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Most Compelling Reasons to Visit Galicia

[lwptoc]

Galicia is a largely coastal region, but its beaches aren’t at all like the beaches of Southern Spain where you will often find bodies pinned together like sardines in a tin, tanning in the blazing sun.

In Galicia, the beaches are just as beautiful but offer slightly spottier weather, colder water and far fewer crowds. The lack of crowds alone is one of the big reasons to visit Galicia. But there are so many more. You will also find spectacular cliffs, historic ruins and monasteries and steeply perched lighthouses. There are often similarities drawn between the Northern Galician and the English Coast or between Galicia and Brittany. Having visited them all I can agree that they resemble each other in many ways- the gray of the rocks, the turquoise of the sea, the frothy white caps on the choppy water and remnants of Celtic culture.

But Galicia is unique. The food, the people, and even the language are different. In a special way. It’s as if the region has held more tightly on to the past, and has retained much of its culture and uniqueness even as the rest of the world becomes more recognizably the same.

You will still see Galician musicians dress in traditional (centuries old style) garb, playing bagpipes (called ‘Gaita’ in Galician) at events and festivals (not for tourism purposes!). You will still hear Galician people speaking their own language ‘Gallego’ which is a cross between Spanish and Portuguese but with some differences all its own.

To visit Galicia is to step back in time a little, and to live at a slower pace.

I’ve created a list of what I consider to be five of the most compelling reasons to visit Galicia soon, though I could think of a hundred. They are as follows.

Ribeira Sacra Sil Canyon
The Ribeira Sacra region near the Sil canyon

1. GALICIA’S NATURAL BEAUTY SHINES ON ITS OWN

I refer mostly to the beaches and coast, but Galicia is also rich in hiking trails (and is famous for its Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes), vineyards, forests, bays and so on.

For me, since I’m such a coast lover these are some of the spots I found most impressive:

Cathedrals Beach or La Playa de Las Catedrales

The most famous and visited beach in Galicia (though you won’t see many US tourists there-visitors are mostly Spanish and Portuguese), La Playa Catedral or the strip of beaches called La Playa de Las Catedrales (As Catedrais in Galician) are renowned for their epic arches and rock formations as well as the extreme differences between low and high tide which leave only a short window of time during which the beaches can be accessed.

Visitors are only allowed on the beach at low tide-since at high tide, the beach disappears (like in above photo). The # of visitors per day is limited due to increasing popularity and crowds in recent years.

Insider tip:

Instead of taking a tour bus straight to the main attraction (and crowds) try walking from nearby Rinlo, a picturesque little fishing village perched right at the edge of the sea. Or, you could start even further away, in Ribadeo.

Finisterre

Literally translating to ‘the end of the earth’ Finisterre was given its name by Romans who, when they first found it, believed it to be, literally, the end of the earth.

A tiny coastal village, with a steeply perched lighthouse and some lovely cliff-top hiking trails, Finisterre is worth a visit if you are on the Costa da Morte (Death Coast).

Suggested activity: Hike from town along the trail that leads to the lighthouse, enjoying views. When you get to the lighthouse, enjoy a cold beverage and a view from one of the tables on the tiny terrace at the ‘O Refuxio de Fisterra’café. Then head into the center of town for lunch at one of the many harbourside restaurants offering every type of seafood platter you could want.

Castro de Baroña, the site of an ancient cliffside Celtic dwelling

Castro de Baroña Celtic Ruins

If you fancy rough coastal views, turquoise waters, and ruined Celtic cities nestled alongside cliff’s edges, Castro de Baroña, will impress.

It’s the type of place that inspires your mind to wander and imagine what times were like so many centuries ago for the Celts who set up their home/fortress there (purposely in a tough to reach place with barriers set up so they could see their enemies coming).

Monastery Ribeira Sacra Galicia
The Monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil

2. GALICIA’S HISTORIC MONASTERIES & CONVENTS

When it comes to historic and beautiful monasteries and convents Galicia has an embarrassment of riches. It seems there is a crumbling abbey or a refurbished palatial monastery (sometimes now serving as luxury hotels) around every corner.

A couple of the most impressive sites that I visited were the 10th Century Benedictine Monastery, Santo Estevo and the 9th century – or older-the exact date is not known – monastery of Santa Cristina both nestled in the picturesque mountains and forests of the Ribera de Sil area in Ribeira Sacra.

For a full list of monasteries or to plan your route, go here.

3. GALICIA IS WORLD RENOWNED FOR ITS WINES

Galicia is a region rich in premium vineyards and wine. It is the top quality producing region for Albariño in Spain as well as the world.

Don’t miss an opportunity to visit and taste wine at the local vineyards in Rias Baixas (the primary Denominacion de Origen or DO in Galicia for quality Albariño). Though many vineyards are so small, it’s recommended that you call in advance to make an appointment-it’s well worth the effort.

Rias Baixas Albariño vineyards
Walking underneath the Albariño vines at D.O. Ferreiro in Rias Baixas

Two great bases for exploring the vineyards in Rias Baixas are Cambados and Pontevedra. Both are extremely well situated to visit most of the Val do Salnés (a sub-region of Rias Baixas and my personal favorite area) vineyards, and both are must-visit Galician cities. Take a look at a map of the Rias Baixas region and sub-regions here.

Pontevedra is a charming little city full of beautiful historic buildings and ruins and has a great food and wine scene. It’s easily walkable as well. You can see literally everything within a half day but if you want to really get to know the city spend a couple of nights here, get an apartment with a kitchen and take advantage of the phenomenal Mercado Municipal which boasts every possible type of seafood (and so fresh that they are often still moving!).

Cambados, known as the capital of Albariño & elected in 2017 as Europe’s ‘City of Wine’, is a gem of a small Galician town with a lovely plaza (where you can actually visit the fantastic Palacio de Fefiñanes and their Bodega) and small stone streets. The Vieira (sea scallop) reigns here and you will find it front and center on every menu.

A few wineries to consider visiting in Rias Baixas are the following (all family owned and with longtime roots in Rias Baixas since before it became an official DO):

4. GALICIA HAS AMAZING SEAFOOD

Galicia lies, in large part along the coast and therefore seafood is king in this region.

You won’t find a restaurant that doesn’t have seafood on the menu and you’ll be delighted at the freshness (it comes right out of the sea a few kilometers from wherever you are eating it!) and the wide variety.

From navajas (razor clams) and mejillones (mussels) to pulpo (grilled octopus) and soupy paella-like seafood rice specialties you will find plenty to satisfy your fruits-of-the-sea cravings.

Vieiras: Sea scallops served in the shell. The Vieira shell or ‘concha’ is also a major symbol in Galicia and the most popular way to prepare Vieiras in Galicia is with a bread crumb topping.

Arroz con bogavante: A stew of rice cooked with lobster (sort of like a paella with seafood but a bit soupier and most often cooked and served with the whole lobster still inside). Little seaside towns such as Rinlo (near Ribadeo in the Lugo province of Galicia) are particularly known for specializing in this dish.

Normally, if you want the good stuff you have to make a reservation ahead of time so the restaurant can make sure to buy enough lobsters, and also because the dish takes so long to cook.

Insider Accommodation Tip: Try a casa rural instead of a traditional hotel. Not only will you typically be renting directly from a local and/or a small business but you’ll get to stay in some really cool places (rurally located outside cities but often quite close) for much better prices than hotels.

Insider Local Food-Culture Tip: Try to find an old school restaurant that serves house wine in cuncas (little ceramic bowls) as it was traditionally drunk in the past in Galicia. You can still find many ‘house’ wines served in simple Galician eating establishments such as furanchos (a sort of restaurant opened up below someone’s home, originally for the purpose of selling left-over wine after harvest) which serve a limited menu of a few simple, hearty, fresh local food.

Nothing gourmet. Nothing fancy. But real.

*Note: Some of my posts may include affiliate links, though most do not. If you click on one of my links it costs you nothing extra, but may make me a few cents if your purchase something through that link.

18 Comments

  1. Anu

    Wow, I would love to meet the Galician musicians and hear their folk stories, that is if they can converse in English. I am sure they have some folk tales also to tell.

  2. Medha Verma

    Galicia, a place that I have actually never heard of, actually sounds quite amazing. I love the Monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil. Historical monasteries, wines and fresh seafood are the three top reasons I’d visit a place like this. Not to forget, of course, beaches!

  3. Fiona Maclean

    I’ve visited a lot of Spain, but never Galicia. I love the look of the seafood and also of some of the coastal sights like Cathedral Beach. I’m a huge fan of both Spain and Portugal so this sounds like my idea of heaven.

  4. Paige

    Galicia sounds like it’s such a stunning destination! I would love to visit Cathedral Beach. I’ve only been to Sevilla, but I truly have so much more to explore in this gorgeous area. Plus, wineries are always a plus!

  5. Brooke

    Sevilla is stunning! But yes, you should definitely come back and explore the North of Spain as well 🙂

  6. Milijana

    Recently I have met a person from Santiago De Compostela and since then I have been thinking intensively of doing Camino de Santiago. Now I have stumbled on your post and wondering is it a sign to go ? 🙂 A sign or not, would love to see the landscapes and the historic monasteries and churches of Galicia and to try some of amazing Galician seafood. As a nature lover and a pescatarian, I bet Galicia would be like a haven to me !

  7. Kirstie Saldo

    Wine (and the vineyard) and seafood, OMG! I also love to visit the Cathedral Beach!

  8. Janine

    I visited Cathedral beach about 15 years ago on a grey day in November. There was not a single person to be seen so it made the stark beauty of the rock formations so much more magical. I also remember that the food and of course the wine throughout the region was excellent.

  9. Nisha

    Never heard of Galicia. It does look beautiful . The natural formations and it being a wine country is enough for me. I am sold!

  10. Brooke

    Janine-well that is the trick to seeing no one at Cathedral beach… going in November! 🙂 Even September when I went there were SO many fewer people than July or August which always adds a lot to the experience 🙂

  11. Brooke

    If you love Spain & Portugal you will certainly love Galicia and the Galician language (which is super close to Portugese). You can drive from Porto to Galicia in a couple of hours. Road trip? 🙂

  12. Ghia Lorenzo

    Such a very beautiful destination! Thanks for sharing! I really love the breathtaking view of the Cathedral Beach and Sil Canyon, up to now I am still stunned of its own beauty. The food looks really delicious also the freshly caught seafood, I guess I should try them all someday. I really love how detailed this post is.

  13. Chris Bloomfield

    Galicia sounds like a great place to visit. The coast sounds similar to Northern California or Oregon. Fresh seafood and authentic culture is something that appeals to me. What if you only speak English and a tiny amount of Spanish? Is there an occasional English speaker?

  14. Kate

    I love spots that move at a slower pace and almost seem frozen in time, so Galicia sounds right up my alley. Even though I pride myself on being a wine buff, I have tried very few Spanish wines and never any from Galicia. Looks like I need to make a trip to these wineries… darn. 🙂

  15. Evan Kristine

    Wow! Really don’t know how beautiful Galicia is. That Sil Canyon in the Ribeira Sacra region an the Cathedral Beach are possessing with a very breathtaking view! I am really stunned with its beauty. It also nice to know that they serve decadent menus of food that are fresh. Thanks for sharing this post!

  16. Brooke

    Chris- a tiny bit of Spanish and English will get you by. Particularly in restaurants. But in the really remote places-if you are in a place with all older people don’t count on the English. This is why we have Google translate and hand gestures right?

  17. Brooke

    Thank you Ghia!

    do let me know if you ever make it to this region. It is certainly worthy of many trips-but the world is big! And so is Spain…..so I’ll be doing some re-exploration of Basque Country this year (another of my favorite verdant, green, coastal regions with the best food in Spain IMO)

  18. Brooke

    Milijana-

    yes-I think you should do it! And plan a leisurely pace so you can truly enjoy everything Galicia has to offer 🙂 Let me know if you do go and how your journey is!

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