This city was born as a Roman camp and is now one of the major cities in the region. Full of important churches, with its imposing cathedral and countless attractions, you’ll find plenty of things to do in León. This city has the second most important university in Castilla y León, as well as great tourist attractions and food. Don’t miss out on all the things to do in León and fall in love with its rural charm.
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Things to see in León Spain
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León Cathedral
The Cathedral of León is the best representation of a French-style Gothic cathedral in Spain and one of the most impressive monuments to see in León.
León Cathedral has an impressive façade, decorated with a large rose window and many colourful stained glass windows. Visitors can also learn more about the cathedral and see some of its interesting and beautiful objects on display in the museum.
Gaudí’s Casa Botines, the building to see in León Spain
The master Gaudí did not only leave his mark in Barcelona or Catalonia, but spread his art to other parts of Spain. Visiting the Casa Botines is one of the best things to do in León, whether you love Modernist architecture or not.
Built between 1891 and 1892, during the neo-Gothic period of the brilliant Antonio Gaudí, it was commissioned by Simón Fernández and Mariano Andrés González, representatives of the Banco Hispano-Colonial de Barcelona. From the outside, it looks like a sturdy medieval fortress, but in reality Gaudí’s inspiration was the Gothic cathedral of León.
The Convent of San Marcos
Another of the buildings that form part of the excellent religious heritage in León. In fact, it is one of the jewels of the Spanish Renaissance.
The San Marcos Convent complex consists of the convent itself (which is now a Parador Nacional), an ancient church consecrated in 1541, and a fascinating archaeological museum. It was a gift from Ferdinand II of Aragon to the city of León.
Basilica de San Isidoro
The Royal Collegiate Basilica of San Isidoro is a large Romanesque church and university college on the outskirts of the old town. It is on the site of an ancient monastery dedicated to Don Pelayo and, before that, a Roman temple. It was consecrated in 1063 and has a Royal Pantheon, covered with impressive colourful frescoes that have earned it the nickname of “The Romanesque Sistine Chapel“.
In addition, you will also find here a museum of beautiful and valuable religious relics and a collegiate library. In its luxury hotel, you can dine among the ancient cloisters and admire the courtyard and its beautiful fountains from your room. This is without a doubt one of the architectural wonders to see in León.
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Castilla y León (MUSAC)
If you love Contemporary Art, you must include the MUSAC on your list of things to do in León. The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León is home to more than 1,650 works by over 400 artists from Spain and León, as well as international artists.
The oldest works are from 1992, and one of its most impressive galleries is the one with 21st century art. Opened to the public in 2005, it was designed by architects Luis Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón. Its façade is covered with hundreds of sheets of rainbow-coloured glass, which are supposed to imitate the colours of the stained glass windows of León Cathedral.
The Roman wall of León Spain
If you want to learn about the city’s Roman past, seeing the walls left by one of the most powerful cultures in history should be among your things to do in León.
Today, this impressive fortification, which also incorporates some medieval traces, borders the historic centre of the city and is one of the best-preserved Roman walls in Spain.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is the hub of León Spain. Here it is common to find the people of León strolling, chatting or having a drink in a beautiful setting. It is overlooked by a number of stunning buildings, including the Baroque Edificio Mirador or Consistorio, which has two rectangular towers with capitals.
The Plaza Mayor was the great commercial centre of León during the Middle Ages and until the 19th century, where they held a market twice a week, with all kinds of shops in its arcades. Today, the market still exists, held every Wednesday and Saturday. Don’t hesitate to visit if you are there on a market day, as it is one of the best things to do in León if you want to get to know the city.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to see in and around León?
Peñalba de Santiago
Peñalba de Santiago, formerly known as Santiago de Peñalba, is a quiet village in the western part of the province of León.
The town is part of the charismatic region of El Bierzo, and has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the category of Ethnological Site. Its heritage includes a beautiful Mozarabic church, built in the 10th century, and considered a an outstanding example of this architectural style.
Astorga
The town of Astorga is in the central area of the province of León in Spain. Located at an altitude of 869 metres above sea level, it forms part of the region of Tierra de Astorga.
Astorga has experienced many historical events, which have left a deep mark on it, in the form of works such as the Cathedral of Santa María, the Episcopal Palace, the building that now houses the Town Hall, the Sanctuary of Fátima, the Church of San Andrés, the Convent of Santa Clara or the Chapel of Vera Cruz, among many others. We also highly recommend a visit to the Chocolate Museum!
What to do in León Spain in one day?
With a day in León you can visit the most important places in the city and get to know its most interesting spots. Here is a one-day itinerary around León so you don’t miss anything important and discover the essence of this city.
- León Cathedral
- Gaudi’s Casa Botines
- Convent of San Marcos
- Basilica de San Isidoro
- The Museum of Contemporary Art of Castilla y León (MUSAC)
- Roman Walls of León
- Plaza Mayor
What to do in León Spain in two days?
Two days in León will allow your to visit the most charming rural villages of the province. For your second day we recommend visiting:
- Peñalba de Santiago
- Astorga
How to plan what to do in León Spain?
If you don’t know how to organise your trip, or where to start when visiting all the points of interest in León, sign up to Passporter for free and we will help you.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app to inspire other users.
If you have any doubts, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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