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Your suggestion sounds terrific!I spent a few days in A Coruña after my Camino a few years ago. There are beautiful beaches and tons to do there, including a outdoor spherical glass funicular! There are also several streets with lively tapas bars, a long paseo maritimo, sculpture garden the Tower of Hercules lighthouse, an aquarium and many other attractions.
Top Things To Do And See In A Corua
Read our guide to the top things to do and see in the Galician city of A Corua in Spain.theculturetrip.com
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Like a science museum.many other attractions.
I also went to o Coruna for a few days - it was terrific, and as mentioned many things to do! I loved the Maritime walk,Your suggestion sounds terrific!
So I walked the last 100km from Sarria with a friend in 2018 and then walked from St Jean PDP to Pamplona with my sister in 2019. I had planned to go back and walk another section this year, but we all know too well why that didn't happen
My new plan, Covid permitting of course, is to return to the last 100km with my Husband and 2 children aged 12 and 9. I'm guessing we will book this very lastminute for July sometime if it is possible.
The plan is to spend 5/6 days walking, spend a night or 2 in Santiago at the end and then book a private villa somewhere for a week of relaxation/ to keep the kids happy!!
So my question is, has anyone done something similar? Or does anyone have any recommendations as to where we should spend this week? Preferably anywhere that isn't super tacky touristy
Thanks
I had five extra days at the end. Bus to Salamanca and spent a day, next day Madrid, next day Toledo, next day Segovia. back to Madrid. Yes lots of tourist stuff but very comfortable bus rides and very decent accommodations, no hostels or alburges. Madrid was a bit pricey but limited my time there.So I walked the last 100km from Sarria with a friend in 2018 and then walked from St Jean PDP to Pamplona with my sister in 2019. I had planned to go back and walk another section this year, but we all know too well why that didn't happen
My new plan, Covid permitting of course, is to return to the last 100km with my Husband and 2 children aged 12 and 9. I'm guessing we will book this very lastminute for July sometime if it is possible.
The plan is to spend 5/6 days walking, spend a night or 2 in Santiago at the end and then book a private villa somewhere for a week of relaxation/ to keep the kids happy!!
So my question is, has anyone done something similar? Or does anyone have any recommendations as to where we should spend this week? Preferably anywhere that isn't super tacky touristy
Thanks
I well remember a trip to the Picos de Europa in 1989, the same year as my first Camino. While the scenery was nice, what I remember most is our visit to the village of Barcena Mayor on the same trip and the delicious lunch we had there.Picos de Europa national park in Asturias....hidden gem. Majestic salmon rivers, 6000 ft ‘Tolkeinesque’ peaks, beautiful towns and villages, rich history and culture. Take a look at the town of Cangas de Onis in the centre of the park.....awesome area !
Fisterra
hey CC - while this is definitely cool, I am not convinced that "driving all over Portugal" is spending a relaxing weekAfter one of our caminos, we rented a car and drove all over Portugal to Penalba national park, the Douro river valley wine country, the coasts, Tomar, Braga, Coimbra, etc. and ended by staying in Marvao-a tiny hilltop village (picture), etc. Lots to see by car!
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Nice to see you on the Forum, @Buffy!hey CC - while this is definitely cool, I am not convinced that "driving all over Portugal" is spending a relaxing week
Hello Cbok82, I walked the Camino Frances with my husband and I opted to stay in Santiago a whole rainy week! However, with a grandchild aged 12 we spent a wonderful 2+ weeks in Barcelona and up the coast - Tossa de Mar in a small hotel with a pool. There are MANY places south of Barcelona that your children will enjoy. Where are you planning on flying home from? That might impact where you might want to end up. Good luck.So I walked the last 100km from Sarria with a friend in 2018 and then walked from St Jean PDP to Pamplona with my sister in 2019. I had planned to go back and walk another section this year, but we all know too well why that didn't happen
My new plan, Covid permitting of course, is to return to the last 100km with my Husband and 2 children aged 12 and 9. I'm guessing we will book this very lastminute for July sometime if it is possible.
The plan is to spend 5/6 days walking, spend a night or 2 in Santiago at the end and then book a private villa somewhere for a week of relaxation/ to keep the kids happy!!
So my question is, has anyone done something similar? Or does anyone have any recommendations as to where we should spend this week? Preferably anywhere that isn't super tacky touristy
Thanks
Amazing how many pull at our hearts in Spain (and Italy!). We spent 89 days traveling throughout Spain (NOT on any Camino) and I want to go back for much more. I wish that 90 day rule was 120!I am going to confuse you even more with yet another option. Last year we walked the Camino Litoral and passed through the seaside town of Baiona. We didn't stay there and only stopped long enough to take some photographs, have a bocadillo lunch in a park beside the tourist office, and chat with a man who once set out to walk from Santiago to Cadiz but was so taken by Seville that he stopped walking and stayed there for the next 20 years.
We found Baiona so enchanting and fascinating that we agreed we would have to return to see it properly. As we neared the end of the town we took a left turn and were stopped by a couple of similar vintage to ourselves who wanted to know if we were walking the Camino. It turned out that they were from Dublin and that they had walked the Camino Litoral the previous year, had fallen in love with Baiona and vowed to return to see it properly. This was them living their dream and they walked along with us for the next 30 minutes or so.
With Covid we haven't been able to return to Baiona but that would be my recommendation. It is a most attractive town with sheltered sandy beaches, an ancient castle with extensive fortifications and three towers, archaeological remains dating from Roman times and access to the Cies Islands Nature Reserve. You might have to book that in advance.
Someone else recommended Pontevedra and I wouldn't argue with that. We have stayed there twice, on two different Caminos, and were very impressed. The lack of cars, the ancient buildings, and families strolling through the streets and plazas, or seated outside bars and cafes, create a special atmosphere.
Salamanca was also mentioned and it is indeed a magnificent city which everyone should visit at least once.
I have already told the story of the man who visited Seville and stayed for 20 years, which is perhaps the ultimate accolade.
The problem is that when it comes to Spain and Portugal you could land in any one of hundreds of towns and villages, that you've never heard of before, and feel you've discovered yet another jewel.
Over the past 10 years the Camino has allowed us to discover towns such as Merida, Caceres, Ciudad Rodrigo, Zamora, Almeida, Trancoso, Lamego, Amarante, Guimares, Braga, Ourense, Leon, Astorga, and Oviedo. None of these names meant anything to me before 2010 but I would love to have the opportunity to return to any one of them and explore it further. The difficulty is that I have yet to visit La Coruna, Avila, Zaragoza, Segovia, Valladolid, ,Bilbao, Granada and Valencia, and no doubt many other hidden gems whose names I have yet to hear.
So did we! I loved Tossa de Mar and the castle on the hill!Barcelona and up the coast - Tossa de Mar in a small hotel with a pool
Madrid is a beautiful city with a lot to do for sure. My only warning was after walking over 800 kilometers on a very quiet Norte it was a shock to my senses arriving in Madrid. For me it was almost too much. I don’t know how many people may have a similar experience. I think most people would feel differently.My daughter and I went to stay in Madrid at the end of our Camino. Amazing place and not at all tacky.
There is a train from Santiago that takes just under 5 hours.
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