Santiago for families
A World Heritage City, Santiago de Compostela is small and beautiful like fairytale cities. It is also peaceful, safe and very pleasant for walking around.
The old town is like a labyrinth with a lot of secrets. It is full of narrow lanes, little houses and arcades. Its streets are paved with old stone slabs –children can play at not stepping on the lines between them, without worrying about the traffic since it is all a pedestrian area. In the serene squares there is a lot of space for playing as well as pavement cafés. The Cathedral, the old street names, the gargoyles, the fountains… can be fascinating for children if we adults help them to discover such.
Santiago, which stands out due to the quantity of its green spaces, is surrounded by magnificent parks. Most of them have swings and children’s games, a lot of shade and fountains, rivers or ponds, where Santiago’s ducks and fish coexist. Some of them are located on high ground, overlooking the city rooftops and making for wonderful photos.
But Santiago has even more things for you: tourist routes in a small train that tours the city, interesting museums for young and old alike, special cultural events and activities for children, leisure parks, adventure activities, sightseeing trips to discover the surroundings… and also, very near, there are popular swimming areas as well as the sea: Galicia’s fantastic “rías,” featuring beaches of calm waters, fine sand and all the comforts.
Children are well received in the city’s restaurants and cafeterias. Many of them offer children’s menus, although you may prefer to experiment with some Galician flavours that are well suited to small gourmet palates.
In relation to accommodation, there are several possibilities: from large hotel chains to modern apartments, complete houses for families or charming little hotels in the monumental district, which are so comfortable that yo u will feel at home. And there are also bungalows in the local campsite, located on a hill overlooking the city. Furthermore, there are rural tourism houses in the surroundings, where you can fully enjoy the Galician countryside.
