Santiago de Compostela

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the endpoint of all the Camino routes and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Christianity. The Baroque facade of the Praza do Obradoiro is the image that every pilgrim carries in their mind for hundreds of kilometres. Inside, the Romanesque Portico de la Gloria (recently restored) is a masterpiece of medieval sculpture. Descend to the crypt to see the silver reliquary containing the remains of Saint James. Attend the noon pilgrim mass if you

Visit the Pilgrim Office (Oficina del Peregrino) on Rua das Carretas, a short walk from the Cathedral. Pre-register online a day or two before arriving to reduce your waiting time. Present your stamped credential and receive your Compostela, the certificate confirming that you have completed the pilgrimage. The office is open daily from 8am to 8pm in season. This piece of paper, printed in Latin with your name, is the formal end of your journey.

The great square in front of the Cathedral is where pilgrims have arrived for over a thousand years. Sit on the stone ground, look up at the facade, and let it sink in. You are here. Around you, other pilgrims will be arriving, some crying, some laughing, some simply sitting in stunned silence. There is no rush. The square is not going anywhere. Stay as long as you need.

Santiago has excellent restaurants throughout the old town. For a classic Galician meal, try the Mercado de Abastos, a covered food market where you can buy fresh seafood and have it cooked at one of the market stalls. The streets around Rua do Franco and Rua da Raina are lined with restaurants serving pulpo, percebes (goose barnacles), empanada, and pimientos de Padron. Order a bottle of Albarino white wine from the Rias Baixas. You have earned it.

Santiago's old town (Zona Monumental) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The narrow granite streets, arcaded plazas, and countless churches create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Spain. Walk through the Praza da Quintana, the Praza das Praterias, and the Parque da Alameda. Visit the Monastery of San Martin Pinario, one of the largest in Spain. Get lost in the side streets. The old town is compact enough to explore on foot in a single afternoon.

If you are not ready for the Camino to end, consider walking on to Fisterra (Finisterre), the "End of the World." It is 87 km from Santiago to the Atlantic coast, taking three to four additional days. The walk is quieter, more reflective, and ends at the ocean, where medieval pilgrims believed the known world ended. Many pilgrims say this final stretch, after the pressure of reaching Santiago, is the most peaceful walking of their entire Camino. We have a full route guide for the Camino Fisterra

You have arrived. The temptation is to rush to collect your Compostela, see the Cathedral, and head to the airport. Resist it. Stay at least two nights in Santiago. Walk the old town slowly. Eat long lunches. Sit in the plazas and watch other pilgrims arrive. Reflect on what you have done. The Camino does not end the moment you stop walking. It takes time to process the journey, and Santiago is the place to begin that process.

The pilgrim mass is held daily at noon in the Cathedral. During the service, the nationalities and starting points of pilgrims who arrived that day are read aloud. Hearing your own starting town called out is a surprisingly emotional moment. On feast days and special occasions, the Botafumeiro swings through the transept, filling the cathedral with incense smoke. Arrive early to get a seat, as the cathedral fills quickly.