Home › Food tours › Santiago de Compostela
Food tours in Santiago de Compostela: what to eat and which tour to book
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia and the end of the Camino de Santiago, and it eats the way Galicia does: plain cooking of very good ingredients. That means octopus boiled and dressed with olive oil, paprika and salt (pulpo á feira), shellfish from the nearby rías, little green Padrón peppers from a town 20 km away, empanada pies, the soft cone-shaped Tetilla cheese and Arzúa-Ulloa cheese, caldo galego (broth with greens, beans and potato), and almond Tarta de Santiago. Drinks are Albariño and Ribeiro whites, and orujo, the local grape spirit. The Mercado de Abastos and the lanes of the old town are the centre of eating.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices. Rúa do Franco and Rúa da Raíña are lined with restaurants for pilgrims and visitors; the Ensanche, the newer town south of the old centre, is where many locals eat. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Santiago de Compostela
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galician octopus polbo á feira / pulpo a la gallega | Octopus boiled in a copper pot, cut with scissors onto a wooden plate and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt and paprika, often with boiled potatoes. | Pulperías and bars across the old town and at the Mercado de Abastos area. | roughly €14–20 a ración (shared plate) |
| Padrón peppers pementos de Padrón | Small green peppers fried in olive oil and salted. Most are mild, a few are hot — hence the saying 'some are hot and some are not'. Best in summer. | Almost every tapas bar. | roughly €5–8 a plate |
| Galician pie empanada galega | Flat, two-crust pie filled with tuna, meat, cockles (berberechos), scallops or cod with onion and peppers. Sold by the slice. | Bakeries, bars and market stalls. | roughly €2.50–4 a slice |
| Shellfish marisco (zamburiñas, navajas, percebes, mejillones) | Small scallops (zamburiñas), razor clams, mussels, and goose barnacles (percebes), the expensive Galician favourite. Simply grilled or boiled. | Marisquerías in the old town; buy at the Mercado de Abastos and have it cooked at counters nearby. | roughly €10–20 a plate for zamburiñas or navajas; percebes priced by weight and expensive |
| Galician cheeses queixo Tetilla / Arzúa-Ulloa | Tetilla is a soft, mild cow's milk cheese in a cone shape; Arzúa-Ulloa is creamy and from the area east of Santiago on the Camino. Often eaten with quince paste or honey. | Cheese stalls in the Mercado de Abastos (where farmers sell their own cheese) and tapas bars. | roughly €4–8 a tapa; whole cheeses about €8–15 at the market |
| Galician broth caldo galego | Broth of grelos or cabbage, white beans, potatoes and a little pork. A cold-weather dish. | Traditional restaurants, often on the menú del día. | roughly €5–8 a bowl |
| Almond cake tarta de Santiago | Dense cake of ground almonds, eggs and sugar, dusted with icing sugar around a stencilled cross of St James. | Pastry shops and bakeries in the old town; restaurant dessert menus. | roughly €3–5 a slice; whole cakes from about €10 |
| Albariño, Ribeiro and orujo viño branco, augardente | Albariño (from the Rías Baixas) and Ribeiro are Galicia's best-known white wines. Orujo is a spirit distilled from grape skins, drunk plain or as licor café or herb liqueur, and set alight with sugar and fruit in the ritual queimada. | Bars and restaurants everywhere. | roughly €2.50–4.50 a glass of wine; orujo €2–4 a shot |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Mercado de Abastos
Santiago's main market, in long stone halls just east of the old town. Fish, shellfish, meat, produce and farmers selling their own cheese, plus bars and counters nearby where you can eat or have seafood cooked.
Rúa do Franco and Rúa da Raíña
Two parallel old-town lanes just south of the cathedral, wall-to-wall with tapas bars, pulperías and seafood restaurants. Lively but aimed at visitors; quality is mixed.
Rúa de San Pedro
The street pilgrims walk in on the Camino Francés, with bars and restaurants that are more local than the cathedral area.
Ensanche (newer town)
The 20th-century grid south of the old town, around Rúa da República Arxentina and nearby streets, where students and locals eat; cheaper bars, often with a small free tapa with drinks.
Food tours in Santiago de Compostela compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Santiago: Tour to Rias Baixas with Boat Trip and Winery | 9.5 hours | from €47 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Santiago: Guided Foodie Tour with Drinks, Tapas & Live Music | 2.5 hours | from €45 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Santiago de Compostela: Massage Treatment | 1 - 1.5 hours | from €60 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Desde Santiago: Tour Rías Baixas con barco y bodega opcional | 9 hours | from €47 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Santiago de Compostela: Queimada Experience Show and Tasting | 45 minutes | from €15 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Santiago Experience Evening: Legends, Dinner and Queimada | 5 hours | from €80 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
From Santiago: Tour to Rias Baixas with Boat Trip and Winery
On GetYourGuide · run by Galicia Travels
- Length
- 9.5 hours
- Price
- from €47 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 484 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Viajes ~ Galicia Travels
Santiago: Guided Foodie Tour with Drinks, Tapas & Live Music
On GetYourGuide · run by Compostela Tapas Tour
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €45 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 229 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Praza de Cervantes, 15704 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
Santiago de Compostela: Massage Treatment
On GetYourGuide · run by SPAZIO WELLNESS
- Length
- 1 - 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €60 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 195 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- 30, 60 or 90-minute treatment (depending on option selected) Towels, oils, and creams Private massage booth Wi-Fi Bicycle parking Water
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- We are at the bottom of the stairs of the Plaza del Obradoiro. Just in front of the main facade of the cathedral.
Desde Santiago: Tour Rías Baixas con barco y bodega opcional
On GetYourGuide · run by Tour Galicia
- Length
- 9 hours
- Price
- from €47 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 87 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Capilla del Pilar
Santiago de Compostela: Queimada Experience Show and Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Galicia Travels
- Length
- 45 minutes
- Price
- from €15 per person
- Rating
- 4.1 ★ from 72 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Quiemada Tasting Quiemada show Guia Entrance to the show Non-alcoholic beverage for minors Food and other drinks Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Galicia Travels office
Santiago Experience Evening: Legends, Dinner and Queimada
On GetYourGuide · run by Galicia Experience
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €80 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 25 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided night visit of Santiago Dinner with typical Galician dishes Drink included during dinner Show and Conjuro de la Queimada Extra drinks other than those included Dishes
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- The guide is waiting in front of Hostal de los Reyes Católicos in Obradoiro Square, look for a guide with a black cloak
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
There are few food stalls; street eating means tapas at a bar counter, a slice of empanada from a bakery, or Tarta de Santiago from a pastry shop. Many bars give a small free tapa with each drink.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals are either a menú del día at lunch (often around €12–16 with wine), raciones to share in tapas bars, or seafood at a marisquería. Lunch runs from about 14:00 and dinner from about 21:00. Seafood priced by weight should be confirmed before ordering.
Cooking classes
Some cooking classes in Santiago start with shopping at the Mercado de Abastos and teach Galician dishes such as empanada, octopus and Tarta de Santiago. They usually avoid Sundays and Mondays, when the market is closed or quiet.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €20–30 (café breakfast, menú del día, tapas with drinks) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €40–60 (menú del día and a tapas dinner with wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €90+ (a full seafood meal with Albariño) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Moderate. Galician food is seafood- and meat-based, and caldo galego usually has pork. Padrón peppers, tortilla, cheese plates, salads and vegetable empanadas are safe options. Vegetarian restaurants exist in the old town and Ensanche.
Halal: Very limited. Seafood is the obvious alternative to pork, which appears widely. A few kebab and Middle Eastern places exist in the newer town.
Gluten-free: Spain has good coeliac awareness, and many bars mark 'sen glute / sin gluten' options. Octopus, grilled seafood, Padrón peppers and Tetilla cheese are naturally gluten-free. Traditional Tarta de Santiago is made with almonds, but check for flour; empanada is wheat.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Shellfish such as percebes or lobster priced per kilo on a board, with the total only revealed on the bill. Ask the weight and total price before ordering, or order a fixed-price plate.
- Pilgrim and tourist menus on Rúa do Franco with reheated octopus and frozen seafood. Look at what local tables order, or eat near the market and in the Ensanche.
- Tarta de Santiago sold in tourist shops that is mostly flour and sugar. Buy from a pastry shop and check the ingredients; good versions are mainly almonds, eggs and sugar.
Top tours & activities in Santiago de Compostela
Rent a car in Santiago de Compostela
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in Santiago de CompostelaPlan the rest of your Santiago de Compostela trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
When is the Mercado de Abastos open?
The market opens Monday to Saturday, in the morning, with Thursday and Saturday the busiest days. It is closed on Sunday. Fish and shellfish are best early. Some bars and counters in and around the market serve food later. Check current hours, as times can change, especially in winter.
Do I need to tip?
Tipping is modest in Spain. Leave small change at a bar and around 5–10% for good service at a sit-down meal. It is not compulsory. On a food tour, a tip of roughly €5–10 per person for a good guide is appreciated.
Do bars give free tapas?
Many bars in Santiago, especially in the Ensanche and less touristy streets, give a small free tapa with a drink, such as a bit of empanada, tortilla or olives. It's less common on the main tourist lanes. Larger plates (raciones) are always paid for.
What should I eat first?
Pulpo á feira (Galician octopus), a plate of Padrón peppers, a slice of empanada, Tetilla or Arzúa-Ulloa cheese, and Tarta de Santiago for dessert, with a glass of Albariño or Ribeiro. If your budget allows, add zamburiñas or other shellfish.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Santiago is good value. About €20–30 per person covers breakfast, a menú del día and tapas. With a tapas dinner and wine, roughly €40–60. A proper seafood meal with percebes or a shellfish platter can be €50–100 per person on its own.
What time do people eat?
Lunch is from about 14:00 to 16:00 and dinner from about 21:00. Bars serve tapas from the early evening. Many restaurants on the pilgrim routes open earlier for walkers, but local bars fill after 21:00.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.