Bestarruza, Castillo de la Palma and the Festa do Polbo reveal different sides of Mugardos: beach access, a defensive structure more than 400 years old and a local octopus tradition. When planning your trip, you can focus on the coast, history, routes or regional cuisine.

Coast and Routes

Bestarruza Beach is accessible via the waterfront promenade and by steps from Parque del Campo de la Catedral. At the start of the 2026 summer season, the municipality launched a lifeguard service there on 15 June. The Mugardos–Ferrol boat pier is also one of the town’s main visitor attractions. If you plan to take the crossing, check the timetable separately.

A walking and cycling path along the AC-130 between Ares and Mugardos runs through the municipality of Mugardos. In 2025, the Xunta reported maintenance work on this path. Mugardos is also located on the so-called English Way to Santiago de Compostela. For planning purposes, these are two distinct routes: the walking and cycling path along the AC-130 and the Camino Inglés.

History in Several Places

Castillo de la Palma is a defensive structure with a history spanning more than 400 years. The Roman villa of Noville offers a different historical perspective: it is in the O Seixo area of the municipality of Mugardos and was excavated in the late 1980s. The two sites therefore represent different themes, from a historic defensive structure to the Roman past.

The churches and chapels also span different periods. The Church of San Vicente de Mehá was built in the 19th century on the remains of a 16th-century chapel. In Franza, the current Chapel of San Vitorio replaced an older chapel which, according to local tradition, stood above Castro de San Victorio. Here, the history is linked in one case to earlier structural remains and in the other to the traditional location of a chapel by the castro.

Town Route and Hike

In 2023, a route in the “Coñece Mugardos” program went through the town and started at the town hall. The hiking program of the same name included routes of moderate difficulty lasting approximately three hours. The options offer different points of reference: the town route has a stated course and starting point at the town hall, while the hikes also have a stated duration and difficulty level. If you want to include a route from this program in your plans, check whether and when it is currently available.

Octopus Mugardos Style

At the Festa do Polbo, octopus prepared in the Mugardos style is served with a sauce made from onions, green peppers and red peppers. The food festival takes place on the Mugardos waterfront promenade and is part of the Festas do Carme. If you want to plan your trip around the Festa do Polbo, check the current dates.

If a crossing or the Festa do Polbo is part of your plans, check the timetable or event date before booking. This lets you schedule your trip around the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Beres, Val Do Dubra, A Igrexa, Queiruga, Ordes, Porto do Barqueiro, Gondollín, Mazaricos

For the broader travel overview: A Coruña.