For anyone who has ever walked the Camino de Santiago, the end of the journey is a moment of extraordinary emotion. After weeks of blistered feet, sunrises over the Meseta, and the quiet camaraderie of fellow pilgrims, you finally stand before the great cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. But then comes a very practical thought: how do I get home? For the millions of pilgrims expected to arrive during the 2027 Holy Year, when the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint James and the doors of the cathedral are opened with special ceremony, that question has just become a little easier to answer. In a piece of genuinely exciting news for walkers and travellers alike, a brand-new budget airline called Fly2Galicia is preparing to launch flights from Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport to eight destinations across Europe. The first departures are scheduled for the 1st of December, 2026, which means that even the earliest waves of Holy Year pilgrims will already be able to take advantage of the new routes. The timing could not be better: after a long and transformative walk across northern Spain, the last thing you want is an expensive or complicated journey home. A cheap, cheerful and convenient flight from the very city where your pilgrimage ends feels like a final blessing.
Let’s talk about where exactly Fly2Galicia will take you, because the route map is a lovely mix of sunny domestic connections and exciting European city breaks. Domestically, the airline will connect Santiago with Alicante, Granada and Zaragoza, offering pilgrims and tourists a chance to continue exploring Spain without needing to backtrack through Madrid or Barcelona. Internationally, the new carrier will open up direct links to Brussels, Prague, Munich, Venice and Milan. Imagine finishing your Camino, having a final pilgrim meal, and then jetting off to see the canals of Venice or the Gothic spires of Prague. Tickets went on sale today, and the initial prices are genuinely appealing: from Milan to Santiago you can fly for as little as €41; from Brussels, Prague or Venice the fares start at €51; and from Munich you can get a seat for €71. Those are the kind of prices that make spontaneous travel feel possible again. It is worth noting, however, that Fly2Galicia will not actually operate these initial flights itself. Instead, a yet-to-be-named European partner airline will run the first services, which is a common arrangement for new carriers finding their feet. The important thing for passengers is that the routes are real, the timetable is set, and the prices are public. It is a smart, low-risk way for a new airline to test the waters before fully taking off.
Of course, Fly2Galicia is not the only airline to have noticed the growing demand for travel to Santiago de Compostela. Earlier this year, Wizz Air announced that it would be launching its own flights to the Galician capital from Rome and Warsaw, with the first departures expected this December. That is another fantastic option for pilgrims from Italy and Poland, two countries with deep traditions of Camino walking. But the news gets even better. In February, Wizz Air will establish a permanent base at Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport, which is a strong vote of confidence in the region’s future as a travel hub. This permanent base will also bring a wave of new domestic routes, including flights to Málaga, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Zaragoza. So while Holy Year 2027 is certainly the headline reason to visit, these developments mean that Santiago is becoming a genuinely affordable and well-connected gateway to the rest of Spain and Europe all year round. For local people in Galicia, this is a wonderful opportunity too: easier access to their own beautiful region, more jobs in tourism and aviation, and a chance to welcome the world to a corner of Spain that has sometimes been overlooked in favour of the Mediterranean coast. The combination of low-cost airlines, a major holy year, and the timeless appeal of the Camino is turning Santiago into one of the most exciting travel destinations of the late 2020s.
Once you arrive in Santiago de Compostela, whether by plane, bus, bike or on your own tired feet, the city itself is an absolute treasure. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason. Travellers and writers have described it as “one of the world’s most beautiful urban areas”, and it is easy to see why. The streets are a living museum of European architecture, with styles ranging from Romanesque and Gothic to Baroque and Neoclassical. You can wander through cobbled alleys, peer into centuries-old churches, and suddenly emerge into a vast square where the cathedral rises up like a stone symphony. The cathedral itself is the final goal of the Camino, and its famous Botafumeiro—the enormous incense burner that swings through the transept during special masses—is a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. But the Old Town is not just about grand monuments. It is a place to get lost in the best possible way: a tiny cafe serving tortilla, a hidden courtyard full of flowers, a shop selling artisan crafts, or a quiet corner where you can sit and watch the world go by. For pilgrims, there is an undeniable spiritual atmosphere, a sense that your long walk has brought you somewhere sacred. For ordinary tourists, it is simply a gorgeous, atmospheric city that rewards slow exploration and curiosity.
And when you are hungry after all that walking—both on the Camino and around the city—Santiago has a culinary scene that is nothing short of spectacular. The place to start is the Mercado de Abastos, the city’s lively food market, where you can grab the freshest seafood and seasonal produce that Galicia is famous for. Galicia is blessed by the Atlantic Ocean, and the market is a feast for the senses: glistening oysters, enormous crabs, sweet scallops, octopus that has been boiled and sprinkled with paprika, and cheese that ranges from creamy to sharp. You can buy ingredients for a picnic or simply eat at the small bars and stalls that surround the market. The best way to wash it all down is with a glass of Albariño, the crisp, aromatic white wine that has made the Rías Baixas region famous around the world. There is something magical about sitting in a sunlit square, drinking a cold glass of Albariño, and eating a plate of freshly cooked shellfish, knowing that you have earned every bite. If you have a little extra time, get out of the city and explore the rest of Galicia. A Coruña, with its glass-fronted galleries and Roman lighthouse, is a beautiful seaside city, while Vigo is a bustling port with its own charms. The Rías Baixas, the network of deep fjord-like inlets along the southern coast, is famous for its white-sand beaches, green islands and crystal-clear waters. It is a completely different side of Spain, wilder and greener, and it is all within easy reach of Santiago.
In the end, this new budget airline is about much more than cheap flights. It is about opening doors, shortening distances, and making it easier for people to follow their dreams. For the pilgrim who has spent weeks walking across Spain, it means the journey home does not have to be a stressful epilogue to a transformative experience. For the traveller who has always wanted to see Santiago but was put off by expensive or inconvenient connections, it means the opportunity is suddenly there, waiting for you. For the people of Galicia, it means a brighter future, more visitors, more connections, and a chance to share their incredible region with a wider audience. As the 2027 Holy Year approaches, the combination of spiritual significance, world-class heritage, incredible food and ever-improving transport links makes Santiago de Compostela an irresistible destination. Whether you arrive as a pilgrim, a food lover, a history enthusiast or simply as someone who loves discovering beautiful places, you will find a warm welcome waiting for you. And with the new routes from Fly2Galicia and Wizz Air, leaving is going to be a lot easier too. So pack your boots, book your flight, and let the adventure begin. The Camino is calling, and now, more than ever, Santiago is within reach for everyone.
