Your Ultimate Guide to Salamanca, Spain

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There’s an energy to the university town of Salamanca, Spain that keeps you going from sunrise to well past dark.  Maybe it’s the fact that this town is filled with students from all over the world.  Or maybe it’s that you are so busy marveling at the Plateresque and Renaissance buildings that you lose track of time.

In this UNESCO World Heritage site, located less than 3 hours from Madrid, you can find yourself climbing towers to get the best view of town and hunting for the oche-colored quotes on buildings around town.  Or you can stroll over to the river to walk across the 1^st century Roman bridge or check out the Art Deco Museum.     

Maybe you’d rather just take in the action in the Plaza Mayor while you enjoy some traditional food from the Castilla y León area or just enjoy a glass of local wine and a tapa at dusk.  

In any case, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy in this lively, walkable city near Madrid.    

🏨 Looking for a place to stay? Booking.com has hotels, apartments, and more at all price points to plan your perfect trip!

WHAT TO DO in Salamanca

Plaza Mayor 

Often called Spain’s grandest plaza, it was built by Felipe V in the 18^th century.  Be sure to check out the royal pavilion where Spain’s bigwigs sat to watch bullfights and other events that took place in the plaza right up until 1992.  

Now, its arcaded buildings are lined with shops and restaurants as well as government buildings that are still in use.  It’s especially pretty at dawn when the buildings are glowing and you have it all to yourself before the tables and chairs arrive, like magic, eagerly awaiting customers.

Or come at night when the buildings stay lit until midnight and people enjoy their late (very late) dinner on the plaza.    

The Cathedrals (Catedral Nueva and Catedral Viejo)

Yes, that’s Cathedrals with an “S” since the old cathedral and new cathedral are joined.  The “new” one being 16^th century as the old cathedral was already around for about 400 years before it.  I love how instead of tearing down the old to make room, they melded them into one.  The Old is in the Romanesque style, while the New is gothic/baroque.  

>>The university isn’t the only place you can find hidden carvings.  Look for the astronaut among the vines on the facade of the New Cathedral. 

The New Cathedral, with its soaring ceilings and ornate side chapels, is impressive in size. I accidently went to Sunday church (I lose track of days on vacation) and walked inside to the smell of incense.  Rather than sightsee, I decided to sit and listen to the organ music for a few minutes.

But the coolest thing for me was in the Old Cathedral.  The Chapel of San Martin (Capilla de San Martín) is tucked away in a corner through a doorway as you come down the stairs.  I felt like Indiana Jones discovering some place hidden for a thousand years.  

You’ll find the Medieval Towers (Ieronimous) at the southwest corner of the New Cathedral.  There are stairs up to both the interior balconies of the church to admire it from above and to the exterior to take in gorgeous views of the city and see the church’s gothic spires up close. 

Warden Tower (Torre del Clavero)

Built in 1480, the tower is the last part standing of a much larger palace.  It’s not open to the public but is worth a stop by to check it out just for the amazing turrets.  It’s next to nice little park to stop and soak it in for a few minutes and check out the statue honoring Christopher Columbus. 

Salamanca University (Universidad de Salamanca) 

You’ll find people everywhere around Salamanca selling frog (rana) items- little toys that croak, stuffed animals, and figurines.  No, it’s not the school’s official mascot.  There’s a frog carved into the relief above the doors somewhere and it’s a rite of passage to find it- can you spot it in my photo?  (Don’t worry, I had to look it up too.)  

Salamanca University, established in 1218, is one of Europe’s oldest and contains the oldest university library. You can visit this stunning library- and peruse the bookshop while you’re there too. 

House of the Shells (Casa de las Conchas)

One of the most iconic buildings in Salamanca, this building now houses the public library.  But the reason you’ll want to visit is for the pretty colonnaded courtyard and the interesting view of the Clerecía from it. 

This old mansion has 300 shells as well as the coat of arms of the family who built it. Rodrigo Maldonado was a member of the Order of Santiago whose emblem was the scallop shell, hence the shells.

Stairway to Heaven (Scala Coeli) 

Across from the House of Shells, this tower is aptly named because if you can make it up the almost 200 steps, you will have access to a 360° heavenly view.  Don’t forget to climb the cylindrical wooden stairs that will take you up to where the bells are- just be forewarned the pigeons have left a mess. 

>>Heed the warning signs about it being windy up there- I almost lost the jacket I was carrying!     

La Clerecía is the baroque catholic church and university the Scala Coeli is attached to and can be visited- but only with a tour in Spanish.  The stairs outside, however, are great for meeting up with friends or taking a little break from all that walking. 

Art Deco Museum (Casa Lis or Museo de Art Déco)

I didn’t have a chance to go into this museum located near the river, but I did enjoy taking a look at the interesting art deco items in the gift shop (I hear there’s also a café).  At the very least, you should go around back and check out the impressive stained glass that runs along the entire back of the building because it’s really very impressive.  The Roman Bridge (Puerto Romano) is nearby as well.  

>>Look for the Cueva de Salamanca nearby which legend says is where the devil used to teach black magic.

Visit a Monastery or Convent

Take a tour of the Convento de San Esteban with its ornate reliefs in Plateresque style or go across the street to the Convento de las Dueñas which was founded in 1419 and is known for its morbid carvings and tranquil cloister.  

Take a Literary Tour

In Salamanca, there are tons of tours with expert guides no matter your interest.  There are tours focused on churches, architecture, and street art.  There are ones on a bicycle or in a tuk-tuk.  But seeing as this is a university town and the home of Cervantes, you might want to consider a literary tour.  

🏰 If you’re traveling solo, joining a tour is a great way to meet people. Check out all the options at Get Your Guide.

Day Trips from Salamanca

There are lots of places you can go from Salamanca.  Here are a few.  

Next time I’m in Spain, I’m going to make time to stay at the parador in Ciudad Rodrigo, 1 hour southwest.  It’s in a renovated 14^th century castle near the border of Portugal.

You could also check out Segovia 1 hour east as a day trip- or stay a couple nights.  I did and had a great time! It’s famous for its very impressive Roman aqueduct as well as the fairy tale castle.  

Ávila, 1 hour southeast, has the best-preserved medieval walls in the area- including 88 turrets along its length.

You could take in the countryside with a drive from Sierra de Francia to Bejar about 1 hour southwest of Salamanca.

For a little bit longer trip of a 2-hour drive south, you could visit the gorgeous perfectly preserved Renaissance town of Cáceres.  I absolutely loved it!  

RESTAURANTS in Salamanca

I think the main activity here is eating, lol.  There don’t seem to be set times as much like in the smaller towns.  It’s just nonstop here- and this is a town made for noshing all day. 

Get yourself a little tostada or a pastry with a café con leche for breakfast.  Maybe grab a hornazo (a bread stuffed with chorizo, ham, and egg traditionally eaten at Easter) or an empanada mid-morning.  Next, of course, you should have your menu del dia (menu of the day- a 3-course lunch) around 2pm.  After siesta, some churros are great for a little merienda (afternoon treat).  Then of course, it’s time for tapas (pinxtos they’re called here)- some croquetas at one place, squid ink risotto the next- with your glass of wine or vermouth.  Then, if you’re still hungry (I never am) dinner starts around 10pm.  Good luck fitting it all in!

If you ARE planning on dinner, I noticed lots of rice dishes including paella and plenty of grilled meats on the menus (Spaniards love their grilled meats!) as well as cochinillo (roast suckling pig).  You might also like a Sopa Castillana (a delicious bread and egg soup) or Farinato (a meatless sausage) which is from Salamanca.

Finding the best places to eat isn’t too hard.  Just look for the places that are full of people.  If a restaurant is empty during a mealtime, believe me, there’s a reason.  Keep in mind that though you can get snacks pretty much anytime here, real mealtimes in Spain are different from other countries.  

>> Grab something for a picnic or stay and have a bite to eat at the food market located behind the Plaza Mayor.  🍇  🧀  🍷

If you want to plan ahead for some delicious food in Salamanca, here are some suggestions:    

La Madrileña is on a nice plaza where you can sit and eat the orange-glazed, cream-filled puff pastry that they’re known for (it’s delicious).

Santa Gloria right below the Plaza Mayor has pastries, breakfast toasts, and a good café con leche.  The view might not be of the plaza, but the tostada I had for breakfast hit the spot.  

Restaurante Corte y Cata is cozy and serves modern tapas plates along with wine and desserts near the Clerecía.

Oroviejo is a little more expensive but located in a quiet little corner of town with several different set menu options.

Taberna de Libreros has inventive, seasonal cuisine with local and global flavors. Located near the university.

Mesón Cervantes Located in the corner of Plaza Mayor with tapas, paella, and a great, traditional atmosphere.

HOTELS in Salamanca 

I stayed near the Plaza Mayor which was perfect.  It’s where you’ll probably want to be at night for dinner and then you won’t have to far to walk home to fall into bed.

There are lots of options to stay in Salamanca at all different price points.  I have a few recommendations below or you can take a look at lots more options for your perfect stay.

🏨 For lots more hotel options at all different price points, check out Booking.com

Grand Hotel Don Gregorio 5✩
A luxury hotel with a spa in a restored 15^th century palace.  It houses a Michelin star restaurant and is only a 5 minutes walk from Plaza Mayor, the Cathedrals, and the University.

Hotel Rua Salamanca 4✩
Bright modern rooms and a great location with a good breakfast and views over the city from some of the rooms.  The helpful staff make sure you have everything you need.

Ikonik Plaza Mercado 3✩
Located right behind the market, this hotel offers parking and a great location near Plaza Mayor.

Hostal Consejo 2✩
This is where I stayed.  It’s not a hostel, but a hostal (with an A) which means a small, bare-bones inn without breakfast or any frills.  The location on a quiet plaza, steps away from Plaza Mayor was perfect.   

TRANSPORTATION for Salamanca

✈️ Looking for flights? Check Way Away for all your options!

How to get to Salamanca
Salamanca is less than 3 hours from Madrid via train, 2 and a half via car or bus so it is possible to do a day trip to Salamanca from Madrid.  

🚗 Looking to rent a car in Spain? Discover Cars can help!   

The train station is a 10-minute taxi ride (8€) northeast of city center and the bus station 10 minutes northwest.

🚃 Use Omio to figure out your best way to get from here to there!

How to Get around Salamanca
Salamanca is mostly flat and it’s very easy to walk to all the sights.  It’s less than a mile from the Plaza Mayor to the Puente Romano so the only time you might need a ride is getting to and from the station or if you’d like to see outside of the city center.

Ready to plan your trip?  
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QUESTIONS about Salamanca

Is Salamanca worth visiting?
Salamanca is absolutely worth a visit.  There’s tons of history and interesting architecture to see in Salamanca and the university keeps the city feeling lively.  

When is the best time to visit Salamanca?
I love autumn in Spain.  There are fewer tourists, it’s not as hot, and flights are cheaper than during the high season of summer. Spring in Spain is also nice for travel to Spain.  And if you’re there in summer, do as the locals do and take a siesta during the afternoon when it’s hot- and make sure your hotel has AC!

How long should I stay in Salamanca?
You should be able to see everything in a day or two.  But Salamanca is also a great base for day trips in the area.  I listed some above but there are plenty more- especially if you rent a car.  

Is Salamanca safe?
Salamanca is safe and is a perfect place for solo travel in Spain.  I went on my own and had a great time.

What’s the astronaut of Salamanca?
There’s an astronaut carved into the façade of the cathedral.  It’s sure going to baffle future historians! Look at the Cathedrals section above for more info.    

If you’re looking for towns near Madrid, Spain to visit and love a university town with lots of energy, history, and one that’s easy to get to then Salamanca, Spain might be the perfect place for you.