Santiago de Compostela, Spain
In the cobbled centre of the historic city of Santiago, steps away from the cathedral, the Parador de Santiago, the oldest hotel in the world, offers fine traditional dining and a unique experience
Our review
Sited in the pedestrianized part of Santiago da Compestela, right next to the cathedral, the hotel is one of the oldest in the world, dating from the 15th century. At the end of the pilgrimage trail, the hotel was once also a hospital where pilgrims could recover from their ordeal. Genuine pilgrims – who have travelled 100 km along the Camino and can prove it – can still get free food and hospitality. Once you have traversed the narrow streets and found the hotel, park outside in the square. A car valet will come and take your car away.
Part owned by the government, the building is a tourist attraction in itself and around 50 tourists a day come to visit. A separate part is reserved for hotel guests. The rooms are simply furnished but ooze with history, for example, along the corridors are several-hundred-year-old chests. Half of the rooms have been renovated, the heavy drapery replaced with lighter linens and bed covers and it looks so much fresher and brighter. All rooms should have been refurbished by 2015. There is air conditioning and free WI–Fi. Our windows opened too.
Downstairs is the main restaurant and former morgue from when the hotel was a hospital. This is very popular and booking is necessary.
Breakfast was excellent. There is a comprehensive spread of almost everything one could want from fresh fruit, spinach or potato tortilla, assorted cold meats, cheeses, good breads to a selection of hot items.
The building itself can feel a bit draughty and the corridors are bare walls, but it is all in keeping with the age of the place. The bar and tearoom are open to the public, so may get a bit busy at times, but this does die down when the tour groups have left in the afternoon.
The chapel has a meeting room above from where plague sufferers used to be able to hear a sermon and have a window to observe the ceremony, whilst not infecting others. There is also a spiral staircase here where brave priests would come up to bless plague victims before they died.
The town is very busy with religious tourists and the cathedral, whilst fascinating, was also a bit unsettling to my mind, with several manned confession boxes containing stern looking priests.
The hotel was a great experience and has to be done once. Make sure you get a refurbished room.
Rooms
The Parador de Santiago de Compostela offers approximately 137 rooms, including a selection of suites. Rooms are set within a former royal hospital founded in the 15th century and feature period details such as stone walls and wooden beams, alongside modern comforts. Many rooms enjoy views over the Praza do Obradoiro, internal courtyards or historic city rooftops.
Food and Drink
The hotel’s main restaurant serves traditional Galician cuisine, highlighting local seafood, meats and seasonal produce. Classic regional dishes are prepared with a refined approach in an elegant historic setting.
Additional dining includes a more informal café and bar areas, ideal for light meals, tapas and drinks, many overlooking the interior cloisters or the cathedral square.
Wellness
The Parador offers basic wellness facilities including a fitness room and quiet spaces for relaxation, designed to complement the hotel’s calm and historic atmosphere.
Facilities
- Historic cloisters and interior courtyards
- Traditional restaurant and café‑bar
- Fitness room
- Meeting rooms and event spaces
- Concierge and guest services
- Library and reading rooms
- Free Wi‑Fi
Location
The Parador de Santiago de Compostela sits directly on the Praza do Obradoiro, next to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as museums, historic streets and pilgrimage landmarks, are all immediately outside the door.
Getting there
Address: Plaza do Obradoiro, 1. 15705 Santiago de Compostela , Spain
Arriving by air: Santiago de Compostela Airport – 9 miles/14km – 20 minute drive
More information
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* Note: The hotel review was last updated in early 2026. Please let us know if you spot any factual errors.