The very best of Castile in Burgos

Burgos is the home of monuments, delicious meals and Spanish culture. It is the capital of Castile and Leon autonomous province located in the heart of Spain. The famous El Camino goes through the town just as the river Arlanzón. Burgos has approximately 200.000 inhabitants of which the majority lives in the suburbs. The city has an airport but services only domestic flights coming from Barcelona and Madrid. You can choose to go by plane but in this case book your flight in advance. Another option is to choose the train because rail transport is good in Spain and all mayor cities are connected with high-speed rail.

The climate is Mediterranean but there is a strong cold wind coming from the inner plains. Therefore the mornings can be chilly and sometimes cold or rainfalls interrupt the sunshine. The last summers were a bit cold. The city’s inner part is the old town which is separated by a wall and most sights are located within the walls. There is no traffic in the old town so you have to walk. There are many hotels in the old town and also two albergues for pilgrims but book near the cathedral if you can because it’s the exact centre of the town.

Things to do in Burgos

Even from a distance you can see the towers of the cathedral. This building is the symbol of Burgos. The construction started in 1221 but the cathedral acquired its current look at the beginning of the 20th century. You can admire pure gothic architecture if you look at the façade and the flying buttresses in the outside and many small chapels and tombs inside. Not only architecture makes this building famous. Here lies the national hero of Spain, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid, and his wife Doña Jimena. A marble tombstone commemorates the great knight in the heart of the cathedral. Dozens of pilgrims flock to the cathedral especially in the summer so it is a very active church with masses held every day. It is important to mention that a number of reductions can only be used with a pilgrim’s passport for those who are on the Camino. Look for opening hours at the entrance and count at least two hours for the visit because you can visit the crypt and the connecting buildings as well.

If you walk around the old town you will see the traditional houses of Burgos. Locals have a custom of building balconies with large windows overlooking the street. This style can be found in many other cities of the region. Wandering around the streets you’ll pop into the old city gate. The Arco de Santa Maria is probably the most beautiful medieval gate in Europe.

Tired after a long walk, try one of the local restaurants. To start with taste the Spanish ham, called jamón serrano. It is most commonly served as a starter in itself. If you don’t like meat the region offers a wide range of cheeses like the queso de Burgos. Restaurants often have platos combinados dishes on the menu, which is a plate of different foods in a small portion. The most common ingredients are salads, tuna, asparagus and vegetable with the famous Burgos sausage, the morcilla. Drink some of the finest wines of the region to accompany your meal. The La Rioja region is probably the best in Spain.

Burgos is rich in beautiful churches so spend some time to discover them all. A small and incomplete list of the best churches: San Esteban, San Pedro, San Cosme y San Damián, Santiago (Saint James) and the San Gil. The Carthausian Convent of Miraflores is located four kilometers from the city but a calms place to visit if you have the time. Take a hike to the Burgos castle built in 884 and guarding the city since then. If you’re interested in prehistoric times visit the Museum of Human Evolution in the centre. Here you can see the archaeological finds from the Atapuerca Mountains. The nearby towns offer even more interesting sights. Spend some time to visit León, Valladolid, Logrono or Madrid if you have the opportunity.