Galicia for 4 days
 

Hi! I will be going to Galicia for 4 days in early May and I wouldn't like to miss the "musts".
I guess Santiago de Compostela is one of them, suggestions on the rest? Thanks!

This web guide is out of date about logistics and restaurants and such, but it will give you a good idea of the towns and help you choose what you want to see.

http://www.galiciaguide.com/

Two of the highlights of Galicia for me were Pontevedra and Tuy.

It's impossible to hit the "must sees" with only 4 days. There is just too much to see. Our last visit covered quite a bit in 17 days, but we have to return again and again to cover the rest. If I were you, I would concentrate on Santiago and the immediate area for now and plan for the future.

I had a great time in Galicia and didn't go to Santiago de Compostela at all. I wanted to avoid the tourist/pilgrim scene this time around, and I still saw beautiful cathedrals, fascinating christian crypts, beautiful seaside, ate fantastic food and tapas and wine. I will be going back to see Santiago de Compostela when I feel like it. Just wanted you to know that you "mustn't" do anything other than what you want to do, and there is no particular order for you to follow -- mine or anybody else's. I you want to order your trip according to the gudiebook "must sees", great. If you think you'd rather see other thing that sound more interesting to you this time around, I had a very happy trip doing that. .

Pilgrims are in Santiago all year around, but most will be there July-October. You'll find early May reasonably comfortable, but expect rain (almost anytime of the year).

I live in Galicia and have a few questions. What is your mode of transport?
What are your likes?
Where are you going to after SdC?
This sort of information is very important to point you in the right direction.
The website goldenautum posit you too is not kept up to date. Needs anew webmaster I think.

I too am planning to be in Galicia in May and I am looking for tips. As far as the "must sees," I consider Santiago de Compostela a must-see because it is such an old city. I am interested in the university as well as the Cathedral and the whole pilgrimage thing.

My friend and I plan to travel by train from Santiago to La Coruna (there should be a tilde over the n, of course) and there is a day tour of the Rias Bajas that interests us.

I am also considering a tour to Finisterre (the furthermost tip of Europe, what the Romans considered the "end of the Earth"). I feel that tours will give me a sense for the countryside and then I can spend a couple of days getting to know Santiago.

Everyone is right that you can't do all the "must sees" in four days anywhere. So the trick is to pick what you will regret not having seen if you never get to go back.

Just my 2 cents.

FerrisFar You have answers on the other thread you started.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-may-2013.cfm

Hello Topplo and FerrisFar,
Costa da Morte with Finisterre is something to visit. There are nice walks including the route from Fisterra to the Faro de Finisterre (http://www.topwalks.net/en/costa_da_morte/fisterra.htm)
and another which runs from Camelle to Laxe (http://www.topwalks.net/en/costa_da_...melle_laxe.htm), both attractive fishing villages. Worth seeing is also the Cemiterio dos Ingleses (http://www.topwalks.net/en/costa_da_...s_ingleses.htm).
Rías Baixas is interesting as well. Close to Tui is a nature park Monte Aloia with wonderful views over the river valley of Miño (http://www.topwalks.net/en/parque_na...onte_aloia.htm). O Rosal is lovely as well. You can take a short walk along which you find some 70 mills of Folón and Picón (http://www.topwalks.net/en/rosal/muinos_folon_picon.htm).

ribeirasacra and others--
I wasn't trying to hijack this thread. I was trying to make the point that "must sees" depend on the individual. For me, Santiago is a must see, and I was trying to explain some of the things I've been looking into, so as to add to the discussion of what the OP might/might not want to see/do.

Sorry if I seemed to be intruding.

FerrisFar..SdC was a must see for me also..Who cares that there are pilgrims galore..This lovely place is awesome and I fully intend to try to get back before I cash in my chips..Need to hurry, however, as 81 creates a wary and weary traveller. Will endeavor to walk in under my own steam as I have done about 100ks on several of the various routes over the last 2 years. I probaly won't get a certificate but a stamp on my pilgrim passport and a new nothch in my belt.

Pilgrims are part of the charm of Santiago. The last time we where there was when they were filming scenes from Emilio Estevez's "The Way", staring his father Martin Sheen, and it was interesting, I got a few good shots, but it, and the pilgrims, did not interfere with anything we did. Great movie, by the way!!!

FerrisFar I never said you were high jacking. I was pointing out you have answers to your questions in the other thread. I thought you were still asking questions.
Personally I feel there are far more interesting locations that SdC in Galicia.

Pilgrims may be charming to some people. Others no. Not for others to say that other travelers shouldn't care about their own trips. Of course you can gas all you want on the internet -- but aren't pilgrims supposed to be humble or something?

It's really sad how little some people know... yet pretend to offer advise to others. Pilgrims are what Santiago is all about. It simply wouldn't exist without them, at least not as a major destination.

My choice of Santiago de Compostela was because it seems to have a lot of good places to stay and is fairly "central" to where I want to be. Also, I am definitely interested in the architecture and the history.

Pilgrims don't bother me. I've never experienced them in Europe, but the fanatics there can't be worse than what I've seen in Latin America (people "walking" on their bleeding knees and stuff like that) and the rest are just good people participating in an age-old rite.

My feeling is that each person has his/her own preferences, and I am listening to all advice while keeping in mind that what I like and what someone else may like are different things.

Ribeirasacra, Thanks for reassuring me that I hadn't done something "wrong" to post my own thoughts on someone else's thread. In some forums elsewhere, it can be a big "no-no," so since I new here, I was worried.

Thank you so much for all your answers!