Hotels near Casco Viejo and the Siete Calles

The Casco Viejo started as seven parallel lanes laid out in the 1400s, and locals still call it the Siete Calles. Somera, Artekale, Tenderia, Belosticalle, Carniceria Vieja, Barrenkale and Barrenkale Barrena run between the Catedral de Santiago and the riverbank, most of them barely wide enough for two people to pass a shop doorway.

Plaza Nueva, the arcaded neoclassical square completed in 1851, anchors the eastern edge and packs pintxo bars under its 64 arches. The Gothic Catedral de Santiago dates from the 14th century and charges about 5 EUR to enter. Sunday mornings bring a flea market and a bird market to the square. The whole quarter is pedestrianised, so this is a walking entry with no transport involved once you arrive.

Pro Tip: Begin on Calle Somera around 20:00, take one pintxo and one small glass of txakoli per bar, then move south. Paying at the end of each stop is normal - staff count your plates and toothpicks on trust.