Gorgeous Zamora – a tourist free adventure

Published by Cass on 29/06/202629/06/2026

green text box: everything you need to know for your trip to Zamora. 4 photos, one of a traditional red mask, 1 of the cathedral, one of the street, one of the castle

Zamora is not particularly a tourist destination and that’s one of the things I love about it. It’s a beautiful small city city that’s often called the Pearl of the Douro, and it’s home to more Romanesque buildings than anywhere else in the world.

Why choose to head to the same place as everyone else when you can visit somewhere beautiful, historical, with great food, and without the crowds? While everyone else is visiting to nearby Salamanca, León or Segovia, I recommend you take your own path (mine? heehee) and check out beautiful Zamora.

Spain is a big country and tourists, over and over, flock to the same destinations (thanks social media), so why not try find a different side of Spain where there aren’t always menus or tours in English, where you aren’t jostling with crowds on the streets?

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Why should you visit Zamora?

12th century arched bridge over the river, grey sky, winter's day

Because it’s beautiful, because other people aren’t, because there’s definitely enough to explore and learn here to keep you entertained and again, because other people aren’t.

This is Spain too. And this is the Spain I love.

So, what does Zamora have to interest you?

⭐️ History – there has been a settlement here since the Bronze Age but under the Romans the city really began to grow thanks to its strategically important location on the Vía de la Plata. Alfonso I of Asturias conquered Zamora from the Muslims in the mid 8th century but it was quickly reconquered by the Muslims. It swapped hands regularly until Fernando I de Castilla took it for the last time for the Christians in the 11th century.

⭐️ The old city is protected by defensive 11th century walls and gates – you can still see them today

⭐️ It’s considered to be Spain’s capital of Romanesque art and is often called the Pearl of the Douro

⭐️ Fun and interesting festivals

⭐️ Good food and great wine

⭐️ Sunsets along the Douro – you don’t have to go to Porto for this (although I do love Porto)

Where is Zamora?

Zamora is a small town of 66,000 people located in the Autonomous Region of Castilla y León. The nearest well known cities are Salamanca, León & Valladolid. It’s also excitingly close to Portugal, in fact when we stayed nearby we wandered into Portugal for a bit of fun and some lunch.

🛂 There’s no official border crossing, you just drive straight over

I love crossing borders just for fun (and yes, I am absolutely aware of the immense privilege it is to do this).

🕣 Remember the clocks go back one hour as you enter Portugal

Also nearby are Medina del Campo and Tordesillas, two historically important towns in Spanish history.

How to get to Zamora

🚗 Zamora is well linked to everywhere. The roads, like pretty much all roads in Spain, are good, and unlike many historical cities, parking here is actually pretty easy (photo is of our journey into the city).

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to driving in Spain to find out just how easy it is

→ Check your rental car options and prices now

🚌 The bus station is a little north of the old city, a twenty minute walk from the plaza mayor. Zamora is well served by

→ Check bus routes, timetables and prices on Busbud

🚆The train station is basically in the same place as the bus station, a little outside of the old town. There are direct trains from Charmartín, in Madrid, from Valladolid and from Galicia (it’s on the route between Galicia and Madrid). Other destinations may well require a transfer.

→ Check your route and buy tickets with RailEurope

📲 If you’re considering an eSIM, read the full MexicoCassie eSIM review and use this 10% discount code to buy yours.

Where to stay in Zamora

photo of narrow street in old spanish town, red bunting between houses at front

Truthfully, one day is enough in Zamora if you just want to wander around town, check out the main sites and the museums and then leave. But if you are interested in the region, this is a lovely little town in which to base yourself for 3-5 days.

I actually stayed outside of Zamora, in Muelas del Pan, a tiny village nearby because I was in the area with my entire family and we needed somewhere with space to play but these are the hotels we also considered in town.

🏨 Top MexicoCassie recommendation: Hosteria Real de Zamora – this is a stunningly beautiful 16th century building (with a very strange history). The rooms are all around a cloistered courtyard, it’s reasonably priced and very central.

🏨 MexicoCassie boutique recommendation: Ares Hotel – a nicely decorated hotel with a great breakfast and views over the city walls.

🏨 MexicoCassie value recommendation: Hotel Doña Urraca – central, good, comfortable rooms but no breakfast served here (many nearby breakfast bars)

🗺️ Or, if none of these work for your tastes, use the interactive MexicoCassie accommodation finder map to choose something better

What to do in Zamora

Have you heard the Spanish phrase, “no se ganó Zamora en una hora” (“Zamora was not won in an hour“) – this is a common phrase in Spanish meaning, ‘to achieve we need to be patient and work hard’.

It apparently originates from the late 11th century when the city held out against the siege of Sancho II of Castilla against his sister’s rule of the city for 6 months.

His sister, Urraca was ‘given’ the city by her dad, Fernando, and Sancho got all pissy because a girl got something he wanted. He did not win the siege. In fact he was killed by a Zamoran resident 🤣 Hah.

🚂 There’s a little tourist train that does a 45 minute lap of the city, highlighting the main points. It runs a few times in the morning and late afternoon from the Plaza Mayor and finishes in front of the cathedral. It sets off at 10.30, 11.30 and 12.30 in the morning and 6, 7,8 and 9pm every afternoon.

📲 You can download an interactive walking tour onto your mobile to help you explore.

🏰 Castle of Zamora

This is an 11th century fortress castle that was built under Fernando I. It was restored in the 18th century and while it’s not the most exciting of buildings to walk around, it’s very nice, the views are good and it’s free!

Always check the opening times as they vary throughout the year

Cathedral de Zamora

zamora cathedral from a distance, park with intersecting paths

This is a 12th century Romanesque cathedral with a good collection of Flemish tapestries in the upstairs museum. The cathedral may not be large or imposing (in fact it’s the smallest in Castilla y León) but apparently it’s considered to be one of the most captivating in all of Spain. The tower of the Zamora cathedral is called the Torre del Salvador and it’s 45m high.

Both the castle and the cathedral are located in Parque San Martín a lovely park that’s also home to the Museo Pedagógico de Zamora, a small museum about the history of education in Spain. I didn’t visit and reviews are mixed. You’ll also find the Zamora city letters here and the Baltasar Lobo museum.

➕ There are multiple other churches in the romanesque style in Zamora although I didn’t visit them because, well, I don’t find it particularly enthralling.

Puente de Piedra

A 12th century stone bridge that crosses the Douro linking the two sides of the city. It has been renovated many times over the last thousand years but it’s ostensibly still the same bridge. I didn’t stay for sunset but apparently, they are a delight here. There are a few miradors in town for great views over the river and bridge.

I’ve also read that it’s possible to take a small boat across the river but I haven’t found anything definitive to share with you – if you have more information than me, do let me know.

Please note that you’ll read in some blogs that this is a Roman bridge. It is not. It is Romanesque – ie built in the Roman style. If you want to see a Roman bridge, I recommend Mérida or Córdoba.

Zamora city walls

The city walls were built during the 11th-13th centuries and Zamora has always been known as “la bien cercada” (well-enclosed). Apparently Zamora was an important defensive city against Arab incursions north through Spain. (annoyingly I didn’t take good photos of the walls, sorry).

Look out for the city gates, particularly the Doña Urraca Gate as you explore the walls.

Museo Etnográfico de Castilla y León

festival costume, red circular mask, shawl, red and yellow trousers

This is an excellent museum in the centre of Zamora, however, there isn’t much in English so do take this into account when deciding if you want to visit or how long you’ll need here. We really enjoyed the exhibitions.

There are also two other good museums in Zamora

Museo de Zamora, a small archaeological museum that I’d have liked to visit but my family were done with museums at this point

Museo de Semana Santa – currently closed

Festivals

Semana Santa – Easter week, obviously a movable feast but it’s very popular here

Festivos de San Pedro – June 29th. San Pedro is the patron saint of Zamora the city turns into one big cultural party in the week leading up to this date.

Festivo de ajo (garlic festival) – San Pedro is also the saint of garlic (hater of vampires?) so on the 29th June you’ll also find a traditional market with hundreds of stalls selling their garlic products in Zamora. 🧄

Music festivals – Little Opera in July, Za!Fest, modern musical festival take place in June/July. There’s also a flamenco festival in June. 💃🏻

Cheese festival – a three day cheese festival is held in September 🧀

(there’s also a bullfighting festival but obviously I’m not recommending this to you as it’s a cruel and nasty ‘sport’).

Regional gastronomy

Obviously, Spanish food is generally excellent but while you’re in this region, you must look out for zamora cheese and rice (a hearty rice cooked with pork), amazing roast lamb and incredible quality aliste beef.

→ For the vegetarians, use the MexicoCassie guide to vegetarian food in Spain to find something to eat

→ If you’re travelling with kids, the MexicoCassie guide to finding food for kids in Spain will come in handy (it’s based on all the things my kids do/don’t eat

→ And just because, if you’re wondering about Spanish breakfasts, and how to order your coffee correctly, the MexicoCassie breakfast guide is all you’ll need

Wine: there are four Designations of Origins for Zamora wines – Vino de Toro, Vino de Arribes del Duero, Valles de Benavente and Tierra del Vino de Zamora. The best known of these is definitely Vino de Toro (even I’ve heard of it) and apparently it’s been in existence since the 12th century.

There’s a wine museum in Morales de Toro, thirty minutes from Zamora, on the route to Tordesillas.

→ Read more about the wine routes here and book excellent wine tours here

What is there to do nearby?

Because Zamora isn’t a major tourist hub, day trips from here will be easiest to plan if you have a car (and good internet access so your maps will work as you explore)

🚗 Zamora is well linked to everywhere with good roads

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to driving in Spain to find out just how easy it is

→ Check your rental car options and prices now

📲 If you’re considering an eSIM, read the full MexicoCassie eSIM review and use this 10% discount code to buy yours.

Nature adventures

Arribes del Duero Natural Park– this is a spectacular canyon carved out by the river Douro with walls over 200 or even 400 metres high, where you can take a cruise

Lago de Sanabria – the only glacial lake on the Iberian peninsula, where legend has it that on the Night of San Juan (23 June) you can hear the peal of the bells from the village submerged beneath its waters. Here you can swim from the ‘beaches’, rent kayaks & paddle boats as well as enjoy a meal in a traditional chiringuito

Lagunas de Villafáfila – lakes where thousands of migrating birds stop to rest – there’s a good interpretation centre here

Sierra de la Culebra – home to the greatest density of wolves in Spain

You can even into Portugal to check out the Fraga do Puio Viewpoint (1hr15)

City adventures

Segovia – one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, famous for its incredible Roman aqueduct and the magnificent castle (photo on left).

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to visiting Segovia

Medina del Campo – a small town with very few visitors but an incredible castle with fun tours (photo on right)

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to visiting Medina del Campo

Salamanca – one of Spain’s most famous cities, home to the oldest university in Spain

Tordesillas – less well known but very important as it was here, in 1492, that the Spanish and Portuguese took it upon themselves to ‘divide up’ the ‘new world’.

📚 🇪🇸 Read more of MexicoCassie’s Spain guides

→ MexicoCassie guide to whether Spain is safe for tourists

→ MexicoCassie guide to driving in Spain

→ MexicoCassie guide to driving in southern Spain

☕️ MexicoCassie guide to vegetarian tapas, to breakfast and to feeding the kids

📲 MexicoCassie guide to using an eSIM in Spain

Sevilla

⭐️ What is Sevilla famous for? | ⭐️ How many days do you need in Seville? | ⭐️ Everything about the Seville airport bus

Málaga

Córdoba

Cádiz

Euskadi (Basque Country)

Picos de Europa

⭐️ Road trip itinerary for the Picos de Europa | ⭐️ Planning for a trip to the Picos de Europa | ⭐️ Las Arenas de Cabrales | ⭐️ Visiting Potes

Extremadura

⭐️ Everything you need to explore Monfragüe | ⭐️ What to do in Mérida | ⭐️ What to do in Cáceres | ⭐️ How to visit Plasencia

Cataluña

⭐️ Road trip around Girona Province | ⭐️ Spending 1 day in Girona | ⭐️ 1 day in Barcelona | ⭐️ How to visit Castellfollit de la Roca

La Gomera (Canary Island)

⭐️ Hiking on La Gomera | ⭐️ La Gomera with kids | ⭐️ Take a day trip to La Gomera

Categories: Castilla y LeónSpain

Cass

Cass is a British-born travel writer who lives in southern Spain. Prior to moving to Spain, Cass and her family lived in Yucatán, Mexico for many years. Something of a self-confessed-all-round travel-nerd, Cass has a deep love of adventure, and of learning as much as possible about every place visited. This blog is testament to that. All writing and photos on this website have been certified AI free by ProudlyHuman.

Gorgeous Zamora – a tourist free adventure

Why should you visit Zamora?