Visiting Galicia can be enjoyable, exciting and educational. This part of Spain has a wealth of historic buildings ranging from Celtic forts and Roman ruins, to Gothic and Neo-classical architectural masterpieces and few, other than the Spanish, will have seen them.
With a population of only three million inhabitants, Galicia has plenty of open spaces and a drive into the region's interior serves up some breath taking scenery. Forests, meadow land, rolling hills and mountains, all populated with small villages, are on the menu. The region also has a long seafaring history and although other enterprises now prosper in Galicia, the fishing industry is a large employer and economic contributor.
Galicia -Somewhere of the beaten track
Part of Galicia's appeal to the tourist is the attraction of visiting somewhere slightly off the beaten track. It is certainly true to say that
Santiago de Compostela now has steady cosmopolitan tourist traffic, but most of Galicia's other cities do not and an English voice is still uncommon. Provincial capitols like Lugo, Pontevedra,
Ourense and the massive A Coruna, have little in the way of foreign tourism and although foreign visitor numbers are on the increase, they are still small. This should not detour the tourist though, as all of these cities have great visitor appeal and their inhabitants are generally friendly and helpful.
Getting to Galicia has become cheaper and easier over the last couple of years with major carriers flying direct to Santiago's international airport. Prices have also come down, particularly for those departing from the UK via Heathrow and Stanstead airports. Flying from the USA is still comparatively costly, but as visitor numbers increase costs will inevitably come down.
The time of year at which you visit Galicia is definitely something to consider. The region has a long summer that results in warm temperatures starting in April and running through to September and October. That said, the best weather is normally in June, July and August, although in Galicia clear blue skies can never be guaranteed. Winter visits will require the addition of warm clothing, rain-proof jackets and an umbrella.
Car rental is pretty much essential for the Galician holiday maker. Galicia is a place to be explored and the best way to do this is independently with your own transport. If this is not an option, the other alternative is to book an organized coach tour. If you decide to select this type of holiday, make sure you know exactly what is on your schedule. Santiago de Compostela is a "must see" stop, but some of Galicia's smaller towns will also proved well worth a visit and all of the provincial capitols, plus Vigo, have something to offer the holiday maker.
