Fifteen Things to Do When You Reach Santiago de Compostela

You’ve probably already taken the obligatory photo in Plaza del Obradoiro with the cathedral in the background, and collected your Compostela (the document certifying your completion of the pilgrimage), but there’s still more to do. If you arrive in the city in 2021 or 2022, make sure you go through the Holy Door (or Door of Forgiveness), which is only opened in Jubilee Years. If you are a practicing Catholic, you could attend a Pilgrim Mass and, with a bit of luck, you’ll see the botafumeiro (as the cathedral's thurible is known) being used.

Inside the cathedral, make sure you go down to the apostolic crypt, where you’ll find the sepulcher said to contain the body of the apostle Saint James. This is the final destination for those completing the pilgrimage for faith-based reasons. It is accessed via some steps behind the Altar Mayor (main altar). It is here that another deep-rooted tradition takes place: embracing the vividly colored image of the Apostle.

Wandering around the streets of the old town is a pleasure even on rainy days. The colonnaded streets of the iconic Rua Nova and Rua do Vilar were designed precisely for wet weather. Keep your eyes peeled for magnificent Romanesque, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical buildings. There are also some intriguing hidden corners, such as a street that is just under a yard wide. The peals of the Berenguela bell can be heard all over the city, providing the background noise to a stroll around town.

When it comes to eating, most visitors head straight for Rua do Franco, but there are numerous restaurants, bars, and tapas restaurants all over the city. For a truly appetizing experience, choose a terrace and order a few helpings of pulpo á feira (Galician-style octopus), empanadas (a traditional pie), Herbón peppers, or Spanish omelet, washed down with some excellent Galician wine while you enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city.

A visit to the market known as the Mercado de Abastos is the best way to appreciate just how important the sea is to Galicia, with fish and seafood piled high. The region's connection to the land, meanwhile, is represented by the vegetable stalls outside the market, run by local farmers. There are also stalls selling dairy products, meats, fruit, bread, and craft items. You can find out whether the seafood you've bought is as good as it looks by having it cooked there and then.

Your memories of the Camino will remain in your heart forever, but that shouldn’t stop you taking a more tangible memento home with you. In the Middle Ages, scallop shells and jet figurines were the most common souvenirs. You can still buy them today, or you could opt for a traditional Galician craft item. Or perhaps you’d prefer to take home some wine, some cheese, or a Santiago cake.

To admire the Portico of Glory—the epitome of Romanesque art—you’ll need to book in advance. While you're there, you’ll be able to visit the Cathedral Museum, as well as two gems of Romanesque architecture: the Gelmírez Palace and the crypt of the Portico of Glory. The Archive houses priceless medieval manuscripts such as the Codex Calixtinus and the Breviary of Miranda. The most magnificent views of the cathedral and the city are to be had from its stone rooftop and the North Tower.

The historic old town is dominated by Romanesque and Baroque architecture, but more contemporary buildings are well worth a visit too, with architectural works by Álvaro Siza, César Portela, Antón García Abril, Andrés Perea, and Peter Eisenman. The last of these is the American architect who designed the Cidade da Cultura (City of Culture), a complex of contoured buildings on mount Gaiás, overlooking the city.

Álvaro Siza designed the CGAC building (Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea, or Galician Center for Contemporary Art). This is the best way to experience contemporary art in the city, and is situated next to a dozen private galleries housing an eclectic range of styles. If your interests lie in other areas, you'll find museums dedicated to science and nature, ethnography, religious art, and history. The Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People) and the Museo de las Peregrinaciones y de Santiago (Museum of Pilgrimage and Santiago) are particularly interesting.

Traditional Galician cuisine is based on simple recipes, made using high quality ingredients. Many chefs use this formula as the basis for their own amazing creations. If you like a more creative style of cuisine, you should try the city's Michelin-starred restaurants: A Tafona by Lucía Freitas, and Casa Marcelo, or any of the many known for their quality and inventiveness such as Abastos 2.0, Pampín Bar, Horta do Obradoiro, A Maceta, and Auga e Sal.

You can't go wrong with a bit of relaxation. The city has some fantastic parks for stretching out in the sun with a good book. Head to a bookshop and ask for a recommendation: how about something set in Santiago de Compostela, or written or published in the city, or even (why not?) in the Galician language?

Watching leads to knowledge; knowledge leads to learning; learning leads to enjoyment. Cities are what they are because of the people who live in them, so sitting down to people-watch is one of the best ways of getting to know Santiago de Compostela. A good spot for this is Plaza de Cervantes, which is popular with both locals and pilgrims. Another is Porta Faxeira, which is always bustling with people on their way to the university or to work, heading to a terrace bar, or going shopping.

You’ve come from another part of the world and spent days cycling or walking, finally reaching Santiago de Compostela, but you want to see more. Gather up your backpack once again and head for the end of the earth. The Finisterre-Muxía Way will take you to one of Europe's westernmost coasts, where the Camino meets the Atlantic Ocean: a new final destination for your pilgrimage.