Visit Burgos by train and enjoy a few days away from it all, with lots of culture and good food. The city has multiple plans waiting for you, including tours full of its elegant, monumental streets bursting with history to relaxed strolls through its green areas, without overlooking its excellent cuisine. Get ready to discover what to see in Burgos!
What to see and do in Burgos
Burgos is a city that exudes history wherever you go. Beyond its famous Cathedral, it is known for its immense prehistoric legacy and delicious gastronomy. If you enjoy good food and History with a capital H, get ready to discover this hideaway in Castile, which is bound to have you falling in love.
And if this city is known for anything, it is for its rich heritage:
- The Cathedral: known for the elegance and harmony of its lines, it is the only cathedral in Spain declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Although the Gothic style predominates, the cathedral also features other artistic styles, as its construction lasted from 1221 to 1765.
- Monasterio Santa María Real de las Huelgas: this complex consists of a church, monastery and cloistered quarters for Cistercian nuns, with an crenellated fence that served as protection for them. Make sure not to miss the royal tombs, featuring beautiful sculptures carved in marble, and the Museo de Ricas Telas, home to mediaeval dresses and fabrics.
- Arco de Santa María: the most stately gate of all those that provide access to the city of Burgos. Designed as a great triumphal arch, inside its mediaeval staircase provides access to the main hall, now used as an exhibition space and the famous Sala de Poridad, an octagonal room in which the council of Burgos met until 1780, home to elements including a bone belonging to El Cid or a reproduction of his sword, Tizona.
- Casa del Cordón: dating back to the fifteenth century, the Palacio de los Condestables de Castilla is a Gothic civil building bursting with beauty. This served as an emblematic palace for the monarchy of the time, since all the Habsburgs lived in this palace at some time. Its name makes reference to cord (cordón) of a Franciscan monk that frames the main portal.
- Cartuja de Miraflores: before being handed over to the Carthusian monks, the building served as the vacation home for King Enrique III. It was the hunting ground for the monarch before he decided to build a palace that later ended up being restored when his son, King Juan II took to the throne. Just 3 km from Burgos, this monastery is an authentic treasure of Elizabethan Gothic art. Its church, with its western façade, and the spectacular main altarpiece of Gil de Siloé are worth particular note.
- Burgos castle: visiting Burgos castle is a trip back in time, to the origins of the city to discover the history of the city and the surrounding area first-hand. Although it has been partially demolished, its privileged location and the surrounding natural environment make the castle an unmissable visit. Furthermore, close to these ruins is the castle's wonderful viewpoint, offering spectacular views over the historic centre of Burgos.
- Paseo del Espolón: it is the most central and popular tree-lined and landscaped promenade in Burgos. Full of singular trees, converting this space into an authentic botanical garden, this promenade is also famous for its buildings, built on the old city walls, and the 8 statues of kings, initially conceived to decorate the walls of the Royal Palace in Madrid.
- Museum of Human Evolution: the MEH is located in the city centre, close to the cathedral and 15 km from Atapuerca, and here you can take a trip through the history of human evolution, appreciating more than 200 specimens found at the Atapuerca site.
Looking beyond the city: province of Burgos
- Monasterio de San Pedro Cardeña: just 10 km from the capital, it is an icon of Spanish mediaeval history. Built in 902, its history is closely associated with Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. And it was here that El Cid left his wife and daughters in the care of the abbot during his exile and where his remains rested for centuries, until he was placed in his tomb in the Cathedral. This enclave has Romanesque and Gothic features, with the Romanesque cloister worth particular mention. You won't regret visiting it!
- Covarrubias: you are bound to fall in love with this small mediaeval village. Its networks of narrow streets and hidden squares, as well as its rich monumental heritage, make Covarrubias the perfect destination for a different day in nature.
- Santo Domingo de Silos: close to the city of Burgos is this monastery of Benedictine monks dating back to the 10th century, which is known for its Romanesque cloister, its apothecary and a library dating back more than 1000 years.
How to get to Burgos by train
Don't miss out on a visit to Burgos. We are here to help you on this adventure through history with our AVE and Larga Distancia (long distance high-speed) trains.
Discover our routes and travel to Burgos by train!