after the Apostle Saint James ("Santiago"), who is buried here. Santiago is certainly one of Spain's most monumental cities, with a particular architectural style all of its own. The city also has one of the most famous universities in Europe and a large number of students give the city a unique ambience. July is a great month to be in Santiago ; July 25th (Sunday) is the Feast of Santiago and simultaneously Galicia's national day and this year it will have a special significance since it is a Holy Year or Año Santo. The night before (Saturday, July 24th ), the Plaza de Obradoiro (in front of the Cathedral) comes alight with a spectacular fireworks display, music, sound effects and projected images. Rias Altas: Although the Rias Altas and surrounding countryside, east of La Coruña are less extensive than the Rias Bajas (please see below), they are less populated, retaining greater natural attraction and when the weather is good the beaches on this part are great! Here are a few recommended stops; Puentedeume Cedeira (Valdoviño and Playa de Patin where they hold an international surfing competition) Serra de Capelada San Andres de Teixido Cabo Ortegal Ortiguera although there is not much in this fishing village, the International Celtic Music Festival takes place here around the week of July 16 th . Think of it as “Celtic Woodstock”. Costa de Morte (Coast of Death): This area gets its name from a tales of danger surrounding this stretch of the Atlantic seabord. The A55 tollway from La Coruña bypasses the beginning of La Costa de Morte running inland from Carballo. From Carballo head northwest to Malpica. The minor coastal road out of La Coruña passes a few ocean beaches or “playas” such as Playa de Barrañan and Playa de Sorrizo where you must be mindful of the currents. The Costa de Morte begins at Caion where there is a nice beach where you might see some dolphins. Here are some suggestions of places to see; Laxe (Playa de Traba) Cabo Vilan Camelle Muxia (Playa do Lago) Finisterre (means the end of the earth) has breathtaking views of the Atlantic . Carnota (Playa de Carnota) Rias Bajas: In this area there are plenty of beaches and several low key resorts and in the summer the weather is a better bet than further up north. Here are some suggestions; Noia Muros (west of this town very nice beaches) Padron Cambados a very peaceful seaside town. Check out the winery, San Salvador de Meis and the Mosteiro de Armenteira. Pontevedra Islas Cies Baiona La Guardia Caution about beaches: In many beaches, currents tend to be strong. Only frequent those beaches with lifeguards. Pay attention to the flags. |
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