In this post we want to give you some information about the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago de Compostela.
At the end of your journey, whatever your route, you will arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where you can visit the tomb of the Apostle St. James.
You may feel joy, euphoria, satisfaction or even sadness at the end of your journey.
However, it is very likely that you will want to take home a souvenir of this incredible experience, something that certifies your commitment and effort.
In fact, many pilgrims, once they arrive in Santiago de Compostela, go to the pilgrim’s office to receive the pilgrim’s certificate called the “Compostela”.
To learn more about the pilgrim’s credential, don’t miss this article.
We will see where, how and at what times you can obtain this accreditation.
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Where is the Pilgrim’s Office?
The Pilgrim’s Office is located on Rúa Carretas, very close to Plaza del Obradoiro (see map)
What are the hours of the Pilgrim’s Office?
The Pilgrim’s Office is open from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm every day (from Easter to October 31) . In winter the hours vary to 10am-7pm.
The days it is closed are December 25 and January 1.
Pay attention to the closing time, which can be brought forward by one hour if there is a high influx of pilgrims.
How can I get the Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office?
This document is granted only to those pilgrims who have completed the Way of Saint James with a Christian or spiritual sense or with a “searching attitude”.
The Compostela is granted on presentation of a duly stamped “pilgrim’s passport”.
Request your Compostela Certificate in advance if you are traveling as a group
If you are traveling in a group of 5 or more people, we recommend that you request your Compostela in advance. This way you can avoid waiting time and possible queues at the pilgrim’s office when you go to pick up your credential. You will be able to enjoy Santiago from the first minute you set foot on its streets.
How to apply in advance for the pilgrim’s Compostela for groups?
Requesting the Compostela before arriving in Santiago is very simple:
- Gather the data of each of the members of the group (Name, Surname, Sex, Age, Profession, Reason for the pilgrimage, Nationality, Start date, Means of transport, Route of the Camino, Start of the Camino).
- One or two days before arriving in Santiago de Compostela fill out this form on the Pilgrim’s Office website.
- Send the form
- Pick up your Compostela: Ready! When you arrive in Santiago you can pick up your Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office.
Precisely the last stamp, from the Cathedral of Santiago, is placed in the pilgrim’s reception office.
In addition, the minimum required to obtain this accreditation is to cover 100 km on foot and 200 km by bicycle along one of the official routes of the Camino de Santiago.
At Galiwonders we will help you find the perfect route, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Once you arrive at the waiting area of the Pilgrim’s Office, you can pick up a ticket with your number. By scanning the QR code present on the ticket you can check the status of the queue in real time and wait there or come back later. When your turn comes, you will be shown on a screen the number and place to go to receive the Compostela.
What they do at the Pilgrim’s Office?
The Pilgrim’s Reception Office, as its name suggests, welcomes pilgrims arriving in the city of Santiago. A warm welcome awaits you in this place created specifically for travelers who, like you, have accomplished their journey.
It was Archbishop Bartolomé Rajoy, in the 18th century, who founded the building which has been largely refurbished and which today also has a garden for the pilgrims.
In addition to issuing the traditional pilgrimage certificate, it also offers other services, among which:
a wide garden to rest when arriving to the city, offices of Renfe, Post office and Alsa, a parking for the bicycles, a chapel for the prayer, bathrooms and office of tourism of Galicia.
On the website of the Pilgrim’s Office you can also find detailed information about the statistics of the pilgrims who have arrived in a specific year, which routes were the most popular, the reasons, ages, origins, etc..
For example below you can see some figures for the routes in 2019. To find out more about the most chosen routes in 2019 and 2018 read on here.
If you wish to contact the Pilgrim’s Office directly, you can do so by telephone (+34 981 568 846)
or by mail to these addresses:
oficinadelperegrino@catedraldesantiago.es
botafumeiro@catedraldesantiago.es
credencialesperegrinos@catedraldesantiago.es
Getting accreditation at the Pilgrim’s Office will allow you not only to take home a priceless souvenir, but also to meet the many other pilgrims who have walked one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela. You could share the same desires and efforts so don’t miss another opportunity to meet other incredible people who have chosen to live the same experience.
To find out more about your next journey, contact us.
The Galiwonders team will be happy to help you.
Buen Camino!
