Santiago de Compostela: Old Town Walk & Cathedral Views

4.69

(278 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Li was waiting by the blue umbrella in Plaza do Obradoiro, waving us over like we were old friends even though we’d just met. She started off by asking if we’d already tried tarta de Santiago — I hadn’t, but promised to hunt it down later. The square was buzzing with pilgrims dropping their backpacks and hugging each other. It felt like everyone had a story here, not just us tagging along for a day trip in Santiago de Compostela’s old town.

We ducked into narrow lanes where the stones were slick from last night’s rain. Li pointed out tiny scallop shells carved into doorways (I missed a couple until she laughed and tapped one with her umbrella). There was this moment near Mercado de Abastos when the smell of fresh octopus just hit me — so strong I almost forgot what street we were on. We watched a fishmonger joke with an old woman buying clams; didn’t catch every word but you could tell they knew each other for years.

I didn’t expect to feel so much just walking through squares around the cathedral — it’s loud and quiet at the same time, if that makes sense. Kids chasing pigeons while someone played Galician pipes nearby. The highlight for me was reaching Alameda Park; Li let us stop for a bit and honestly, that view of the cathedral towers through the trees is still stuck in my head. I tried to take a photo but it never looks quite right compared to being there.