Cathedral of Santa María de la Huerta
1 hEveryoneAll year, Tuesday to Sunday
Visit · 1 h · From €6 with audioguide, €9 with guide · Under-12s free on the basic ticket
From €6
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From ZaragozaAbout 89 km · 1 h
Minimum time1 day
CathedralFrom €6
Moncayo2,314 m
What to do
What to do in Tarazona and the Moncayo
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Kiborion, the Heights of the Cathedral
30 minWithout vertigoAll year, Tuesday to Sunday
Guided visit · 30 min · Ticket and Kiborion €10 · Children aged 7 to 12, €4
From €10
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Episcopal Palace and its dungeons
1 hEveryoneAll year round, Tuesday to Sunday
Visit · 1 h guided · €3 dungeons and stables, €5 with the noble quarters · Under-12s free
From €3
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Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Tarazona and the Moncayo, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Tarazona and the Moncayo
Spring and autumn. In October and November the Moncayo beech forest changes colour and the city is quiet. In summer the Moncayo gives shade and cool. In winter the summit has snow and you do not climb it without equipment.
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How you travel
Tarazona and the Moncayo your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
By car, the city in the morning and the Moncayo in the afternoon
Tarazona is about 89 km from Zaragoza by the N-232 and N-122, or by the AP-68. The old town is done on foot; the car comes back into use for Veruela and the Moncayo, which have no useful public transport.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepLa Merced de la Concordia…
- Getting aroundVeruela Monastery: about 15 km
- Where to eatSaboya 21, open on Sunday…
- ServicesTourist office on Plaza de…
Where to sleep
- La Merced de la Concordia, a 1501 palace in the centre
- Hotel Encanto Tarazona, with parking on Plaza de España
- La Fonda, bed and breakfast on Calle Marrodán
Getting around
- Veruela Monastery: about 15 km
- Moncayo: SO-382 and the Agramonte turning, then a track to the sanctuary
- Park only in the marked spaces of the Natural Park
Where to eat
- Saboya 21, open on Sunday at lunchtime
- La Merced de la Concordia, ternasco lamb and cod
Services
- Tourist office on Plaza de San Francisco
- Nearest train station at Tudela, 22 km away
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Tarazona and the Moncayo for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
A city of stairs and a beech forest half an hour away
Tarazona works with children if you split it in two: monuments in the morning, when they can cope, and the Moncayo forest in the afternoon.
- What works bestThe cathedral: under-12s do not…
- Where to sleepHotel Encanto Tarazona, with triple…
- Where to eatSaboya 21 or La Merced…
- Bear in mindThe upper old town has…
What works best
- The cathedral: under-12s do not pay the basic entry
- The Kiborion, 30 minutes, with a children's rate from 7 to 12
- The dungeons of the Episcopal Palace, which impress more than the grand rooms
- The Peña Roya beech forest, a 7.8 km circuit, with a spring at the start
Where to sleep
- Hotel Encanto Tarazona, with triple rooms and parking
Where to eat
- Saboya 21 or La Merced, better booked on Sunday
Bear in mind
- The upper old town has stairs: bring a baby carrier, not a pushchair
- The climb up the Moncayo is only for fit teenagers
- There are no services on the Moncayo; bring water and food
What to do as a family
Heights, dungeons and a 2,314-metre peak
A teenager finds the cathedral says little from below; from the Kiborion or the summit of the Moncayo, quite a lot more.
- What works bestThe Kiborion, 30 minutes along…
- Where to sleepHotel Encanto Tarazona, with triple…
- Where to eatA sandwich at the summit…
- Bear in mindThe climb to the peak…
What works best
- The Kiborion, 30 minutes along the heights of the cathedral
- The dungeons of the Episcopal Palace
- The climb up the Moncayo: 9.6 km and 793 m of ascent to the roof of the Iberian System
- The Peña Roya beech forest, if the summit is too much
Where to sleep
- Hotel Encanto Tarazona, with triple rooms
Where to eat
- A sandwich at the summit and a hot dinner in Tarazona
Bear in mind
- The climb to the peak is not done in snow or ice
- In fog it is hard to find the way down: do not separate from the group
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're driving
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel La Merced de la Concordia
Why we like it: Seven rooms, three of them 35 m² suites, in a 1501 palace on Plaza de la Merced, with its own restaurant. Four stars.
Hotel Encanto Tarazona
Why we like it: Three-star hotel on Plaza de España, opposite the Town Hall, with parking, an electric charger, breakfast and triple rooms with views.
Hotel La Fonda
Why we like it: A 17-room bed and breakfast in a contemporary style on Calle Marrodán, right in the centre of Tarazona.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Old town and Jewish quarter | Stay within walking distance of everything, slopes | |
| Plaza de España and Marrodán | Hotels and restaurants, car nearby | |
| Moncayo | Trails and beech forest, 25–30 km away |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Tarazona and the Moncayo
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Restaurante Saboya 21
What to order: the weekend tasting menu (€45) or, to eat with others, the "al grano" menu with rice in the middle; à la carte, the morels with asparagus pudding or an embers-grilled fish for two
La Merced de la Concordia Restaurant
What to order: the roast shoulder of ternasco lamb or the cod tripe with snails, and the stew croquettes to start
Closed
Restaurante Agramonte
What to order: call ahead and ask what is on that day; it is the only table inside the park
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Tarazona and the Moncayo
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
42.20° N · 1.50° W
Bardenas Reales
By car
42.48° N · 1.65° W
Olite
By carCar-free
41.19° N · 1.78° W
Monasterio de Piedra
By car
42.00° N · 2.85° W
Laguna Negra and Picos de Urbión
By car
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Start at the cathedral
The first guided tour on Sunday leaves at 11:00 and the 10:30 Kiborion slot fits in just before.
- 2Buy tickets together
Multiple tickets to use within 48 hours have a reduced price.
- 3Water for the Moncayo
There is only a fountain at the Fuente del Sacristán. On the climb to the summit, nothing.
Local tip
With one day, city in the morning and beech forest in the afternoon. The climb to the summit is better with a night in Tarazona and an early start.
Tarazona is the city at the far west of Zaragoza province, next to Navarre and Soria, rising in tiers above the River Queiles with the Moncayo behind. It has a Gothic-Mudéjar cathedral recovered after a long restoration, an episcopal palace hanging above the old Jewish quarter and a bullring turned into homes. Half an hour away are the monastery of Veruela and the Moncayo Natural Park. It is an hour from Zaragoza, and makes for a full Sunday or a night.
How do you get to Tarazona from Zaragoza, Soria or Pamplona?
By car. From Zaragoza it is about 89 km: along the N-232 and then the N-122 towards Soria, or along the AP-68 with the exit at Gallur. Allow an hour. From Soria, the N-122 runs straight down over the Madero pass; from Pamplona and Logroño, you come via Tudela, 22 km from Tarazona. From Huesca, via Zaragoza.
Without a car there are options, although few. Therpasa runs the Zaragoza – Tarazona – Soria line and Interbus the Tarazona – Tudela – Pamplona one. There is no train: the nearest station is Tudela. For Veruela and the Moncayo you need a car.
What is there to see in Tarazona in a day?
The order that works is from bottom to top, from morning to afternoon.
- The cathedral of Santa María de la Huerta, in the lower part. Entry with audio guide from €6, a one-hour guided visit at €9 and, to see the church from above, the Kiborion, 30 minutes up on the heights. On Sunday the guided tours leave at 11:00, 12:30 and 16:00.
- The Plaza de España, with the sculpted façade of the Town Hall, and the climb through the old Jewish quarter.
- The Episcopal Palace, with the dungeons and the noble area with a guide, on Sunday at 13:00.
- The old bullring, on the way down: an octagon of 18th-century houses.
In the afternoon, the Moncayo or Veruela. If you only have an afternoon, the walk through the Peña Roya beech forest is a 7.8 km circuit, about 2 h 20. The climb to the summit takes almost four hours and strong legs.
Are the monuments open on Sunday and Monday?
On Sunday yes: the cathedral from 10:00 to 18:00 and the palace dungeons from 11:00 to 14:00. On Monday no, unless it is a public holiday: they only serve pre-arranged groups. So, if you go on a long weekend, leave Tarazona for Saturday or Sunday and the Moncayo for Monday. In 2026 the foundation also closes on 1 and 6 January, 27 and 28 August, 5 October and 24, 25 and 31 December.
Where do you park?
The lower part, next to the Queiles and the cathedral, is the best place to leave the car: you go up to the old Jewish quarter and the palace on foot and its streets are not comfortable to drive in. The Hotel Encanto, on the Plaza de España, has parking for its guests. On the Moncayo, park only in the marked spaces: parking on the verges of the track is forbidden, and the sanctuary car park is private.
How much time do you need?
A well-spent day: the city in the morning and the Moncayo or Veruela in the afternoon. With a night you can climb to the summit early, when the air is clear, and see the city at leisure the next day. From Zaragoza it is a classic Sunday outing; from Soria, Pamplona or Logroño, a short break.
When should you go?
In spring and autumn. The Moncayo beech forest turns red in October and November. In summer the city is hot at midday, but the Moncayo gives shade and cool. In winter the summit usually has snow: with it, the climb to the peak is not for hikers without equipment, but the beech forest and the city are still a good plan.
Where do you eat on Sunday?
Saboya 21, on Calle Marrodán, is open on Sunday at lunchtime with its weekend tasting menu. The restaurant at La Merced de la Concordia, on the Plaza de la Merced, serves ternasco, cod and stew croquettes; call first, because it does not publish its hours. If you eat on the Moncayo, the only table inside the park is the Agramonte restaurant.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Zaragoza to Tarazona?
An hour by car, about 89 km along the N-232 and the N-122 or the AP-68.
How much does it cost to enter Tarazona cathedral?
€6 with an audio guide, €9 with a guided tour, €10 with the Kiborion and €12 all-inclusive. Under-12s do not pay for the basic ticket.
Is the cathedral open on Mondays?
Not for individual visits, except on public holidays.
Can you climb the Moncayo in a day from Tarazona?
Yes. From the sanctuary car park it is 9.6 km there and back and about four hours, without snow or ice.
Is there a bus to Tarazona?
Yes, Therpasa's Zaragoza – Tarazona – Soria line and Interbus's Tudela and Pamplona one. For the Moncayo you need a car.
Can you take a dog?
In the streets and in the beech forest, on a lead. Not in the monuments.