In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Ribadeo via Viveiro, Cedeira and A Coruña to the Costa da Morte, on to Fisterra and Santiago de Compostela and then through the Rías Baixas to Vigo: around 640 kilometres at the Atlantic end of Spain, where tides, fog and coastal protection rules shape the planning.
The spirit of the route
Galicia smells of eucalyptus, salt and wet granite. The coast is more ragged than anywhere else in Spain: deeply cut rías, headlands with lighthouses, beaches that are twice as wide at low tide as at high tide. In the north the cliffs of the Serra da Capelada stand in the wind, on the Costa da Morte waves break on rocks where ships were once wrecked, and on the Rías Baixas the hórreos, the stone granaries on stilts, stand right at the water’s edge. From your sliding door you see fishing boats, mussel rafts in the bay and, in the morning, often fog that does not lift until midday. Then there are the pilgrims on the paths to Santiago, whom you keep overtaking or crossing along the way. This route is green, damp and slow – good rain gear and plenty of time belong in your luggage.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Ribadeo to Viveiro (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- From Ribadeo, where the Ponte dos Santos crosses the ría into Asturias, the N-642 follows the coast through Foz and Burela to Viveiro; the A-8 motorway runs parallel inland and is toll-free. The road is wide and well surfaced, with a 90 km/h limit outside built-up areas and 50 km/h through Foz, Burela and San Cibrao, with many roundabouts. It only gets tight at the approaches to the beach car parks, occasionally with height barriers. Driving time is about 1 hour; with the walk to As Catedrais it fills a whole day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Praia das Catedrais (Augas Santas), about 10 km west of Ribadeo: rock arches up to roughly 30 m high and caves that can only be reached at low tide, while at high tide the beach almost disappears. Allow one to two hours around low water for the walk with photo stops; the descent is by a staircase.
- Ponte dos Santos and Ribadeo: the bridge, a little over 600 m long, crosses the Ría de Ribadeo into Asturias and gives a view of the port town with its Indiano villas such as the Torre dos Moreno. The town centre can be covered on foot in one to one and a half hours.
- Viveiro: the old town with the Puerta de Carlos V and the harbour on the ría is the nicest stop before the capes. A stroll with a coffee takes about an hour and a half, and the waterfront is lively in the evening.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Camping Ribadeo lies about 3 km from the town near the A-8 junction, with a pool and hot water; according to the operator’s rates page it is open from 13 June to 13 September (check the year beforehand). In Ribadeo and Viveiro the camper-stop directories also list áreas de autocaravanas, and in Viveiro the Camping Viveiro; facilities and season there are unconfirmed, so call ahead. After mid-September many sites on the north coast close, leaving only áreas and a few year-round campsites.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In 2026 Ribadeo put forward its own motorhome ordinance (first approved in July according to the local press): camping and parking in Natura 2000 areas, natural spaces, port areas and town centres is to be banned, with the municipality imposing the penalties itself. Check the current status and fines with the Concello beforehand. Sleeping in a closed vehicle (pernocta) is legally possible where parking is allowed and no ordinance forbids it; awning, table, chairs and deployed levelling legs count as camping.
- Insider tip for campers
- In 2026 the free Xunta permit for As Catedrais applied from 1 July to 30 September and during Holy Week (ascatedrais.xunta.gal, up to 30 days ahead, up to 25 people per application, and according to the press at most 3,772 visitors a day); outside those periods access is free. Dogs are banned from 15 May to 15 September and in Holy Week. Check the tide table for Ribadeo, go around low water as a rule of thumb, and arrive early, because the car parks are tight for long motorhomes.
2Stage 2: Viveiro to Cedeira (Serra da Capelada) (approx. 90 km)
- The drive
- From Viveiro the coast road leads through Ortigueira to Cedeira; the detour to the Serra da Capelada branches off on the AC-862, and to Cabo Ortegal you continue on the DP-6121. This mountain road is narrow, steep and twisty, partly without guardrail; fog and strong wind are frequent, and gusts above 100 km/h are possible at the cape. At 30 to 50 km/h the hairpins are more comfortable. Driving time just over 2 hours, about 3 hours with the detour to the cape.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Vixía Herbeira in the Serra da Capelada: the cliffs drop about 600 m into the sea and are among the highest sea cliffs on the European mainland (613 m is often quoted). In clear weather you stay 30 to 45 minutes; in fog you see nothing, and mornings are often closed in.
- San Andrés de Teixido: a pilgrimage village with a sanctuary and a spring in a gorge between mountains and sea; according to a Galician saying, whoever did not come in life must go there after death. About 25 minutes’ drive from Cedeira, and the visit takes 45 minutes including parking.
- Cabo Ortegal: lighthouse and the sea stacks of Os Aguillóns; from the car park it is a 10 to 15 minute walk to the cape. Allow for wind and a jacket, and the path is slippery when wet.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: A Frouxeira Camper Park in Valdoviño by the lagoon: 30 pitches with electricity, service points and four showers, open all year; in summer reception is staffed from 11 to 13 and 18 to 20, in winter by prior booking only (information from the Concello). Campsites near Cedeira, Valdoviño (for example Fontesín) and Ortigueira are also listed in the directories; check season and length limits beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): The Serra da Capelada and Cabo Ortegal are protected areas, camping is prohibited, and the viewpoint car parks are meant for daytime use. Where municipalities restrict pernocta by ordinance (according to the press Valdoviño is among those with such plans), local signs apply. Sleeping in a closed vehicle without awning, table and chairs is legally conceivable where parking is allowed, but not guaranteed.
- Insider tip for campers
- With vehicles over about 7 m, leave the camper below and drive the approaches to San Andrés and the Garita early in the day, when there is little oncoming traffic and few excursion coaches. Fill up with fuel and water in Viveiro, Ortigueira or Cedeira, since the cape area has few stations. If MeteoGalicia issues a fog warning, cancel the detour: the view is only worth it with visibility.
3Stage 3: Cedeira to A Coruña (approx. 85 km)
- The drive
- From Cedeira via Narón to Ferrol and around the Ría de Ferrol through Pontedeume and Betanzos to A Coruña. The N-VI is toll-free, while the parallel AP-9 costs, according to the press, 6.15 € for the car class Ferrol–A Coruña in 2026 (2025: 5.90 €); whether a motorhome counts as light or heavy at the barrier depends on height and weight and is decided at the toll plaza. The Fene–Ferrol sections of the AP-9 are free. Driving time about 1.5 hours, with dense city traffic in A Coruña mornings and evenings.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Torre de Hércules: the Roman lighthouse, about 55 m tall, is the oldest still operating in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009; the view over the peninsula rewards the climb. Open 16 Sept–15 June from 10 to 17, 16 June–15 Sept from 10 to 21, admission 3 € (free on Mondays), at most 32 people per half hour, closed in winds above force 7; allow 1.5 hours including the sculpture park.
- Paseo Marítimo: the coastal promenade around the peninsula, at about 13 km (figures vary), counts as one of the longest in Europe. The Torre–Orzán–Riazor stretch takes one to one and a half hours on foot, and in clear air the sunset is worth it.
- Old town and marina: the white glazed galleries of Avenida da Marina face the harbour, and Praza de María Pita with the town hall lies one block behind. The Cidade Vella with its Romanesque churches can be explored on foot in two hours.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Camping Bastiagueiro in Oleiros: a beach campsite on Praia de Bastiagueiro with motorhome service, washing machines, bar and gas sales; open June to September according to the operator’s page, check beforehand. The camper-stop apps also list areas at the Campus de Elviña; status, cost and service points there are unconfirmed. For a city visit a site on the outskirts with a bus connection is more practical than the centre.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In A Coruña overnighting in a vehicle on public land (near the beaches Riazor and Orzán, at the Torre) is not advisable, and the city regulates and polices parking strictly. Car parks have height limits (usually around 2 m, check the sign). In the Fragas do Eume natural park near Pontedeume camping is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- A Coruña had no low-emission restrictions by environmental sticker at the end of 2025, the focus being on pedestrian zones; in Ferrol a ZBE (Zona de Bajas Emisiones) is planned in two phases, with no firm date. Check the rules beforehand. The city is best explored by bus from the outskirts or on foot; traffic around the centre is dense.
4Stage 4: A Coruña to Muxía (Costa da Morte) (approx. 110 km)
- The drive
- From A Coruña on the AC-552 or the AG-55 (toll road, about 0.07 € per kilometre in 2026 according to the press, so comparatively cheap) to Carballo, then via Ponteceso and Corme to the coast, then Laxe, Camariñas and Muxía on coast roads. They are mostly well built, but narrow and twisty in Corme, at the harbour of Laxe and in Camariñas. Driving time just over 2 hours, a full day with stops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Laxe: a fishing harbour with a long sandy beach; at low tide you can walk along the water, and a stop takes about an hour.
- Camariñas: lace-making (encaixe) has its museum here, and the Cemiterio dos Ingleses recalls the wreck of HMS Serpent in 1890 with 172 dead and three survivors. The lighthouse at Cabo Vilán, 15 minutes away, is said to be Spain’s first electrically powered one (1896).
- Muxía: the Santuario da Virxe da Barca stands right on the rocks by the Atlantic; it was badly damaged in the fire of December 2013 and rebuilt, and next to it lie the Pedra de Abalar and the Punta da Barca lighthouse. An hour is enough; in storms keep away from the rocks.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: In Muxía there are Camping O Paraíso (Playa do Lago, second category, on the Fisterra–Muxía section of the Camino, with electricity, supermarket and bungalows) and Camping Lago-Mar; the directory also lists a small área de autocaravanas with about 15 pitches. Near Ponteceso and Corme the data name Camping Costa da Morte; ask the operator about season, facilities and opening, since many sites are already closed in autumn.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): The Costa da Morte is a coastal protection area, and camping on the beach or at the lighthouse is policed. Under the “pernocta” principle, sleeping in a properly parked vehicle is conceivable where parking is allowed and no municipal ordinance forbids it; awning, chairs, table and levelling legs are taboo, and grey water must not be drained anywhere.
- Insider tip for campers
- After the sinking of the “Prestige” in 2002 the coast is a sensitive area; rubbish belongs in the bins. In fog and storms avoid the coast roads; in storms the waves at Muxía and Vilán are dangerous. Fill up in Carballo or a larger town before the circuit, because filling stations on the coast are sparse.
5Stage 5: Muxía to Fisterra (approx. 30 km)
- The drive
- A short, twisty stage: from Muxía on the AC-440 to Cee and on the AC-445 to Fisterra, with town centres to pass in Cee and Corcubión. The approach from the town to the cape is about 3 km long, narrow and slow when coaches are around. Driving time a good 45 minutes; you spend the rest of the day at the cape.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Cabo Fisterra: lighthouse and the “Kilometre 0.00” stone of the Camino, a good 3 km on foot from the town as a pilgrim stretch. Sunset is the occasion; if driving, be back in town before dark.
- Praia de Langosteira: a long sandy beach right by the town, facing the open Atlantic; swim only when the flag allows. The O Campo stop is just 200 m away.
- Cee and Corcubión: old harbour towns with galleries and pazos on the way to Fisterra; half an hour is enough for a walk by the water.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Área de Autocaravanas O Campo in Fisterra: 35 pitches with water, electricity, service point, Wi-Fi and bar, open all year, from about 12 € a night according to the directory (check the price beforehand); the gate is closed at night, and Langosteira beach is 200 m away. The data also list Cámping Ruta Finisterre and, near Carnota, Camping San Francisco; ask about the season beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): The cape is under coastal protection: parking at the lighthouse is possible by day, overnighting is not intended, even though directories list a night parking spot there; check the signs on site. Burning clothes at the cape is forbidden according to the signage, and fire is a risk here as in the whole coastal woodland.
- Insider tip for campers
- Many pilgrims and coaches gather at the cape, and the road is narrow and unlit in the dark. With a long vehicle leave the camper down in the town and go up on foot or by bus. Wind and fog arrive quickly, so pack a jacket and do not step to the cliff edge.
6Stage 6: Fisterra to Santiago de Compostela (approx. 110 km)
- The drive
- From Fisterra along the coast on the AC-550 to Carnota and Muros, then to Noia and from there inland on the AC-543 to Santiago. The coast road is twisty with many village centres, and the last kilometres to Santiago are wide. Driving time about 2 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Hórreo de Carnota: at 34.74 m long with 22 pairs of supports (1768 to 1783) it is one of the longest granaries in Galicia, often called the largest but in fact third by length. Beside it lies the roughly 7 km long Praia de Carnota; half an hour covers both.
- Muros and Noia: old harbour towns with arcades and lanes, and in Noia the Romanesque church of Santa María a Nova with its churchyard full of guild gravestones. An hour in each.
- Santiago: the cathedral, Praza do Obradoiro and the old town are easy to cover on foot; pilgrim masses at 12 and 19:30 (check the times). On 31 December 2026 the Holy Year 2027 (Xacobeo) begins with the opening of the Holy Door; in 2025, 530,987 pilgrims received the Compostela.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Camping As Cancelas in Santiago is open all year according to the operator, with electricity, chemical toilet disposal, washing machine and online booking; the operator gives the distance to the centre as about 30 minutes. The private Área dos Salgueiriños (about 80 pitches, access via SC-20 and A-54, Rúa Manuel María) lists water, electricity, disposal, showers, bar and filling station in the directory; an entry fee applies. There is also Cámping San Marcos; check opening and terms beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Santiago overnighting in the urban area outside designated sites is not advisable. The Cidade Histórica has been designated a Zona de Bajas Emisiones since the decision of 10 November 2025, with 11 bollard entrances and 5 camera-monitored accesses, speed limit 10 km/h; access is for residents, deliveries and Pass & Park holders, not motorhomes. The ZBE depends on permits, not on the sticker.
- Insider tip for campers
- Do not drive the camper into the old town; park outside and take the bus. At pilgrim mass and in the week around 25 July the city is very busy, and in July 2026 the pilgrim office counted more than 71,500 Compostelas; reserve pitches in good time. With the Holy Year 2027 expect more traffic than usual.
7Stage 7: Santiago de Compostela to O Grove (Rías Baixas) (approx. 80 km)
- The drive
- From Santiago via the AP-9 or the toll-free N-550 (Padrón, Caldas) to Vilagarcía de Arousa, then on the Autovía do Salnés (AG-41, toll-free) to Cambados and on to Sanxenxo and O Grove; the island of A Toxa is reached by a bridge. The AP-9 Santiago–Vigo costs 12.60 € in total for the car class, the section to Vilagarcía correspondingly less. Wide roads, narrow only in the town centres. Driving time a good 1 hour.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Cambados: the Pazo de Fefiñáns stands on a square with bodegas, and tastings are usually possible by appointment and take 45 to 60 minutes. The Festa do Albariño 2026 ran from 29 July to 2 August, and the town is very full then.
- A Toxa: a small island with the Capela de San Caralampio, clad outside in scallop shells; a visit takes half an hour, and the approach is tight with large motorhomes.
- Mussel farming in the Ría de Arousa: the bateas can be seen from the viewpoints, and boats run from O Grove to the rafts (1 to 2 hours, usually with a tasting). The seafood festival in O Grove traditionally takes place in October; check the date.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Camping Siglo XXI in San Vicente do Mar (O Grove): 2026 season from 1 June to 27 September, private bathrooms on each pitch, pool from mid-June to mid-September; prices by season, motorhome 15 to 25 € plus persons (check 2027 beforehand). Campolongo Parking: plots of 7 × 11 m, 150 m from the beach, 18.70 to 21.35 € according to the directory, motorhomes only, no caravans. Also Camping Playa Paisaxe II in O Grove and áreas near Vilagarcía, Caldas de Reis and Sanxenxo; check terms beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In 2026 O Grove introduced an ordinance against wild camping by motorhomes: parking around the beaches from 23:00 to 8:00, camping elements such as table, chair or awning, noise and emptying outside service points are prohibited, with fines from 300 € up to 6,000 € according to the press; signs already stand at the beaches As Pipas and Reboredo. Parking is only allowed in designated areas. Sanxenxo, A Illa de Arousa and Valdoviño are considering similar rules; national park land stays off limits anyway.
- Insider tip for campers
- Watch the festivals: at the Festa do Albariño in Cambados (end of July/start of August) and the seafood festival in O Grove the area is full. Buy mussels and seafood fresh at the harbour if you cook yourself. Fill up in Vilagarcía or Cambados shortly before moving on; in high season the approaches to O Grove are slow in the evening.
8Stage 8: O Grove to Vigo (Cíes Islands) (approx. 75 km)
- The drive
- From O Grove on the PO-308 to Sanxenxo and Combarro and via Pontevedra to Vigo. The town centre of Combarro is very narrow; from Pontevedra the AP-9 runs wide to Vigo; according to the Transport Ministry’s bonus scheme sections such as Rande–Vigo and the Pontevedra bypass are free, Santiago–Vigo costs 12.60 € (car class), Vigo–Tui 3.55 €. Driving time a good 1 hour, with city traffic and slopes in Vigo.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Combarro: a fishing village with hórreos at the water and cruceiros in the lanes; 45 minutes is enough. Better to leave the motorhome at the edge of the village.
- Pontevedra: the old town is largely car-free, with Praza da Ferrería and the rounded Santuario da Peregrina; a walk takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The city is regarded as a model for traffic-calmed centres.
- Illas Cíes: a boat trip from Vigo, Baiona or Cangas into the Illas Atlánticas National Park, with Praia de Rodas and the lighthouses. The crossing takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on the port, and the day stay 5 to 7 hours.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Camping Playa América in Nigrán: 500 m from the beach, 10 km from Vigo and 5 km from Baiona, with a bus stop 100 m away (every 30 minutes); ask the operator about the season. In Poio near Combarro the directory lists the Área A Seca; check terms beforehand. Camping Islas Cíes: main season 2026 from 15 May to 14 September, booking opens in March, overnight guests need no separate permit; arrival by boat, without a vehicle.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On the Cíes national park law applies: camping is only allowed on the campsite. The camper stays on the mainland. In Vigo overnighting in the urban area is not advisable; in addition the ZBE has been in force since 10 September 2026 (four zones: Centro, Plaza Portugal, O Calvario, Bouzas), with fines of up to 200 € according to the press only from 10 September 2027. The rules for foreign vehicles were not clear in the reports, so check beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Visitor numbers are capped (Cíes 1,800, Ons 1,300 a day according to the press); the permit is free and gives a two-hour window to buy the boat ticket (QR code, at the port 30 minutes before departure). It is mandatory in high season from 15 May to 15 September and at Easter; afterwards other rules apply (depending on the source, guided groups only), so check the current status. A return ticket costs roughly 27.50 to 32.50 € according to the press, dogs are banned, and there are no bins on the islands. Check the car park at the port beforehand for height limits.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Basic Spanish principle: sleeping in a legally parked vehicle (“pernocta”) is allowed, whereas camping (“acampada”: awning, table, chairs, deployed levelling legs, grey water) is not; vehicles with a pop-up roof also count as camping once the roof is raised. Since 1 October 2026, Real Decreto 518/2026 (new Art. 92.4 of the Reglamento General de Circulación) states explicitly when a motorhome counts as correctly parked: nothing protruding beyond the vehicle outline, resting only on its tyres (wheel chocks allowed), no draining of liquids. Municipalities may still regulate parking times, zones and maximum duration, but according to the DGT may not penalise solely because of the vehicle type; rules for protected areas and coasts apply independently.
- Galicia regulates campsites (Decreto 159/2019) and private áreas de autocaravanas separately; outside those, camping is not allowed. Since 2026 coastal municipalities have added their own ordinances: O Grove (ban from 23:00 to 8:00 around the beaches, fines from 300 € to 6,000 €), Ribadeo (first approval in July 2026), with others considering them. Signs reading “Prohibido pernoctar/acampar” are often municipal and count.
- Protected areas: the Illas Atlánticas National Park (Cíes only on the campsite), the Fragas do Eume natural park, the Corrubedo dunes, As Catedrais and the coasts of the Rías Altas. Fines depend on the municipality and range from three-digit to four-digit sums.
- Wildfire: the Xunta extended the high wildfire risk period in 2026 to 15 October; near woodland fire bans apply, barbecues only in designated facilities on campsites, and gas stoves on your own pitch are mostly allowed. For smoke or fire call 112 or the Galician fire reporting number 085; road closures are possible, check the rules on site.
- Legal overnighting: campsites and the áreas de autocaravanas (municipal or private), often with coin or app payment. Useful sources: park4night, Campercontact, Áreas AC, Áreas Camper; call ahead, because many sites close after mid-September or open only by prior booking.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Service points are called “área de autocaravanas” or “punto de vaciado”; many are paid (coin machine, app, token). Never drain grey water onto the ground or into drains, and empty the chemical toilet only at disposal points; along the coastal route such stations outside campsites are sparse.
- Water: tap water is drinkable in most places; look for “agua potable”. There are no drinking fountains on the Cíes, so bring water or buy it at the campsite.
- Gas: Spanish butane and propane cylinders (Repsol, Cepsa) are only handed out in an exchange system against a Spanish cylinder, and foreign cylinders cannot be exchanged. Autogas (LPG, GLP) is sold at many filling stations (station finder: geoportalgasolineras.es), depending on the pump with a dish, bayonet or Euro nozzle; carry an adapter set. On the Cíes campsite household gas cylinders are forbidden, only camping stoves outdoors.
- Fuel: diesel and petrol are available in the larger towns (Viveiro, Ortigueira, Cedeira, Ferrol, Carballo, Noia, Santiago, Vigo); on the Costa da Morte and the cape roads stations are farther apart, so fill up before the coastal circuit. Many pumps are paid after filling or by card at the till.
- Damp and foggy: Galicia has an Atlantic climate, and the wetter season begins in September and October. Laundry dries badly, condensation forms quickly, and ventilating and dehumidifying are part of daily life; MeteoGalicia issues warnings, and at orange or red level avoid coast roads.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits: motorhomes up to 3.5 t generally 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways and autovías; over 3.5 t 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 90 km/h on motorways. Combinations 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 90 km/h on motorways. In built-up areas 30 km/h on streets with one lane per direction, otherwise 50 km/h. Alcohol limit 0.5 ‰, phone use while driving banned, dipped headlights in fog.
- V16: since 1 January 2026 the connected V16 warning light is the only permitted device in Spain for securing a breakdown or accident; the warning triangle is no longer allowed for this, with a fine of 80 € according to the media. For foreign vehicles in “circulación internacional” the DGT clarified in January 2025 that warning triangles suffice; whether and how this is applied in 2026, check with the DGT before departure. Recommended: carry a V16 anyway; a high-visibility vest is mandatory when leaving the vehicle on the road.
- Tolls: the AP-9 (Ferrol–A Coruña–Santiago–Vigo–Tui) is a toll road, in 2026 according to the press for the car class Ferrol–A Coruña 6.15 €, A Coruña–Santiago 8.80 €, Santiago–Vigo 12.60 €, A Coruña–Vigo 21.40 €, Vigo–Tui 3.55 €; heavy vehicles pay by class with a 50 % bonus. The AG-55 (A Coruña–Carballo) is also tolled; the A-8, AG-41 and the coastal country roads are free. Telepeaje (Via-T) is a prerequisite for the light-class bonus; cash and cards can be used at the barriers.
- Low-emission zones (ZBE): since 10 September 2026 Vigo has its ZBE with four zones, with fines up to 200 € only from 10 September 2027; Pontevedra is a ZBE as a whole city without sticker restrictions, Ourense has had its ZBE since 26 December 2025 with fines from July 2026, Santiago regulates the old town through permits, A Coruña relies on pedestrian zones, and Ferrol and Lugo are in planning. For foreign vehicles the sticker question was not settled in the reports; check with the city beforehand and use car parks outside.
- Camino de Santiago: in 2025, 530,987 pilgrims received the Compostela, and in July 2026 more than 71,500. On this route you cross the Camino del Norte at Ribadeo, the Camino Inglés at Ferrol and A Coruña, the Camino de Fisterra–Muxía and the Camino Portugués at Pontevedra; pilgrims often walk at the roadside, so overtake with clearance and drive slower. With the Holy Year 2027 (from 31 December 2026) expect more crowds. Emergency 112, sea rescue 900 202 202, DGT 011.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Rain jacket and waterproof shoes – rain and fog are normal on the coast even in late summer, and rocks, walkways and stairs at As Catedrais and on the Cíes are slippery when wet.
- Tide table (Tabla de mareas) for Ribadeo and As Catedrais, saved offline – access to the beach depends on ebb and flood.
- V16 warning light (connected, DGT-approved) and high-visibility vest – mandatory in Spain since 1 January 2026, and for foreign vehicles check beforehand.
- Adapter set for autogas (dish, bayonet, Euro, ACME) – the nozzle at the pump is not uniform, and Spanish cylinders cannot be exchanged.
- Dehumidifier or calcium chloride granules for the motorhome – humidity in the Atlantic climate is high, and laundry hardly dries.
- Rucksack with water, windbreaker and rubbish bags for the Cíes – there are no drinking fountains or bins there, and everything goes back to the mainland.
As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
