One of the first things I do when arriving somewhere new is to walk, walk and walk some more. It’s the best way to find my bearings, work out where everything is and get to know the area. I’ve done this here and I’m beside myself with so many little ‘wow’ moments.

From interesting and varied architecture, cool parks and public art, to cobbled streets and cute little cafes there’s something new at every turn.

Then there are the four beaches. The larger Riazor and Orzán form the base of a horse shoe bay with an esplanade that runs the full length of the bay. The smaller beaches of Lapa’s and San Amaro are tucked in either side of the Torre de Hercules headland and Oza beach is on the outskirts of the city, past the port.

Surrounded almost entirely by the Atlantic Ocean, the physical geography of Coruña is shaped a bit like a hammer-head shark, which means wherever you walk, you are never too far from the water.

Calle Real begins near Obelisco, and runs through to the main town square, Maria Pita Plaza. It’s here and the streets leading off the Calle and Plaza where you will find an array of great little restaurants, bars and cafes.

Walk through the Plaza into the old city to discover historic landmarks, churches, the military museum and other buildings of interest.

While A Coruña has an eclectic mix of architectural styles including Baroque, Romanesque and Neo-classical, it’s often been called the glass or crystal city because of the galleria styled buildings with their enclosed glass balconies. Their combination of white frames and glass create a lattice appearance that makes me think more of lace than crystal.

These very distinct buildings are particularly prominent opposite the Marina, where you can walk around the waters edge to the Archaeological and Historical Museum housed in San Antón Castle.

A Coruña’s population density is apparently the highest in Spain and from what I can tell, it seems to be mostly unit living on this compact t-shaped peninsula. I haven’t spotted any houses yet. The density means there’s a lot packed into a relatively small area.

With parks, beaches, museums, an opera house, theatres, stadium and so many bars and cafes, all in close proximity to each other, A Coruña offers perfect walkability for soaking up the sights, sounds, aromas and tastes. It’s a pretty cool little place to live.