The old quarter of Santiago de Compostela provides a storybook atmosphere that appeals to the imagination, and children will enjoy exploring the labyrinth of narrow streets and lanes. This pedestrian area is paved with old slabs of stone and boasts ancient squares featuring fascinating gargoyles and ornate fountains. In addition, there are child-friendly parks, indoor playgrounds, museums, a tourist train and plenty of outdoor activities.

Child-friendly Parks 
Alameda Park a large park centrally located in the city, boasts numerous features that make it popular with children. The park has a pond where kids can feed friendly ducks, a well-equipped playground where there’s bound to be lots of children playing and an interesting ‘acoustic’ stone bench where kids can transmit their voices clearly around the park.

Galicia Pedagogic Museum 
This museum is a great place to introduce younger children to the cultural history of the area. There’s an exhibit here that deals with schools and classrooms from the 19^th century to present-day Galicia. You can see reconstructed period classrooms, toys and everyday items used in local schools. Visiting children will be transported back in time to a day in the life of Galician schoolchildren over a century ago.

Indoor Playgrounds
Several indoor playgrounds for children are scattered around the city. These facilities are well-supervised and make for safe environments where children can enjoy themselves. La Selva de Indiana Bill is set up for kids aged 2 to 12 years, and has a snack bar and cafeteria that caters to the whole family (phone: +34 981 597 722). Camelot Park Entertainment Centre is supervised by monitors and specialises in children from 1 to 12 years. It’s located in the Área Central Shopping Centre and features a snack service for children. Parents can shop while their children (over four years of age) are closely supervised (phone: +34 981 569 772).

Paintball 
Children and adults both enjoy this popular game of skill and strategy played in an outdoor environment set up in a series of challenges. Players are issued with protective gear and compressed-gas markers so that they can chase each other around the grounds and shoot paintballs at each other safely. There are several grounds within a 10km radius of the city.

Swimming
Santiago features a number of indoor and outdoor swimming pools where you and the kids can swim, play and relax in the sun. In addition, you’ll find spas and hydrotherapy centres, some of which are associated with pool facilities. For those preferring to spend their time in a more natural setting, there are swimming areas along the river, just outside the city. These are fully-equipped with picnic areas and changing facilities. Along the Galician coast, a half-hour away by car from the city, you can enjoy fine sand beaches where the seas are calm and the swimming is great for youngsters.

Tourist Train
The kids can enjoy a train ride and discover the historic past of Santiago de Compostela on the tourist train. It operates from March through October, with all trips starting from the Plaza del Obradoiro or Avenida Juan XXII, depending on the time of year. Trips last for an hour and are popular with all ages.

This historically important city offers a wide variety of cultural activities to choose from. Considered a major cultural crossroads of Europe, the history of Santiago is intimately linked to the hundreds of years of pilgrimage to its shrine. Galleries of modern and contemporary art, museums of ethnography and history and numerous theatre companies provide a wealth of cultural resources for visitors.

Centro Galego de Arte Contemparánea 
This contemporary art gallery is focused on the works of regional artists but also maintains exhibits of works of artists from other parts of Spain and other countries around the world. The centre's changing exhibits at times are used to introduce new artists, and retrospectives are hosted as well. There are several exhibition rooms in the interior and an exterior terrace for open-air shows which looks out over Santiago’s old quarter.Phone: +34 981 546619; website: http://www.cgac.org/index.php?id=219

Fundación Eugenio Granell 
Dedicated to modern art, this fascinating gallery is located in a manor house dating from the 18^th century. The gallery’s permanent collection includes works by such illustrious artists as Bretón, Duchamp. Miró, Pazo de Bendaña, Picasso and Praza do Toural.Phone: +34 981 576 394.

Museo das Pereginacións 
The history of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela covers more than a thousand years, and this small museum is dedicated to the role of the pilgrimage in the development of the city. Historical records combine with artwork to convey the development of the area over the centuries.Phone: +34 981 581 558; website: www.mdperegrinacions.com.

Museo do Pobo Galego 
Housed in a convent dating from the 14^th century, the purpose of this museum is to chronicle the history of the Galicians, beginning with their Celtic origins. Included are archaeological and ethnographic displays, models of traditional architecture and exhibits demonstrating local crafts. The lovely Gothic chapel in the convent contains the Pantheon of Famous Galicians.Phone: +34 981 583 620.

The Museum and Treasury of the Cathedral is housed in the cathedral’s 16^th century cloisters. In the museum are artefacts from the long history of the city of Santiago de Compostela, and the cathedral archive and library. The treasury contains many priceless objects from the cathedral’s collection, including the botafumeiro, or giant incense box, when it isn’t in use. There’s an archaeological section that includes fragments uncovered from the original Romanesque cathedral, and a tapestry gallery displaying splendid Spanish and French hangings. Phone: +34 981 560 527
website: http://www.catedraldesantiago.es/ing/webcatedral.html

Theatre
Traditional, contemporary, experimental and children’s theatre are all part of the scene in Santiago. The Centro Dramatico Galego company (phone: +34 981 581 572) is a centre for Galician dramatic expression. The Teatro Principal (phone: +34 981 542 347) is the national theatre for Galicia and the city's main theatrical venue. Its main productions occur during the festival in honour of St James in July and over the Christmas and New Year period when it hosts the annual puppet festival for children. Alternative theatre is on offer atSala Nasa (phone: +34 981 573 998) and Salon Teatro (phone: +34 981 581 111).

With its wide choice in restaurants Santiago is a good place to discover Galiciancuisine. There’s a heavy emphasis on seafood, as the city is reasonably close to the ocean, with cod and octopus figuring prominently on menus.

Inexpensive local dishes can be found in many eateries, but you’ll also find numerous upscale restaurants to choose from. A number of local wines enjoy a good reputation, including Albariño and Ribeiro. Galician cuisine is known for its simplicity as well as its excellence, and the emphasis is on the quality of ingredients over culinary techniques.

Popular local dishes worth trying include two stews that are popular in the winter months. The first is known as lacón con grelos, which is found throughout the region and made from pork cooked with chorizo, potatoes and turnips. In a similar style, a dish known as ‘Galician stew’ is made from beef, chicken, chorizo, ham, potatoes, chickpeas and cabbage. Another popular dish is a thin stuffed pasty called an empanada. This type of bread can contain various savoury or sweet fillings.

Galician desserts worth a try include a Santiago tart made with almonds and filloa, a thin wheat pancake. The desserts are even better when accompanied by one of the local wines, such as Monterrey, Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra or Valdeorras.

Shoppers will find a good selection of handicrafts made here. Santiago de Compostela is well-known for jet ware and silverware. Black jet stones are incorporated into jewellery and amulets, and all sorts of locally-crafted silver items are available. Shops in the vicinity of the cathedral stock a good selection of items that are associated with St James and local tradition.

Other handmade artisan items such as ceramic tiles, clogs and lace are found in craft shops throughout the old quarter. Markets that feature crafts as well as local produce are found on the Virxe da Cerca. These are colourful, traditional venues where you’ll see octopus, wine and liqueur vendors, among others.

If you don’t find all you’re looking for at the markets, there are modern shopping options as well. There’s a shopping centre near the train station, in Castiñeiriño and at the Polígono de Fontiñas, and also a El Corte Inglés department store in the Zona Paxonal. The young and rising stars of Galician fashion market their latest designs in the arcades of Tras de Pilar.

The mild year-round climate of Santiago de Compostela makes for ideal conditions for enjoying the outdoors. Cycling is very popular and there are plenty of designated cycle paths in the area. Fishing, golf and horseback riding are all on offer as well, and swimming and water sports draw many visitors to the Atlantic coast.

Bicycling 
There are some excellent paths for cycling in and around Santiago de Compostela. Bicycles can be hired at a number of locations including Bici-Total on the Avenida de Lugo and Tour n Ride on Rúa Laverde Ruiz. If you cycle for at least 200kms (124 miles) along the Way of St James you can qualify as a pilgrim. Whatever your reason for cycling, you’re advised that helmets are required outside of the centre.

Fishing
If you’re interest is in salmon and trout fishing, the short 22km (14 mile) drive to the Vilagudín reservoir in Ordes will be worth your time. Two rivers flow into this 162 hectare reservoir where it’s possible to fish from row boats or motorboats, which are available for hire onsite.

Golf
Golf is very popular in Spain, and there’s ample opportunity to enjoy the sport in the Santiago de Compostela area. The Santiago Real Aero Club, 10kms (six miles) from the city centre and not far from Lavacolla Airport, is open to visitors. It features an 18-hole course set amid lakes and trees.

Horseback Riding
There are horseback riding tours on offer as well as lessons for beginners at stables in the Santiago de Compostela area. Riding is popular with locals, and the famed Andalusia breed hails from Spain. You can ride along the pilgrim’s trail or head out on a leisurely trot through the countryside. Day rides, trekking on horseback and riding lessons are all available.

Swimming
Many of the hotels in the region offer outdoor swimming pools for guest use, and some of the larger resorts offer day use for non-residents at a fee. The beaches along the Galician coast are also lovely and Finisterre, in particular, attracts a number of visitors during the peak season. This is the westernmost point in Europe.

Water Sports
From local streams and rivers to the waters off the Galician coast, there is plenty of water on offer in the region. You might try canoeing, kite surfing or white water rafting on the Deza, Miño, Tambre or Ulla rivers, or scuba diving off the Galician coast. The diving here is suitable for all levels, and instruction and organised diving trips are available. The reservoirs and rivers of the area are known for their salmon and trout and are perfect places to put your fishing skills to the test.