Ла-Корунья

Summer is the best season, with mild days and the best chance of sun, but the Atlantic can bring rain at any time. Spring and early autumn are also pleasant. Winter is mild and wet.

On the night of 23 June, the San Juan festival fills the city beaches with bonfires.

• Tower of Hercules is a Roman lighthouse from the 1st or 2nd century AD. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands on a headland north of the center. You can climb to the top.
• The Marina is a seafront with white glazed balconies (galerías) facing the harbor.
• Plaza de María Pita is the main square, with a grand town hall.
• Castillo de San Antón is a small fortress on an islet, with an archaeology museum.
• Riazor Beach and the nearby Orzán beach form the long city beach on the open ocean side.
• Aquarium Finisterrae - Fish House is a sea-life aquarium near the Tower of Hercules.
• Breogán is a bronze statue of a mythical Celtic king near the tower, set among sculptures in a park.

• Walk or cycle the seafront promenade around the peninsula to the Tower of Hercules, ideally at sunset.
• Join the San Juan night on 23 June, with bonfires and picnics on Riazor and Orzán beaches.

• Santiago de Compostela (about 70 km, 40 minutes by train): a pilgrimage city with a famous cathedral.
• Betanzos (about 25 km, 25 minutes by car): a medieval town known for its omelette.
• Fisterra (about 120 km, 2 hours by car): a cape on the Costa da Morte, once seen as the end of the world.
• Vigo (about 150 km, 1.5 hours by train): Galicia's largest city.

Other places in Galicia:

• Pilgrimage city: Santiago de Compostela.
• Coast: Fisterra and Vigo.

• By air: A Coruña airport (LCG) is about 10 km south of the center and has domestic and some European flights. Santiago airport (SCQ) is about 70 km away.
• By train: Trains arrive from Madrid, Santiago and Vigo. Book on Renfe.
• By bus: Coaches link A Coruña with Santiago, Vigo and Madrid.

• On foot: The center is compact, and a long seafront path links the beaches and the Tower of Hercules.
• Cycling: Cycling along the seafront is popular, and the city is fairly flat.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the center. A car helps for the Costa da Morte and the villages.
• Parking: Use an underground car park near the center, because street parking is limited.
• Restrictions: Some streets in the old town are closed to normal traffic.

A Coruña is known for seafood. Try pulpo á feira (boiled octopus with paprika and olive oil), empanada, pimientos de Padrón (small green peppers) and fresh shellfish. A tortilla betanceira is a soft potato omelette from nearby Betanzos. Albariño is the local white wine.

The streets near Plaza de María Pita and the old town have many seafood restaurants.

A Coruña is a safe city. Strong waves and currents make some ocean beaches dangerous, so swim only where there are lifeguards. Bring a waterproof jacket, because rain is common.

A Coruña was a port in Roman times, and the Tower of Hercules dates from that period. The tower was restored in the 18th century.

The city grew in the Middle Ages as a harbor for trade and shipping. In 1588 ships of the Spanish Armada sailed from here. In the 19th century the glazed balconies of the Marina became the city's trademark.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: