What to do in Galicia

Galicia has 1,500 kilometres of Atlantic coast shaped by the rías: deep sea inlets carved into river valleys that create one of the most extensive sheltered-water systems in Europe. The Rías Baixas and Rías Altas have different water temperatures, different swells and their own ecosystems. Sea kayaking, surfing, sailing and spearfishing share the same coastline with mussel platforms and oyster beds that supply the local cuisine. The north coast concentrates some of the best surf spots on the Iberian Peninsula. A Lanzada, on the Pontevedra estuary, has long waves that work in any wind. Pantín, on the A Coruña coast, hosts a European championship each autumn and attracts international competitors. The Atlantic groundswell arrives with no continental shelf to slow it, producing quality waves even on locally windless days. Inland, the Ancares and Courel ranges preserve oak and birch forest with stone villages and granary stores that document centuries of rural economy. Canyoning in the Fragas do Eume —the largest Atlantic forest on the Peninsula, with three-metre tree ferns— combines waterfall descents with ancient vegetation. The Meira range and the Pena Trevinca massif, at 2,127 metres, offer accessible high-mountain terrain. The Camino de Santiago connects the territory through multiple variants: the Camino Francés enters via O Cebreiro; the Camino Portugués climbs from Tui and A Guarda; the Camino del Norte arrives from Ribadeo. Galicia holds the final 100-300 kilometres of the main pilgrimage routes, making it the most-walked long-distance hiking destination in western Europe.