The port city of A Coruña is the second largest city in Spanish Galicia. A Coruña is the Galician name, in Spanish the city is similarly named, La Coruña. The city lies on a small peninsula along which runs the coastal promenade, one of the longest urban promenades in Europe. This, for me, is also the city’s biggest attraction as it offers incredible views.
Where to stay in A Coruña
In A Coruña there’s no point in getting too complicated, unless you’re driving to get close at any time, the city centre makes the most sense.
Tips for accommodation
- NORO Plaza – beautiful designer apartments a short walk from the main square.
- Alba Aldorán Rooms – simpler but nice rooms also in the city centre.
Tickets, day trips and experiences in A Coruña
Some activities have limited capacity and fill up fast in high season. I’d especially recommend booking the Finisterre trip and the bay cruise ahead.
- A Coruña – walking tour with tastings – A four-hour walk around the city combined with a tasting of local specialities. A good way to get your bearings right at the start of your stay.
- A Coruña – sightseeing bus – A sightseeing bus around the city’s main sights. Practical if you don’t want to walk everything or you’re short on time.
- Sailing trip on the Ría de Arousa – A daytime or early-evening sail with a drink in hand. At sunset on the Galician coast it must be a really lovely experience.
- Trip to Finisterre and the Costa da Morte – A full-day trip to the “end of the world” and along the dramatic coastline. Hard to reach without a car; this takes care of it for you.
Things to see in A Coruña
The town is relatively quiet and offers many nice streets to wander through undisturbed. Even the main square, Plaza de María Pita, was completely uncrowded.
Paseo Marítimo – coastal promenade
The promenade starts in the historic centre of the city and stretches along the coast for 15 kilometres, passing the entire peninsula, Castelo de Santo Antón and the city’s large beaches of Orzán and Riazor. It stretches as far as the suburb of O Burgo.
On the way to the very tip of the island, Punta Herminia, there are the most things to see and the most beautiful scenery – this is where you turn off the main promenade and join the paths leading through the countryside.
The coastline is made even prettier by the shrubs and flowers that grow here (and they certainly must be very wind resistant). There are a few resting spots along the way where I sat down on a bench and just watched the sea crash against the rocks. Perfect places for a picnic.
Campo da Rata
The first thing I thought of when I saw it from afar was Stonehenge. A couple of these tall stone monuments in the middle of nowhere right by the coast.
There is the Monumento a los fusilados, a memorial to the victims of the Spanish Civil War, the columns symbolising the martyrs.
Torre de Hércules
An ancient lighthouse and a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is the oldest Roman lighthouse in the world that is still in use. It is on a hill above the city and overlooks the entire city and the coast.
The staircase inside the lighthouse leads to the observation deck.
Castelo de Santo Antón
The castle originally stood on a small island, but it was later connected to the mainland. Originally it served as a defence of the harbour and the town against naval attacks. Today it is an archaeological and historical museum.
Plaza de María Pita
In the main square is the Ayuntamiento de A Coruña, the city hall. The square is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.
Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo
There is also a market right in the centre selling fresh fish, seafood and local delicacies. The market also has bars where you can have a meal.
Aquarium Finisterrae
Nearby the Torre de Hércules is also an aquarium known as the House of the Seas (Casa de los Peces). It features the underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean, but also other parts of the world.
What to taste in A Coruña
Apart from traditional Spanish cuisine, pulpo á feira is the absolute king in A Coruña. It is boiled octopus cut into rounds, generously drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with ground paprika and coarse salt. It is traditionally served on a wooden plate, often with boiled potatoes. Then there are the percebes, gooseneck barnacles gathered on the wild Costa da Morte, which, though prehistoric looking, offer an intense taste of the sea.
In local tapas bars, be sure to try the raxo, cubes of pork tenderloin marinated in garlic and herbs, quickly fried and served with fries. Alongside it, order pimientos de Padrón, small green peppers from nearby Padrón, just fried in oil and salt. But beware, according to the saying “unos pican e outros non”, some burn and others don’t.
Where to eat in A Coruña
I found Rúa Franja to be a bit of a foodie alley. There’s Sucre Coffee & Bakery or Jamonerias El Pinar. In general jamonerias (dried ham shops) seemed to me to be pretty concentrated in the city, always with places to sit and a line at the counter. Everywhere will make you a great baguette with ham and cheese (and other things), you just have to ask (show) what you want in it. It costs just a few euros.
But what annoyed me (and why I often ended up in jamoneria) was that the opening hours of restaurants in this part of Spain are even later than in other parts of the country and practically all restaurants stick to this. Some restaurants didn’t open for dinner until 9pm, finding a place that was open from 7pm required a bit of preparation.
I’ve been to a terribly good Brazilian for a proper steak (picanha), Rodizio Sabor da Brasa, and they had guarana lemonade.
Where to go on a trip from A Coruña
A Coruña is a great starting point for trips throughout Galicia. An hour’s train ride away is Santiago de Compostela, which doesn’t just have to be a destination for pilgrims. The cathedral is impressive and the city has a wonderful atmosphere.
But if you have a car, it’s best to drive the whole coastline, which is really beautiful in this part of Spain.
Where is A Coruña
A Coruña (or La Coruña) is located on the northwest coast of Spain in the autonomous community of Galicia. The city is built on a rocky peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a natural harbour. The whole area is quite green and humid thanks to the Atlantic climate — a typical Galician landscape with hills and coastal bays of rias.
A Coruña is about 70 km north of Santiago de Compostela, and Porto in Portugal is about 300 km south. To the east along the coast, Bilbao in the Basque Country is about 400 km and the capital Madrid is about 600 km to the south. The city is practically at the westernmost tip of the north coast of Spain.
How to get to A Coruña
A Coruña works best as a stop on a roadtrip or a trip through Spain. It does have its own airport, Aeropuerto de A Coruña (LCG), but it’s mainly for domestic flights.
From Santiago de Compostela it’s about an hour by train. If you’re coming from a major airport, the fastest train is from Madrid, under 4 hours. Porto in Portugal is a lot closer, but it takes longer to get here (there’s no train).
Rent a car for your trip and pick it up in Santiago de Compostela — you can compare prices online in one place and most bookings cancel free of charge.
