Before you go

Your trip to León.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

León – Castela e Leão Destination Burgos and León

How to get there

Aeroporto de Madri-Barajas (Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas) (MAD) Madri · 330 km
Aeroporto de León (Aeropuerto de León) (LEN) La Virgen del Camino · 6 km
Estação de trem de León (Estación de León) 1 km
Rodoviária de León (Estación de Autobuses de León) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before buying. International flights arrive in Madri, and from there high-speed trains take you to León in about 2 hours. León airport, about 6 km away, has few flights. Trains also link the city to Galicia, the Asturias and Burgos. The bus station has services to Astorga, Ponferrada and other towns on the Caminho. By car, via the A-66 and A-231 motorways.

How many days

Two days allow time for the cathedral, San Isidoro, the Casa Botines, the Hostal de San Marcos and evenings in the Barrio Húmedo. With three days, you can do the MUSAC and a day trip to Astorga, about 50 km away.

When to go

From May to October, with long days and good weather for walking. At the end of June the festivals of San Juan and San Pedro liven up the city. Winter is cold, with frosts. León’s Holy Week has processions known throughout the country.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The old centre is walkable, and San Marcos and the MUSAC are 15–20 minutes on foot. There are trains and buses to Astorga. A car only helps to explore the province’s interior, such as the mountains and valleys to the north.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in León

Morning
Catedral de León
Start with the cathedral in the morning, when the sun shines through the east windows and fills the nave with colour. See the cloister and the museum.
Afternoon
San Isidoro and city walls
Follow the walls to the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro and visit the Pantheon of the Kings, with the Romanesque paintings on the vault, and the museum with the chalice of Doña Urraca.
Late afternoon
Casa Botines and Guzmanes
Walk down to Plaza de San Marcelo to see the Casa Botines by Gaudí, with the bench where the architect's statue stands, and the Palacio de los Guzmanes next door.
Evening
Barrio Húmedo
Explore the bars of the Barrio Húmedo around the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de San Martín. In many of them the tapa often comes with the drink, and cecina, the cured meat of León, appears on almost every menu.

2 days in León

Day 1

Morning
Cathedral
Cathedral, cloister and museum.
Afternoon
San Isidoro
Pantheon of the Kings and the museum of San Isidoro.
Late afternoon
Casa Botines
Casa Botines and the Palacio de los Guzmanes.
Evening
Barrio Húmedo
Tapas bars around the Plaza Mayor.

Day 2

Morning
Casa Botines inside
Visit the Casa Botines museum, with the floors designed by Gaudí and the art collection.
Afternoon
Hostal de San Marcos and MUSAC
Walk to the Hostal de San Marcos on the banks of the Bernesga and see the plateresque façade and the church. Continue to the MUSAC, a few minutes away, for contemporary art.
Late afternoon
Bernesga riverside
Return to the centre via the riverside walk along the Bernesga.
Evening
Barrio Romántico
Dine in the Barrio Romántico around the Plaza del Grano, quieter than the Húmedo.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What to see in León?

The cathedral with its medieval stained-glass windows, the Pantheon of the Kings in San Isidoro, Gaudí's Casa Botines, the Hostal de San Marcos and the Barrio Húmedo.

How to get from Madri to León?

By high-speed train in about 2 hours. By car, it's roughly 330 km.

Is it true that the tapa comes with the drink in León?

In many bars in the Barrio Húmedo and the centre, yes: the tapa usually accompanies each drink ordered. It varies from bar to bar.

How long to stay in León?

Two days allow you to see the main monuments at a relaxed pace and enjoy tapas nights. With an extra day, you can do a day trip to Astorga.

Is León on the Caminho de Santiago?

Yes. It is one of the major cities on the Caminho Francês, after the meseta, and many pilgrims spend a rest day there.

Back to León