A Coruña City Guide for Tourists

A Coruña is the capital of the region of Galicia, in north-west Spain. Not as historic or famous as nearby Santiago de Compostela, but well worth a day or two. See Pictures of A Coruña.

There is an airport in A Coruña. There are airports in nearby Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo too.
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There is always plenty going on in August in A Coruña. Read more on Festivals & Fiestas in A Coruña. The weather will also be at its best in August.A Coruña is quite big, so even though there isn't a great deal to do, one day might not be enough time. Give yourself two.

Read more on How Long to Stay in Each City in Spain.

For hotel reservations in A Coruña, an excellent, easy-to-use site is Venere. They have hotels to suit all budgets and have a clutter free Web site that allow for hassle-free accommodation booking.
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If you're after a budget-priced bed in a dorm, try Hostelworld.

Ever considered a home exchange? Home Exchange is a website where you post details of your home and arrange a swap with someone else for a week or two. A single home exchange will save you more than the membership fee and you can use the service as often as you want for no extra charge. Check out HomeExchange.com.

• Climb the Torre de Hércules The lighthouse at the end of A Coruña gives you some great views of the Rías, the estuaries that dominate Galicia's coastline.
• Eat Seafood on c/Franja Just off the pretty main square, Plaza de Maía Pita, is c/Franja, where the Pulpo a la Gallega is at its best and is reasonably priced. Just don't eat on the seafront - the food is no better than on c/Franja but will be more than twice the price.
• Take in the Romanesque Churches in the old town A Coruña's old town is small and compact and has some lovely churches. See these Pictures of A Coruña for details.

Galicia's coasts are the most interesting areas around here. Near A Coruña is Ferrol, the birthplace of former dictator General Franco.

Though Santiago de Compostela is more central and is better for exploring the west, the bus from A Coruña to Fisterra is quicker than the one from Santiago.

You'll struggle to see much if you're relying on Galicia's poor public transport. See below for details of renting a car in A Coruña.

Alternatively, take a Guided Tour Starting from A Coruña - they're good value and pack a lot into a single day of sightseeing.

Santiago de Compostela to the south or to Oviedo to the east.From Madrid 593km - 5h45 by car, 7h by bus, 9h by train, 1h flight (with Iberia). Read more on Madrid

From Barcelona 1108km - 12h by car, 16h by train, 15 by bus, 1h30 flight (with Iberia).

From Seville 925km - 10h by car, 14h by bus, 1h20 by plane. No train. Read more on Seville

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Check Prices on Trains from A Coruna or look at getting a Rail Pass.

Check Prices on Buses from A Coruna

easyCar, from the people that brought you easyJet, offer car hire throughout Spain and their prices are pretty competitive. Hire a car with easyCar. Before you book, compare their prices to the other big rental companies on Travelocity.A Coruña is big and bright, modern and spacious, and so is vastly different from the old-world charms of Santiago de Compostela to the south.

If you are arriving by public transport, you will find yourself quite a long way out of town. Best to take a taxi into the center. The heart of A Coruña is Plaza María Pita, a pretty square with dolls' house buildings and a magnificent city hall. Facing the city hall, you have the new town spreading to your left, with its excellent restaurants and all the typical shops. Behind you (through the arch) is the cluttered port and the Avenida de la Marina, famous for its large number of Galerias. To the right of Plaza María Pita is the old town, where you'll find a number of nice Romanesque churches, a military museum and the Jardín de San Carlos, which features the tomb of General Sir John Moore, a British seaman who died in battle protecting A Coruña.

North of Plaza María Pita, in the far tip of the peninsula, is the Torre de Hercules, a lighthouse with Roman ancestry (though it is said that Hercules himself built the first lighthouse on this spot).

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