For a foray into ancient times, the Spanish city of Zaragoza is a place not to be missed, with a long history that has kept the best of it! The streets full of old stone buildings, the beauty of the Ebro river, the oriental influences, and the large number of interesting museums promise to offer a unique experience!
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Transport
The airport is 10 km from the city, and to get to the center you can take buses 501 or 604, which run every 20 minutes. A ticket costs around €2 (can be bought directly at the station) and the journey will take around 30 minutes. If you prefer more comfort, you can call a taxi, a faster but slightly more expensive option (between 12-20€).
What do you use to get around Zaragoza?
In town public transport is very well organized, so you will be able to get anywhere easily, which is why we advise you to choose it for your journeys. A ticket costs €1.40, but to save you can choose to get a travel card, in which case a trip will cost €0.76. You can read more from the official website: https://tranviasdezaragoza.es/en/ .
However, if you don't want to bother with public transport, you can call a taxi, and the rate for one km is around 0.82€, and you will find drivers directly from the street, or you can even rent your own car for the days spent here , for only €25 per day. To find the most convenient prices, but also to help you in the rental process, you can enter here.
Accommodation Zaragoza
As for accommodation, Zaragoza has enough offers for tourists, for all tastes. We recommend you to choose a hotel close to the city center, to have easier access to the places where you will go. On average, a room for 2 people costs €50 per night, but you can also find offers of €40, if you make the reservation a few months in advance.
Here are some recommendations of places that will not disappoint you:
- YIT City of Zaragoza it is a very affordable 3-star hotel (prices start from €50). It offers tourists modern rooms and facilities that quickly made it a favorite among visitors, despite the fact that it is not located in the city center.
- Hotel Tibur it is in the heart of the city, and those staying here will have a superb view, right from the room. The 3-star hotel is located in a historic building that will add a touch of elegance to your trip, and the rate for a room for 2 people starts from €60.
- Catalonia El PilaR it is perfect for those who want to indulge in their vacation, in a luxurious and elegant setting. You will pay from €90 to sleep in a 4-star hotel in an excellent location, and you will have access to a gym, restaurant and bar.
Zaragoza tourist attractions – Itinerary by day
If you want to make the most of your time here, it's best to leave with a well-established plan of what you want to see. For this reason, I have prepared a suggested itinerary for 3 days spent here, which you can follow.
Day 1
Plaza del Pilar
Because the city center is a place full of tourist attractions, you can reserve a whole day just to explore this area. Because all the main attractions are located very close to each other, you won't have to worry about transportation either, you'll walk no more than 5 minutes between the places visited.
It starts from Plaza del Pilar, probably the favorite place of tourists, the central square, where you will be able to spend a few tens of minutes to admire the architecture specific to the area, the historical buildings and the rhythm of the city.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar
It will jump out at you right away Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, probably Zaragoza's best-known attraction, an architectural, religious, historical and cultural gem. The baroque church has a long history, and inside are priceless artefacts and works of art, such as the Sagrada Columna, the alabaster altar, the Virgen del Pilar and Goya's frescoes. The entrance is free, and you can visit it between 06:45-09:30.
El Salvador Cathedral (La Seo) and Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta
A few hundred meters away you will find 2 other attractions that you should not miss, located right next to each other: El Salvador Cathedral (La Seo), another religious emblem of the city, even the first Christian cathedral in Europe (the ticket costs €7 and you will be able to climb including the tower that offers one of the most beautiful panoramas of the city, between 10:00-20:00, with a break between 14:30-16:00), but also Museum of the Forum of Caesaraugusta, what the archaeological site of the Caesaraugusta forum exhibits, the ruins dating back approximately 2000 years. The ticket costs €7, the museum is open between 10:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00, and is closed on Mondays.. If you want to know more about the Roman period, and you have more days available, visit also The Termas Públicas Museum, the Theater Museum and the River Port Museum, and tickets cost under €5.
Tapestry Museum
And if you want to delve deeper into the past, but in a slightly more original way, you will find it next door tapestry museum, which presents history to visitors through complex centuries-old tapestries and embroideries, a unique experience you can have. Entrance costs €4, the museum is open from 10:00–14:00 and 15:00–18:30.
Also, if you want to save on this day, you can buy a ticket that includes the entrance to the Tapestry Museum and Catedral del Salvador de Zaragoza (along with other sights located in the center), for only €9. Details: https://catedraldezaragoza.es/cultural-visit/ .
Puente de Piedra
And because the Ebro River creates landscapes that take anyone's breath away, you can't leave without enjoying a few moments admiring the view created, in a romantic atmosphere. Puente de Piedra Bridge it's the perfect place for this, especially at sunset, so it will be the ideal place to end your first day in Zaragoza. You will probably take the most beautiful pictures here during your vacation!
Day 2
Aljafería Palace
It is in the middle of the city Aljafería Palace, remarkably preserved from the 11th century. The construction is amazing, with beautifully decorated rooms and Islamic influences, and the atmosphere will give you the impression that you have arrived in the Middle Ages. The entrance costs €5, and it can be visited between 10:00 and 20:00. In the area you will find stations of lines 23, 26, 32, 33, 34, 36, 42 and 51.
Plaza de Toros de La Misericordia
And because the Spanish bullfights are famous, walk 10 minutes to visit between 10:30am–1:30pm and 5–8pm, Plaza de Toros de La Misericordia, the place where the bullfights take place. Currently, public events are mostly held here, but you can visit the building that still bears the imprint of the bullfights.
Zaragoza River Aquarium
From here take bus 23 to get to Zaragoza River Aquarium, the largest river aquarium in Europe, which exhibits hundreds of species of animals that live in rivers, or around them, throughout the world, some of which are even rare specimens. Admission for adults costs €17, and the program is between 10:00-20:00.
El Tubo
If you also want to explore Zaragoza's nightlife, a place where you can find the best restaurants, cafes, bars and even clubs, is the area El Tubo! The place is full of tourists and everything seems very friendly and lively, perfect for an end to the day. Plus, you can even join one night tour of the city center, tasting popular dishes and drinks with your fellow tourists, for around €90.
Day 3
The Origami Museum
On your last day in Zaragoza, we recommend a route with slightly different places, to discover the modern side of the city. You can start with The Origami Museum, a museum that will arouse your curiosity, among shapes that seem impossible to make out of paper. There are even classes in the art of paper folding, and the entrance costs only €3, the schedule is between 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00, but it is closed on Mondays. Being centrally located, you will be able to get here easily, with lines 22, 30, 210, 211 or 212.
Zaragoza Central Market
And of course, before you leave town you'll need to do some souvenir shopping, and the perfect place is Zaragoza Central Market, a traditional market in a gorgeous building. In addition to local food, you will also find small souvenir stands, some made by the locals themselves. To get here you will also take the 29 bus and the market is open between 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-20:00 during the week and 9:00-14:30 at the weekend.
Grande José Antonio Laborde Park
Because the city also offers lush nature, take bus 33 or 34, or tram line 1, and spend a few hours relaxing in G parkrande José Antonio Labordeta, among flowers, statues and imposing trees! In the middle is a fountain, which at night offers a superb play of colors!
Amusement park
And for the absolutely necessary dose of fun on a vacation, don't miss it Zaragoza Amusement Park. Although it's not very big, you'll definitely find some attractions to challenge you, and the entrance costs €6 (the price includes 2 tickets for the attractions), but you have to know that it's only open on weekends, between 11am: 00-21:00. You will be able to get here easily by bus 34.
What do we eat in Zaragoza?
The gastronomy of the area still preserves hundreds of years old recipes, with local vegetables and lamb or beef, but also fish, and the taste will not disappoint! A popular preparation is Ajoarriero code, fish in a stew with potatoes and eggs. For vegans (but not only) Borage with potatoes it is the perfect dish, where the star is a vegetable specific to the area.
And when it comes to places and restaurants, the city has no shortage of things where you can enjoy a decent meal. We recommend that you include in your list Celebris (a modern and elegant restaurant with Mediterranean specifics, where you will spend from €20 for an outing), Taberna 1941 (with very affordable prices, located right in the city center), and for traditional dishes, Atypical.
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So, Zaragoza is truly a hidden treasure of Spain that deserves all the attention of travel lovers! The city retains a medieval, romantic and quiet atmosphere, and offers enough attractions to keep you busy for a minute, whether you're looking for history, modernity, art, culture or nature!
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Useful Links
Transport
Accommodation
- https://www.booking.com/accommodation/city/es/zaragoza.ro.html
- https://www.airbnb.com.ro/zaragoza-spain/stays
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