As Burgas
The hot springs of Ourense's old town, at over 60 °C, with Roman remains. You can see them for free; the pool is temporarily closed.
From MadridAVE in about 2 h 15
Hot springsFree and paid, beside the Miño
Minimum time1 day
Best timeAll year; hot springs best in the cold
What to do
What to do in Ourense
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Outariz
The end of the Miño thermal promenade: free pools at Outariz and Burga de Canedo and paid baths with two circuits, €6.95 for two hours.
From €6
How to do it
Visit to Ourense Cathedral and the Pórtico do Paraíso
1 hAll ages; children's audio guide for ages 4 to 10All year; closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January
Cathedral · 1–2 hrs · From €10 with audio guide in seven languages · Polychrome Pórtico do Paraíso, Santo Cristo chapel and bell tower
From €10
Book
A Chavasqueira
Muíño da Veiga
Roman Bridge
Catamaran Cruise Through the Sil Canyon from Santo Estevo
Double kayak through the Sil canyon from Os Chancís
Tour and tasting at the Ponte da Boga winery, Castro Caldelas
Tapas Route through Os Viños
Climbing the Rooftops of Ourense Cathedral
Guided Walk Through Ourense's Old Town, from the Market to As Burgas
Ourense from River to River, from the Barbaña to the Miño with a Guide and Photographer
Guided Visit to the Cistercian Monastery of Oseira
Thermal Pools and Buffet at the Laias Caldaria Spa, Beside the Miño
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Getaways from Ourense
Plan the trip
Ourense, 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 Ourense
Any month. The hot springs are best enjoyed in the cold, from October to April; the free public pools open according to the river and are closed until spring 2027. For the Sil canyon, spring to autumn.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Ourense 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.
Hot Springs in the City and the Ribeira Sacra by Car
In Ourense you do not need a car for the city or the hot springs, which have a tourist train, but you do for the Sil canyon and the Ribeira Sacra wineries. Sleep where you can leave it without driving around.
70–120 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepExe Auriense, at the entrance…
- Getting aroundFree parking at Outariz, across…
- EatNova, starred, at midday Tuesday…
- ServicesMunicipal tourist office beside the…
Sleep
- Exe Auriense, at the entrance to the city, with free parking
- Hotel Zarampallo, in the old town, with a discount at the Concordia car park
Getting around
- Free parking at Outariz, across the river
- The Sil canyon and Castro Caldelas, by car, for a day
Eat
- Nova, starred, at midday Tuesday to Sunday in winter
- Pinchos around Os Viños, in the old town
Services
- Municipal tourist office beside the cathedral, also open at weekends
- Ourense-Empalme station, if you leave the car and come back by train
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Ourense 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.
Hot Water, River and a Boat Through the Canyon
Ourense with children is all about water: hot springs, the river path and, an hour away, the Sil canyon by boat or kayak. Bear the ages in mind: the public pools do not admit children under 10.
- What works bestThe catamaran through the Sil…
- SleepExe Auriense, with an outdoor…
- EatPinchos around Os Viños at…
- Keep in mindThe free public pools are…
What works best
- The catamaran through the Sil canyon, suitable for all ages
- The double kayak at Os Chancís, from age 6 with an adult
- The paid hot springs at Outariz, from age 5
- Crossing the Roman bridge and continuing along the Miño path
Sleep
- Exe Auriense, with an outdoor pool in summer
- Hotel Zarampallo, with an extra bed or cot
Eat
- Pinchos around Os Viños at midday
Keep in mind
- The free public pools are closed until spring 2027
- Under-10s are not allowed in the public pools
- In hot water, no more than 30 minutes at a stretch
What to do as a family
Outariz
Visit to Ourense Cathedral and the Pórtico do Paraíso
Roman Bridge
Catamaran Cruise Through the Sil Canyon from Santo Estevo
Double kayak through the Sil canyon from Os Chancís
Guided Walk Through Ourense's Old Town, from the Market to As Burgas
Guided Visit to the Cistercian Monastery of Oseira
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're driving
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel Zarampallo
Why we like it: Family-run hotel with fifteen outward-facing rooms on the corner of Hermanos Villar and San Miguel, in the old town's wine district. Double €70.
From €70
View details
Exe Auriense
Why we like it: 134-room hotel 7 km from the centre of Ourense, on the road out towards the Ribeira Sacra: free parking, gym and a summer pool.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | No car, tapas on foot | |
| Miño bank | Hot springs on foot, quieter | |
| Ribeira Sacra | By car, vineyards, one more day |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Ourense
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Nova
What to order: the eight-course Raíces menu if it is your first time; with the pairing if you are not driving
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 Ourense
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
42.42° N · 7.48° W
Ribeira Sacra and the Sil canyon
By car
42.43° N · 8.71° W
Combarro and Pontevedra
By carCar-free
41.72° N · 8.16° W
Peneda-Gerês
By carBy campervanCamping
42.51° N · 8.81° W
Cambados
By car
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Check the status of the hot springs before you go
The public pools open and close according to the river. The council's website and the tourist office keep it updated.
- 2Bring flip-flops, a towel and a padlock
The changing rooms at the public pools have lockers, but the padlock is yours.
- 3Use the tourist train at the weekend
It leaves from Praza Maior and saves you the 6 km walk back.
- 4No more than 30 minutes at a time in the water
The council recommends alternating bathing and rest.
We'd skip it
Going just for the free pools between November 2026 and spring 2027: they are closed. If you go on those dates, count on the paid spas and As Burgas.
Which hot springs are open?
Ourense has hot water right in the street and all along the Miño. In the old town, As Burgas: thermal springs that come out at over 60 ºC beside the remains of a sanctuary and some Roman baths, which can be seen free at any hour. Beside the river, the Miño thermal promenade links, from the city outwards, A Chavasqueira, O Muíño da Veiga and Outariz, about 6 km of riverbank.
There are two kinds of hot springs. The public pools, free and open-air, with water at about 40 ºC and limited capacity, open depending on the river level; in November 2026 those at A Chavasqueira, Muíño da Veiga and Outariz are closed until spring 2027, and the Burga de Canedo is partly open. The paid spas, Japanese-inspired at A Chavasqueira and with two circuits at Outariz, are open all year. Before you go, check the day's status on the council's website or ask at the tourist office.
How do I get around without a car?
Ourense is done without a car. The AVE arrives from Madrid in about 2 h 15 at Ourense-Empalme station, about a 30-minute walk from Praza Maior. From Praza Maior at weekends and on public holidays the hot springs tourist train leaves, with stops at A Chavasqueira, Muíño da Veiga and Outariz; on weekdays city bus lines 5 and 9 run. Crossing the Roman bridge, 370 metres long and with its central arch 38 metres above the water, the Miño walk begins on foot.
If you go by car, park for free on the opposite bank at Outariz and cross by the footbridge. You do need the car for the Ribeira Sacra.
To understand the city on foot, there is a daily guided visit of the old town from €12, and on Mondays a longer walk, from river to river, which follows the Barbaña from As Burgas to the Miño. The cathedral is visited with an audioguide for €10 and holds the Pórtico do Paraíso, still painted; on Fridays and Saturdays you can climb onto its rooftops.
What else is around?
A good hour away by car is the Sil canyon, in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra: terraced vineyards that drop to the water and monasteries on the slopes. You see it from the viewpoints or from the river, on the catamaran that leaves from Santo Estevo or by kayak from Os Chancís. In Castro Caldelas, the Ponte da Boga winery shows you the vineyard and the wine of the area.
Closer, 28 km to the north, the Monastery of Oseira is still inhabited by Cistercian monks and is visited with a guide for €4. Downriver, at Cenlle, the spa Laias Caldaria opens its thermal pools to those who come just for the day, with a buffet included: a quiet alternative while the free pools remain closed.
For eating, the old town has the Os Viños area, streets of bars between Praza do Ferro and the cathedral where the custom is one pincho and one wine per bar. For a special meal, Ourense has three Michelin-starred restaurants.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Are the Ourense hot springs free?
The public pools, yes, with limited capacity. The spas at A Chavasqueira and Outariz are paid, from about €5.
When do the public pools open?
Depending on the level of the Miño. Those at A Chavasqueira, Muíño da Veiga and Outariz are closed until spring 2027.
Can children bathe?
In the public pools, from age 10. The paid spas admit younger children: those at Outariz, from age 5.
Do I need a car?
For the city and the hot springs, no: there is an AVE from Madrid, a tourist train and a city bus. For the Sil canyon, yes.
How many days do I need?
One day for the hot springs and the old town. Two if you add the Ribeira Sacra.
Are there guided tours of Ourense?
Yes. Of the old town, every day from €12; of the cathedral with a guide, from €12 with the ticket included.
Where do I eat tapas?
In Os Viños, the streets of bars in the old town between Praza do Ferro and the cathedral.