León has become an excellent destination for a long weekend with friends. Good road and rail connections have put the city and its surrounding province on the map. Discover some of our ideas for a trip to León with friends.
History, plenty of gastronomy, villages and excellent trails for fans of hiking. Any good trip in León has to involve these five things. Given the number of interesting towns and villages found along the way, the best thing to do is to rent a car so you are more flexible and can make stops wherever you like.
Read on for the best things to do on a trip to León with friends.
- Touring León
- Night-time in Húmedo
- Ponferrada and las Médulas
- Towns and villages in León
- Towns and villages in León
- The Cares Trail
- Valporquero cave
Touring León
A day visiting León is well worth the effort. The capital of the province has enough places of interest to keep you occupied for a full day of culture and history amid its streets. On your route you cannot miss a visit to the cathedral, the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro, Casa Botines and MUSAC, so be sure to plan your day well.
Night-time in Húmedo
A jam-packed day of sightseeing in León must inevitably end in the Barrio Húmedo. This part of the old quarter of the city is considered one of the best areas in Spain for tapas.
A night out in the Húmedo area can start early, with a few wines at Rúa 11, El Flechazo or El Rebote. From there you can go on to try some larger tapas portions, such as those at El Gaucho and Los Cazurros, or finish up by ordering a rice dish at La Bodega del Húmedo. But the night is long in Húmedo and, after dinner, you can wind things up with a few more drinks in the area.
Ponferrada and Las Médulas
After a day in León, paying a visit to Ponferrada is a must, to see one of the most important natural landmarks in Spain, Las Médulas. This wonderful landscape, shaped by the Romans to exploit the gold deposits, allows you to combine history with hiking, since you can walk short trails in Las Médulas park to discover every single corner.
The excursion finishes in Ponferrada, the capital of the region of El Bierzo, where its famous Templar castle awaits. Next to it, you can sample some of the culinary delicacies of El Bierzo, such as botillo, cecina and its wine.
Ponferrada
Towns and villages in León
Continuing on through El Bierzo you can take the opportunity to enjoy a short road trip through its most famous villages: Villafranca del Bierzo, Molinaseca and Balboa.
If you choose to return to León, the area around Astorga offers another excellent collection of charming villages, such as Castrillo de los Polvazares and Hospital de Órbigo. You can also make a stop in Astorga to admire Gaudí’s Episcopal Palace, the cathedral and the town walls.
Route through the Valley of Silence and Peñalba de Santiago
If there is one iconic village in the León region, it is Peñalba de Santiago. This hamlet belonging to Ponferrada is part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain network. The attraction of spending a day here with friends is that from Peñalba itself you can begin a spectacular hiking route that will take you through the so-called Valley of Silence, a five-hour walk through the interior of the valley, discovering places such as Montes de Valdueza and San Genadio cave.
The Cares Trail
We have already mentioned that a trip to León has to include top-rate hiking, and that is exactly what you will find on the Cares Trail, undoubtedly the most famous hiking route in León. In the presence of the incomparable beauty of the Picos de Europa, the trail joins the villages of Caín, in León, and Poncebos, in Asturias. The trail runs through the impressive Cares river gorge, which will supply you with a small dose of vertigo. The popular Cares Trail should be a must on any trip to León with friends.
Cueva de Valporquero
Another essential natural monument to visit in León is Valporquero cave. The interior of this large cavern can be explored for 1.3 kilometres and is sure to leave you in awe. The cave is less than an hour away by car from the city of León, which makes it an excellent thing to do with friends.
