Español
English
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Nederlands
Português
日本語
中文
Arzúa is the last large town on the French Way before Santiago, which is 39 kilometres away. The Northern Way also joins here, so pilgrims arriving from inland and along the coast pass through its streets every day. The town has around 5,900 residents and its economy is based on livestock and cheese.
In 2025, the Pilgrim’s Reception Office issued 530,987 Compostela certificates, a record, and almost half of all pilgrims chose the French Way. With the 2027 Holy Year on the horizon, deciding where to stay in Arzúa ahead of time can help you avoid surprises. These are the places we’ve selected one by one.
How to choose an area
Arzúa is small and easy to cross on foot. The best choice depends on how you’re travelling:
- The centre: rúa de Lugo and rúa do Carme, where the Camino passes, with the church, bars and shops. Ideal if you arrive on foot.
- Ribadiso and Boente: hamlets in the municipality that the route passes through before reaching town, with stone houses and a quieter setting.
- The countryside: meadows and entire rental houses a few minutes away by car, suited to families and groups.
Keep an eye on check-in times: several guesthouses in the centre close reception at 19:00 or 19:30. If you’re arriving late by car, let them know your arrival time or look for somewhere with check-in until 21:00.
In the town centre, close to everything
Two guesthouses where you can drop off your backpack, head out for dinner and get back on the route without a detour; neither has parking. Find more options on our places to stay in Arzúa page.
Pensión Casa Cruceiro
Ninety metres from the Church of Santiago, with double rooms and one triple room with three beds, all with private bathrooms. The terrace is a welcome place to stretch your legs at the end of the day’s walk, and the buffet breakfast costs extra. There’s no parking, and check-in closes at 19:30.
PENSIÓN CASA ELENA ***
A guesthouse where you can get a proper rest: soundproofed rooms, air conditioning and an on-site bar, with the old town a short walk away. It has wheelchair access and a bathroom with grab rails, and can arrange a transfer to Santiago Airport for an extra charge. Rooms accommodate a maximum of two people, and check-in closes at 19:00.
Hotels with parking on the Camino
If you’re travelling by car or have a support vehicle, these two hotels offer free parking and have gardens.
1930 Boutique Hotel
A three-star hotel beside the French Way, with a restaurant, garden and terrace. Double rooms have views, air conditioning and two single beds, a comfortable option for two friends walking together. Parking is free but must be reserved, and breakfast isn’t included in the rate.
Rectoral de Boente
A small hotel in the French Way area, with a garden and rooms featuring terraces, views and private bathrooms. You can request a double bed or two singles, and pets are allowed on request, possibly for an extra charge. Parking is free and doesn’t need to be reserved; continental breakfast costs extra.
Apartments and villas for families and groups
If you’re travelling as a group, a house with a kitchen is more practical than booking several rooms. Both places we recommend have free parking and check-in until 21:00.
Carballos Altos-Apartamentos Turísticos
Two-bedroom apartments with a living room, terrace and kitchen with hob, fridge and microwave, sleeping up to six people. In summer, the outdoor pool and garden are an added bonus, and there’s no need to reserve a parking space. Quiet hours are from 23:00 to 09:00 and parties aren’t allowed, so it’s better suited to families than groups celebrating a special occasion.
Complejo Rural Arzua San Miguel
Villas with fully equipped kitchens, terraces and garden views, some sleeping up to nine people: a useful choice for a large family or a group of friends. Wi-Fi is available throughout the complex, and you can leave your car in the private car park. Towels and bed linen may cost extra, so check when making your reservation.
What to see in Arzúa and nearby
Start your walk at the Church of Santiago, whose 1829 tower shows the Apostle welcoming pilgrims, then continue to the Chapel of La Magdalena, the remains of a 14th-century Augustinian convent. At the pazo de Santa María, built in 1742, you’ll find Fonte do Picho, one of the town’s two restaurants recommended in the summer 2026 edition of the Soletes Repsol guide; the other is Casa Brandariz.
Cheese takes centre stage at the table: the cow’s milk cheese with the Arzúa-Ulloa designation of origin is mild and creamy, and Spain’s second-largest cheese by production after Manchego. Octopus and lacón with turnip greens round out the menu.
Outside the town centre, the medieval bridge at Ribadiso crosses the River Iso around three kilometres before the town. The fervenza das Hortas, a waterfall around 30 metres high, is a 15-minute walk from its car park, and the Portodemouros reservoir has a river beach.
When to visit
The main event is the Festa do Queixo, held in early March (it’s postponed if it coincides with Carnival), with cheesemakers, free concerts and live music in the streets. It has been a Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia since 1999, and its 50th edition drew more than 50,000 people. Accommodation fills up quickly that weekend.
Most pilgrims pass through from May to October, and finding somewhere to stay is harder in July and August. 2027 is a Holy Year, with the cathedral’s Holy Door open all year: reserve well in advance. Winters are rainy but quiet.
Getting there and getting around
Arzúa is in the province of A Coruña, 39 kilometres from Santiago (half an hour by car via the A-54 or N-547) and 63 kilometres from Lugo. The nearest airport is Santiago Airport in Lavacolla. There’s no train service: Monbus runs several daily buses from Santiago, taking around 45 minutes. The centre is easy to explore on foot; you’ll need a car to reach the waterfall or reservoir.
Arzúa is one of the stops featured in our guide to where to stay in Galicia. If you’re continuing along the route, also see where to stay in Palas de Rei, a long day’s walk to the east, and where to stay in Santiago de Compostela, the final destination. For hot springs, see where to stay in Ourense.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the questions we’re most often asked by people planning a night in Arzúa.
What’s the best area to stay in Arzúa?
If you’re walking the Camino, stay in the centre: the route comes in via rúa de Lugo and leaves via rúa do Carme, so you’ll be right on the trail and can set off early without a detour. If you’re travelling by car, want a quiet setting or have children, the hotels and houses on the outskirts are a better fit. They often have free parking, a garden and sometimes a seasonal pool.
Is it easy to park in Arzúa?
It depends on where you stay. The guesthouses in the centre that we recommend don’t have their own parking. If you need your car, choose a place with free parking: some offer it without a reservation, while others require you to reserve a space in advance, so check the details before confirming your stay. Apartments and villas for groups usually include private parking and plenty of room for luggage.
How far is Arzúa from Santiago de Compostela?
It’s around 39 kilometres along the French Way, which most people split into two stages, stopping in O Pedrouzo halfway. By car, it takes about half an hour via the A-54 or N-547, and scheduled buses take around 45 minutes. That also makes Arzúa a quiet base for visiting Santiago without staying in the city.
When is the Arzúa Cheese Festival?
The Festa do Queixo takes place every year in early March and is postponed if it coincides with Carnival. It brings together dozens of cheesemakers, free concerts, live music in the streets and activities for children. It has been a Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia since 1999 and draws tens of thousands of people, so it’s worth arranging your stay several weeks in advance.
Are there places to stay in Arzúa for families or groups?
Yes, with several options. As well as guesthouses with triple rooms, there are two-bedroom apartments for up to six people and villas sleeping up to nine, with fully equipped kitchens, terraces and private parking. Some have gardens and seasonal outdoor pools. Bear in mind that these houses often set check-in until 21:00 and ask you to let them know your arrival time in advance.
