A Coruña invites you to combine walks by the sea, heritage, and gastronomy. This two-day itinerary brings together the main stops to organize a getaway in the city.
2 days in A Coruña
Day 1
- head to the viewpoint of Monte de San Pedro, from where you can admire A Coruña from above. It is also possible to go up in a panoramic elevator (from 10:00).
- climb up the Tower of Hercules (directions at the foot), and/or stroll through the Sculptural Park that surrounds it: the Caronte, the Shell, the Rose of the Winds, the Bregán, and the Menhirs are the most notable. The Tower is the oldest Roman lighthouse still in operation, and, of course, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- walk part of the Maritime Promenade, the longest in Europe, to the Millennium Obelisk (approx. 1 hour: 4.5 km). The Obelisk commemorates the year 2000, is 50 meters tall, and is made of steel and rock crystals.
- Visit the Old Town from the Plaza de María Pita (guided city tours are recommended). In any case, don’t miss: the Town Hall, St. James Church, Santa María del Campo Church, and San Carlos' Garden.
- Good time to go for tapas, a nice custom in A Coruña 😉
- Finish the day in front of Santa Cruz Castle, on the outskirts of the city.
Day 2
- Have breakfast at La Marina. The morning is the best time to see the sun reflecting off the famous stained glass.
- Visit some of the numerous museums in the city. We recommend: San Antón Castle (Archaeological Museum). Closed on Mondays. Also worth visiting are: the Picasso House Museum, the Aquarium, the Domus, the House of Sciences, the Military Museum, among others.
- Visit the Abastos Market in Plaza de Lugo.
- Get close to the Castro de Elviña (they have guided tour programs). A castro is a fortified settlement, this one in particular was likely inhabited between the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD.
What to eat
Seafood, seafood, and seafood! Rice with lobster or with crayfish, or a good seafood stew…. or maybe a caldeirada de peixe (stew with the catch of the day). If you're not into fish, a Carne o caldeiro is your version.
To drink, in addition to D.O. wines, it is worth mentioning that A Coruña is home to the Estrella Galicia brewery, whose 1906 Red Vintage, Special Reserve, and Grand Coupage won gold medals at the last World Beer Challenge. Enjoying a 1906 in the city where it was born is something you shouldn’t miss.
Practical information
A Coruña
- Climbing up the Tower of Hercules involves going up 234 steps. There are no elevators. Tickets are available at the booth next to the parking lot. It’s free on Mondays.
- There are public restrooms both in the parking lot and at the base of the Tower (the ones at the Tower are better).
- The train station and the bus station are somewhat far from the center, and even though they seem very close on the map, crossing from one to the other requires going through a level crossing.
The best experience
“Take a guided tour of the Estrella Galicia factory, founded in 1906, one of the best beers in the world. You can pour your own pint, and at the end, there's a tasting with 5 beers.”
GABRIELA GARCIA
Travel Blogger
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