Puerta de Aires

We continue with a classic of A Coruña, in which any snapshot dares to compete with Notting Hill or the island of Burano. We talk about the stairs of Puerta de Aires, a narrow street that leads us into the Ciudad Vieja from one of the sides of María Pita square.

The magic of this frame is hidden in the combination of the colourful buildings on both sides of the staircase and part of the building that houses the Town Hall of A Coruña, Modernist style from the beginning of the 20th century. Standing at the top of the stairs you will get a very symmetrical frame that will look like it was taken from a film by Wes Anderson.

Scientific museums

Science and photography in one place? In A Coruña you don't have one, but three incredible scientific museums in which to take unique snapshots that can must be in your Instagram profile.

A must is undoubtedly the Nautilus Room of the Aquarium Finisterrae. This huge aquarium is home to hundreds of fish, including sharks, and is a true experience that will trespass your camera screen. Another must-see is the Domus, an interactive museum dedicated to the human being and located in a building with unique architecture, by prestigious architect Arata Isozaki. Its stairs that practically fall on the bay of Coruña are the ideal place for a photo shoot before a visit to the museum. Finally, the palace that is the headquarters of the House of Sciences, on top of the Santa Margarita park, is also an ideal place to play with your camera and its different perspectives.

Tower of Hercules 

In this list of the best photo spots in A Coruña the symbol of the city must be included. It is the Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse that has been captivating locals and visitors for centuries and it is easy to understand why. From dawn to dusk, the Tower of Hercules shines with its own light.

When the sun's rays fall on it, it returns some reflections that make its stone acquire golden hues. Perhaps that's why the genius Pablo Picasso referred to it as the 'Tower of Candy'. And at night, the lighthouse does not disappoint. Its light illuminates A Coruña intermittently and its base is illuminated with spotlights that, in the middle of the night, make it look like this monument floats in the air. In addition, its 47 hectares of park, a Natural Area of Local Interest, are the perfect place for nature photography enthusiasts. 

Mount San Pedro

But sometimes the best shot of the Tower of Hercules is in the other corner of A Coruña. The Mount San Pedro is without a doubt the best viewpoint over the city. From here you will have a panoramic view of the coast from Arteixo and you will see all the bay that bathes part of the A Coruña peninsula.

Its labyrinth of English style, the cannons installed in 1933, or the Michelin Star restaurant are other locations that you can't stop photographing on your visit to Mount San Pedro. 

The Parrote and the Marina

We finish this walk through the most photogenic places of A Coruña in another of the icons of the city. The area of the Parrote and the Marina, next to the harbour, has a thousand angles in which to bring out your creativity with the camera. Here you can photograph the cruises that usually arrive in A Coruña, as well as the sailboats and fishing boats that are moored in the port.

Moreover, the white glass galleries are the perfect background for your A Coruña photoshoot. Complete the shot with ice cream from the famous Marina ice cream parlors or enjoy a coffee or a beer on the lively terraces under the galleries.

After all these recommendations, you will have a complete list of places to visit and photograph in A Coruña, but the best advice we can give you is to stroll and get lost in the streets of A Coruña. And when you publish your photos on social media, don't forget to tag us and share them with the hashtag #VisitCoruna and #ACorunaisaMUST. 

Then you can stop for lunch in A Espiga, the new restaurant on Santiago Street. With exposed stone walls, a symbol of Galician architecture, and a large kitchen open to the public, it is one of the best places to pay homage to local products. 

Anyone from A Coruña has in their rotation list three bars of the Ciudad Vieja: the café La Dársena, with the best views of the glass galleries of La Marina; the El Sauce, with its famous tortilla, and the Momos, in front of the Dominicans, one of the most typical terraces of A Coruña. 

All these places coexist with local and smal businesses and brand new ones that give a very cosmopolitan atmosphere to this area.

This is the case of Arobe Cerámica (2 San Francisco Street), a workshop with ceramics classes by the artisan Alejandro Roig, who revolutionized this craft. Their lessons have a waiting list of more than a year. Almost next to it is one of the coolest spaces in the Ciudad Vieja: Troppo, an Italian snack bar with vinyl shop. The best way to discover it is to get carried away by the cobbled streets, stop to contemplate the beauty of the church of the Collegiate Church; see how a group of young people learn to crochet in El taller de mi vida (calle Herrerías, 12); buy a bouquet of flowers at La Florería (Calle Puerta de Aires, 12), the most Parisian florist in A Coruña; or read a book, fresh out of the Berbiriana bookshop (Calle Santiago, 7), in one of the banks that inhabit its cobbled streets; rent a bike in Ok zona eBike (Paseo de la Dársena, 15) or have a massage overlooking the sea in Öa (paseo de la Dársena, 4). Even Maria Pita couldn't have imagined a better future for her old city.

Meanwhile, Kiosco Alfonso hosts between March and April the exhibition 'En pretérito seguinte', while Palexco will do the same between April and May with an exhibition entitled 'Pablo Ruiz in me', by the Cuban artist Nelson Villalobo. The María José Jove Foundation hosts until the end of the year the exhibition 'Ruiz A Coruña 1894 - Picasso Paris 1922'.

The program is completed with the Resis Festival in May and the celebration of Womex in October. There will be also children activities like the Picassian tourist route through animated shorts or the children's drawing contest 'La paloma de Picasso' (Picasso's Dove).

Discover the city by cycle lane

A Coruña is also a city to discover in family in a sustainable and healthy way. Here there are more than 45 kilometers of cycle lane that pass through the main tourist attractions of the city, such as the Obelisk, the Castle of San Antón or the Tower of Hercules, in addition to the promenade, and that also connect with the neighborhoods.

Besides, you don't need to travel with your bike. In the city you will find multiple bike rental options.

Take a walk in the Cabaliños dos Xardíns

In addition to cycling, there is another way to discover one of the city's most iconic places on wheels. This is the Cabaliños dos Xardíns that you will find in the central Méndez Núñez Gardens. A classic of the childhood of anyone from A Coruña, these colorful horses work on pedals and run through the stretch of gardens between the La Terraza building and the Palco de la Música during holiday periods, bank holidays and weekends.

Go to the Naves del Metrosidero

Very close to the Ciudad Vieja is one of the trendy places among the youth of A Coruña. This is the Naves del Metrosidero, an area that is already a meeting point for young people from 12 years with facilities that host workshops, shows and even a skate park and a climbing area.

Fly kites in the Tower of Hercules or Mount Saint Peter

A Coruña is a city where there are frequent days of strong winds. But far from being an inconvenience, this is the perfect opportunity to do one of the favorite activities of Coruña families: flying kites.

The best places to enjoy this family activity are the park next to the CIAV of the Tower of Hercules, the oldest lighthouse in the world still in operation, or the Mount San Pedro, on the other side of the bay and that hides another great plan for families. 

Try to get out of the labyrinth of Mount Saint Peter

In the same park of Mount San Pedro you will have spectacular views over A Coruña. You can also taste the A Coruña cuisine in a Michelin Star restaurant, stroll through its more than 90,000 square meters of nature or see the Vickers canyons up close.

But the most fun plan is probably none of these. Mount San Pedro also has a beautiful English-style labyrinth. You dare try to get out of it?

Go to a Dépor or Liceo game

If you are a sporty family, in your travel plans to A Coruña you must have tickets for a sporting event. Throughout the year the city hosts different competitions, from regular ones to tournaments and championships of regional, national or even international level.

Among the most classic is to go to see a football match of the Dépor and be one more among the white and blues, in the historic stadium of Riazor in the case of the men's team, or in Abegondo, with the female. Another good plan is to attend a meeting of the Liceo, one of the best hockey teams in Spain in men's category, or the Hockey Club Coruña Feminine, which competes in the OK Liga. 

Have fun in the park of Bens or Eirís

Another of the natural spaces preferred by the children of A Coruña is the Bens Park. With more than 60 hectares, here you have 13 kilometers of trails to travel, a great playground with games adapted to children with disabilities and a leisure area with tables and chairs, ideal for a picnic. 

The Eirís playground is one of the most complete in the city. Here is a double zip line and slides to slide down the natural slope of the park itself. In addition, very close you have one of the many skate courts in the city. 

Marineda City for children

Finally, we end this list of family plans from Marineda City. This shopping center, one of the largest in Spain, has much more than shops and dining spaces.

Its cinemas Cinesa, the karts of the Karting Marineda, its bowling alley, its recreational areas or the Marineda Kids area dedicated to the little ones are a great alternative for family leisure.