Rias Baixas Day Trips from Santiago de Compostela

One of the things you must do in Santiago de Compostela is to visit the Rías Baixas. This is the coastal part of Galicia known for having an unusual geological formation. The estuaries have projections of land towards the coast where the sea enters, creating unique natural conditions that attract tourists.

Visiting this area of Spain from Santiago de Compostela is a unique opportunity to sample the gastronomy, admire the beautiful scenery and visit the beaches. The villages found in the Rías Baixas also hide beautiful architectural structures, ancient stories and much more. What are you waiting for to get to know this natural paradise?

Seafood and wine is undoubtedly a combination that will delight your palate. If you like the idea I invite you to take a day tour from Santiago to Rías de Baixas tasting premium wines and exquisite mussels. This tour lasts approximately five hours and costs an average of €50.

After departing by private bus in Santiago, the first stop will be a walk through the vineyards in Albariño. There you will learn all about the production of the white wine thanks to your local guides. You will also have the opportunity to taste up to 3 different types of exclusive wine.

The next activity will be a tasting of mussels boiled in Albariño wine. For this your guides will take you to a restaurant near the iconic A Lanzada beach. Let your taste buds delight in this menu. No doubt this excursion will be one of the best day tours from Santiago de Compostela.

At the end of the activities your guides will take you back to the starting point in Santiago de Compostela. Please note that this tour focuses mainly on food and drink. If you want to see the sights and you are short on time, I advise you to choose another type of tour.

Interesting details

• Price: around 50 €.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transport: private bus and walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: this plan is great if you are one of those people who love to try new food.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you don't drink alcohol you will miss out on an important part of the experience.

Cambados is one of the most beautiful villages in Galicia according to different rankings and there are many reasons for that. I recommend you to visit it with a private guide who will take you to visit the manor houses, churches and the viewpoint of A Pastora. The excursion to this municipality can take an average of three hours and costs approximately €30.

After a journey of around 45 minutes from Santiago de Compostela you will arrive in Cambados. Among the places you will see is the Plaza de Fefiñáns, one of the most beautiful squares in Galicia. During August, this square hosts the Festa do Albariño, the second oldest wine festival in Spain.

You will also visit the Church of San Benito, where you can appreciate the different architectural styles that are combined in this structure. You will then pass by the ruins of the Church of Santa Mariña located in the cemetery of Cambados. This is an iconic site as it was named a National Monument in 1943 and belongs to the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe.

Another important visit is the Mirador de A Pastora, located at the top of Monte da Pastora where you can watch a romantic sunset. From there you can see the Arousa estuary and the O Grove peninsula. In only 10 minutes you will reach the highest point, the "Piedra del Calvario". After this tour it will be time to return to Santiago de Compostela.

Details of interest

• Price: 30 € more or less.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle and walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know one of the most picturesque villages in Galicia while learning about its history.
• Disadvantages of this option: for people who are not very fond of history, this type of excursion may not be their favourite.

For this tour you will meet your private guide in Santiago de Compostela and board a bus to Pontevedra, a city already located in the Rias Baixas. The journey takes an average of 45 minutes. Upon arrival you will start a walking tour with your local guide through the best preserved historic centre of Galicia. This tour has an average price of 30 € and an average duration of 4 hours including the round trip.

Pontevedra, also known as the City of Lérez, is the capital of the Rías Baixas. The first thing you will see on your tour is the Sanctuary of the Pilgrim Virgin. Its base is shaped like a scallop shell, the symbol of the Way of St. James. Then you will walk around the Plaza Peregrina, the Plaza Estrella, the Plaza de la Herrería and the Plaza de la Leña.

A visit to the Provincial Museum of Pontevedra, which is made up of six buildings, is a must on your trip. Admission is free and you can learn a little about the history of this town.

Finally, you will visit the Park of the Sculpture Islands, an open-air museum where the sculptures are integrated into the surroundings. Take the opportunity to take the best pictures before returning to the starting point in Santiago de Compostela.

Details of interest

• Price: 30 € more or less.
• Duration: around 4 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle and walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to discover the best preserved and most comfortable historic centre in Galicia.
• Disadvantages of this option: with this tour you will only get to know Pontevedra, you will not go to the beaches and you will not taste the gastronomy of the region.

A Lanzada Beach is one of the largest beaches in Galicia, famous for its beauty, which is why it usually attracts many tourists. To go on an excursion to this beach and explore its surroundings, you must travel from Santiago de Compostela for approximately 50 minutes. This trip costs approximately €40.

A Lanzada beach is located between the municipalities of Sanxenxo and O Grove. In the surroundings of A Lanzada beach you will find one of the most outstanding archaeological sites in Galicia. This site is made up of several parts, including the Castro de La Lanzada, a factory and a necropolis.

Your guide will tell you the story behind all these spaces, which were once the centre of Galicia's first salting factory. Then it's time to enjoy the beach. Take advantage of the sun, sea and sand to relax for more than an hour.

Before returning it is a good idea to try the traditional food of the area. If you want to try a bit of everything I recommend a gastronomic tour. If you don't feel like it, you can always visit one of the restaurants suggested by your private guide. Once you've finished your meal, it's time to head back to Santiago.

Details of interest

• Price: 55 € more or less.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle and walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: on this excursion you can enjoy one of the best beaches in Rías Baixas and relax during your holiday.
• Disadvantages of this option: this is a very specific tour and you will only explore a small part of Rías Baixas.

One of the things you can do in Santiago de Compostela in 3 days or more is a full day tour to the Rias Baixas. It will be a better experience if you also include a cruise, do you like the idea? The experience lasts approximately ten hours and has an average cost of 50 €

On this tour you won't have time to waste. After travelling by bus for 50 minutes or so, you will arrive in Pontevedra. Here you will take a short walking tour to get to know a bit of the town. You will do the same exploration in Combarro, Cambados and O Grove.

Although you may not spend much time in each of these places, it will be the best way to get to know all that the natural treasure of Rías Baixas has to offer. When you arrive in O Grove, also known as the capital of seafood, it's time to board a catamaran for a relaxing cruise along the Arosa estuary.

On board this cruise you will be able to eat mussels and albariño that are produced in the area. You will also learn how the production of this food works and afterwards you will drink the best selection of wine. At the end of the cruise your guide will take you back to Santiago de Compostela.

Interesting details

• Price: 50 € more or less.
• Duration: about ten hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle, walking tour and catamaran.
• Advantages of this option: you'll be able to see a large part of the Rías Baixas in a single day, as well as sampling its gastronomy and travelling on a catamaran.
• Disadvantages of this option: I don't recommend this excursion if you want to take the time to get to know each of the villages and beaches, as the visits to each one are short.

Traveller Tip
On cruise trips not everyone usually thinks they are exposed to the sun. That's why I advise you to take your sunscreen on this excursion to protect yourself not only when you are on the catamaran, but all along the way.

The Rias Baixas are home to things that all travellers should see, because they combine the tranquillity of natural beauty and the fascination of a particular landscape. But it is not only a place full of high quality seafood, but also of wines that are produced in the area.

In the different villages of the Rías Baixas you will also find ancient buildings and ruins that tell the history of Galicia. Not only will you be able to appreciate the architecture and sculptures surrounding the squares and churches, but also the nature of this area. Rías Baixas is home to Galicia's oldest and most unique trees.

If you go in the warm season, you should know that the beaches of Rías Baixas are the best in Galicia and another destination not to be missed on these excursions. You'll find beautiful crystal-clear waters and clean sand to relax and sunbathe, especially in summer.

The Rias Baixas is the coastal side of Galicia, so you will be very close to the sea and the sun can be a bit stronger on this side. That's why my advice is to use sunscreen at all times, not only when you go to the beach. It goes without saying that you should wear your swimming costume to enjoy the sea.

On the other hand, food is essential when you travel. Although you can visit different restaurants in the area, I advise you to ask your guide if there will be any kind of snacks along the way or lunch. Some excursions include a tasting of typical food.

Taking a guided tour to the Rías Baixas will help you explore the whole place with all five senses. Tours usually have one main attraction, whether it's seeing the architecture or tasting the traditional gastronomy. The best thing is that an expert guide will take you to the highlights of the Rías Baixas.

If you travel on your own, however, you will have to do some research beforehand. If you don't have time to do it, you will have to ask the locals where the places you want to visit are located. This can be a bit of a hassle, especially if you just want to relax on your holiday, so I recommend you to calculate budgets for a guided tour.