TownGalicia120 km to Santiago de Compostela

Vilalba

A Galician market town known for its San Simon cheese and the medieval Torre de los Andrade. A practical service stop in inland Galicia with full amenities.

View accommodation Plan your arrival Start my Camino here

About Where to stay Explore Things to do Getting here Arrival day Practical info Find a bed

Services available

RestaurantCafeGroceryPharmacyATMTrainPost OfficeBusClinicWaterTobacconistAccommodationAirportPilgrim Office

About Vilalba

Vilalba is a Galician market town in the province of Lugo, known for its San Simon da Costa cheese (a smoked, pear-shaped cow's milk cheese with a DOP) and the medieval Torre de los Andrade, a 15th-century tower that now houses a hotel.

Pilgrims will find albergues, hotels, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, ATMs, and a pharmacy. The town is a practical service stop with a good range of amenities.

Vilalba has a lively weekly market and serves as a commercial hub for the surrounding farming communities. The cheese is one of Galicia's most distinctive food products and is worth trying.

Where to stay

Beds in Vilalba, night by night

Every kind of bed in one place: online booking, direct-contact albergues, walk-ins and donativos. Live prices for your night.

October 15 to October 28Each night shows how many places you can book online and the lowest price. Select a night to see the detail.From

Swipe for more nights

Thursday, October 15Albergue dorms and private rooms both count. Walk-in and donativo albergues never sell out online: arrive early in the day instead.

Prices come live from our booking partners and change with demand. Walk-in and donativo albergues are not counted here: they are in the full list at the bottom of the page.

Explore

Explore Vilalba

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

Select a pin to highlight the property.

Things to do

Things to do in Vilalba

5 things

HistorySee the Torre de los AndradeThe 15th-century tower is the most impressive building in Vilalba, a fortified medieval tower that has been converted into a Parador hotel. Even if you are not staying there, the tower is worth seeing from the outside. The Andrade family, who built it, were one of the most powerful noble families in medieval Galicia (their name also appears in Pontedeume on the Camino Ingles). The tower dominates the town centre and is visible from the approach on the Camino.

FoodTry San Simon CheeseVilalba is the home of San Simon da Costa, a smoked cow's milk cheese with a distinctive tear-drop shape and a golden-brown rind from the smoking process. The cheese is creamy, slightly smoky, and delicious. Every shop and restaurant in Vilalba serves or sells it. Buy a small piece to carry on the trail. It keeps well and makes an excellent snack at rest stops. San Simon is one of the signature flavours of Galicia and this is the town that produces it.

SightVisit the Museum of PrehistoryThe Museo de Prehistoria e Arqueoloxia is housed in the former municipal prison (an ironic but practical reuse of the building). The collection covers the rich prehistoric and archaeological heritage of the Terra Cha region, from megalithic sites to Roman remains. The museum is small but interesting, and provides context for the landscape you have been walking through. The Terra Cha has been inhabited for thousands of years.

RelaxationWalk the Town CentreVilalba is a working market town with a pleasant main square, traditional shops, and bars. The Praza de Santa Maria has the parish church and several stone buildings. The atmosphere is quiet and local. After days of walking through very small villages with limited services, Vilalba feels substantial and welcoming. Have a long coffee in the square, buy supplies, and enjoy the simple comfort of a town with everything you need.

Camino MomentThe Last 130 kmVilalba is approximately 130 km from Santiago. The stages ahead pass through some of the quietest and most remote walking on any major Camino route. The trail goes through forests, over the highest point of the Norte in Galicia (710m near Marcela), and through tiny farming villages. At Arzua, you merge with the Camino Frances for the final stages. The contrast between the solitude of the Norte and the bustle of the Frances is dramatic. Enjoy these quiet days. They are among…

Getting here

Getting to Vilalba

How to reach your starting point from major cities and airports.

By train

By Train

FEVE narrow-gauge trains run from Ferrol (2 hours) and Viveiro. Renfe regional trains connect from Lugo (45 minutes) and A Coruna (1.5 hours). The station is a short walk from the town centre.

By trainBy Train

FEVE narrow-gauge trains run from Ferrol (2 hours) and Viveiro. Renfe regional trains connect from Lugo (45 minutes) and A Coruna (1.5 hours). The station is a short walk from the town centre.

By airBy Air

The nearest airports are A Coruna (1.5 hours by car) and Santiago de Compostela (2 hours). From A Coruna, take a bus to Lugo then a train or bus to Vilalba.

By busBy Bus

Alsa buses run from Lugo (45 minutes), A Coruna (1.5 hours), and Ferrol (1.5 hours). Vilalba is a small town and the bus stop is central.

By taxi or transferBy Taxi

Taxis from Lugo to Vilalba are available. Private transfers from Santiago or A Coruna airports can be arranged.

Arrival day

What to do on arrival

Your checklist for arrival day in Vilalba.

Visit the Church of Santa Maria or the local albergue to collect your credential. Vilalba is a quiet starting point and pilgrim services are basic.

All accommodation

Places to stay in Vilalba

Our Koala Picks first, then donativos, albergues and hostels, hotels, and everything else. Within each group the best-reviewed places lead.

Prices for the night of

Loading places to stay…

Practical info

Practical information

Everything you need to know for your time in Vilalba.

Pilgrim Office / Credential

Church of Santa Maria

Additional Notes

Vilalba is a small, quiet town. Services are basic. This is the minimum 100 km starting point for the Norte Compostela. Known for its distinctive smoked cheese (San Simon da Costa).