Where to stay in Santiago de Compostela
Whether you’re planning to spend a few days in Santiago de Compostela or use the city as a base to explore the surrounding region of Galicia, this guide on where to stay in Santiago de Compostela will help you discover the best neighborhoods and recommended hotels.
If you’re looking for other great places to stay while exploring this beautiful autonomous community, be sure to check out my article on where to stay in Galicia.
1. Historic Center, where to stay in Santiago de Compostela for the best location
The historic center of the city is the best place to stay in Santiago de Compostela.
If you book your hotel here, you will be surrounded by the most charming streets of the city, the famous Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario, or the Mercado de Abastos. In addition, the gastronomic offer is very good.
During your visit to the historic center, I highly recommend this free tour of the city. Thanks to it, you will get to know some of the most interesting places with a guide.
Recommended hotels in the historic center
These are some of the highest-rated hotels in this area of Santiago de Compostela. They are ordered from most affordable to most expensive:
Pension Via-Stella
If you are looking for a hotel that is in the historic center that is good and not too expensive, I recommend the Pension Via-Stella. This hotel is located in Mazarelos Square, just 6 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Santiago.
They offer two types of double rooms, some of which are 12 m² and others are 17 m² with a balcony. All rooms have televisions. In addition, there is wifi in the hotel and a bar.
Denike Hostal Grupo Atalia
This hotel is located in the historic center, just 6 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It is located in a restored building on a pedestrian street. They have 12 m² or 13 m² double rooms with views of the city or the interior of the building. They are decorated in a contemporary style and fully equipped.
The hotel offers wifi and a breakfast buffet. It is a very good option where to stay in Santiago de Compostela if you have an average budget.
Hotel San Miguel
If you are looking for a more charming hotel in the historic center of Santiago, take a look at this option. This hotel is located in the San Miguel dos Agros square, just 6 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Santiago. They offer very spacious single and double rooms with a minimalist decor in which the main component is solid wood.
Single rooms measure 12m². The basic double room is 17m². The superior double room is 24m². All of them have television and wifi. In addition, the hotel also has a restaurant and a garden.
Parador de Santiago – Hostal Reis Catolicos
This is one of the most exclusive and charming hotels in Santiago de Compostela. It is located in the Plaza do Obradoiro, next to the Cathedral of Santiago. This hotel was established in 1499 to accommodate pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
Inside the hotel, you can enjoy four beautiful cloisters with gardens, rooms with classic decoration, and two restaurants: Dos Reis and Enxebre. Both serve traditional food. They offer double rooms, triple rooms and suites.
2. El Ensanche, a more affordable area close to the city center
The Ensanche is a neighborhood south of the historic center of Santiago de Compostela. It concentrates a large part of the commercial activity of the city. It occupies the streets located between Rosalia de Castro Avenue and the railway.
This part of the city is also known as the New Zone, since most of its buildings date from the second half of the 20th century. Apart from numerous stores, there are also many restaurants, entertainment venues and children’s playgrounds.
This part of the city is also a very good option where to stay in Santiago de Compostela, as it is just a few minutes walk from the historic center and there are plenty of restaurants and entertainment options. In addition, hotels are somewhat cheaper than in the historic center.
Recommended hotels in El Ensanche
These are some of the best hotels in El Ensanche. They are listed from most affordable to most expensive:
Hotel Windsor
This modest hotel has everything necessary to offer a good stay. It is located in the center of El Ensanche and is only 10 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Santiago. They have single rooms (10m²) and double rooms (14m²). All of them have TV, WiFi, and are soundproofed. The hotel has a bar and a continental breakfast is included.
Hotel Gelmirez
If you are looking for a modern and well-located hotel, take a look at this option. It is just a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The hotel has a gym and a buffet breakfast. They offer double and triple rooms, all of them with TV and WiFi. The rooms are very spacious; the doubles are 18m² and the triples are 23m².
El Faro de Pepa by Como en Casa
If you prefer to stay in an apartment, this is one of the best-rated apartments in Santiago de Compostela. It is located just 8 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Santiago.
They have a one-bedroom apartment (2 people), a studio with terrace (2 people) an apartment with terrace (2 people) and a two-bedroom apartment (up to 4 people) all of them with very neat decoration. All apartments have a kitchen, living area, TV, washing machine and WiFi. In addition, the accommodation has a restaurant.
3. Stay in the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela
We’ve already mentioned several hotels located in both the historic center and the modern areas of the city. However, I’d also like to suggest looking on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela. This can be a great option if you’re looking for more affordable places to stay or planning day trips in the surrounding areas.
Outside the city center, you’ll find hotels in neighborhoods like San Lázaro, San Pedro, and Belvís, as well as near the northern and southern campuses.
Alternatively, you could opt for a charming hotel on the city’s outskirts. This gives you the chance to relax in a greener, quieter setting while still being conveniently close to the city and its surroundings.
Recommended hotels in the outskirts
Here are some hotels to consider if you want to stay in a neighborhood outside the city center or on the outskirts of Santiago. They are listed from lowest to highest budget.
Hotel Parking Miradoiro de Belvís
This 2-star hotel is located on Rúa Das Trompas in the Belvís neighborhood. It’s just a short walk—less than 10 minutes—from the cathedral, making it a convenient base for exploring the historic center. The hotel offers double rooms in various categories and triple rooms. It also provides parking, which is a bonus if you’re traveling by car. You can enjoy the terrace, and breakfast is available.
Hotel Alda Bonaval
Located in the San Pedro neighborhood, this hotel offers a great location for exploring the old part of the city. It’s also close to Bonaval Park, the Museo do Pobo Galego, and the Centro Gallego de Arte Contemporáneo. Housed in an 18th-century Galician building, the hotel features cozy double rooms (economy, standard, or superior) and triple rooms. Breakfast is served daily.
A Casa da Torre Branca
This charming hotel is situated about 5 km from the city center. It offers affordable double rooms (14 m²) and larger rooms (16 m²). You can choose between a double bed or two single beds. The surroundings are lovely, and there’s free private parking.
Hotel Exe Peregrino
A 4-star hotel located on Avenida de Rosalía de Castro, it boasts an outdoor swimming pool—perfect for summer stays if the weather is nice. There’s also a gym, bar, and restaurant. Private parking is available for a fee, and breakfast is served. The hotel offers double rooms and suites.
Hotel Palacio del Carmen, Autograph Collection
A magnificent 5-star hotel situated on the outskirts of the old town, about a 15-minute walk from the cathedral. It occupies a restored former convent, blending historic and modern elements to provide an exceptional experience. The hotel features a beautiful garden, terrace, bar, and restaurant. It offers both double and family rooms.
Map of best areas to stay in Santiago de Compostela
I have created this map to help you choose a place to stay in Santiago, Galicia:
You’ll find the areas where to stay in Santiago de Compostela marked in red on the map; the hotels I recommend are marked in orange (with their respective links to Booking); and the places to see in the city are marked in blue.
You can click on any of the boxes in the drop-down menu to view the areas, hotels, or places to visit, making it easier to plan your trip and choose where to stay in Santiago de Compostela.
I hope this guide on where to stay in Santiago de Compostela has been helpful for organizing your visit to the Galician capital.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. See you next time!
