# Ourense

Open-air thermal pools beside the Miño, an old town for eating well and high-speed trains from Madrid in a little over two hours.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ourense · Revisado: 2026-11-13

## 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.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Thermal getaways
- Cerca: Ribeira Sacra and the Sil canyon (a 33.9 km), Combarro and Pontevedra (a 68.6 km), Peneda-Gerês (a 72.3 km · Portugal), Cambados (a 79.0 km)

## Qué hacer
- **As Burgas** (Free): What it is
As Burgas are the hot springs of Ourense's old town, the origin of the city and its symbol. The water comes out of the ground at over 60 °C, right in the street: in winter, the steam rising from the spouts can be seen from afar. You can visit at any hour and for free. They are the logical first stop before going down to the river and following the Miño thermal promenade.
Why it matters
Thermal bathing in Ourense is more than two thousand years old, and it began here. The first settlement, Auria, grew up around these springs. Before the Romans, the inhabitants of the nearby hillforts (castros) already used them. Excavations uncovered a sanctuary pool from the 1st century AD and votive altars dedicated to an indigenous deity, Revve Anabaraego: As Burgas were a centre of pilgrimage. Next to the sanctuary, the Romans built baths, a balnea. The remains of both can be seen in the gardens of the Interpretation Centre.
In the Middle Ages the Church protected the springs, which served pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. From the 14th century bread ovens were installed here and, in the 15th, tanners, tripe sellers and washerwomen, who took advantage of the hot water. The monumental fountains you see today date from the 17th and 19th centuries. In 2007 As Burgas were declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Site of Cultural Interest), as a historic site.
What you see

The fountains. The stone spouts from which the hot water flows. At the Burga de Arriba the water gushes out at 64.2 °C; approach with care before touching it.
The Roman remains. In the gardens of the Interpretation Centre, the sanctuary pool and the baths.
The Interpretation Centre. It explains the history of the place and the properties of the water. Check its opening hours with the municipal tourist office (988 366 064), because the Concello's website does not publish them.

The thermal pool, closed
Next to the fountains there is an outdoor thermal pool of almost 200 m², with the water cooled to 38–40 °C, changing rooms, lockers, a steam sauna and a sunbathing terrace, free of charge when it was operating. In November 2026 it is temporarily closed, according to the Concello's thermal baths status page, updated on 1 November. No reopening date has been published. To bathe in the city, see which areas of the Miño promenade are open: in November 2026, the paid baths at A Chavasqueira and Outariz, and in part the Burga de Canedo.
Getting there
As Burgas are on Rúa das Burgas, in the old town, a few minutes' walk from the Praza Maior. The centre is explored on foot; park outside the old town. If you arrive by high-speed train, the Ourense-Empalme station is about 2 km from the Praza Maior: half an hour on foot or a short taxi ride.
How long
The fountains can be seen in a quarter of an hour. With the Interpretation Centre and the Roman remains, allow an hour. It fits well at the beginning or end of a walk round the old town.
When to go
Any day of the year. On cold winter mornings, the steam over the fountains is the loveliest part of the visit.
With children
It is a short, urban visit that surprises children with the steam. Watch the little ones: the water from the spouts burns. If you go with a pushchair or wheelchair, ask at the tourist office about access to the Interpretation Centre and the gardens.
Continue your plan
From As Burgas go down towards the Miño and cross the Roman bridge, which leads to the thermal promenade. If you have a day to spare, in under an hour by car you are at the Sil canyon.
- **Outariz** (Public pools free; paid baths €6.95 for 2 hours): What it is
Outariz is the end of the Miño thermal promenade, about 6 km from the centre of Ourense, on the right bank of the river. Here three areas come together a few metres apart: the Outariz public pools, the Burga de Canedo, also free, and the Outariz Baths (Termas Outariz), a paid facility with two circuits, the Celtic and the Zen. A pedestrian footbridge crosses the Miño next to the Burga de Canedo and leaves you at the car park on the opposite bank.
Status in November 2026
According to the Concello's thermal baths status page, updated on 1 November 2026:

Outariz Baths (paid): open.
Burga de Canedo (free): partly open, every day from 10:00 to 19:00. The page doesn't say which pools are working.
Outariz pools (free): temporarily closed.

Opening hours may change, and the areas by the river close in bad weather or when the Miño rises. Check that page on the day.
The free pools
The Outariz ones are three hot-water open-air pools and one cold-water pool, with washbasins, changing rooms with lockers, outdoor showers and fountains. The water rises through cracks in the granite at about 60 °C; it is sodium bicarbonate, fluoridated and sulphurous. The Burga de Canedo, about 100 m further on, has another three pools. Access is free, with limited capacity and a maximum stay of 90 minutes. Bring swimwear, flip-flops, a towel and a padlock for the locker.
Children under 10 are not admitted, and those from 10 to 14 must be with an adult.
The Outariz Baths, paid

Price: €6.95 per person for a 2-hour open admission, changing time included.
November 2026 opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 to 23:00; Friday 10:00 to 1:00; Saturdays 9:00 to 1:00; Sundays 9:00 to 23:00. Closed on Tuesdays. You must be out of the water half an hour before closing.
Reservations: not possible. You go in on a first-come basis and, if it fills up, a waiting list is opened.
Age: from 5 years; for ages 5 to 8 you must prove the age with an ID card or family book. Children under 1.50 m cannot use the Celtic Spa area.
Towel and bathrobe: they hire them out, but warn there are not always any because of demand. Bring your own.
Other services: relaxation and beauty treatments by reservation, a café and a family Onsen.

By card you pay from €10 at reception and the café; for a single admission, bring cash.
Getting there and parking
The thermal area is pedestrianised. Park in the free Outariz/Reza car park, on the opposite bank, and cross the footbridge: it is about 750 m to the pools. In your GPS search for "aparcamiento Outariz/Reza", as the Concello recommends, because the thermal area is pedestrianised. The Muíño da Veiga car park, off the N-120, is cut off.
By bus, urban line 5 stops at the Outariz/Reza car park. On foot, the Miño promenade is about 4 km from A Chavasqueira, passing the Muíño da Veiga. The thermal tourist train is not running in November 2026.
Rules and health
Use is recreational. The Concello advises consulting a doctor beforehand and advises against it in pregnancy, after an operation or serious illness, with blood pressure or heart problems, venous insufficiency or open wounds. Don't spend more than 30 minutes at a stretch in the water and drink when you get out. Animals, swimming and jumping are not allowed.
When to go
If the paid ones fill up, a waiting list is opened: arrive with time to spare at weekends. At night, with steam over the water and the river in darkness, it is a different experience: they open until 1:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Avoid Tuesdays, when they are closed.
- **Visit to Ourense Cathedral and the Pórtico do Paraíso** (1 h · All ages; children's audio guide for ages 4 to 10 · Desde 10 € per adult): The cathedral of San Martiño stands at the top of the old town, a stone's throw from Praza Maior, and from outside looks more like a fortress than a church. Inside it keeps what justifies the ticket: the Pórtico do Paraíso, three arches of sculpted stone that retain their paint, with prophets, apostles and a Christ in the centre judging the living and the dead. Its authors came from the Santiago workshop and the influence of the Pórtico da Gloria shows, but the figures are calmer; the cathedral's website places it about a century after Master Mateo's.
On your own, with an audio guide
General admission costs €10 for ages 18 to 64 and €9 for over-65s, young people aged 13 to 18 and university students up to age 25; pilgrims pay €7. It includes an audio guide in Spanish, Galician, English, Portuguese, French, German and Italian, with 17 stops: the Pórtico do Paraíso, the main chapel, the lantern tower and the bell tower, among others. Allow a good hour if you want to hear it all.
For children aged 4 to 10 there is a dedicated audio guide, with two characters, Mariña and San Martiño, who suggest looking for fantastic animals on the capitals and solving riddles. It is in Galician, Spanish and English; ask at the ticket office if you want it for a family visit.
The opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 14:30 and from 15:30 to 19:00; Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 without a break; and Sunday from 13:30 to 19:00. The last entry is 45 minutes before closing. From 25 April to 3 May, during the novena of the Santo Cristo, the hours change. It is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or in the cathedral's online shop.
With an official guide
If you prefer someone to tell you about the building, Genuine Galicia, an Ourense company, runs two tours with the ticket already paid:

Cathedral only, one to two hours, for €12 per adult, €6 for ages 13 to 17 and free up to age 12. It leaves at 13:00 and in the afternoon at 16:30 or 17:30. It covers the Pórtico, the Baroque Santo Cristo chapel and the Gothic high altarpiece by Cornelis de Holanda.
Old town plus cathedral, two to three hours, for €16 per adult and €10 for ages 13 to 17. It leaves at 11:30 and 16:30 and adds the San Francisco cloister and the churches of the Trinidad, Santo Domingo and Santa Eufemia.

Both are booked in advance, on their website or on +34 675 558 545, and meet in Praza de San Martiño, in front of the steps of the façade, where the municipal tourist office now is. There are departures in seven languages if you ask ahead. The company warns that a service in the cathedral may change the route.
Before or after
If you want more height, on Fridays and Saturdays the cathedral opens its rooftops in small groups. On the way down you are in the heart of Os Viños: Praza de Santa Eufemia, at the foot of the cathedral, is the last stop on that tapas route. As Burgas is five minutes' walk away.
- **A Chavasqueira** (Free pools from age 10; paid baths from age 5 · Public pools free; paid baths €5.40): What it is
A Chavasqueira is the first thermal area on the Miño promenade as you leave the centre of Ourense, a few metres from the Millennium Bridge (puente del Milenio), on the right bank of the river. It is two different things, side by side:

The public pools: a group of small open-air stone pools, among the riverbank vegetation, with water at about 40 °C and a large green area to lie on. They are free, with limited capacity.
The A Chavasqueira Baths (Termas A Chavasqueira): a paid, Japanese-inspired facility, onsen-style, in wood and stone, with its own circuit.

The place is also known as Caldas del Obispo: in the 19th century Cardinal Quevedo fitted it out for the sick who came to be cured by the water, and had a small stone temple built for their use, which can still be seen at the paid baths. On the bank, a mermaid by the sculptor Acisclo Manzano is half submerged or in view depending on the river's flow.
Status in November 2026
According to the Concello's (town council's) thermal baths status page, updated on 1 November 2026, the free pools are closed until spring 2027. The paid baths remain open. Check that page before going: the free pools also close when the Miño rises or in bad weather.
The public pools
The water springs at 63.6 °C and reaches the pools at about 40. It is sodium bicarbonate, fluoridated and very soft. There are changing rooms, toilets, lockers and a drinking water fountain. Bring swimwear, flip-flops, a towel and a padlock if you want to use a locker. You can't reserve: you go in on a first-come basis until capacity is reached.
Children under 10 are not admitted. Under-14s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
The paid baths
The circuit has three outdoor stone pools at 41 °C (the rotenburo), an indoor stone tub at 39 °C (the ofuro) and two saunas, one of stone and slate at 40 °C and a Japanese one of stone and wood at 45 °C. They reopened on 7 October 2025, after closing because of a fire.

Price: €5.40 admission, with a discount for pensioners and children.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sundays 9:00 to 23:30; Fridays and Saturdays 9:00 to 1:30. Closed on Mondays.
Minimum age: 5 years; for ages 5 to 8 you must prove their age with an ID card or family book.
Massages and treatments: by prior reservation, on 988 214 821.

Getting there and parking
From the Praza Maior you can walk: go down towards the river, cross to the other bank by the Roman bridge or the Millennium Bridge and follow the promenade downstream. It is about 2 km. The area is pedestrianised. By car, leave the car in the free Campo da Feira car park, next door. By city bus, line 9 stops nearby. The thermal tourist train, which used to stop here, is not running in November 2026.
If you arrive by train from Madrid, the Ourense-Empalme station is on the same bank as the thermal promenade.
Rules and health
Use is recreational only. The Concello recommends consulting a doctor before bathing and advises against it in pregnancy, with high or low blood pressure, heart disease, venous insufficiency or open wounds. No swimming or jumping: these are pools for relaxing. Animals are not admitted. Baths should not exceed 30 minutes at a stretch, with breaks, and children's baths should be 10 to 15 minutes. Drink water when you get out: the heat tires you more than it seems.
Continue along the thermal promenade
A Chavasqueira is the start of about 4 km of pedestrian path beside the Miño with up to eight thermal areas. Following the river downstream are the O Tinteiro fountain, the Muíño da Veiga and, at the end, Outariz and the Burga de Canedo.
- **Muíño da Veiga** (From age 10 · Free): What it is
O Muíño da Veiga is a free public thermal area on the right bank of the Miño, at the foot of a restored old wooden mill, an acea, from which it takes its name: muíño is mill in Galician. It is on the Miño thermal promenade, between A Chavasqueira and Outariz, about 5 km from the Praza Maior. The municipal website recommends it for watching the sunset, with the river in front and the mill beside you.
The pools and the water
The Concello's official listing describes five pools: a main one of 200 m², another of 130 m², two small ones of 55 and 45 m² and a cold-water one. The thermal promenade page speaks of four. The springs that feed them emerge at between 65 and 72 °C, among the hottest on the peninsula, and in the pools the water is at about 40 °C. It is weakly mineralised water, alkaline, sodium bicarbonate, fluoridated and silicate.
There are changing rooms with lockers and toilets. To use a locker you have to bring your own padlock.
Status in November 2026
It is closed until spring. The Concello's thermal baths status page, updated on 1 November 2026, lists it as closed, and the facility's listing says "Facility closed until spring". In 2026 it reopened on 1 April. In addition, the car park next to the N-120 that served this area is cut off. Before going in spring, check the status on the Turismo Ourense website: these pools also close when the Miño rises.
Getting there and parking
Access is on foot only, along the pedestrian area of the promenade:

From Outariz: park in the free Outariz/Reza car park, on the opposite bank, cross the Miño by the pedestrian footbridge and walk upstream. From the car park it is between 1.3 and 1.5 km; the Outariz Baths are about 500 m away.
From A Chavasqueira: about 3 km along the promenade, passing the O Tinteiro fountain.
By bus: urban line 5 ends at the Outariz/Reza car park.

The thermal tourist train is not running in November 2026.
What to bring and rules
Swimwear, flip-flops, a towel and a padlock. You can't reserve: you go in on a first-come basis until capacity is reached, and at the free areas the stay is limited to between 90 and 120 minutes depending on the place. Animals are not admitted, no swimming or jumping, and it is best to leave your phone and lower your voice. Use is recreational only.
With children
At the Concello's free thermal areas, children under 10 are not admitted. From that age, under-14s must be accompanied by an adult, and their baths shouldn't exceed 10 to 15 minutes. With younger children, go to the paid baths at Outariz or A Chavasqueira, which admit them from age 5.
Health
The Concello recommends consulting a doctor before bathing and advises against it in pregnancy, after a serious illness or recent operation, with high or low blood pressure, heart problems, venous insufficiency or open wounds. Don't spend more than 30 minutes at a stretch in the water, rest between baths and drink water when you get out.
When to go
Between April and October, when it is open. At sunset, for the light on the river; early, if you want a spot, because capacity is limited. In summer avoid midday: the sun and the 40 °C water are very tiring.
- **Roman Bridge** (30 min · Free): What it is
The Ponte Vella, which in Ourense they also call the Ponte Romana or Ponte Maior, was for centuries the only crossing over the Miño in this area, and the silhouette of its arches is one of the symbols of the city. Crossing it on foot is a natural part of any visit: it links the historic centre with the bank of the thermal promenade and is the route of the pilgrims on the Camino Mozárabe, the Vía de la Plata, to Santiago.
What you see and why it matters

The Roman origin. Tradition attributes it to the time of Trajan, although its construction points to that of Augustus. It formed part of a secondary road between Bracara Augusta (Braga) and Asturica Augusta (Astorga), recorded in the Antonine Itinerary. Of the Roman bridge only some stone bases remain; in the first arch on the left bank Roman masonry can still be seen.
The medieval bridge. The first documented reconstruction, in 1228 and 1229, was promoted by Bishop Lorenzo with the support of King Ferdinand III. The pointed arches and the ramps that climb towards the centre come from it.
The consolidation. Because of poor foundations it collapsed more than once. The definitive refurbishment came in the 17th century, at the hands of Melchor de Velasco.
The measurements. It is 370 m long. The central arch has a 43 m span and rises 38 m above the average water level. 7 of its 11 original arches survive, all of local granite.

Over the bridge there stood a tower, the one that appears on the city's coat of arms, demolished in the 19th century. At the south entrance, on the left bank, is the Casa do Legoeiro, and next to the bridge, the hermitage of Os Remedios, from the 16th century. The ensemble was declared a historic-artistic monument in 1961.
Getting there
From the Praza Maior and As Burgas, walk down towards the river through the old town. If you come by car, park outside the centre and approach on foot. From the opposite bank you can see the whole bridge, with the central arch outlined against the water.
How long and when to go
Crossing it and looking at it from both banks takes about half an hour. At sunset the river reflects the arches, and on foggy winter mornings the bridge appears out of the mist. Do it on the way to the thermal promenade.
From here, the thermal promenade
On the other side of the bridge begins the Miño thermal promenade: about 4 km of pedestrian path with up to eight thermal areas. The first, A Chavasqueira, is a few metres from the Millennium Bridge, the one from 2001, whose walkway rises up to 22 m above the river. At the end of the promenade are the pools and baths of Outariz.
With children, a dog or a pushchair
It is a free urban walk, suitable for everyone. The bridge has steep ramps towards the centre of the main arch: with a pushchair you can get up, but it is a struggle. With a dog, on a lead.
- **Catamaran Cruise Through the Sil Canyon from Santo Estevo** (1 h 15 · All ages · Desde 12 € per adult): The Sil runs here wedged between granite slopes with terraced vineyards. From the water you see what you can't see from the viewpoints: the vine terraces that come down almost to the water.
What it is and why it is worth doing
The narrowest stretch of the Sil canyon, in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra, is a long, narrow reservoir between walls hundreds of metres high. Above are the famous viewpoints, such as the Balcones de Madrid; below, the still river, the vine terraces that come down in steps to the water, the chestnut trees and the odd monastery peering out from the hillside. The boat is the way to see it from inside, without walking and without bends.
There are two boats, one on each bank. From Santo Estevo, on the Ourense side, Hemisferios sails with large catamarans, with a guide on board, heating and a toilet, and the trip lasts an hour and a quarter. From Os Chancís, on the Lugo side, SilTrip sails an eleven-seat boat that, because of its shallow draught, gets close to the shore; it lasts an hour, reaches the area of the Balcones de Madrid and Cadeiras, and the skipper tells legends of the canyon with a glass of D.O. Ribeira Sacra wine.
Who it is for
For all ages. It is the plan for going with small children, with older people or with anyone who doesn't want to walk. From Santo Estevo children under five pay €3, and on SilTrip's boat babies under one don't pay. What neither of them admits is animals; Hemisferios doesn't admit baby pushchairs either. The Os Chancís landing stage is reached down six flights of steps and has no toilet or changing rooms.
Getting there
To Santo Estevo you drive from Ourense via Luíntra, in Nogueira de Ramuín: the landing stage is below the monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil. Os Chancís is opposite, in the municipality of Sober, in the province of Lugo, and you go down by the road that descends to the river from the north bank. The practical way is to go by car: both landing stages are at the bottom of the canyon.
When to go
Hemisferios sails every day of the year, with times that change according to the date and are chosen when you book. SilTrip is open from March to October and closes on Mondays; it has daily departures at 13:00 and 16:00, and from May to September also at 11:00. On the water it is considerably cooler than above, so bring a layer even in summer. Autumn, with the vines changing colour, is the most spectacular time.
How much it costs
From Santo Estevo, €12 for adults aged 18 to 65, €10 for over-65s, €6 for ages 5 to 17 and €3 for under-5s. From Os Chancís, €20 per person with the glass of wine; the private boat costs €200 an hour. Groups of more than 20 people can ask Hemisferios for a price.
If it rains
The Santo Estevo catamarans are covered and heated, so the trip is a good option in bad weather, when the viewpoints are lost in fog. Afterwards, a visit to a Ribeira Sacra winery, always by appointment.
- **Double kayak through the Sil canyon from Os Chancís** (1 h · From age 6, with an adult · Desde 20 € per double kayak, 1 h): What it is
One hour of kayaking on your own in the Sil canyon, in the Ribeira Sacra, from the Os Chancís jetty, on the Sober (Lugo) bank. The river is dammed and has no current, so no experience is needed: you paddle between rock walls and terraced vineyard slopes rising up to 600 metres above the water. It is the quietest and closest way to see the canyon, at water level and at your own pace, without the noise of a boat.
The kayaks are hired out by SilTrip, the same company that runs the catamaran leaving from this jetty.
What is included and how much it costs

Price: €20 per double kayak and hour, VAT included.
Craft: self-righting, self-bailing double kayak. They have 16.
Included: life jacket, a waterproof bag for keys, phone and wallet, and basic paddling instructions before setting off.
Minimum age: 6; under-age visitors must be accompanied by an adult.

It is not a guided excursion: they give you the kayak and some instructions and you paddle freely around the reservoir for the hour.
Season and hours
In 2026, hire ran until 30 September, Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30. It is closed on Mondays. In November there is no hire; the 2027 season has not been published yet. Check the SilTrip website in spring.
How to book
On the SilTrip website or by phone, on 621 249 089 or 982 460 714. To book they ask for the number of kayaks, full name, ID number, email and a card for the charge. If you go without a booking, they only accept cash at the jetty. In August and on summer weekends, book: there are 16 kayaks for the whole day.
Getting there and parking
From Ourense it is about 45 minutes by car to Sober. From Sober, follow the road signposted "Embarcadero de Os Chancís", the same one as for the municipal swimming pools: about 5 km with no turn-offs. Park in the bays before the small waterfall and walk down to the jetty by six flights of steps. Arrive at least ten minutes before your time.
Accessibility and facilities
The access by steps is not adapted for people with reduced mobility. At the jetty there are no changing rooms or toilet: go with your swimming costume already on and use the toilet before going down.
What to bring
Swimming costume on, clothes that can get wet, shoes that stay on your feet, a cap, sun cream and water. A long-sleeved T-shirt protects you from the sun on the water, which reflects a lot. Leave in the car whatever does not fit in the waterproof bag.
With children
From age 6 and with an adult. Because the water is still and the kayaks are self-righting, it is an easy activity for families. An hour is enough for children; if it feels too short, you can combine it with the catamaran.
When to go
Best first thing in the morning or in the afternoon, when the sun does not fall full on the canyon and the water is calm. In midsummer, the bottom of the canyon builds up heat at midday. In a storm, do not go out on the water.
Combine the day
From the other bank, the Ourense one, the catamaran from Santo Estevo departs. And in Castro Caldelas, in the same Ribeira Sacra, you can end the day with a tasting at the Ponte da Boga winery. Back in Ourense, a dip in the Outariz hot springs relaxes your shoulders.
- **Tour and tasting at the Ponte da Boga winery, Castro Caldelas** (Desde 16 € per person): What it is
Adega Ponte da Boga is a Ribeira Sacra winery at the foot of Castro Caldelas, in the setting of the river Edo, which flows down to the Sil. It was founded in 1898 by the family of Pascasio Fernández, from Castro Caldelas, with the idea of being the first in the area to sell its own wine; since 2006 it has belonged to the Rivera family. The winery presents itself as the oldest in the Ribeira Sacra.
It opens its century-old cellar and its vineyards in guided visits that always end with a tasting. It is a good way to understand why the Ribeira Sacra makes such a distinctive wine: vines in terraces on very steep slopes that drop to the canyons of the Sil and the Miño.
The experiences and their prices
All are guided, Tuesday to Saturday, with groups of up to 15 people:

Cata Alais tasting, at 15:00, €16 per person. Visit to the vineyard and the winery, with an explanation of how the wine is made, and a tasting of three of the house's wines with a small appetiser: a godello, a mencía and Bancales Olvidados.
Cata Galicia tasting, at 13:30, €20. Visit to the winery and the vineyards and a tasting of five wines from five Galician appellations, Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro, Monterrei and Valdeorras, with an appetiser.
San Vitorio pairing tasting, at 11:30, €26. Tour of the winery and of the Costa de Alais vineyard, and a tasting of four wines paired with Galician produce.
Cheese & Wine, at 17:00, €26. Winery and vineyard, and four wines with four Galician cheeses, one for each wine.

The website also sells two gift experiences for two people: the Cata Alais for €32 and the Cheese & Wine for €52. The winery does not publish how long each visit lasts: ask when you book if you are short of time.
How to book
Book online, from the link for each experience on the winery's wine tourism page. To book for the same day or for larger groups, you need to speak to the winery: experiencias@pontedaboga.com or 988 203 306. For groups and companies they design tailor-made visits, even at times of year when they are closed to the public.
With children
Under-age visitors who come with their parents or guardians do not pay for the visit. They will see the vineyard and the winery; the tasting, naturally, is for adults.
Getting there and parking
Castro Caldelas is about 48 km from Ourense, around 50 minutes by car. The winery does not give a postal address on its website: it is at the foot of the town, beside the river Edo. Confirm the exact spot when you book. Bring a designated driver who does not drink, or choose the Cata Alais, the shortest, and taste lightly: the roads of the Ribeira Sacra are narrow and full of bends.
When to go
The experiences are offered from Tuesday to Saturday. September and October are the grape harvest and in spring the vines bud: these are the seasons with the most life on the terraces. In winter, the winery may have seasonal closures: check availability on its website.
Combine it with the canyon
Castro Caldelas is very close to the Sil canyon. A full-day plan from Ourense: in the morning, the catamaran along the Sil canyon or a spell of kayaking; early in the afternoon, the 15:00 Cata Alais, and back to Ourense to finish at the hot springs.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, because you walk on sloping vineyard, and a jacket in spring and autumn: it gets cool in the valley as evening falls.
- **Tapas Route through Os Viños** (2 h · Adults; with children, at midday · You pay for what you have): Os Viños is the tapas district of Ourense's historic centre: a handful of stone streets between Praza do Ferro and the area around the cathedral, with a bar in almost every doorway. Turismo de Ourense presents it as the place in the city for going out for tapas, especially on weekend nights.
How it works
The custom is the usual one: a pincho and a glass of wine in each bar, standing at the counter, then on to the next. "One pincho, one bar", sums up the tourist office. Each place has its own speciality, so the fun is in moving on. More and more places also offer tables and a menu, in case you prefer to sit down and share plates. The city does not publish an official list of bars or pinchos, and the places change; let yourself be guided by what you see on the bar and the people inside.
In the glass, the wine of the province rules: in Ourense four of Galicia's five denominations of origin come together, Ribeiro (mainly treixadura for whites), Valdeorras and Monterrei (godello and mencía) and Ribeira Sacra (mencía for reds).
The route, street by street
Turismo de Ourense suggests this order, which you can do in a couple of unhurried hours:

Praza do Ferro and Rúa Viriato. The natural entrance to the old town, with its fountain in the middle and terraces.
Rúa San Miguel. Very steep, it drops down from the Ferro and has many restaurants serving traditional cooking and set lunch menus.
Eirociño dos Cabaleiros. A small square a little apart from the busier streets, full of terraces.
Rúa da Paz. Parallel to the Eirociño, above it, presided over by the Teatro Principal.
Rúa Lepanto. The axis of Os Viños: almost every doorway is a bar, from the Ferro to the north door of the cathedral.
Rúa dos Fornos. Parallel to Lepanto, with another row of bars.
Around the cathedral. Praza de Santa Eufemia, also called Juan de Austria or dos Suaves, for the last drink with a view of the cathedral, and Praza do Trigo.

When to go and with whom
Friday and Saturday nights are the liveliest; on weekdays and at midday there are fewer people and it is a better time if you are going with children. There is no entry fee or price: you pay for what you have at each bar.
To combine with
Near the start of the route are As Burgas, the old town's thermal springs, and the tourist office, beside the cathedral steps, gives you the map of the centre. If you prefer a sit-down dinner, the Michelin-starred restaurant Nova is in the centre. In the morning, a walk along the Roman bridge and the Miño hot springs, such as Outariz, completes the day. To sleep inside the old town, the Hotel Zarampallo is two minutes from the Praza Maior.
- **Climbing the Rooftops of Ourense Cathedral** (1 h · No vertigo or mobility problems; minors with an adult · Desde 14 € per adult): Ourense Cathedral lets you out onto its stone roofs two mornings a week. The visit is called Ourense desde el cielo (Ourense from the Sky), is led by a guide and lasts about an hour: you climb up through the inside of the church, walk along the rooftops and see the old town, the roofs of the houses and the Miño valley from above. It is the other side of the cathedral visit: that one looks inward, to the Pórtico do Paraíso and the altarpieces; this one looks outward.
When it goes up and how to book
There are only two slots, Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00 and 12:00. You can't just turn up: you book by phone on 608 505 531 or by email at courense@artisplendore.com, and the group needs at least five people to go. If there are fewer of you, it is worth calling a few days beforehand to ask whether there are other bookings you can join.
The prices published by the cathedral:

General: €14.
Young people aged 13 to 17: €10.
Children up to age 12: €4, always with an adult.
Schools and secondary schools: €5 per pupil.

The cathedral is in the centre of the old town, with the entrance on Patín Juan de Austria, beside Praza Maior. There is no parking of its own: if you come by car, leave it in a car park in the centre and walk up.
Who shouldn't go up
The cathedral itself excludes from this visit people with reduced mobility, heart problems, vertigo or claustrophobia, and pregnant women. It is a climb inside the building and a walk on the roofs in the open air, so think about it before booking with small children or someone older. Wear shoes with a good sole: the stone of the roofs is slippery when damp, and in Ourense damp is frequent from October to April. In heavy rain or wind, ask when booking what happens with the slot.
How to fit it into the day
As the slots are mid-morning, the practical thing is to book the 11:00 one, come down and then enter the church with general admission and its audio guide, or with the midday guided tour from Genuine Galicia. Afterwards, a vermouth in the Os Viños area is around the corner. If the day cooperates, the afternoon can be for hot water: the paid hot springs of A Chavasqueira are about 2 km away on foot, across the Miño.
- **Guided Walk Through Ourense's Old Town, from the Market to As Burgas** (1 h 30 · All ages; the pace adapts to children · Desde 12 € per person): It is a one-and-a-half to two-hour walking tour with an official guide through the centre of Ourense, designed for those who arrive not knowing where to start. It is organised by Guíame Galicia, the company of Sebastiano Fabio Forino, a licensed guide in Galicia, and presented as the tour of "the city of gold and its hot springs": the hot water that comes out in the middle of the street, the historic centre and the Miño.
The route
It leaves from the central fountain in Praza Obispo Cesáreo and ends at the monument to O Mouchiño. On the way it passes these places, in this order:

The Mercado de Abastos, the city's food market.
As Burgas, the hot springs that gush at over 60 ºC beside the remains of a Roman sanctuary.
Praza Maior and the cathedral of San Martiño, seen from outside; the inside is only included if you ask beforehand.
The wine area, with Praza do Ferro and Rúa de San Miguel.

The guide gives recommendations for bars, octopus restaurants and viewpoints, which is useful if you are going to stay for lunch in the old town. It is a good first hour in Ourense: afterwards you know where everything is and what is worth returning to.
Time, price and booking
It leaves every day subject to availability, at 11:00 from September to June and at 10:30 in July and August. It costs €12 per person, VAT included, and children aged 0 to 12 don't pay; the guide adapts the pace and the way of telling it when there are little ones. It runs with a minimum of four people; if there are fewer, the company offers the private tour, on the day and time of your choice.
Book by WhatsApp or phone on +34 660 93 48 40, by email at guiamegalicia@gmail.com or via the form on its website. Arrive five to ten minutes early. The tour is in Spanish every day and in Italian if you ask beforehand. It does not include entry tickets, transport or drinks.
Other ways to see it
The same company has a free tour of legends and secrets, at night and of about two hours, and a walk among the street-art murals of Mon Devane; it also publishes a visit with tactile models for blind or low-vision people. If what you want is the inside of the cathedral with a guide, see the cathedral visit. For a longer morning off the usual circuit, the walk from river to river follows the Barbaña to the Miño. When you finish, the tapas route through Os Viños starts a few steps away.
- **Ourense from River to River, from the Barbaña to the Miño with a Guide and Photographer** (3 h 30 · Over-16s at adult price; good walkers · Desde 20 € per adult): Ourense was not born beside the Miño, but beside a smaller river, the Barbaña, which flows down from As Burgas until it meets the Miño beneath the Millennium Bridge. This mid-morning walk follows that river from beginning to end and then crosses the Miño to the Roman bridge. It is led by Rosa Veiga, an official tourist guide and professional photographer, under the Milhistorias brand, and leaves on Mondays.
Where it goes
You meet at the As Burgas fountains area, at the foot of the steps on Rúa Calpurnia Abana. From there:

It follows the Barbaña from the Roman origins of the city: the remains of a bridge recently found next to As Burgas, the Caldas viewpoint, parks, street art and the abutment of a medieval bridge.
It reaches the mouth at the Miño, beneath the Millennium Bridge.
It crosses to the other bank, to the O Puente district, the most urban thermal area, and ends at the great medieval bridge of Roman origin.

The return to the centre is on foot or by city bus, on your own. It is three and a half hours at a walking pace, with long stops to tell the history: it is not a sporting hike, but it is a whole morning on your feet.
Market days
The guide recommends doing it on the 7th and 17th of each month, when there is a market. On those days the route passes among the stalls and ends at the market grounds, where you can try the octopus of the pulpeiras. For those dates you need to check beforehand and book. On Mondays without a market, the walk ends near the Roman bridge.
Price, places and booking
The guided visit costs €20 per adult, from age 16; the website does not publish a price for minors. There is a plus option, at €35, which adds a photography class during the route: useful if you travel with a camera and want to come back with more than souvenir photos. It runs with a minimum of two people booked and admits up to 35. Book on the website itself, choosing the ticket, or by calling 629 88 23 91; also by email at info@milhistorias.eu. For groups they prepare rates and route changes.
To round off the morning
If you end at the Roman bridge, the bridge is the starting point of the Miño thermal walk. If the afternoon is for water, the paid hot springs of Outariz are downstream; the public pools, however, remain closed until spring 2027.
- **Guided Visit to the Cistercian Monastery of Oseira** (45 min · All ages; not suitable for wheelchairs · Desde 4 € per person): Oseira is an inhabited Cistercian monastery, hidden in a valley in the San Cristovo de Cea mountains, 28 km north of Ourense. What surprises you on arrival is the size: an enormous stone complex for such a small village, with a church among the largest of the Cistercian order in Spain. You enter only on a guided visit, in groups that leave at fixed times, and the visit lasts about 45 minutes.
Eight centuries in a few lines
According to the community's own account, the story begins in 1137, when a few monks withdrew to live in solitude in this valley; in 1141 they joined the Cistercians, under the authority of Clairvaux. The church was built between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th. A fire in 1552 destroyed everything except the church, and the community rebuilt on the same site. In the 19th century came the expulsion of 1820, the looting and the disentailment of 1835, which left the building empty for almost a hundred years. The Cistercian monks returned on 15 October 1929, serious restoration began in 1966 and in 1990 the monastery received the Europa Nostra award.
The visit tours the monastery with a guide. It is not a museum: a community of monks lives here, and so silence is requested and photos and video are not allowed.
Opening hours and tickets
The schedule in force from 25 October 2026:

Monday to Saturday: slots at 10:30 and 12:00 in the morning, and at 16:00 and 17:30 in the afternoon.
Sundays and public holidays: a single morning slot, around 12:45, after Mass; in the afternoon, the same slots as on weekdays.

Admission costs €4; under-9s don't pay. Groups of more than 25 people who book beforehand pay €2.50 per person and write to monasteriodeoseira@gmail.com or call 988 28 20 04. If you go on your own you don't need to book: buy the ticket at least five minutes before the slot. You cannot visit freely outside the guided groups.
Getting there and what to keep in mind
From Ourense, take the N-525 towards Santiago and leave it at the Cea turn-off; in the centre of Cea, follow the signposted turn-off, about 8 km more to Oseira. The website gives no information on buses to the monastery.
The route has stairs on several levels and no ramps, so it is not wheelchair accessible. Animals are not allowed. The monastery also has a guesthouse for those who want to spend a few days on retreat. For the rest of the day, go back to Ourense: the cathedral is open in the afternoon until 19:00.
- **Thermal Pools and Buffet at the Laias Caldaria Spa, Beside the Miño** (2 h · Adults and families; check the children's minimum age when booking · Desde 30 € per adult, with buffet): With the free pools of the thermal walk closed until spring 2027, this is the hot-water plan for those who want something quieter than the urban hot springs: a hotel spa, on the banks of the Miño, that opens its pools to people who aren't staying there. Laias Caldaria is downstream from Ourense, in Cenlle, already in the Ribeiro region, on the N-120 at kilometre 585.8. The offer for day visitors combines two hours in the thermal pools and a buffet lunch or dinner for a set price.
What it includes and how much it costs
The experience is called hydrodynamic pools and buffet menu, and costs €30 for adults and €18 for children. It includes two hours' access to the mineral-medicinal water pools and the seasonal buffet; drinks are paid separately. The spa publishes it as valid until 30 December 2026, so if you go after that, ask what offer they have then.
On the Christmas dates it changes: on 24 December the pools plus the Christmas Eve buffet dinner cost €40 for adults and €35 for children, and on the 25th, the pools with the special Christmas lunch, €45 and €35. For New Year and Epiphany they have special menus, also published on their website.
The pools and the water
The spa has two indoor pools with lumbar jets and one hydrodynamic outdoor pool. Caldaria describes its waters as hyperthermal, of medium mineralisation and sulphurous. It is not a Japanese-style circuit like those in the city, but the spa of a 98-room hotel, facing the Miño and near the Serra do Suído. If you want a massage or a treatment, the spa has its own menu, separate from this offer.
Opening hours and booking
The pools are open Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 to 20:00 and Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 21:00. The buffet is served at midday, from 13:30 to 16:00, and in the evening from 20:30. Book on 988 280 409 or at laias@caldaria.es. The website does not publish the minimum age for children in the pools: ask when booking if you go as a family. Bring swimwear, flip-flops and a towel, and ask whether they require a swimming cap.
For a dip in the city without a car, the paid hot springs of A Chavasqueira and Outariz remain open and cost less; Laias pays off when you want to make lunch and a bath a single afternoon.

## Dónde comer
- **Nova** (Restaurant, Ourense, €€€€). Qué pedir: the eight-course Raíces menu if it is your first time; with the pairing if you are not driving

## By car: 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.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–120 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Zarampallo** (Small hotel, desde 70 € / night): From a 1941 tavern to a one-star hotel
The Zarampallo is on the corner of Rúa Hermanos Villar and Rúa San Miguel, in the heart of Ourense's historic centre, in a renovated stone building. It is a family business with a history going back to 1941: it began as a tavern, became a tapas house and then a restaurant, and after some fifty years became a hotel. Today it has one-star status. The paintings on the walls are by Ana B. Lorenzo, the founder's daughter.
Fifteen rooms, all facing the street
There are fifteen and all face outwards: eleven doubles with two beds, three double-bed rooms and one single. Each has its own bathroom with a large shower with a screen, hairdryer and toiletries; flat-screen television, telephone, heating and a fan. Some have a balcony with plants. The bed linen is changed daily, wifi is free throughout the hotel and on the first floor there is a shared lounge with a computer for guests. If you are travelling with children, ask for a cot or extra bed when you book.
The 2026 rates, VAT included: €70 for the double, whether a double bed or two beds, and €50 for the single or the double for single use. The website says nothing about breakfast. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00. The hotel closes from 16 to 30 January.
The hotel admits pets: ask about the conditions before booking.
Reaching a pedestrian street by car
Hermanos Villar is pedestrianised, but it has bollards with a bell: you ring and they let you through to the hotel. To leave the car, the hotel has a car park about 150 metres away and a discount for its guests at the Concordia car park, at Calle Concordia, 12 and 14. From the Ourense-Empalme station you can walk to the centre.
Os Viños on the doorstep
Rúa San Miguel is one of the streets of the wine district, where most of the city's tapas bars and restaurants are: you leave the hotel and start the tapas route through Os Viños. The Praza Maior is two minutes away and the hot springs of As Burgas next to it. For a starred meal, Nova is a short walk away, on Rúa Valle Inclán. The tourist train to the hot springs, which used to leave from the Praza Maior, is out of service with no return date.
- **Exe Auriense** (Hotel): Seven kilometres from the Roman bridge
At the entrance to Ourense, on Rúa da Rábeda and next to the San Cibrao das Viñas technology park, the Exe Auriense is far from the old town and right by the road. It is about 7 km to the centre, according to the hotel, and about 4 to the Expourense fairground. There is a bus stop in front of the door, but the hotel is designed for those travelling by car: you park for free, head out to the Ribeira Sacra or the hot springs without crossing the city and come back to sleep without looking for a space. To go out for tapas in the old town at night you will need a taxi or a bus.
A timetable for each service
It has 134 rooms, with check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00. The outdoor car park is free. Pets are not admitted.
The hotel publishes the hours of each service, and it is worth keeping them to hand:

Breakfast: €12 per person; from 7:00 to 10:00 on weekdays and from 8:00 to 11:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Cafeteria: Sunday to Thursday, from 19:00 to 23:00.
À la carte dinner: from 20:00 to 22:30, with limited places and advance booking.
Room service: from 20:00 to 22:30.
Gym: from 8:00 to 22:00.
Outdoor pool: summer only; it is currently closed for the season.

Note that the cafeteria does not open on Friday or Saturday evenings, so if you arrive late at a weekend, have dinner in the city first. To book, the Eurostars central line answers 24 hours a day on 913 342 196; the hotel, on 988 234 900.
Heading out to the hot water and the Sil
The practical thing about sleeping here is the road. The pools at Outariz, beside the Miño, and the Laias Caldaria spa, down the Miño, are a short drive away, as is the pier for the catamaran through the Sil canyon, at Santo Estevo. The thermal bath weekend in Ourense brings together several of those stops.
### Servicios
- **Outariz Pools Car Park**: Free · on the other side of the river, across the pedestrian footbridge

## As a family: 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 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

### Qué hacer 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

## Consejos

### Check 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.

### Bring flip-flops, a towel and a padlock
The changing rooms at the public pools have lockers, but the padlock is yours.

### Use the tourist train at the weekend
It leaves from Praza Maior and saves you the 6 km walk back.

### No more than 30 minutes at a time in the water
The council recommends alternating bathing and rest.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### 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.