by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:11th March 2025
Full of Castile and León medieval charm
We have now arrived at the ancient city of Burgos in the Castile and León region of Spain, which sadly was our final destination of our three-week Spanish road trip adventure.
Our tour of Spain began in Bilbao, arriving from the UK on a Brittany Ferry. We’ve mostly journeyed through the backroads of Spain and seen some stunning landscapes and towns along the way.
We’ve visited Pamplona, Zaragoza, Teruel, the Palm Tree Groves of Elche, Murcia, Cartagena, Mojácar, Granada, the windmills of Consuegra, the historic hill-top city of Toledo, Valladolid and Astorga.
We’ve previously visited Burgos but only for a few hours, and we didn’t get a chance to explore Burgos Cathedral. We always said that we would return as there is so much to see in this medieval city, and here we are.
Why not Pin it for later?
So, we have one day left in Spain, and then it’s homeward bound, and we hop back on a Brittany ferry to Portsmouth in the UK.
Did you catch our inspiration for this Spanish road trip?
Where is Burgos?
How to get to Burgos
- By Air
Start creating your own Spanish adventure and discover the delightful city of Burgos for yourself.
The closest international airports are Bilbao and Madrid; search for your flights in one easy place with Booking.com and book your car rental all at the same time. This reliable travel search engine will scan for your favoured routes and chosen dates.
Where to stay in Burgos
Abba Burgos
The hotel Abba Burgos is located around 300 metres from the beautiful cathedral and historic city centre.
We chose this hotel for its comfort, location and parking facilities, which it did not disappoint. Our room was very comfortable, clean and perfect for a night’s stay. Unfortunately, we didn’t make use of the free indoor pool or sauna.
Chargeable parking was available at the hotel.
Pop your dates in the Booking.com search box and discover further options for all budgets.
A Brief History of Burgos
A true medieval treatThe charming Cathedral city of Burgos is located in the Spanish region of Castile and León and is nestled along the banks of the River Arlanzón. Burgos has centuries of rich and intriguing history and was founded in 884 AD as a military outpost.
Arch of Fernán González
Gradually, Burgos began to grow and grow and, during the Middle Ages, became a prosperous mercantile city with a significant amount of commercial influence.
Between the 10th and 15th centuries, Burgos was the capital of the unified kingdom of Castile and Leon; however, by the 15th century, Valladolid was the residence of the kings of Castile and became the de facto capital of the region.
Burgos has unfortunately witnessed many wars over the centuries, from fighting with the Moors and even up to the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s; General Franco’s rebel nationalist government was based in Burgos.
Resting by Burgos Cathedral
Burgos is one of the most important and meaningful sites along The Way of Saint James, which leads to Santiago de Compostela; the route has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and passes through stunning parts of northern Spain after weaving its way across Europe.
Visiting Burgos Cathedral
Discover the tomb of El CidBurgos Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece; it stands proudly within Burgos city and is a stunning sight to see. Construction started on the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos in 1221, and work continued for centuries until it was finally completed in 1795.
South side of Burgos Cathedral
The main façade of Burgos Cathedral is the Puerta del Perdón, with two 84-metre towers piercing the Spanish skies and a delicate rose window in between. The style of the entire cathedral is predominantly Gothic, with a hint of Baroque and Renaissance. Some Renaissance styling can be found in the Choir and the High Altar.
The Puerta del Perdón at Burgos Cathedral
The Puerta del Sarmental at Burgos Cathedral
Another stunning façade is the cathedral's entranceway, Puerta del Sarmental; this ancient doorway was built in 1240 and is very intricate. In 1984, Our Lady of Burgos was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as you step inside, you’ll understand why, as it is magnificent.
The Choir
Within Burgos Cathedral are 19 separate chapels located around the central nave, Choir and beyond. It is quite breathtaking when you wander around and see the attention to detail of the craftsmanship.
Tomb of El Cid and his wife
As we step into the central nave of Burgos Cathedral, beneath the far-reaching dome, we locate the vault of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid Campeador, “the Champion”, and his wife, Doña Jimena. The tomb of El Cid lies between the Choir and the high altar of the cathedral.
El Cid was a Castilian knight and a ruler of medieval Spain from 1094 until 1099 and fought with both Muslim and Christian armies.
The High Altarpiece
Golden Staircase
As we turn around within the nave, you’ll see the striking high altar in all its golden splendour. The altar dates from the second half of the 16th century and was created by Rodrigo de la Haya, Martín de la Haya and several other artists.
Just a few steps from here is the Escalera Dorada, “the golden staircase” by Diego de Siloé, built in 1519 and inspired by the style of the Italian Renaissance.
Burgos Cathedral is incredible to stroll around; there are so many extraordinary sculptures, pieces of art and tranquil cloisters to amble through; you’ll need to allow plenty of time.
There are so many incredible places to discover in Spain and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Eyewitness books, I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Spanish road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
Exploring the streets of Burgos
Discovering the old and the newWhile strolling around Burgos’s ancient streets, you’ll undoubtedly spot a Peregrino or two. As I mentioned, Burgos is on the historic pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, known as The Way of Saint James, or the Camino de Santiago.
A peregrino statue
One of my favourite movies is ‘The Way’ starring Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and James Nesbitt, it’s a heartwarming film and takes you through some delightful places in northern Spain.
Arco de Santa Maria
Tourist Information
If you’re planning to explore Spain, ensure you check out the Visit Spain official tourism website. It is overflowing with helpful information covering every region of this beautiful country from north, south, east, and west.
During our previous visit to Burgos, we fleetingly wandered through the old town; however, this time, we wanted to discover more. After visiting Burgos Cathedral, we headed down towards the River Arlanzón and found the grand archway of Arco de Santa María.
The Arco de Santa María is one of twelve medieval gates that Burgos once had during the Middle Ages. It was rebuilt by Emperor Charles V during the 16th century.
Charming shady park
We wend our way along Paseo del Espolón, a charming tree-lined promenade that gives us some very welcoming shade from the Spanish sunshine. From here, we wander north to seek out the Plaza Mayor. The Plaza Mayors in Spain are always a delight to find and a lovely place to spend time with family and friends day and night.
Burgos Town Hall in the Plaza Mayor
We loved wandering around Burgos’s bustling streets; it’s such a charming city, full of life and awash with beautiful architecture. Although in contrast to the historical side of Burgos, they also have some stunning statues and street art.
Street art in Burgos
If you’re staying for the evening in Burgos, I urge you to head to Vermutería Victoria, a traditional Vermouth bar. Not only is their Vermouth delectable along with their tapas, but it’s also the resonating singing that takes place at 10pm each evening that you must witness.
Locals come into the bar dead on 10 o’clock and sing the Burgos Anthem; it’s incredible. It sends tingles down your spine; here’s a clip from the Vermutería Victoria website.
Tempted to?
Discover more of historic Spain and tour its picturesque countryside in the north, or head south to explore the Sierra Nevada National Park just south of Granada.
You can do it all on a road trip; Rental Cars searches multiple well-known car hire brands and discovers the deals that suit you the best.
There are so many incredible places to discover in Spain and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Guides,
I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more
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