What to see in León in three days
Below, we suggest a three-day tour of the city and province of León, an area that offers the perfect combination of historical heritage and natural beauty. Over the centuries, the Caminode Santiago [Way of St James] has left its imprint on this land, with perfectly preserved castles, cathedrals, towns, and villages. In this article, we offer you an itinerary that will enable you to explore León in three days.
Our three-day itinerary will focus on the province of León’s highlights: the city of León itself, El Bierzo, and the most iconic towns.
Itinerary day 1
10.00-11.00
Cathedral of León
Our next stop is the lovely village of Castrillo de los Polvazares, a magnificent setting for Sunday lunch. This village has an incomparable charm; its extremely well-preserved rural architecture has been designated a Site of Historic and Artistic Interest. You could try such as Las Termas or Casa Maragata. Note that you will need to reserve in advance, as this tiny village is very popular with visitors.
11.30 - 11.45
Calle Ancha
Our next stop is the lovely village of Castrillo de los Polvazares, a magnificent setting for Sunday lunch. This village has an incomparable charm; its extremely well-preserved rural architecture has been designated a Site of Historic and Artistic Interest. You could try restaurants such as Las Termas or Casa Maragata. Note that you will need to reserve in advance, as this tiny village is very popular with visitors.
11.45 - 12.45
Casa Botines
Calle Ancha ends at San Marcelo square, where you will find the Palacio de los Guzmanes, the headquarters of the Provincial Council, and Gaudí’s Casa Botines. We recommend stopping for a quick look around the permanent exhibition on the brilliant Catalan architect.
12.45 - 14.00
Colegiata San Isidoro
Crossing the Parque del Cid will bring you to San Isidoro Square, home to another of León’smajor historical buildings: the Colegiata de San Isidoro [Collegiate church]. This religious complex is one of the city’s oldest and houses the Royal Pantheon, the so-called Sistine Chapel of Romanesque Spain..
14.00 - 15.30
Lunch at Restaurante Martiniano
This modern restaurant in the centre of León is a flagship for the finest local cuisine. Traditional dishes made special with creative touches offer an outstanding gastronomic experience.
15.30 - 17.00
MUSAC
After lunch, we suggest a quick look around MUSAC, the Museum of Modern Art. This is one of Castilla-León’s newest museums, an impressive building that houses a fascinating collection of contemporary Spanish works of art.
17.00 - 17.30
San Marcos
Along with the cathedral, León’s emblem is the Convento de San Marcos, a fabulous Renaissance building which has been converted into a Parador Nacional [luxury State hotel]. Here, we can also admire the San Marcos Bridge, the route out of the city for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
17.30 - 18.00
A walk through the Bernesga neighbourhood
From San Marcos bridge, we return to the centre following the course of the little-known Bernesga river, taking the opportunity to explore this area of the city on the way.
18.15 - 19.00
Plaza Mayor
No visitor should miss León’s main square, the Plaza Mayor. Always buzzing with life, this square, with its typical Castilian design, is still home to a food market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Itinerary day 2
19.30 - 22.00
A night out in the Húmedo district
This first day simply has to end in Barrio Húmedo, one of Spain’s most famous tapas districts. You will find iconic bars around San Martín square, including Rúa 11, El Gaucho, Los Cazurros, El Jabugo… and more besides: good food, and even better entertainment.
10.30 - 14.00
Peñalba de Santiago and valle del Silencio
It is worth making an early start and leaving León for El Bierzo, and for one of Spain’s prettiest and most emblematic towns: Peñalba de Santiago. To make the most of your visit, you could always walk the four-kilometre route to the famous San Genadio cave, and enjoy the lovely natural scenery of the Valle del Silencio [Silent Valley].
14.30 - 16.30
Molinaseca
Molinaseca is another of León’s prettiest towns, and part of the Spain’s Prettiest Townsnetwork. Located very close to Ponferrada on the Camino de Santiago, it has an outstanding collection of historic buildings. Take the opportunity to have lunch in one of its restaurants and enjoy El Bierzo’s cuisine.
17.00 - 18.00
El Bierzo
Cacabelos: the last of El Bierzo’s pretty towns. This town is one of the iconic stops along the Camino de Santiago as it passes through León, an itinerary that has left its imprint here the centuries. The street known as Calle de Santa María and the Puente Mayor [Main Bridge] are the legacies passed down to this town from the age-old pilgrim route.
Itinerary day 3
10.00 - 13.00
Las Médulas
One of Spain’s best-known natural landscapes. Las Médulas offers an impressive vista formed by Roman goldmining works in combination with nature. We recommend that youspend a few hours walking around the park, exploring the nooks and crannies of this remarkable mining site.
14.00 - 15.30
Castrillo de los Polvazares
On the way back to León, we can stop off at Castrillo de los Polvazares, another village along the Camino de Santiago, famous for its amazing, old, rural architecture; its renowned restaurants are the perfect place to stop for a hearty lunch of Maragato stew.
16.15 - 18-00
Astorga
No three-day day tour of León should miss the capital of La Maragatería. This town is home to another building by Gaudí, along with fifteenth-century cathedral, and its remarkable medieval town walls.
18.00 - 19.00
Hospital de Órbigo
The last stop on our tour before returning to León is Hospital de Órbigo. This village was the scene of the last of the medieval tournaments, back in the fifteenth century. These were held around the Puente del Passo Honroso, a bridge that has survived to the present day in an excellent state of preservation. The tournaments are re-enacted every year during the Passo Honroso Medieval Jousting festival.