A brand new flight to northern Spain takes off from Cork Airport this week
Irish visitor numbers on the Camino are on the rise.
And now Cork pilgrims and holidaymakers can fly directly to the final stop on the famous walking route, as the new Aer Lingus service to Santiago de Compostela launches at Cork Airport.
The carrier will fly from Cork to Santiago de Compostela twice weekly (Monday and Thursday), from now through September 30th. From October 1st to the 23rd, it will fly on Wednesday and Saturday.
Cabin crew Laura Jenkins, Tracey Duffy, Assumpta Cahill and Ellen Farrissey. Photo: David Creedon
Known as the spiritual heart of Galicia, visitors to Santiago de Compostela can wander through the cobbled streets of its UNESCO-listed old town, where ornate buildings, arcaded squares and historic monasteries surround the magnificent Catedral de Santiago, the main attraction and the final stop on the Camino de Santiago.
This cathedral, which is believed to house the remains of Saint James (Santiago), draws visitors from across the world.
Walk this way
Last year, the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims Office recorded more than 530,000 pilgrims completing the Camino – the highest figure ever recorded and a six per cent increase on the previous year. Among the top 10 nationalities undertaking the pilgrimage, Irish pilgrims ranked eighth, with numbers up by five per cent compared with 2024.
Summer in Santiago de Compostela offers mild and pleasant temperatures, typically ranging from 18°C to 25°C, and visitors can sample local specialties such as pulpo a la gallega (octopus served with paprika and olive oil), empanada gallega (a savoury pie filled with seafood, meat or vegetables), and caldo gallego (traditional Galician soup with vegetables).
Don’t miss the famous Tarta de Santiago (a sweet almond cake dusted with icing sugar) for dessert.
Santiago de Compostela is the second of two new Aer Lingus routes from Cork Airport this summer, following the new twice-weekly service to Nice in France, which started in May. It’s also the sixth new route added by Aer Lingus at Cork Airport since April last year.
