How Long Should One Stay in Santiago?

**dutchee** · 02-04-2011, 08:45 PM

How many days and nights are a good amount of time to chill in Santiago and see the sights? One day, two days, three?

**Covey** · 03-04-2011, 09:40 AM

36 hours in Santiago is usually enough for me before I get itchy feet. Frankly, there is not a lot to see and do apart from sightseeing around the Cathedral and the Old Town, but the main enjoyment for me is sitting in the square in front of the Cathedral seeing who is arriving. You meet old friends who were a day or so ahead and behind, and it is nice to share a beer or two and catch up on who was last seen where!

**geraldkelly** · 03-04-2011, 10:39 PM

I like Santiago more every time I go there and I agree with Covey that the nicest thing to do there is to sit in the square and watch people arriving. It's like reliving your Camino because you'll meet loads of people again, sometimes people you haven't seen for weeks.

Besides that there are some great museums. The Cathedral Museum is worth a visit and the Museum of the Galician People is excellent. You can also do a guided visit of the roof of the cathedral which is fascinating.

So, if you've got time, relax and have a look around.

Ger

**joe** · 09-04-2011, 01:47 AM

What time do you usually arrive at Santiago? Like how far away is the last albergue before Santiago?

I would like to arrive there around noon time, because if my plans come together I would only be able to stay the one night and then I'll be off to Finisterre... I only want to stay the one night because I would like to travel to Muxia after Finisterre (or before - which ever is easiest/quickest). And then I would get the bus back to Santiago and stay a night or 2 before I have to catch a plane home.

(I've given myself 33 days to get from SJPP to Santiago, 3 days to Finisterre and 1-2 days to Muxia... if I'm slower then Muxia will have to put on the back burner for another time)

**Covey** · 23-04-2011, 04:11 PM

Most Pilgrims head for Lavacolla or Monte Gozo which gives them 10kms to finish in to Santiago, an hour or so standing around in the square in front of the Cathedral celebrating with all your new Camino buddies, and then in to the Pilgrim mass (11am I seem to remember) then around to the Pilgrim Office to collect your Compostella and then off to find a bed at the albergue. A few beers with your mates, a few more beers, and then the awful realization that the following morning, it is back on with the boots and pack and off to Finesterre!!(with hangover!!!!)

Such is the life of a Pilgrim!

**joe** · 23-04-2011, 07:14 PM

I have now extended my time limit, so travelling to Finisterre shouldn't be a problem anymore, I could even have time to get over my hangover and start the next day, and spend a couple of days there waiting for a good sunset haha, then up to Muxia... and maybe even a walk back to Santiago. Getting the bus back would seem disappointing after I've walked everywhere else and couln't walk back 100km to Santiago. I have 7 weeks so I should have plenty of time spare.

**Atlantic** · 17-10-2011, 06:49 PM

I'd say 2-3 days max.

For you'll feel like a spare 'hick' at a wedding when you find that you don't recognise the arriving pilgs anymore. Then you realise your walk of a lifetime (till the next time) is over and you're done.

You finally realise at the end that the point was not to arrive in SDC but the point was actually in every step you took from the start. At least it was so for me.