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Forget Barcelona and Madrid: If you’re planning a culture-packed getaway to Spain this year, these are no longer your only two options for arrival airports.
It’s literally in our name, but if you look like us, you are everything But excited at the prospect of reaching an overtouristed destination where literally everyone has been, with a hefty price tag that doesn’t support the sub-par hospitality, or even the blatant anti-American attitude.
No joke, tourists have lately been chased through the streets of Barcelona by angry locals shooting water guns.
This year we’re going to look at the things that are seriously overlooked northwest of Spainand you should too: it’s home to one of the cheapest and most beautiful medieval towns in the country, and guess what? You can fly there now directly:
Forget the hefty price tags
When most Americans think of Spain, they probably think of Barcelona’s Gaudí-designed cityscape and arched Latin Quarter, or perhaps the royal palaces and stately buildings of Madrid. Gran Via.
They’re Spain’s two main destinations, and when it comes to European city breaks, they cover all the bases, from the historic appeal to the world-class museums to the delicious food. There’s just one caveat: they can be extremely pricey.
Renting a room in the center of Barcelona, within walking distance of the main sights and beaches, will set you back averages $216 per nightand it’s no different in Madrid, where three-star hotels cost an estimated $183 to book.
Don’t get us started on the $10 sangrias and $15 warmed up patatas bravas.
Tucked away in the northern, historic region of Galicia, which straddles the Atlantic Ocean and not the Mediterranean Sea. Santiago de Compostela is the opposite of Spain’s usual tourist attractions: still that spotless, picture-perfect medieval town, and it won’t make any major dent in your wallet.
The most atmospheric medieval outing in Spain
Santiago is best known as the terminus of the Way of St. James, or, as it is known in Spanish, the Camino.
An emotional journey lasting weeks or months that takes Christian pilgrims through the heart of Iberia, all the way to the Cathedral of Santiago, iIt culminates in a descent into the building’s cryptwhere the silver urn is located that probably contains the remains of James, one of the twelve apostles.
Obviously Santiago is not the typical Spanish center for partying all week, full of bachelor Brits and tons of beer-bellied German tourists.
It’s not even on the coast, and even if it were, the big waves and rugged North Atlantic coastline aren’t exactly beach-bum friendly, so the idiots won’t go near it.
That said, Santiago is packed with pilgrims all year round, but the truth is that very few of them stick around for a relaxing city break after attending evening mass and paying their respects to St. James.
In other words, it couldn’t be more underrated if it tried.
Not The Spain you may know
The cathedral is of course the main attraction here, with its soaring towers, fortress-like stance that dominates the entire skyline and richly sculpted main portal, but there is a whole UNESCO World Heritage site Casco Historico around it that you don’t want to just walk through.
None of the usual pastel mansions with green shutters, palm tree-lined avenues or Mediterranean flair. This is not that kind of Spain.
We’re talking car-free streets lined with arcades, with relaxed tapas bars and… jamon shops hidden behind the arches, surrounded by a series of squares medieval buildings of dark brick with glass balconies and baroque churches with opulent interiors.
Right next to the cathedral, and ignored by most day trippers, is the San Martiño Pinario Monastery, with a monumental church with a gold-lined altar and a processional cloister with a romantic fountain at its center.
The whole point of visiting Santiago is to slow down, to breathe in the age-old allure of the old city prazasand jump from beam to beam.
If you don’t mind the stench and chaos of a street market, Cabalo Branco is your best place in Center for trying Galicia’s signature polbo á feiraa pepper-dusted, chopped octopus served in a plancha with fried potatoes.
For the fresh scallops that will pair beautifully with the white Albariño wine, the region’s flagship, head to the secretive Entre Rúas, a simple eatery hidden at the intersection of Santiago’s two narrowest alleys, between Rua do Vilar And Rua Nova.
How cheap is Santiago actually?
Cathedral? Amazing. Old town? Timeless. Food? Mouth watering. What about the prices?
Here’s where things get interesting: for a culture-rich city that punches well above its weight, Santiago doesn’t operate under the same price-gouging rules as its flashier Spanish counterparts.
Every meal at the table: Spanish omelettes, a plate chorizo for dividers, and cerveza– a tapas bar behind those centuries-old arcades will cost you between 18 and 21 dollars, while a guesthouse stay in the old town with breakfast will cost you from $65 to $99 per night.
For Spain? In the run-up to the high season? That all sounds like a bargain, but let’s see how Spain’s top five tourist destinations compare to Santiago:
*Averages from Budget Your Trip and Numbeo
Fly direct to Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) from the US
From May 27, 2026, you can fly direct to Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) from Newark (EWR), thanks to United’s new non-stop transatlantic route to the Galician capital.
There is no need to first touch Madrid or Barcelona, which are far to the east, and then travel back west to Santiago.
Flights operate three times a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays round-trip fares average $1,000 – $1,100.
See Galicia beyond Santiago
Don’t stay alone in Santiago de Compostela! Galicia is one of Spain’s most beautiful coastal areas, with miles of unspoilt beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, vibrant port towns with a rich Roman heritage and ancient villages frozen in time.
The capital has good train and bus links with other culturally important cities in Galicia, such as:
- Vigothe largest city in the region, and a bustling seaport
- Pontevedraa ‘mini Santiago’, best known for its medieval prazas and Camino highlights
- Combarroa small Galician village with medieval granaries built on stone piles along the beach
- A Corunathe premier coastal retreat of Galicia, with sandy beaches and a historic Roman lighthouse
- Lugoan inland city, surrounded by perfectly preserved walls from Roman times
- Fisterraa scenic walk over coastal cliffs leading to one of Spain’s westernmost lighthouses. ‘End of World’ vibes through and through.
