Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino

Santiago de Compostela is the Galician city where the Camino de Santiago ends, built around the cathedral that holds the shrine of Saint James. The old town is compact, granite, and better on foot than on a checklist. This list collects three stops that make sense around the cathedral rather than inside it.

What's on this list

Mercado de Abastos is the produce market to visit before lunch, with fish, cheese, meat, vegetables, and the food-stall rhythm that makes Galicia feel distinct from the rest of Spain. Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval is the quieter reset: terraced convent grounds, old stone walls, and views back over the rooftops.

Praza da Quintana is the square directly behind the cathedral. Go in the evening if you can, when the Camino arrivals, local walkers, and cathedral bells all pass through the same piece of stone.