abba Burgos Hotel
Why we like it: Four-star hotel 300 metres from the cathedral, with an indoor pool, sauna, gym and its own car park; accepts dogs up to 20 kg.
Duration1 night
From Valladolid1 h 30 by car
Best timeMarch – June · September – December
Budget€130–220 pp
Getting thereBy car
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to arrive on Saturday morning and sleep in Burgos. Before leaving, book by phone Sunday's visit to the sites (947 421 000), Saturday's lunch at Casa Ojeda and Sunday's at Puerta Real.
Saturday
- 110:00The cathedral
Two hours for the Condestable chapel, the Golden Staircase, the Papamoscas and the Cid. €11, buy online.
- 212:15San Nicolás, San Gil and the castle
The merchants' churches with the €7 combined ticket and the climb to the castle, free, with the medieval well and the viewpoint.
- 314:30Lamb at Casa Ojeda
Suckling lamb roasted in a wood oven, in a clay dish, opposite the Casa del Cordón. Book ahead.
- 417:30Espolón and Plaza Mayor
The Arco de Santa María, the walk along the Arlanzón and the Plaza Mayor. If you have an afternoon to spare, the Cartuja de Miraflores opens until 18:00.
- 521:00Tapas in the centre
Around the cathedral and the Plaza Mayor; the bar at Puerta Real is open until 23:30.
Sunday
- 110:00The Atapuerca Trench
Guided departure from the CAYAC in Ibeas, 20 minutes away: Sima del Elefante, Galería and Gran Dolina. €8, with prior booking.
- 212:15The Museum of Human Evolution
Back in Burgos, the original fossils and the reconstructions. €6; closes at 15:00.
- 314:30Lunch at Puerta Real
Opposite the Puerta del Sarmental; on Sunday it is open until 17:30.
Burgos and Atapuerca are two trips that are better understood together: one of the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe and, 15 km away, the trench where some of the oldest human remains in Europe were found. With one night in Burgos there is time for everything without rushing. Burgos is an hour and a half from Valladolid, an hour from Palencia, an hour and a half from Vitoria and Logroño and under two hours from Bilbao and León.
Where to sleep?
In Burgos, to have everything within walking distance. The abba Burgos, below the castle and 300 metres from the cathedral, has an indoor pool, its own car park and accepts dogs up to 20 kg. The Silken Gran Teatro, by the river, has parking in the building. The Hotel Centro Los Braseros, on Avenida del Cid, is the simple option. If you are a group, in Ibeas de Juarros, next to the CAYAC, the Casa Rural Camino Blanco is rented whole for 16 people.
How is Atapuerca organised?
The sites can only be visited with a booking and a guide, leaving from the CAYAC in Ibeas de Juarros. On Sunday there are departures at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00 from February to December, except January. Take the 10:00 one and leave the museum for midday: on Sunday it closes at 15:00.
Getting around
In Burgos, on foot. For Atapuerca, by car: Burgos to Ibeas de Juarros, about 15 km and 20 minutes along the N-120. You get to the CAYAC by car and the visit continues from there.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Burgos, 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 Burgos
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Driving to Burgos
Burgos can be reached by motorway from almost everywhere: the A-1 from Madrid, the A-62 from Valladolid and Palencia and the AP-1 and the A-1 from Vitoria. The old town is covered on foot, so what matters is where to leave the car: best at a hotel with parking, and forget about it until you leave. You only need to move it for the Miraflores Charterhouse, 4 km away, or to head out to Atapuerca.
80–150 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayabba Burgos hotel, below the…
- Getting aroundFrom Palencia, about 90 km…
- EatingCasa Ojeda, lamb from a…
- ServicesMunicipal tourist office, on Calle…
Where to stay
- abba Burgos hotel, below the castle, with private parking at €21 a day and electric charging
- Silken Gran Teatro, by the river, with parking in the building
- Hotel Centro Los Braseros, on Avenida del Cid, with parking
Getting around
- From Palencia, about 90 km and a little over an hour on the A-62
- From Valladolid, about 125 km and an hour and a half
- From Vitoria, about 120 km and an hour and a half
- To the Miraflores Charterhouse, 4 km along the Fuentes Blancas promenade
Eating
- Casa Ojeda, lamb from a wood-fired oven; on Sunday, midday only
- Puerta Real, opposite the cathedral; on Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:30
Services
- Municipal tourist office, on Calle Nuño Rasura, open every day
- Junta office, on Plaza de Alonso Martínez
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're driving
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Hotel Silken Gran Teatro Burgos
Why we like it: Four-star hotel on Avenida del Arlanzón, five minutes' walk from the cathedral, with parking in the building and a gym.
Hotel Centro Los Braseros
Why we like it: Three-star hotel on Avenida del Cid, five minutes from the cathedral and eight from the bus station, with its own grill restaurant and parking.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral and upper town | Cathedral, San Nicolás, San Gil, castle | |
| Espolón and Plaza Mayor | Arco de Santa María, Casa del Cordón | |
| Outside the centre | Las Huelgas, Cartuja de Miraflores |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Burgos
Casa Ojeda Restaurant
What to order: the lamb, the dish the house puts first; ask about portions when you book.
Puerta Real Restaurant
What to order: tapas at the bar if you are in a hurry between visits; the dining room for a long lunch after the cathedral.
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Bring a coat and comfortable footwear for the Trench: it is an hour and three-quarters outdoors, in the sierra.
We'd skip it
January, with no visits to the sites, and Monday, when the sites, the museum and Las Huelgas are closed.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Valladolid?
An hour and a half to Burgos along the A-62, and twenty minutes more to Atapuerca.
Do I need to book Atapuerca?
Yes, always, by phone on 947 421 000 or by email. There are no online sales.
How much does the weekend cost?
Between €130 and €220 per person with one hotel night, two meals and the tickets.
Can I do it with children?
Yes: the castle is free, the cathedral costs €3 for ages 8 to 18 and under-8s do not pay at Atapuerca or the museum.
Where to park?
At the hotel: the abba Burgos and the Silken Gran Teatro have their own car parks.