Extra time

[1BreathAtATime]

This is my first time in spain. It seems that I will be arriving in Santiago with several days, almost a week, to spare before you touch my plane home. If you were in my shoes where would you spend those five or so days?

 

[Tincatinker]

Where are you flying home from?

 

[1BreathAtATime]

Where are you flying home from?

I'll be in Santiago until the 11th and then I plan to be back in Santiago on the 17th. My flight is out of Madrid. I'm thinking about spending a few nights in Finesterre and then a few nights in Muxia. I don't want to walk them right now because it's gotten cold and more rainy and I'm not even at Santiago yet.

 

[Tincatinker]

Fisterra, Muxia, A Coruna, Ferrol, Lugo, Ourense: they're all nice places to spend a bit of time. All accesible by public transport and all as much fun as they can ever be in the cold and the rain. That said I've sat in a hot spring in Ourense in a snow storm. Getting out was the troublesome bit. In your position I think I'd spend enough time in Santiago to really appreciate the place, maybe three or four days. Then I'd head to Madrid: between the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the C. de las Huertas and the Parque de El Retiro and just sitting outside a bar around the Puerta del Sol, well: a chance to spend some time in one of Europes great capital cities

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

See the Roman walls in Lugo?

 

[David Tallan]

Near Santiago, the first places that come to mind are Finisterre/Muxia and A Coruña. But if you want to head to Madrid a bit early, Toledo and Segovia are both very close and great places to visit.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

This is my first time in spain. It seems that I will be arriving in Santiago with several days, almost a week, to spare before you touch my plane home. If you were in my shoes where would you spend those five or so days?

Some great suggestions. The only thing I would add to think about is that if it's cold and rainy on your way to and in Santiago, it's likely to be even worse in Finisterra and Muxia along the coast.

But of course, it varies. I'd scour the weather reports and go somewhere where the weather was nice. Maybe Porto? Although it's a lot of transportation changes to get to Madrid from anywhere in Portugal.

There's a lot to do in Madrid (although Its a very hectic city) and Toledo and Segovia are spectacular places within about a half an hour's train ride of Madrid. Salamanca and Sevilla (almost always warm) are my two favorite cities in Spain if you want to go a little farther afield.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I'm heading down to Málaga with friends to catch some sun and explore a bit of the South before returning to Madrid and flying home.

 

[MarianneF]

I'll be in Santiago until the 11th and then I plan to be back in Santiago on the 17th. My flight is out of Madrid. I'm thinking about spending a few nights in Finesterre and then a few nights in Muxia. I don't want to walk them right now because it's gotten cold and more rainy and I'm not even at Santiago yet.

Why don't you take a bus to Porto and from Porto a train to Coimbra and/or Aveiro (a must see when in Portugal). From Coimbra only a few hours by train to Lisbon on to Madrid. I did it the other way round and I loved it.

 

[JerryStroebele]

I'm heading down to Málaga with friends to catch some sun and explore a bit of the South before returning to Madrid and flying home.

In March I took the guided tour (in English) of the Alcazar in Malaga. I felt like a tourist instead of a pilgrim but I learned a lot more than I could have walking around on my own. Buen Camino

 

[bullingtonce]

This is my first time in spain. It seems that I will be arriving in Santiago with several days, almost a week, to spare before you touch my plane home. If you were in my shoes where would you spend those five or so days?

Meditating in a church. Chuck

 

[trecile]

Meditating in a church. Chuck

For six days?!

 

[Bob Howard]

Santiago is a wonderful and charming city. It deserves at least two full days. I stayed for four days in July this year, and four days last year. There are many nicks and crannies to explore.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Yes, take the roof top tour of the Cathedral. I just booked mine today for October 29. It's only 10 euros for pilgrims. Buen Camino

 

[Ellann]

Fisterra, Muxia, A Coruna, Ferrol, Lugo, Ourense: they're all nice places to spend a bit of time. All accesible by public transport and all as much fun as they can ever be in the cold and the rain. That said I've sat in a hot spring in Ourense in a snow storm. Getting out was the troublesome bit. In your position I think I'd spend enough time in Santiago to really appreciate the place, maybe three or four days. Then I'd head to Madrid: between the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the C. de las Huertas and the Parque de El Retiro and just sitting outside a bar around the Puerta del Sol, well: a chance to spend some time in one of Europes great capital cities

Great advice as I also have a few days up my sleeve.