# Cerca de Ourense

From Ourense, the Ribeira Sacra starts less than an hour away, via Monforte or Luíntra. To the south, an hour and a half away, is the Portuguese Gerês; to the east, Sanabria; to the west, the Rías Baixas and the Cíes, and Santiago, 40 minutes by train.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ourense/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [Sil by catamaran and hot springs](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ourense/itineraries/autumn-in-the-sil-canyon.md) (7 min en coche): A catamaran through the Sil canyon as the terraced vines turn ochre, a roots menu at Nova and, at nightfall, two hours at the Outariz hot springs beside the Miño.
- [Monforte: Greco, trains and a tasting](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra/itineraries/monforte-with-el-greco-trains-and-wine.md) (47 min en coche): A Sunday without mountain roads: the Railway Museum, the picture gallery of the Antigua college with El Greco, lunch at the Parador and a tasting at the Wine Centre.
- [Boat on the Miño and a winery at Belesar](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra/itineraries/boat-and-wine-on-the-mino.md) (1 h en coche): The Cistercian monastery of Ferreira de Pantón, a boat trip of almost three hours on the Miño from Belesar with a stop at an old winery, and an afternoon visit and tasting at Vía Romana.
- [Catamaran on the Sil and a tasting in Doade](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra/itineraries/boat-and-wineries-from-lugo.md) (1 h 3 en coche): An hour-and-a-half catamaran through the Sil canyons from A Abeleda, lunch at the Algueira winery among vines and a tasting at Regina Viarum, hanging above the river.
- [Cíes: boat, lighthouse and Rodas beach](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/cies-islands/itineraries/day-from-vigo-lighthouse-and-rodas.md) (1 h 18 en coche): Permit and boat from Vigo, a climb to the Cíes lighthouse in the morning, lunch at the campsite and the afternoon on Rodas beach before the last boat.
- [Mussel rafts, oysters, Museo do Mar and Baiona](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/cies-islands/itineraries/mussel-rafts-oysters-and-museo-do-mar.md) (1 h 18 en coche): A boat past the mussel rafts as far as Rande with mussels, oysters at the Pescadería, the Museo do Mar and, as evening falls, the Monterreal wall and dinner in Baiona.
- [Santiago: roofs, cathedral and Alameda](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/santiago-de-compostela/itineraries/cathedral-roofs-and-alameda.md) (1 h 25 en coche): You step into the basilica, climb up to the cathedral's granite roofs, have lunch opposite the Mercado de Abastos and finish at the Alameda with the cathedral lit up. One hour from A Coruña.
- [Santiago: the end of the Camino and the night](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/santiago-de-compostela/itineraries/pilgrim-for-a-day-and-legends.md) (1 h 25 en coche): You walk down with a guide from Monte do Gozo to the Obradoiro, have lunch on Rúa de San Pedro, go into the cathedral, taste Galician wines and close with Compos Tours' night route.
- [Combarro, Pontevedra and Poio](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/combarro-and-pontevedra/itineraries/combarro-pontevedra-and-poio-monastery.md) (1 h 29 en coche): The Combarro granaries first thing, the free Pontevedra Museum, seafood lunch in the old town and Poio monastery in the afternoon. One hour from Santiago.
- [Soajo and Lindoso: granaries and biological park](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres/itineraries/granite-granaries-and-lindoso.md) (1 h 30 en coche): The 64 granaries of Lindoso at the foot of its castle, those of Soajo on a slab of granite and, in the afternoon, the Porta do Mezio biological park and tree-climbing course. An hour and a half from Ourense.
- [Gerês: the Roman Geira and the viewpoints](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres/itineraries/roman-road-and-canicada-viewpoints.md) (1 h 30 en coche): You walk down the Roman road of the Geira among centuries-old oaks, eat in Campo do Gerês and in the afternoon look out over the reservoir from Pedra Bela. An hour and a half from Ourense.
- [Sanabria: castle, square and lake](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/sanabria-puebla-castle-and-monastery-by-the-lake.md) (1 h 35 en coche): The medieval village of Puebla and its castle in the morning, broad beans and Sanabria veal on the Plaza Mayor and, in the afternoon, the lake from San Martín de Castañeda.
- [Culebra: guided rut and Sanabria](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/saturday-of-the-rut-and-lunch-in-puebla.md) (1 h 35 en coche): The castle and old town of Puebla de Sanabria in the morning, habones and veal in the Plaza Mayor and, as evening falls, rutting stags with a Culebra guide. An hour and a quarter from Zamora.
- [A cooperative and a palace of albariño](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/cambados/itineraries/two-wineries-saturday.md) (1 h 39 en coche): Two ways of making albariño in one day: the Paco & Lola cooperative in Meaño, lunch in Cambados and the historic winery of the Palacio de Fefiñanes in the afternoon.
- [Winery, Michelin and ruins in Cambados](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/cambados/itineraries/winery-star-and-gothic-ruins.md) (1 h 40 en coche): A visit with tasting at Martín Códax with the Arousa estuary in front of you, lunch at Yayo Daporta and the afternoon among the ruins of Santa Mariña and the manor houses of the historic centre.
- [Las Médulas: viewpoint, tunnels and chestnut trees](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/las-medulas/itineraries/las-medulas-orellan-viewpoint-and-valinas-trail.md) (1 h 55 en coche): In the morning, the Orellán viewpoint and its Roman galleries; a Bierzo lunch with views at Orellán and, in the afternoon, the Valiñas trail among chestnut trees.
- [Guimarães: castle, square and cable car](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/northern-portugal/guimaraes/itineraries/sunday-in-guimaraes-castle-and-cable-car.md) (2 h 13 en coche): The World Heritage medieval centre, the first king's castle and the dukes' palace in the morning; lunch under the arcades of the Oliveira and a cable car to the Penha. 1 h 45 from Pontevedra.
- [Porto: tower, boat and port cellar](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/porto-and-douro/itineraries/clerigos-tower-ribeira-and-gaia.md) (2 h 28 en coche): You climb the Clérigos Tower, walk down to the Ribeira, see the six bridges from a rabelo boat and finish with three ports in a Gaia cellar. Two hours from Pontevedra.
- [Ribeira: two wine bars and Gaia](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/porto-and-douro/itineraries/wine-evening-in-the-ribeira.md) (2 h 28 en coche): You start on the terrace of Wine Quay Bar above the Douro, continue at Prova with a sommelier, dine at Cantinho do Avillez and cross the Luís I Bridge to sleep at The Yeatman. Monday to Saturday.

## The Galician city with the most different ways out

Ourense is the Galician city with the most different ways out: each road leads to a different landscape. The N-120 goes east via Monforte de Lemos, the gateway to the [Ribeira Sacra](/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra), and follows the Sil towards O Barco and El Bierzo, where [Las Médulas](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/las-medulas) are. Via Luíntra you go down to the Santo Estevo landing stage, in the Sil canyon, in about 40 minutes. The A-52 leaves in two directions: east, via Verín, to Puebla de Sanabria and its [lake](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake); west, to Vigo, from where the boats leave for the [Cíes Islands](/en/spain/galicia/cies-islands), and to the Tui border, on the way to [Guimarães](/en/portugal/northern-portugal/guimaraes) and [Porto](/en/portugal/porto-and-douro). To the south, the N-540 passes through Celanova, Bande and Lobios to the Portela do Homem border, where [Peneda-Gerês](/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres) begins. To the north, the AP-53 climbs via Lalín towards [Santiago de Compostela](/en/spain/galicia/santiago-de-compostela).

The train works for Santiago: there is a direct service in about 40 minutes, with the station twenty minutes' walk from the cathedral. Monforte also has a station, with few trains on Sunday. For the Sil, the Gerês and Sanabria you need a car. When you cross into Portugal, remember that it is an hour earlier there.

## Catamaran on the Sil and wineries at Doade

**Less than an hour away** is the Ribeira Sacra: Monforte, 47 minutes away, with El Greco, the Railway Museum and the Parador, and the A Abeleda catamaran with the Doade wineries, 63. In the city itself, the Miño thermal promenade.

**Between an hour and an hour and a half** there is room for a full Sunday in almost any direction. The Cíes are 78 minutes away counting the road to Vigo; Santiago, 85; Combarro and the Poio monastery, 89; the Gerês, 90, both along the Roman road of the Geira and for the granaries of Lindoso, and Puebla de Sanabria, 95.

**A little further, between an hour and a half and two and a half hours,** are Cambados (100 minutes), the Orellán viewpoint at Las Médulas (115) and Guimarães (133), with the cable car up to the Penha. The Costa da Morte (144) and Porto (148) are already better enjoyed with a night.

## In winter, what has no ports or boats

In winter, the most convenient things are those without ports or boats: the [Sunday in Monforte](/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra/itineraries/monforte-with-el-greco-trains-and-wine), [Santiago from the cathedral roofs](/en/spain/galicia/santiago-de-compostela/itineraries/cathedral-roofs-and-alameda) or the [castle of Puebla de Sanabria and the monastery above the lake](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/sanabria-puebla-castle-and-monastery-by-the-lake). In the city, the paid hot springs are open all year; the Miño public pools are closed until spring 2027.

In spring, the Gerês is at its best: the [Sunday along the Roman road and the Caniçada viewpoints](/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres/itineraries/roman-road-and-canicada-viewpoints) is recommended in April and May, and the one at [Soajo and Lindoso](/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres/itineraries/granite-granaries-and-lindoso), from April to June. In May the [Sil canyon boat with lunch at a winery](/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra/itineraries/boat-and-wineries-from-lugo) sails daily.

In summer it is best to head for the water: the [Cíes, with the climb to the lighthouse and an afternoon at Rodas](/en/spain/galicia/cies-islands/itineraries/day-from-vigo-lighthouse-and-rodas), with authorisation and boat booked, or [Lake Sanabria](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/sanabria-lake-weekend-from-zamora) in two nights. In July and August, the pools and the Portela do Homem road fill up.

In autumn, the plan is to stay close. In October and November, the terraced vineyards of the Sil turn ochre: the [autumn Sunday with catamaran, Nova and the Outariz hot springs](/en/spain/galicia/ourense/itineraries/autumn-in-the-sil-canyon) leaves from the city itself. From mid-September to mid-October is the deer rut in the Sierra de la Culebra, on a [guided Saturday](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/saturday-of-the-rut-and-lunch-in-puebla) or a [weekend in Puebla](/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sanabria-lake/itineraries/sanabria-culebra-red-deer-rut-weekend).

## Santiago on a 40-minute train

- **Without a car, in a day:** [Santiago from the cathedral roofs](/en/spain/galicia/santiago-de-compostela/itineraries/cathedral-roofs-and-alameda). A train of about 40 minutes, the Portico, the granite rooftops and lunch opposite the Mercado de Abastos.
- **With two nights, close by:** [the Ribeira Sacra](/en/spain/galicia/ribeira-sacra/itineraries/ribeira-sacra-weekend-from-lugo). 47 minutes away, with two boats through the canyon, the Balcones de Madrid at dawn and Santa Cristina among chestnut trees.
- **With two nights, in Portugal:** [the Gerês](/en/portugal/northern-portugal/peneda-geres/itineraries/weekend-from-ourense). An hour and a half to the Portela do Homem on Friday, two nights in the village of Gerês or in Campo do Gerês and back on Sunday via Lindoso.