The climate at Santiago de Compostela is not as cold and windy as Palas de Rei and Melide. It tends to get hotter at midday and would cool down after sunset. Personally, I feel better exploring the Old Town in the morning.
Likewise, moving with our luggage from one hotel to another at the crack of dawn is a good idea. Less affected by the heat. Most hotels check-in timing will be between 2pm to 4pm.
Consider contacting the hotel to make arrangements for pre-check-in. Some hotels with secured area to store luggage will make keep the slot to store your luggage until check-in.
Mercado de Abastos
Mercado de Abastos is the food market in the Old Town. This ancient infrastructure and an ancient plaque symbolises the area was used as a marketplace in ancient days.
All produce are delivered fresh in the morning. I opt purchasing my fruits from the market than from the supermarkets.
It was interesting to discover that even Europeans consume salted fish.
Accordingly, the fish have been cut and salted immediately after being caught. Before any prepares the fish for consumption, the fish will be soaked in water for 24hours to remove the salt. Anyone consuming the fish would have thought that it was freshly caught.
Information
- Business hours – Monday to Saturday 07:00hrs to 16:00hrs
- The market can be accessed from Rúa da Virxe da Cerca by stairs or a glass elevator.
The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral towers the sky during the day and is hard to miss out. Always so pleasing to the eyes.
Getting there
During the pandemic year of 2020, the Pilgrim Office operated by the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela recorded a total of 54,143 pilgrims. The Office recorded that there were 446,035 pilgrims in 2023.
While some pilgrims choose to walk or cycle to Santiago de Compostela, there are others flying in by Santiago de Compostela Airport or by bus or train. With the growing numbers of visitors, it only goes to explain why the authorities work on developing the Santiago de Compostela Intermodal.
The current Intermodal is operational. There is no need of climbing stairs to move the luggage as there are slopes, elevators and escalators. The Intermodal can has up to 20 bus boarding bays on the road level, two cafes on 1st level of the building, extra sitting area in the waiting hall, bus ticketing booths and an elevator leading to the train station from the street level.
Tip: For updated information, visit Santiago Tourismo Official site.