One of A Coruña’s greatest advantages is its location. Perched on Galicia’s northern coast, the city is the perfect springboard for exploring everything from historic pilgrimage sites to wild Atlantic headlands. Within an hour or two, you can swap bustling plazas for fishing villages, vineyards, or windswept cliffs that once marked the end of the known world. Here are some of the best day trips to take from A Coruña.

1. Santiago de Compostela – Pilgrimage and Prestige

Although many people start the Camino de Santiago from Coruña, if walking is not for you, you can get there in just 40 minutes by train. Santiago is Galicia’s spiritual capital and one of Spain’s most iconic cities. Pilgrims still arrive daily in the grand Plaza del Obradoiro, celebrating the end of the Camino de Santiago. The cathedral, with its soaring baroque façade and sacred relics, is a must-see, but so too are the winding medieval streets lined with tapas bars and traditional shops.
Getting there: Direct trains run frequently from A Coruña (approx. 40 mins). Driving takes about 1 hour.

2. Betanzos – Medieval Streets and Tortilla Glory

A mere 20 km from A Coruña, Betanzos is often overlooked but well worth the trip. Once a powerful medieval town, it retains a labyrinth of narrow alleys, Gothic churches, and handsome plazas. Food lovers make the pilgrimage here for another reason: Betanzos is said to serve the best tortilla española in Spain, creamy and not set in the middle.

Once you have explored Betanzos, another 15 minutes drive and you will reach Miño and its beautiful sweeping sandy beach.

Getting there: 25 minutes by train from A Coruña; about 30 minutes by car.

3. Ferrol – Naval Heritage and Modernist Flair

North of A Coruña lies Ferrol, a city shaped by shipbuilding and the Spanish navy. History buffs can tour its 18th-century arsenal and fortifications, while culture seekers will enjoy its striking modernist architecture. From here, the rugged Costa Ártabra begins — an untamed stretch of coastline where surfers chase Atlantic swells.
Getting there: 45 minutes by train or car.

4. Costa da Morte – The “Coast of Death”

Dramatic, windswept, and unmissable, the Costa da Morte offers some of Galicia’s most haunting scenery. Once notorious for shipwrecks, today it draws visitors with its towering cliffs, lonely lighthouses, and fishing villages. Finisterre — literally “the end of the earth” — is the most famous stop, where pilgrims extend their Camino to watch the sun sink into the ocean.
Getting there: Best explored by car; Finisterre is about 1.5–2 hours’ drive from A Coruña.

5. Pontedeume and the Fragas do Eume – Castles and Forests

South of Ferrol, the riverside town of Pontedeume charms with its medieval bridge and castle ruins. From here it’s a short trip to the Fragas do Eume Natural Park, one of Europe’s best-preserved Atlantic forests. Trails wind past waterfalls and ancient monasteries hidden beneath lush, moss-draped trees — a magical escape into nature.
Getting there: 40 minutes by car from A Coruña. There are also buses, though a car makes exploring the park easier.

6. Rías Altas Beaches – Sand and Solitude

If you’re after sea and sand, head east along the Rías Altas. Wide arcs of golden beach, such as Praia de Valdoviño (great for surfing) or Praia das Catedrais near Ribadeo, offer space to breathe and dramatic backdrops. The latter, named for its cathedral-like rock formations, is especially photogenic at low tide.
Getting there: Valdoviño is about 50 minutes by car; Praia das Catedrais is further (around 1h 45m by car). Train access is possible to Ribadeo, with connections to the beach.