Things to do in Santiago de Compostela

The Cathedral and the Pilgrim Mass

First things first: the Cathedral. Enter through the Obradoiro façade and experience the full ritual: embrace the statue of the Apostle James at the high altar, descend to the crypt to see the sepulchre and, if you are lucky, attend the Pilgrim Mass at noon, where the botafumeiro may swing across the nave on special occasions. The emotion of arriving after weeks of walking is indescribable: don't be embarrassed if a tear escapes.

The Plaza del Obradoiro is the meeting point par excellence. Sit on the ground as all pilgrims do, gaze at the baroque façade and savour the moment. You made it.

The old town

Santiago boasts one of the best-preserved old towns in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll along Rúa do Franco and Rúa do Vilar, lined with tapas bars where you can try pulpo á feira, Padrón peppers and tarta de Santiago. Visit the Mercado de Abastos, where locals buy fresh seafood and you can eat oysters for 1 euro each.

Don't miss the Alameda Park, with its panoramic views of the Cathedral, or the San Martiño Pinario monastery, the second-largest church in Galicia.

Finisterre: the end of the earth

Many pilgrims extend the Camino three more days to Finisterre, the westernmost point of continental Europe according to medieval belief. It is 87 km to the cape where the Romans believed the world ended. The tradition is to burn a piece of clothing at the lighthouse at sunset as a symbol of renewal. If you don't have time, daily buses run from Santiago for about 12 euros.