Nova
What to order: the eight-course Raíces menu if it is your first time; with the pairing if you are not driving
geocalia
Day itinerary · 42.34° N · 7.88° W
Thermal Sunday in Ourense: hot water in the morning, a long table at midday.
You cross the Roman bridge, soak for two hours at the Outariz hot springs by the Miño and have the eight-course tasting menu at Nova, which holds a Michelin star. An hour from Santiago, Lugo or Pontevedra.
Leaving from
Part of OurenseThermal getaways
Add to my trip
Total time8 h
By car1 h 15 each way
Bathing2 h at Outariz
DifficultyNone
Cost€85–130 pp
Best timeOctober – June
With childrenHot springs from age 5
Car-freeTrain from Santiago
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Santiago de Compostela 1 h 15 by car
via the AP-53 or the A-52 depending on where you set out from; park in the centre
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1
Roman Bridge
370 m above the Miño; 20 min on foot
- 6 min by car4,2 km
- 2
- 8 min by car5,3 km
- 3
- 6 min on foot
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4
As Burgas
the springs at over 60 ºC and the Roman remains; 20 min
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Back home
In Santiago, Lugo or Pontevedra around 18:15
Approximate cost
About €65–130 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Roman Bridge
Ourense is an hour and a quarter by car from Santiago, Lugo and Pontevedra, and it is the Galician Sunday that does not depend on the weather. You cross the Roman bridge, take a two-hour soak at the Outariz hot springs, at the end of the Miño thermal promenade, and go up to the centre for lunch at Nova, the city's Michelin-starred restaurant. Before heading home, the As Burgas fountains, where water gushes out at more than 60 degrees in the middle of the old town.
The Day, Hour by Hour
9:00 · Departure. From Santiago, the AP-53 via Lalín; from Pontevedra, the A-52 via Vigo or the N-541; from Lugo, the N-540. In every case, an hour and a quarter. Park in a public car park in the centre.
10:15 · Roman bridge. The first crossing over the Miño and the symbol of the city: 370 metres with a central arch 38 metres high. You cross it on foot in a few minutes and it leads to the thermal promenade.
10:45 · Outariz hot springs. At the end of the thermal promenade, on the right bank of the river. If you prefer not to walk the four kilometres of the path, drive to the free Outariz-Reza car park and cross by the footbridge. The paid hot springs have two circuits, Celta and Zen, with pools at different temperatures; general admission costs €6.95 and covers two hours, changing room included. You cannot book: you enter in order of arrival, so Sunday morning is a better time than the afternoon. They close on Tuesdays.
13:30 · Lunch at Nova. On Rúa Valle Inclán, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral. There is no à la carte menu: three tasting menus that change every week. In winter it is open on Sundays at midday, from 13:30 to 15:00. It is a small dining room: book days ahead.
16:15 · As Burgas. The monumental fountains of the old town, with the remains of the Roman baths beside them. You can see them free of charge; the pool is temporarily closed.
17:00 · Return. You are home around a quarter past six.
What to Order at Nova
If it is your first time, the Raíces menu, eight courses, €65. The Nova has ten courses for €80 and the Cima, thirteen with Galician cheeses, €105. The cooking starts from stews and home produce with seasonal ingredients from around Ourense and the coast. All the menus have wine pairings from Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrei: if you are driving, ask for single glasses.
If You Prefer Tapas, with Children or in Summer
If you do not fancy a long menu, swap Nova for the Os Viños tapas route, the streets of bars in the old town between Praza do Ferro and the cathedral, with a pincho in every bar. With children, the paid hot springs admit ages 5 and over, and from 5 to 8 you must prove the age; the soak should not last more than 10 or 15 minutes. In summer, hot water tires you out and Nova closes on Sundays: it is an autumn, winter and spring plan.
Time30 min
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Ourense
From October to June. The contrast between cold air and hot water is the charm, and in the rain the soak is just as enjoyable. From 1 July to 15 September Nova closes on Sundays.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Bathe in the morning
On Sunday afternoon the whole city goes. First thing you get in without a queue.
- 2Bring your hot-spring kit
Swimsuit, flip-flops, a large towel or bathrobe. Shower beforehand and do not stay more than half an hour at a stretch in the hot water.
- 3Book Nova before you set off
At weekends it fills up and the dining room is small.
We'd skip it
A Sunday in July or August: Nova closes and at midday hot water with heat outside is unappealing.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Santiago?
An hour and a quarter by car and about 40 minutes by direct train.
Do I need to book the hot springs?
You cannot. You enter in order of arrival, with limited capacity.
How much does it cost to eat at Nova?
From €65 to €105 per person depending on the menu, without drinks.
Are the free hot springs open?
As of November 2026, the free pools at A Chavasqueira and Muíño da Veiga are closed until spring 2027. The paid hot springs at Outariz and A Chavasqueira are open all year.
What if it rains?
Even better. Fewer people, and the contrast with the hot water is part of the charm.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/ourense/itineraries/ourense-thermal-baths-outariz-and-nova-tasting-menu
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.