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Santiago de Compostela on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes. Santiago is one of the cheapest cities in Spain to visit, thanks to pilgrim hostels, free tapas and cheap lunches. A realistic minimum is about €68 a day per person sharing a room — around €30 for a bed, €25 for food, €10 for sights and €3 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €30 | €60 | €140 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €85 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €30 | €70 |
| Local transport | €3 | €8 | €25 |
| Per person, per day | €68 | €143 | €320 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Santiago de Compostela day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The cathedral nave, crypt and the embrace of the statue of St James
- The Pilgrims' Mass, usually at 12:00 and 19:30
- Praza do Obradoiro and the arrival of pilgrims
- The view of the cathedral towers from the Alameda park
- Browsing the Mercado de Abastos (closed Sundays)
- Walking the granite streets of the old town at night
Cheap eats
- Menú del día at lunch — about €12–16
- Pulpo á feira to share — about €14–18
- Empanada gallega slice — about €3–5
- Pimientos de Padrón — about €6–8
- A caña with a free tapa — about €1.50–2.50
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers and pilgrims stay in albergues and simple pensions in and around the old town, from about €40–70 for a room and less for a dormitory bed. Book ahead from June to September.
Getting around cheaply
Walk: the old town is compact and pedestrian. City buses cost about €1–1.50. From the airport, buses take about 30–40 minutes for a few euros. Trains to A Coruña take about 30–35 minutes.
A sample budget day
- Morning: café con leche (about €2), the cathedral and Praza do Obradoiro (free)
- Lunch: menú del día (about €14)
- Afternoon: Museo do Pobo Galego (about €3–5) and the Alameda park
- Evening: two cañas with free tapas and pulpo to share (about €12)
- Total: about €68 including a shared room or pension (about €30 per person)
More ways to save
- Choose one paid cathedral visit — the Pórtico da Gloria or the rooftops — rather than both.
- Buy picnic food at the market and eat in the Alameda park.
- Stay a few extra minutes' walk from the cathedral for cheaper rooms.
- Travel outside July and August for lower prices and easier bookings.
- Use the coastal train to A Coruña for a cheap day trip.
- Collect the Compostela for free if you walked the last 100 km.
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Common questions
Can you visit Santiago on a budget?
Yes. The cathedral nave is free, lunches are cheap and many bars give free tapas. Plan on about €68 a day.
Is the cathedral free?
Yes, the main nave is free. The Pórtico da Gloria (about €10–12) and the rooftop tour (about €15–18) are paid.
How do I get from the airport to the city cheaply?
Take the bus, about 30–40 minutes, for a few euros.