Boots, walking poles, and more than a couple of blisters. This may be the uniform of many a visitor arriving in Santiago de Compostela – the endpoint of storied ancient pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago – but the city isn’t just the final stop in a long journey: it’s reason enough to make a trip.

With a flight time of just over two hours from London, the Galician capital stands as a viable offbeat alternative to a weekend city break in popular Spanish spots like Madrid and Barcelona .

What’s more, it’s now easier to trade your hiking rucksack for a boarding pass, since Spanish carrier Vueling launched daily flights from Heathrow to Santiago de Compostela in the spring.

A mere 15 minutes after leaving the airport, you’ll find yourself in the city’s labyrinthine old town: a

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