Start your tour at the Plaza del Obradoiro, the large square in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela where pilgrims arrive at the end of the Camino routes and gather throughout the day.
From this square, enter the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela through the main facade, a structure begun in the 11th century in Romanesque style with later Gothic and Baroque additions including the Pórtico de la Gloria carved in the 12th century.
Exit the cathedral and cross to the adjacent Plaza de la Inmaculada where the north facade rises above the square.
Proceed along the side of the cathedral to the Plaza de Platerías with its fountain and the clock tower known as Berenguela.
Move next to the Plaza de la Quintana, a spacious square bordered by the cathedral’s east end and the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario opposite with its large facade dating from the 17th century.
From the Plaza de la Quintana, walk down the steps and along Rúa do Franco, one of the main streets in the old town lined with bars and restaurants serving local dishes.
Continue through the narrow streets of the historic quarter including Rúa da Raíña and Rúa do Villar with their stone arcades and granite buildings from medieval and later periods.
The route stays within the compact UNESCO-listed old town and covers about two kilometres in total with a duration of around one hour at a moderate pace.
End at the Mercado de Abastos, the covered market on Rúa das Ameas where vendors sell fresh seafood, meats, cheeses and produce in a building constructed in 1873 and expanded in the 20th century.
