# Cerca de Zaragoza

From Zaragoza you head out in all directions along the Ebro valley. To the west, the Moncayo and the Monasterio de Piedra; to the north, Huesca, Guara and the Pyrenees; to the south, Teruel and Albarracín; to the south-east, the Matarraña and Morella, and upriver, Navarre.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/zaragoza/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [Tarazona: cathedral and beech forest](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/tarazona-and-moncayo/itineraries/cathedral-kiborion-and-moncayo-beech-forest.md) (1 h en coche): The cathedral with a guide and its climb to the Kiborion, a stroll round the Jewish quarter, lunch at Saboya 21 and the Peña Roya beech forest on the Moncayo before heading home. An hour from Zaragoza.
- [The Bardenas by 4x4 and lunch in Tudela](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/bardenas-reales/itineraries/4x4-through-the-bardena-blanca.md) (1 h 20 en coche): You tour the Bardena Blanca by 4x4 with a guide, stop at Castildetierra and the Cortinas ravine, and eat Ribera vegetables in Tudela. An hour from Pamplona and Logroño.
- [Piedra in autumn and a thermal lake](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/piedra-monastery/itineraries/autumn-with-thermal-bath-in-alhama.md) (1 h 20 en coche): The waterfalls and caves of the Monasterio de Piedra with the park in autumn colours, lunch on site and, in the afternoon, a swim in the thermal lake at Termas Pallarés. An hour and twenty minutes from Zaragoza.
- [Monasterio de Piedra: waterfalls and birds of prey](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/piedra-monastery/itineraries/monasterio-de-piedra-waterfalls-birds-of-prey-and-monastery.md) (1 h 20 en coche): The waterfall park first thing, with the Iris Cave and the birds of prey display, lunch on the grounds and the 13th-century monastery before heading home.
- [Olite: palace, grill and Ujué](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/olite/itineraries/royal-palace-grill-house-and-ujue.md) (1 h 30 en coche): You climb the Royal Palace towers, walk the medieval rúas, eat chargrilled food on the Rúa Mayor and finish at Ujué, on top of its hill. 40 minutes from Pamplona.
- [Alquézar: walkways, ternasco and cloister](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/alquezar/itineraries/alquezar-sunday-vero-walkways-and-collegiate-church.md) (1 h 40 en coche): The Vero walkways first thing, the guided visit to the village and its museum, a ternasco lunch and the collegiate church with its painted cloister before heading home.
- [Mudéjar Teruel in a day](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/mudejar-towers-lovers-and-cathedral.md) (1 h 45 en coche): El Salvador tower from the inside, the Lovers with the San Pedro tower, lunch at the Mesón El Óvalo, the cathedral's painted ceiling and the walk from the Escalinata to the Torico. It can be done by train.
- [Dinópolis and the Torico](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/with-children-at-dinopolis-and-torico.md) (1 h 45 en coche): Dinópolis all morning, with a dinosaur museum, a simulator and a 3D cinema, lunch at the Mesón El Óvalo and a stroll round the Torico and the Escalinata before heading home. Under-4s free.
- [Valderrobres and the Parrizal](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/sunday-in-valderrobres-castle-and-parrizal.md) (1 h 49 en coche): Valderrobres castle and church with a guide, the bridge over the Matarraña, a grilled lunch at El Salt and the Parrizal walkways to the Estrechos. 1 h 49 from Zaragoza.
- [Sigüenza: castle, Doncel and Castilian roast](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/siguenza/itineraries/siguenza-castle-doncel-and-roast-lunch.md) (1 h 50 en coche): You park by the castle and walk down: Parador courtyard, Santiago and the Casa del Doncel in the morning, a roast at midday and the cathedral with the Doncel's tomb in the afternoon.
- [Morella: castle and Els Ports cooking](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/morella/itineraries/morella-walls-castle-and-truffle-lunch.md) (2 h en coche): The walled city of Els Ports on a Sunday: the Sant Miquel towers, the arcaded street, the basilica before Mass, a Morella lunch and the castle in the afternoon.
- [Blue Train and International Station](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/canfranc/itineraries/blue-train-and-international-station.md) (2 h 1 en coche): You travel up from Zaragoza on the Blue Train, with historic 1920s and 1930s carriages, visit the International Station, have lunch in Canfranc and return on the same train.
- [Ordesa: red beech forest and Cola de Caballo](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/autumn-beech-forest-and-cola-de-caballo.md) (2 h 6 en coche): The classic valley route with the beech forest in red and yellow: from the Pradera to the Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso, and shoulder of ternasco lamb in Torla on the way back. An hour and twenty minutes from Huesca.
- [Ordesa: easy waterfalls and lamb in Torla](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/ordesa-estrecho-waterfalls-torla-lamb-and-bujaruelo.md) (2 h 6 en coche): Ordesa's easy route through the beech forest to the Arripas, Cueva and Estrecho waterfalls, roast ternasco lamb in a stone house in Torla and a flat stroll in Bujaruelo. 1 h 20 from Huesca.
- [Broto: Sorrosal ferrata and valley kid](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/via-ferrata-broto-and-lunch-in-sarvise.md) (2 h 6 en coche): Your first ferrata, beside the Sorrosal waterfall with a qualified guide, home-cooked seasonal food in Sarvisé and, in the afternoon, an hour on horseback through the Broto valley. 1 h 20 from Huesca.
- [Aínsa and Muro de Roda](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe/itineraries/plaza-mayor-and-muro-de-roda.md) (2 h 10 en coche): Aínsa's medieval old town with its castle, the walk to the Cinca viewpoint, lunch at the Bodegón de Mallacán, open all year, and Muro de Roda before heading home. An hour and a half from Huesca.
- [Candanchú: slopes by the Somport and ternasco in Canfranc](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/canfranc/itineraries/skiing-candanchu-and-grill-in-canfranc.md) (2 h 10 en coche): A day on the slopes at Candanchú, the Somport resort, with a lift pass that is also valid for Astún, and a late chargrilled lunch in Canfranc Estación. An hour and twenty-five minutes from Huesca and about two hours from Zaragoza and Pamplona.
- [Astún: three hours of lessons, all included](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/canfranc/itineraries/first-ski-at-astun-with-lesson.md) (2 h 15 en coche): A Sunday to learn to ski at Astún with the official school's package, which combines three hours of lessons, lift pass and equipment, and a late lunch in Canfranc Estación. An hour and a half from Huesca.
- [Formigal: a day on the slopes and a grill at Sarrios](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/tena-valley/itineraries/skiing-at-formigal-and-grill-on-the-slopes.md) (2 h 15 en coche): A whole day on the slopes of Formigal, the big resort of the Tena valley, with a charcoal-grilled lunch at the Asador Montañés in Sarrios. An hour and a half from Huesca and about two hours and a quarter from Zaragoza.
- [Tena with children: sledges at Portalet and a table in Sallent](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/tena-valley/itineraries/snow-with-children-and-nieveaventura.md) (2 h 15 en coche): A snow day for children who do not yet ski: the NieveAventura park at Portalet, with sledges, snowshoes and games, and valley cooking for lunch in Sallent de Gállego. An hour and a half from Huesca.

## Exit 231 of the A-2, for the Monasterio de Piedra

Zaragoza is in the centre of the Ebro valley, and each road leads to a different landscape. The A-2 leaves for Madrid: at exit 231 you leave it for the [Monasterio de Piedra](/en/spain/aragon/piedra-monastery), and further on, at kilometre 104, for [Sigüenza](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/siguenza). The N-232 and N-122 lead to [Tarazona](/en/spain/aragon/tarazona-and-moncayo) and the Moncayo, and the AP-68 drops through the Ribera to Tudela, the [Bardenas Reales](/en/spain/navarre/bardenas-reales) and, further north, [Olite](/en/spain/navarre/olite).

The A-23 crosses the city from north to south. To the north it passes Huesca on the way to [Alquézar](/en/spain/aragon/alquezar), [Aínsa](/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe), the [Ordesa valley](/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley), [Canfranc](/en/spain/aragon/canfranc) and the [Tena valley](/en/spain/aragon/tena-valley). To the south it leads to [Teruel](/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city) and, from there, [Albarracín](/en/spain/aragon/albarracin). To the south-east, the N-232 and A-231 reach [Valderrobres](/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana) and the Matarraña; continuing along the N-232 you climb to [Morella](/en/spain/valencian-community/morella).

Without a car there are two exits that work. To Teruel you go by train, and the station is at the foot of the Escalinata. The Monasterio de Piedra is reached by AVE or Alvia to Calatayud and, from there, a 30-minute taxi or the Automóviles Zaragoza bus. To Tarazona there is a Therpasa bus; the Moncayo already calls for a car.

## Tarazona, the plan that leaves the latest free

**An hour away** is Tarazona, with [the cathedral, the climb to the Kiborion and the Peña Roya beech forest](/en/spain/aragon/tarazona-and-moncayo/itineraries/cathedral-kiborion-and-moncayo-beech-forest). It is the nearest plan and the one that leaves the most time free.

The bulk of the Sundays are **between one and one and a half hours** away. At 80 minutes are [the waterfalls and birds of prey of Piedra](/en/spain/aragon/piedra-monastery/itineraries/monasterio-de-piedra-waterfalls-birds-of-prey-and-monastery) and the Bardenas, on a [guided 4x4 with lunch in Tudela](/en/spain/navarre/bardenas-reales/itineraries/4x4-through-the-bardena-blanca); at 90, [Olite and Ujué](/en/spain/navarre/olite/itineraries/royal-palace-grill-house-and-ujue).

**Between an hour and a half and two hours** the day starts early: [Alquézar and its walkways](/en/spain/aragon/alquezar/itineraries/alquezar-sunday-vero-walkways-and-collegiate-church), at 100 minutes; [Mudéjar Teruel](/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/mudejar-towers-lovers-and-cathedral) and [Dinópolis with children](/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/with-children-at-dinopolis-and-torico), at 105; [Valderrobres and the Parrizal](/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/sunday-in-valderrobres-castle-and-parrizal), at 109; [Sigüenza, with the castle and the Doncel](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/siguenza/itineraries/siguenza-castle-doncel-and-roast-lunch), at 110, and [Morella](/en/spain/valencian-community/morella/itineraries/morella-walls-castle-and-truffle-lunch), at 120.

The Pyrenees and almost everything else call for a night **from two hours**. Ordesa is 126 minutes away, Aínsa 130 and the Candanchú, Astún and Formigal slopes between 130 and 135. To sleep away: [Prades](/en/spain/catalonia/prades/itineraries/prades-night-of-stars-from-tarragona), at 148; [Albarracín and the Rodeno](/en/spain/aragon/albarracin/itineraries/albarracin-rodeno-weekend-from-valencia) and [the Rioja Alavesa](/en/spain/basque-country/laguardia-and-rioja-alavesa/itineraries/rioja-alavesa-wine-weekend-laguardia), at 150; [Siurana and the Priorat](/en/spain/catalonia/siurana/itineraries/siurana-priorat-weekend-vineyards-reservoir), at 173, and [Montanejos](/en/spain/valencian-community/montanejos/itineraries/montanejos-thermal-weekend-rafting), at 200.

## The Formigal snow, two and a quarter hours away

In winter, the snow is two and a quarter hours away: a [day on the slopes at Formigal](/en/spain/aragon/tena-valley/itineraries/skiing-at-formigal-and-grill-on-the-slopes), which opens on 27 November 2026, or [the Tena valley with children](/en/spain/aragon/tena-valley/itineraries/snow-with-children-and-nieveaventura). For Sundays without snow, Teruel can be visited any day of the year, and in Morella it is truffle season, even if it is cold at a thousand metres.

In spring it is the turn of the Bardenas, the Parrizal and Piedra, which then carries more water. Dinópolis has its high season in spring, in summer and on bank-holiday weekends; it opens only on the days in its calendar.

In summer it is best to go up: [Ordesa by the waterfalls, with ternasco in Torla](/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/ordesa-estrecho-waterfalls-torla-lamb-and-bujaruelo), or the [Broto via ferrata](/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/via-ferrata-broto-and-lunch-in-sarvise), better with a night in between. At Piedra you must arrive at 9:00 to avoid the queue, and in the Bardenas, in July and August, the heat bears down from mid-morning.

In autumn, the Monasterio de Piedra changes colour, and in October and November you can finish with [a dip in the Termas Pallarés thermal lake](/en/spain/aragon/piedra-monastery/itineraries/autumn-with-thermal-bath-in-alhama). It is also the season of the red Moncayo beech forest and, in October, of [Ordesa to the Cola de Caballo](/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/autumn-beech-forest-and-cola-de-caballo).

## Mudéjar Teruel, by train to the Escalinata

- **Without a car, in a day:** [Mudéjar Teruel](/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/mudejar-towers-lovers-and-cathedral). Train to the Escalinata, the inside of the El Salvador tower, the Lovers, lunch at Mesón El Óvalo and the cathedral ceiling.
- **A Sunday of water:** [the Monasterio de Piedra](/en/spain/aragon/piedra-monastery/itineraries/monasterio-de-piedra-waterfalls-birds-of-prey-and-monastery). The waterfall park first thing, the Iris Cave, the birds of prey display and the thirteenth-century monastery before heading back.
- **With two nights:** [the Matarraña](/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/matarranya-valderrobres-beceite-weekend). 1 h 49 away: Valderrobres castle with a guide, the Parrizal walkways, a 4x4 route to the Tossal del Rei and dinner by the river.

The Pyrenees with two nights have their own getaway, [Ordesa from Torla](/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/ordesa-weekend-torla-from-huesca), and the plans from Huesca, along the A-23 to the north, are in [near Huesca](/en/spain/aragon/huesca/getaways).