Cape Finisterre

If you aren’t a walking or cycling pilgrim (walkers generally take 4 to 5 days), it’s a 75-minute drive from Santiago de Compostela, or you can take a bus from the station, which runs at least once a day to the Cape in 2.5 hours.

After the obligatory walk to the lighthouse and sunset on Cape Finisterre, there’s plenty to see around the area, and going with a guide adds a lot to the visit; several agencies in Santiago offer tours, walks and experiences.

Some pilgrims carry on (or ahead instead) to less-visited Muxia, north of Finisterre. This is where the body of St James supposedly came ashore, a spot marked by the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Barca. The path along the Costa da Morte that links Muxia and Finisterre is absolutely stunning.

The classic time to visit is at sunset (you can spend the day touring the coast). Try to check the weather, though, before setting out, as Cape Fisterre can be wrapped in fog, although that can add to the mysterious aura.