📌Province
A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). La Coruña, A Coruña in Galician, which is its official name, is a port city in north-western Spain and the capital of the province of the same name, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It sits on a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean: on one side are the port and the bay, and on the other the city beaches of Riazor and Orzán, so almost the whole centre is just a few blocks from the sea. According to the INE it had 251.543 inhabitants in 2025, in a municipality of 37,83 km². It is known for the Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse of Roman origin that is still working and that Unesco declared a World Heritage Site in 2009; for the glazed galleries of the Avenida da Mariña, which earned it the nickname 'City of Glass'; and for a seafront promenade of more than 13 km that runs around the peninsula. The first Zara shop opened here, on Juan Flórez street, and this is where Deportivo de La Coruña plays. It was the capital of Galicia until 1981, when the Statute of Autonomy moved the capital to Santiago de Compostela, which today is less than half an hour away by train. It is a city for walking, eating well and getting to know Atlantic Galicia at an easy pace.
📌Currency and language
You pay in euros and cards work almost everywhere, with one exception worth knowing: on city buses a single ticket can only be paid in cash (1,30 €, and drivers give change for notes up to 5 €). There are two official languages, Spanish and Galician. Spanish will always get you by, but signs are in Galician: 'rúa' is street, 'praza' is square, 'praia' is beach, 'Cidade Vella' is the Old Town and 'Concello' is the city council. That is why you will see both 'A Coruña' and 'La Coruña': it is the same city.
📌Best time to go
The climate is oceanic and mild: the average annual temperature is around 15,1 °C, about 1.018 mm of rain falls each year and snow is very rare (the last significant snowfall was in January 1987), according to the AEMET 1991-2020 data cited by Wikipedia. Always bring a waterproof jacket. For the beach, go in July and August; for walking with fewer people, May, June and September. According to Momondo, August is the most expensive month for accommodation (an average of 170 € a night) and November the cheapest (92 €). Note for autumn 2026: the Tower of Hercules is closed from 1 October to 15 November for electrical work.
📌Visa and tourist tax
Argentines, Uruguayans, Chileans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians do not need a visa for tourism of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. Since 10 April 2026 the EES has been fully operational: at your first Schengen border check they take your fingerprints and photo instead of stamping your passport. ETIAS (the online authorisation) is not yet required and has no official start date. Since September 2025 the city has charged a tourist surcharge per person per night, capped at five nights: 2,5 € in 5-star and 4-star superior hotels, 2 € in 3- and 4-star hotels, hostels and holiday rentals, and 1,5 € in 1- and 2-star hotels and guesthouses. Under-18s do not pay.
💱 EUR exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in La Coruña
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La Coruña is a city surrounded by sea on almost every side. You can start the day looking over the port from the viewpoints of the Jardín de San Carlos, cross the centre on foot in twenty minutes and finish watching the sunset over the Atlantic from Riazor beach. In between there is a Roman lighthouse that still shines, a huge square presided over by a 16th-century heroine and an entire façade of white glazed galleries facing the boats.
It is an easy city to visit on a small budget. The seafront promenade, the beaches, the gardens and the Old Town are free. The municipal science museums cost between 2 and 10 €, and the 12 € Bono Tres Casas gets you into all three. On Mondays the Tower of Hercules charges no admission, on Saturdays neither does the Castillo de San Antón, and MUNCYT, the national science museum, is free to enter. The city bus costs 1,30 € in cash.
And the food is excellent. Pulpo á feira, cut with scissors and served on a wooden board with paprika and olive oil, turns up in the pulperías of the Old Town and the centre. The Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo shows what comes out of the sea each morning. From here, Santiago de Compostela is also less than half an hour away by train, and Betanzos, a medieval town of steep streets, just over twenty minutes. Both make easy day trips, and you come back here to sleep.
📖 History of La Coruña
The peninsula was already an important port before the Romans. According to ancient sources, Julius Caesar's troops arrived in 62 BC and the Romans called the place Brigantium. In the 1st century they built the lighthouse we now know as the Tower of Hercules; a votive stone found at its base names the architect as Gaius Sevius Lupus, from Aeminium, present-day Coimbra. The medieval city was formally born in 1208, when King Alfonso IX of León refounded it with a town charter; that document is the first to use the name Coruña. John II granted it city status in 1446. Its port put it at the centre of Atlantic history: on 21 July 1588 the Spanish Armada sailed from here against England, and in 1589 Francis Drake's counter-armada attacked the city. During that defence María Pita became famous, facing the attackers when an explosion brought down part of the wall. On 16 January 1809 the Battle of Elviña was fought between the British and the French; the British general Sir John Moore died in it and his tomb is in the Jardín de San Carlos. In 1815 Juan Díaz Porlier was executed here after a liberal uprising, and in 1849 Isabella II made it a provincial capital. In the 20th century the city grew inland, built towers such as the Torre Hercón in 1975 and saw the first Zara shop open. In 1981 the Galician Statute moved the capital to Santiago de Compostela. On 27 June 2009 Unesco declared the Tower of Hercules a World Heritage Site, the only Roman lighthouse in the world still standing and in use.
🗺️ What to see
Tours you can book
If you only have one day, take a guided tour on the first one: it sets up the rest of your trip and saves you a lot of walking. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have 12 activities in La Coruna. And there are free tours here: you book without paying and tip the guide whatever you think at the end, so trying one costs you nothing. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
If you book from here we earn a commission and you pay no more. Prices and availability come from Civitatis.
1
Tower of Hercules (Torre de Hércules, World Heritage Site)
The only Roman lighthouse in the world still standing and in use, on a headland surrounded by a sculpture park and seaside paths.
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The Tower of Hercules is the symbol of the city and the reason many people come here. Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site in 2009 because it is the only Roman lighthouse in the world still standing and operational. It is 55 metres tall, has 239 steps and dates from the 1st century; its current appearance comes from the neoclassical restoration completed in 1791 under the direction of Eustaquio Giannini.
Inside you can see the remains of the Roman structure and, if the wind allows, step out onto the top terrace, with views of the coast. Around it is a sculpture park with more than 15 works by 20th-century artists such as Francisco Leiro and Manolo Paz, plus clifftop paths you can walk for free.
Check this before you go: the tower is closed from 1 October to 15 November 2026 for work on the electrical system. The rest of the year entry is in groups of 32 people every half hour, so it is best to buy online. On Mondays admission is free (you have to pick up your ticket at the visitor centre, the CIAV). The terrace closes in strong wind, which is common here. Allow an hour for the tower and another to walk the park.
ℹ️ Distance: Punta Herminia, at the northern tip of the peninsula (calle Doctor Vázquez Iglesias 1) · Best time to go: Spring to September; early morning or sunset for the park · Admission: 3 € general; 1,50 € reduced; free on Mondays and on the third Saturday of each month from October to June (source: torredeherculesacoruna.com, verified October 2026). Closed from 1/10 to 15/11/2026 · Duration: 1 hour for the tower; 2 hours with the sculpture park
2
Seafront Promenade (Paseo Marítimo)
More than 13 km of waterfront running around the peninsula, from the port to the beaches, with a cycle lane and viewpoints over the Atlantic.
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The seafront promenade is the best way to understand the shape of the city: it goes around the whole peninsula and links the port, the Tower of Hercules, the Aquarium, the Orzán and Riazor beaches and the foot of Monte de San Pedro. The official tourism website speaks of more than 13 km and presents it as one of the longest seafront promenades in Europe. It has a cycle lane and is made for walking, running or cycling in the sea breeze.
A classic route starts around the port and the Avenida da Mariña, continues past the Castillo de San Antón, skirts the Old Town and climbs towards the Tower; from there it heads down to the Aquarium and the beaches. Along the way you will see the typical red lampposts and several viewpoints with benches.
It costs nothing. If you don't want to do it all, pick a stretch and come back by city bus (1,30 € in cash). On stormy days the sea splashes over the railing in some places: respect any closures. Bring a jacket even if it's sunny, because the Atlantic wind cools you down fast.
ℹ️ Distance: Goes around the whole peninsula; starts by the port, a short walk from the Plaza de María Pita · Best time to go: All year; sunset on the Riazor stretch · Admission: Free (public space) · Duration: From 1 hour (one stretch) to half a day (the whole thing on foot)
3
Avenida da Mariña Galleries (Avenida da Mariña)
The façade of white glazed galleries facing the port that gave La Coruña the nickname 'City of Glass'.
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The most recognisable image of the centre is not a monument but a row of buildings: the houses of the Avenida da Mariña (Avenida de la Marina), facing the port, with façades covered in galleries, those enclosed balconies with glass and white frames. The tourist office credits the design of the Galerías de la Marina façade to the architect Juan de Ciórraga, in the second half of the 19th century, and claims that La Coruña has the largest area of glazed galleries in the world; hence the nickname 'City of Glass'.
The galleries began as a practical solution: the façade facing the port takes the wind and rain, and the glass let in the light and warmth of the sun without opening the house to the storm. That is why you will see them on many other buildings in the centre.
The best view is from the port side, across the avenue, or from the Méndez Núñez gardens opposite. In the afternoon sun the glass shines. It is free and one block from the Plaza de María Pita, so it combines easily with the Old Town.
ℹ️ Distance: Facing the port, one block from the Plaza de María Pita · Best time to go: A sunny afternoon, when the glass reflects the light · Admission: Free (seen from the street) · Duration: 30 minutes
4
Plaza de María Pita and City Hall (Praza de María Pita)
The big arcaded square in the centre, with the statue of the heroine of 1589 and the domed modernista city hall.
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The Plaza de María Pita is the city's meeting point and the border between the shopping centre and the Old Town. It is named after María Pita, the woman who became famous in 1589 defending the city from the attack of Francis Drake's fleet, and her statue, spear in hand, presides over the space. According to the tourist office, the square was designed in the mid-19th century.
The north side is taken up by the Palacio Municipal, home of the Concello (the city council): a modernista building begun in 1908 to a design by the architect Pedro Mariño, with three domes you can see from afar. The other three sides have arcades with bars and terraces, handy on rainy days.
If you are interested in the heroine's story, the Casa Museo María Pita is on calle Herrerías, in the Old Town, and is free to enter. Most of the city's free tours leave from the square. It is a good spot for a coffee in the sun, although on the square's terraces you will pay a bit more than in the streets nearby.
ℹ️ Distance: City centre, between the port and the Old Town · Best time to go: All year; at night with the palace lit up · Admission: Free (public square); Casa Museo María Pita free to enter (source: blog.mundo-r.com, March 2026, verified October 2026) · Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
5
Old Town (Cidade Vella)
The medieval quarter behind María Pita: stone streets, Romanesque churches, small squares and remains of the wall above the port.
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The Old Town is the core that Alfonso IX refounded in 1208 and the neighbourhood where you can still feel the city as it was before it expanded. It begins as soon as you walk up from the Plaza de María Pita and you can cover it quickly: narrow stone streets, small tree-lined squares and stone houses with galleries. Wikipedia dates the wall to the 14th century, with gates onto the sea such as the Parrote gate.
The usual walk passes the church of Santiago and the plaza del General Azcárraga, a quiet corner with a fountain and trees, and ends at the Jardín de San Carlos, with views of the port. On calle Herrerías is the Casa Museo María Pita, free.
You don't need a guide, but Civitatis's free tour of La Coruña covers exactly this neighbourhood in about 2 hours (you pay with a tip). The area is pedestrianised or has restricted car access, so forget about parking here. At night it is calm and quiet, very different from the bar area on calle Franja and calle Galera, on the other side of María Pita.
ℹ️ Distance: Behind the Plaza de María Pita, towards the port · Best time to go: All year; morning, when the churches are open · Admission: Free (public neighbourhood) · Duration: 1,5 to 2 hours on foot
6
Jardín de San Carlos (Xardín de San Carlos)
A walled romantic garden in the Old Town, with the tomb of General Sir John Moore and a viewpoint over the port.
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The Jardín de San Carlos is small but full of history. It stands on the site of an old bastion, the Fortaleza Vieja, where gunpowder was stored to defend the city; after the powder magazine exploded, at the end of the 18th century the captain general of Galicia, Carlos Francisco de Croix, turned it into a public garden.
In the centre is the tomb of Sir John Moore, the British general who died at the Battle of Elviña against the French in 1809. The stone funerary monument was erected in 1830 at the initiative of the British government, and in 1834 the governor Francisco de Mazarredo laid out the current garden around the tomb, to a design by the municipal architect José María de Noya: an enclosed oval, sheltered from the wind, with paths radiating from the centre like spokes. It has centuries-old elms listed in the catalogue of notable trees of Galicia.
The highlight is the viewpoint on the wall, with a panoramic view of the port and the waterfront. It is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm from November to March and from 8 am to 9 pm from April to October, according to the tourist office. It is free and takes half an hour.
ℹ️ Distance: Old Town, a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de María Pita · Best time to go: All year; morning, with light over the port · Admission: Free; open 8 am to 8 pm (November to March) and 8 am to 9 pm (April to October) (source: coruna.gal turismo, verified October 2026) · Duration: 30 minutes
7
Riazor and Orzán Beaches (Praias de Riazor e Orzán)
The two big sandy city beaches, side by side in the heart of the city, with Deportivo's stadium behind them.
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Riazor and Orzán are the everyday beaches: one long stretch of sand split in two, on the side of the peninsula facing the open sea, ten minutes' walk from the Plaza de María Pita. Across the promenade are buildings, bars and the Riazor stadium, Deportivo's ground, opened in 1944 and holding 34.600 spectators according to Wikipedia.
In summer they fill up with locals. The Atlantic water is cold even in August, so swimming is for the brave. Out of season they are a place to walk on the sand and watch the waves, especially at sunset, when the sun drops into the sea.
The night of 23 June, San Juan, is the city's biggest festival: according to Wikipedia, more than 100.000 people gather on these beaches with bonfires and sardines. If you are here for it, arrive early and keep an eye on your things. If you are a football fan, the tour of Deportivo's stadium and museum is sold from 21 € on Civitatis.
ℹ️ Distance: About 10 minutes' walk from the Plaza de María Pita, on the open-sea side · Best time to go: July and August for swimming; all year for walking · Admission: Free (public beaches) · Duration: From 1 hour to a full beach day
8
Aquarium Finisterrae (Aquarium Finisterrae)
The city aquarium by the sea, with the Nautilus room inside a five-million-litre tank and seals in the open air.
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The Aquarium Finisterrae is the most visited of the three Museos Científicos Coruñeses and the one most geared to families. The city council created it in 1999 and it stands on the seafront promenade, near the Tower of Hercules. It has four rooms and more than three hundred species.
The star is the Nautilus room, decorated like Captain Nemo's study and submerged in a large five-million-litre tank: around you swim sharks, groupers, meagres and shoals of mackerel. On the outdoor terraces live harbour seals, in pools fed directly with seawater, and there is the anchor of the oil tanker Mar Egeo, which ran aground off the Tower in 1992 and caused an oil spill.
Some activities are included in the ticket: seal feeding every day at 12 noon and 5 pm, and feeding of the Nautilus residents on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:30. Admission costs 10 € (4 € reduced). If you also plan to see the Domus or the Casa de las Ciencias, buy the 12 € Bono Tres Casas at reception: for almost the same price you get into all three. Allow two hours.
ℹ️ Distance: Seafront promenade, between the beaches and the Tower of Hercules · Best time to go: All year; ideal on a rainy day · Admission: 10 € general; 4 € reduced; free for under-4s (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026). Bono Tres Casas 12 € · Duration: 2 hours
9
Domus, House of Humankind (Domus)
An interactive museum devoted to the human being, in a sail-shaped building by Arata Isozaki facing Riazor beach.
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According to the Museos Científicos Coruñeses themselves, the Domus was the first interactive museum in the world devoted entirely to the human being. It opened in 1995 and the building was designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and the Galician César Portela: a curved building facing the sea, with 6.600 slate pieces on the façade and granite walls and stairs, according to Wikipedia.
Inside there are more than 150 interactive exhibits to touch, try and play with. The current exhibitions cover nutrition, the brain (with a colourful neural network made by Galician schoolchildren), genetics, with DNA models on the ground floor, and human evolution, with input from Atapuerca researchers. It works very well with kids, but curious adults enjoy it too.
General admission costs just 2 € (1 € reduced). From September to December it is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm, with last entry half an hour before closing. It is on the seafront promenade, at the Riazor end, so it pairs well with a walk along the beach. Allow an hour and a half to two hours.
ℹ️ Distance: Seafront promenade, above Riazor beach · Best time to go: All year; a good option if it rains · Admission: 2 € general; 1 € reduced (under-16s, over-65s, students) (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1,5 to 2 hours
10
Casa de las Ciencias and Planetarium (Casa das Ciencias)
The city's first science museum, in a small palace in Santa Margarida park, with a planetarium and a Foucault pendulum.
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The Casa de las Ciencias opened on 1 June 1985 and is the oldest of the three Museos Científicos Coruñeses. It occupies a small palace inside Santa Margarida park, in the city centre, and has three floors of exhibitions and a planetarium.
A Foucault pendulum swings in the central stairwell, showing the rotation of the Earth. The rooms cover hands-on physics experiments ('Física en acción'), pendulums ('Puro swing', with fifteen modules that explain, for example, the secret of the botafumeiro in Santiago) and how the media report on astronomy. The surprises continue outside: the park has open-air science modules.
Admission costs 2 € and the planetarium is paid separately, with a 2 € supplement (1 € and 1 € at the reduced rate). Planetarium sessions have limited places, so it's worth booking. It's a short, cheap visit, ideal to combine with a walk in the park. It's far from the sea, in the upper part of the centre, within walking distance of Plaza de Lugo.
ℹ️ Distance: Santa Margarida park, in the centre · Best time: All year round; a rainy day · Admission: 2 € general + 2 € planetarium; reduced 1 € + 1 € (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1,5 hours with a planetarium session
11
MUNCYT, Museo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (MUNCYT Coruña)
The A Coruña branch of Spain's national science museum, with free admission, large pieces from the history of technology and temporary exhibitions.
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MUNCYT is Spain's National Museum of Science and Technology, run by the Ministry of Science, and one of its branches is in A Coruña, on Praza do Museo Nacional de Ciencia. Together with the Tower and the municipal museums, it rounds out the city's scientific profile.
Its collection brings together large pieces from the history of science and technology in the Mayúsculas hall, which you can see on daily guided tours at 12:30 and 17:00, according to the museum's programme. From 17 September 2026 to 15 April 2027 it is showing the temporary exhibition 'Los instrumentos de Humboldt', about the German naturalist's tools. At weekends there are usually workshops for kids and families.
According to the blog of the Galician operator Mundo R (March 2026), admission is free every day for the permanent and temporary exhibitions, and the guided tour is free too. Watch the opening hours: it is closed every Monday and also on 7 October, the local holiday. From September to June it opens Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, Saturdays from 11:00 to 19:00, and Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 15:00.
ℹ️ Distance: Praza do Museo Nacional de Ciencia 1, 15011 A Coruña · Best time: All year round (closed on Mondays) · Admission: Free, free admission every day (source: blog.mundo-r.com, March 2026, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1 to 1,5 hours
12
Castillo de San Antón, Museo Arqueológico e Histórico (Castelo de San Antón)
A 16th-century fortress on the water, once a prison and a quarantine station, now a museum of Galician archaeology.
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The Castillo de San Antón is a fortress built in the 16th century at the entrance to the harbour, opposite the Ciudad Vieja. According to the City Council, between the 16th and 18th centuries it was a defensive building and a prison, and later a lazaretto, the place where sailors arriving with infectious diseases were isolated. It has been a historic-artistic monument since 1949 and the museum opened in 1968.
The Museo Arqueológico e Histórico brings together protohistoric goldwork, pieces from the megalithic period and the Bronze Age, objects from the castro culture (the pre-Roman fortified settlements of Galicia), from Roman times and from the history of the city. Besides the exhibition rooms, you can walk through the chapel, the sacristy and the casemates. From the walls there is a good view of the bay and the city.
Admission costs 2 € (1 € reduced) and is free every Saturday of the year. From September to June it opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:30, and Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 14:30; it is closed on Mondays. You can buy tickets online at ticketing.coruna.gal. The building has architectural barriers, worth bearing in mind if you have reduced mobility.
ℹ️ Distance: Paseo Alcalde Francisco Vázquez 2, steps from the Ciudad Vieja · Best time: Saturdays (free); all year round · Admission: 2 € general; 1 € reduced (youth card, under-14s, over-65s); free on Saturdays (source: coruna.gal, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1 to 1,5 hours
13
Monte de San Pedro (Parque do Monte de San Pedro)
A hilltop park with views over the whole city, giant coastal guns, a maze and a viewpoint; the lift no longer works.
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Monte de San Pedro is A Coruña's natural viewpoint: a park on top of a hill west of the city, from where you can see the whole peninsula, the Torre de Hércules and the coast. It's a place to walk, have a picnic or simply look at the sea.
At the top, the coastal batteries that protected the estuary are preserved, with two 381 mm Vickers guns more than 17 metres long, bought in 1929 and installed in 1933 according to the local listings guide Planomato. The park also has a hedge maze, a pond and a playground, and the Cúpula Atlántica, a covered viewpoint with screens about the city's history. Next to the batteries is Árbore da Veira, the city's only Michelin-starred restaurant.
Be careful with what you read in older guides: the famous panoramic lift, a glass capsule that rose from the seafront promenade, has been out of action since 2022. In July 2026 the mayor, Inés Rey, announced that it will not run again because safety regulations require an evacuation staircase that isn't feasible; the sphere will become a viewpoint. Today you get up on foot through the park or by car. The park is free.
ℹ️ Distance: West of the city, past Riazor beach along the seafront promenade · Best time: A clear day, at sunset · Admission: Free (public park). Panoramic lift out of service since 2022 (source: El Español, July 2026, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1,5 to 2 hours
14
Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo (Mercado de Eusebio da Guarda)
The city's go-to municipal market, with around 190 stalls of fish, seafood, meat and Galician cheeses, steps from the centre.
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To see what the city eats, head to the Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo, officially the Mercado Municipal Eusebio da Guarda. According to the newspaper Quincemil (El Español), it has around 190 stalls and is a benchmark for the quality of its produce; in February 2026 the City Council put 28 vacant stalls out to tender. There are fishmongers and seafood stalls, butchers, charcuterie, bakeries, fruit and veg, cheese and eggs.
The highlight is the fish and seafood stalls first thing in the morning, with the catch of the day and prices on display: they help you understand what you'll later pay in restaurants. According to the local listings guide Planomato, on the second floor there's a stall, El Duque, that cooks on the spot the produce you bought downstairs.
It opens Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 15:00 and is closed on Sundays, according to the Páxinas Galegas directory; check before you go. Entry is free. Go early and on a weekday, when it's busiest, and bring cash in case a stall doesn't take cards.
ℹ️ Distance: Plaza de Lugo, in the centre, about 10 minutes' walk from María Pita · Best time: Monday to Saturday mornings · Admission: Free · Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
15
The city of the Apostle and the end of the Camino is less than half an hour away by train: you can go and come back in a day without rushing.
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Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia and the goal of the Camino de Santiago, is the obvious day trip from A Coruña and one of the easiest in Spain. The direct Renfe train takes about 28 minutes and there are many services a day; Movelia lists 32 daily services with tickets from 6,30 €. You leave from A Coruña train station and arrive at Santiago station, within walking distance of the old town.
Once there, it's worth walking through the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Plaza del Obradoiro and the cathedral, and eating at one of the bars in the centre. If you arrive on a weekday morning you'll find fewer groups.
If you'd rather go with a guide, Civitatis sells a trip to Santiago from A Coruña of about 6 hours from 69 €, designed for cruise passengers (with pick-up at the terminal and an English-speaking guide). For most independent travellers, the train is cheaper and more flexible. Watch the train fares: they vary by type of service and how far in advance you book, so compare them on the Renfe website.
ℹ️ Distance: About 28 minutes by direct train from A Coruña station · Best time: All year round; weekdays to avoid crowds · Admission: Train from 6,30 € one way (source: Movelia, aggregator, verified October 2026); the city is free to explore · Duration: Full day
16
Day trip to Betanzos
A medieval town of sloping streets, Gothic churches and the most famous tortilla in Galicia, about 23 minutes away by train.
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Betanzos is a town of medieval origin about 25 km from A Coruña by train, preserved around steep streets and stone squares. Its old town was declared a historic-artistic ensemble in 1970 and it is called the capital of Galician Gothic because of its stone churches.
The key visits are two Gothic churches: San Francisco, which holds the tomb of Pérez de Andrade supported by a bear and a wild boar, and Santa María do Azogue, with a doorway crowned by a large rose window. The Plaza de la Constitución has the 18th-century town hall designed by Ventura Rodríguez. Outside the centre is the Parque del Pasatiempo, conceived in the early 20th century by the García Naveira brothers. And in the town's bars you'll find the tortilla de Betanzos, made with nice runny egg.
You get there by direct Renfe train in about 23 minutes; Movelia lists 8 daily services with tickets from 3,30 €. There are also intercity buses. Half a day is enough, but if you stay for lunch, better make it a full day. Watch out for the slopes: wear comfortable shoes.
ℹ️ Distance: About 25 km; 23 minutes by direct train · Best time: Spring to autumn · Admission: Train from 3,30 € one way (source: Movelia, aggregator, verified October 2026); the old town is free · Duration: Half day to full day
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Torre de Hércules | 3 € general; 1,50 € reduced (under-16s, over-65s, youth card, ISIC/ITIC, large families and unemployed people with a Spanish or European document); free for under-3s, every Monday, on local holidays and on the third Saturday of each month from October to June (source: torredeherculesacoruna.com, verified October 2026). Closed from 1 October to 15 November 2026 for works. Buy online or at the CIAV from 9:45; limit of 32 people every half hour |
| Aquarium Finisterrae | 10 € general; 4 € reduced (under-16s, over-65s, unemployed people, students and large families with a document); free for under-4s and during the Semana da Ciencia, from 7 to 15 November 2026, with online booking (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026). Only the general rate is sold online; reduced tickets and passes at reception |
| Domus (Casa del Hombre) | 2 € general; 1 € reduced; free on local holidays (17 February and 7 October 2026) (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026). Sold at reception or at ticketing.coruna.gal |
| Casa de las Ciencias y Planetario | 2 € general + 2 € planetarium supplement; reduced 1 € + 1 €; free for under-4s (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026). Planetarium tickets are bought at the Casa de las Ciencias reception |
| Bono Tres Casas y Tarjeta Vente (museos científicos) | Bono Tres Casas 12 € (one entry to the Casa de las Ciencias, the Domus and the Aquarium, with no expiry date according to the tourism website); Tarjeta Vente 20 € and Vente Mini 10 € (under-16s and over-65s), annual, personal and requiring an ID card or passport (source: coruna.gal/mc2, verified October 2026). Sold at the reception of any of the three museums |
| MUNCYT (Museo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología) | Free: free admission every day to the permanent and temporary exhibitions (source: blog.mundo-r.com, March 2026, verified October 2026). Closed on Mondays and on 7 October |
| Castillo de San Antón (Museo Arqueológico e Histórico) | 2 € general; 1 € reduced (youth card, under-14s and over-65s); free for under-4s, people with disabilities and every Saturday of the year (source: coruna.gal, verified October 2026). Buy online at ticketing.coruna.gal/arq/visitsananton |
| MEGA, Mundo Estrella Galicia (museo de la cerveza) | Self-guided visit through the 8 sections with a beer 18 €; guided visit with pouring and tasting 28 €; guided visit with tasting or food pairing 38 € (source: mundoestrellagalicia.es, verified October 2026). Buy on the official website |
| Tour por el estadio de Riazor (RC Deportivo) | From 21 € per person, including entry to the museum and the stadium, 1 h 30 min (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) |
| Casa Museo María Pita | Free, free admission (source: blog.mundo-r.com, March 2026, verified October 2026) |
| Paseo marítimo, playas, Jardín de San Carlos, Monte de San Pedro y Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo | Free (public spaces) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
Free tour of A Coruña (María Pita, Ciudad Vieja, Jardín de San Carlos)
Price0 € to book; pay with a tip of your choice (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026)
Free tour of the Parque Escultórico de la Torre de Hércules
Price0 € to book; tip of your choice (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026)
Day trip to Finisterre and the Costa da Morte
Day trip to Las Catedrales beach and Lugo
Sailing boat trip around A Coruña bay (with a drink)
Food tour of A Coruña (Galician tapas)
Guided trip to Santiago de Compostela (for cruise passengers)
PriceFrom 69 € per person, with pick-up at the cruise terminal and an English-speaking guide (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
Compañía de Tranvías city buses (single ticket)
Price€1,30 standard fare, cash only, with a maximum of €5 in change; children under 4 travel free (source: tranviascoruna.com, current fares, verified October 2026)
NotesThese are the city's red buses, run by the Compañía de Tranvías de La Coruña, which has been moving the city since 1903. A cash ticket doesn't include a free transfer. The iTranvías app shows in real time when each line is arriving and helps you plan your route. Carry coins: the driver won't give change for large notes.
Tarjeta Coruña Millennium (stored-value bus card)
Price€0,45 per trip on the general profile; under-15s travel free; free transfer within 45 minutes (source: tranviascoruna.com and coruna.gal, verified October 2026)
NotesThis is the rechargeable city card: you tap it on the reader when you board and the fare is deducted from your balance. There's also Millennium QR, which lets you pay with your phone through the APP Coruña. Getting the card is a council procedure and the website recommends booking an appointment, so for a two- or three-day stay it may not be worth it: work out how many trips you'll actually take. The same card works on the airport bus and for BiciCoruña.
PriceFree on foot; BiciCoruña requires a subscription with the Millennium card (source: coruna.gal tourism, verified October 2026)
DurationFrom María Pita to the Tower of Hercules, a mid-morning walk along the coast
NotesThe tourist office recommends walking: distances between sights are short, and the seafront promenade and the centre are a pleasure to stroll. There are more than 35 km of cycle lanes, 13 of them along the promenade, and several bike rental shops on the waterfront. The public BiciCoruña scheme is designed for people staying longer.
PriceMetered, no fixed fare from the airport; we couldn't find the official 2026 fare table published (source: Aena and coruna.gal, verified October 2026)
NotesThere are taxi ranks all over the city and you can call one 24 hours a day: Radio Taxi +34 981 243 333 and Tele Taxi +34 981 287 777. Ask the driver to switch on the meter when you get in. For getting to and from the airport in a group of three or four, it can work out better than the bus.
Metropolitan and intercity buses
Price€0,85 for the airport bus paying with a metropolitan or Millennium card (source: coruna.gal, verified October 2026); other fares depend on zones and can be checked at tmg.xunta.gal
NotesFor towns in the area such as Arteixo, Oleiros or Betanzos there are buses run by Transporte Metropolitano de Galicia. The Millennium card works on them as a stored-value card, but on the general profile: the council's social discounts don't apply. For Betanzos and Santiago, the train is usually faster.
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
A Coruña-Alvedro Airport (LCG) → city centre
Airlines / operatorsAlsa, line 4051/A4 (stops at Plaza de Orense, Marina and Puerta Real); taxis at the exit
Avg. priceBus €0,85 with a metropolitan or Millennium card (source: coruna.gal, verified October 2026); €1,55 in cash according to the aggregator aeropuertosdelmundo.net (verified October 2026). Metered taxi, no fixed fare (source: Aena)
Madrid → A Coruña by high-speed train
Avg. priceFrom around €19–23 booking in advance; average price €43 to €48 (source: Omio, aggregator, verified October 2026)
Madrid → A Coruña by long-distance bus
Airlines / operatorsAlsa, from Madrid (Estación Sur, the Moncloa interchange or Barajas T4 depending on the service)
Avg. priceFrom €58, average price around €61 (source: Omio, aggregator, verified October 2026)
Santiago de Compostela ↔ A Coruña by train
Avg. priceFrom €6,30 one way; 32 services a day (source: Movelia, aggregator, verified October 2026)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Budget: hostels and guesthouses in the centre
Recommended optionsHostal Costa Coruña (from €40), Hostal Hotil Coruña Centro on Calle Galera (from €42), Saudade Hostal Cafetería (from €45) and Hostal Carbonara on Calle Nueva (from €51) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). 2-star hotels average €65. Add the tourist surcharge: €1,5 per person per night in guesthouses and 1- and 2-star hotels
Mid-range in the centre and near the beaches
Recommended optionsIbis Styles A Coruña (from €57), Exe Coruña on Ramón y Cajal (from €58), Hotel Brisa on Paseo de Ronda (from €65) and Hotel Zenit Coruña (from €69) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). The overall city average is €138 and August is the most expensive month (€170 on average). Tourist surcharge: €2 per person per night
Upscale hotels in the centre and the Ensanche
Recommended optionsEurostars Ciudad de La Coruña (from €62), Eurostars Blue Coruña (from €76) and Hesperia A Coruña Centro on Juan Flórez (from €77) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). These are low-season minimum rates: in July, August and San Juan week they shoot up. November is the cheapest month (€92 on average)
Top end: facing the port and the bay
Recommended optionsNH Collection A Coruña Finisterre, on Paseo del Parrote, with bay views (from €109), and DoubleTree by Hilton A Coruña (from €105) per night (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). Momondo gives an average of €225 a night for the city's 5-star hotels. Tourist surcharge: €2,5 per person per night in 5-star and 4-star superior hotels, capped at five nights
🍴 Where to eat
Menú del día (almuerzo de semana)
Options / signature dishThe cheapest sit-down meal: starter, main, dessert or coffee and, often, bread and a drink. Barlovento, on Calle Federico Tapia, charges €14,50; Herculina, on Juan Flórez, €14,90 with bread and a drink included (source: Merca2, July 2026, verified October 2026). Served at lunchtime Monday to Friday
Pulpo á feira en pulpería
Options / signature dishThe quintessential Galician dish: boiled octopus, cut with scissors, dressed with olive oil, coarse salt and paprika, and served on a wooden plate. At A Pulpeira de Melide, in Campo da Leña, a half portion for two costs €17 and a large one €24; at O Rueiro a portion is €16 (source: Quincemil/El Español, prices published in April 2025, verified October 2026; they may have gone up)
Tapeo gallego y producto del mercado
Options / signature dishEmpanada, Padrón peppers, zamburiñas (small scallops), razor clams and Albariño or Ribeiro wine. To try a range of bites with some context, the Civitatis food tour starts at €20 with tapas included; and on the upper floor of the Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo, El Duque cooks on the spot the fish or seafood you bought downstairs (source: Civitatis and Planomato, verified October 2026)
Alta cocina gallega con estrella Michelin
Options / signature dishÁrbore da Veira, at the top of Monte de San Pedro next to the coastal batteries, is the city's only Michelin-starred restaurant. Its long tasting menu, 'Árbore', costs €95 with snacks, 12 courses, 3 desserts and petit fours (source: Quincemil/El Español, April 2026, verified October 2026); in 2024 it also offered the Semente (€65) and Raíces (€80) menus. Book ahead
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa, EES or ETIAS to travel to A Coruña from Latin America?+
Argentinians, Uruguayans, Chileans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians don't need a visa for tourism of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. If you hold another nationality, check with the Spanish consulate. Since 10 April 2026 the EES (Entry/Exit System) has been fully operational: at your first Schengen border check they record your fingerprints and photo, and your passport is no longer stamped. If you fly into Madrid and then continue to A Coruña, you'll do that registration in Madrid. ETIAS, the online authorisation, isn't required yet: the EU hasn't set a date and the specialist press points to 2027. Carry a return ticket, your accommodation booking and health insurance, as you may be asked for them.
How many days should I stay?+
With two full days you'll see the highlights: one for the Old Town, María Pita, Avenida da Mariña, the Jardín de San Carlos and the Castillo de San Antón; another for the seafront promenade, the Tower of Hercules, the Aquarium or the Domus, and sunset at Riazor or on Monte de San Pedro. With a third day you can take the train to Santiago de Compostela (about 28 minutes) or Betanzos (about 23 minutes). With four or five days you can add a trip to the Costa da Morte and Finisterre, which takes about nine and a half hours on an organised tour. Momondo says the average hotel stay in the city is two days.
Can I visit the Tower of Hercules in October and November 2026?+
Not inside. The official website says the Tower of Hercules is closed from 1 October to 15 November for upgrades to its electrical system. What you can do is explore the surrounding park for free, with its sculpture park and clifftop paths, and take your photos from outside. The visitor centre (CIAV) provides information. From 16 November the winter opening hours return, 10:00 to 17:00 with last tickets sold at 15:45. If you go on a Monday, admission is free, but you still need to collect a ticket at the CIAV. On very windy days the terrace or the whole tower is closed.
How do I get around and how do I pay?+
The centre, the Old Town and the seafront promenade are easy to cover on foot. For longer distances, like going from the beaches to the Tower or coming back from Monte de San Pedro, there are the red buses of the Compañía de Tranvías: a single ticket costs €1,30 and is cash only, with a maximum of €5 in change. With the city's Millennium card the fare drops to €0,45 and there's a free transfer within 45 minutes, but getting the card is a council procedure and it's only worth it if you're staying several days. In shops, restaurants and museums bank cards work without any problem; keep some cash for buses and market stalls.
Is it worth renting a car?+
For the city, no. The tourist office points out that most streets in the centre are pedestrianised or residents-only, as is the whole Old Town, and recommends leaving your car in a public car park and getting around some other way. Santiago and Betanzos are better done by train. A car does make sense if you want to explore the Costa da Morte, Finisterre or the Rías Altas on your own, where public transport is scarce. In that case, rent it only for those days and look for accommodation with parking or outside the historic centre.
Does it rain a lot? When is the best time to go?+
Rain is spread throughout the year: about 1.018 mm annually according to the AEMET 1991-2020 data cited by Wikipedia, with an average temperature of 15,1 °C. Winters are mild and snow is almost unheard of. Summer is mild and the sea is cold. July and August are beach season and the most expensive: Momondo gives an average of €170 a night in August, compared with €92 in November. May, June and September combine good weather with fewer crowds. If you enjoy local festivals, San Juan night, on 23 June, draws more than 100.000 people to the Riazor and Orzán beaches. Always bring a waterproof jacket.
Sources consulted (50)
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- Wikipedia (ES) — «Torre de Hércules»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_de_H%C3%A9rcules
- Wikipedia (EN) — «Domus (museum)»: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domus_(museum)
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- Museos Científicos Coruñeses — «Aquarium Finisterrae»: https://www.coruna.gal/mc2/es/aquarium-finisterrae
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- Museos Científicos Coruñeses — «Casa das Ciencias»: https://www.coruna.gal/mc2/gl/casa-das-ciencias
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- A Coruña Tourism — «The Essentials»: https://www.coruna.gal/tourism/en/what-to-do-in-a-coruna/the-essentials
- MUNCYT — «Museo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología»: https://www.muncyt.es/
- MUNCYT — «Agenda Coruña septiembre 2026»: https://www.muncyt.es/sites/default/files/2026-08/agendacor-septiembre26.pdf
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- Planomato — «Baterías de costa del Monte de San Pedro»: https://planomato.com/es/a-coruna/n/baterias-costa-monte-san-pedro-monticaño
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- Planomato — «Rutas gastronómicas por la lonja y los mercados de A Coruña»: https://planomato.com/es/a-coruna/n/rutas-gastronomicas-lonja-mercados-coruna
- Viaje Camino de Santiago — «Qué ver y hacer en Betanzos»: https://viajecaminodesantiago.com/camino-ingles/betanzos/
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- Blog Mundo R — «Museos gratis en A Coruña»: https://blog.mundo-r.com/es/museos-gratis-coruna/
- Mundo Estrella Galicia (MEGA) — «Vive la cerveza nivel MEGA»: https://mundoestrellagalicia.es/
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- eucrim — «Entry/Exit System (EES) Fully Operational Since 10 April 2026»: https://eucrim.eu/news/entryexit-system-ees-fully-operational-since-10-april-2026/
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- Michelin Guide — «Árbore da Veira»: https://guide.michelin.com/mx/es/galicia/a-corua/restaurante/arbore-da-veira
