A city of culture, arts, historical sights and shopping, Zaragoza has something available to many tastes. You could come here for the lovely churches and cathedrals just as well as lively nightlife. Strategically located between the major cities in Spain, Zaragoza also gives you a good chance to do some sightseeing in the scenic mountain region of the Pyrenees, which form an outdoor sport wonderland within a driving distance away from Zaragoza.
Main sights. Before entering the mountains, you should, however, definitely see the city of Zaragoza with its marvellous historical and architectural sights. There are architectural attractions available from the Era of the Roman Empire, and also an interesting Moorish castle to be visited. The most popular attraction in the city is Zaragoza's basilica, Nuestra Senora del Pilar, which contains precious frescoes from Goya. The historical churches and monuments in Zaragoza are a World Heritage Site.
Arts scene in Zaragoza is appreciated also in other respects, hosting popular exhibitions and museums in Zaragoza. Regular concerts and festivals in Zaragoza are also offered, with the annual Pilar festival, that is dedicated to the patroness of the city, being the most important of them. If you are prepared to travel outside the city, you will find not only the natural attractions of the Pyrenees, but also several historically interesting castles and monasteries around Zaragoza. You could start with for example places like the 12th century De Piedra monastery and the scenic area of Moncayo, from where you could go on with the miraculous nature of the Pyrenees, with excellent routes for trekking near Zarazoga and biking near Zarazoga.
Zaragoza, city of cultural and historical sights, and a gateway to the Pyrenees
Located in northeastern Spain, halfway between Barcelona and Madrid, Zaragoza enjoys an interesting location as the heartland of the historical Kingdom of Aragon. It is also the gateway to a major Spanish mountain region, the Pyrenees, which has an outdoor sport and nature wonderland available to all mountain lovers.Main sights. Before entering the mountains, you should, however, definitely see the city of Zaragoza with its marvellous historical and architectural sights. There are architectural attractions available from the Era of the Roman Empire, and also an interesting Moorish castle to be visited. The most popular attraction in the city is Zaragoza's basilica, Nuestra Senora del Pilar, which contains precious frescoes from Goya. The historical churches and monuments in Zaragoza are a World Heritage Site.
Arts scene in Zaragoza is appreciated also in other respects, hosting popular exhibitions and museums in Zaragoza. Regular concerts and festivals in Zaragoza are also offered, with the annual Pilar festival, that is dedicated to the patroness of the city, being the most important of them. If you are prepared to travel outside the city, you will find not only the natural attractions of the Pyrenees, but also several historically interesting castles and monasteries around Zaragoza. You could start with for example places like the 12th century De Piedra monastery and the scenic area of Moncayo, from where you could go on with the miraculous nature of the Pyrenees, with excellent routes for trekking near Zarazoga and biking near Zarazoga.
Practical information for your trip to Zaragoza
The climate in Zaragoza is continental, with big seasonal differences in temperatures. During the summer months (June–August), Zaragoza enjoys quite warm weather with average monthly high temperatures around 30°C, but in winter temperatures drop to 10–15°C.
Photo: vic15, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
The most popular time for visiting Zaragoza is between May and September, with peak season around in July and August.
How to get there. Located in northeastern Spain, Zaragoza can be reached by air from the main cities in Spain. Some international flights to Zaragoza are also available. If you want to travel to Zaragoza through Madrid or Barcelona, no problem! Both cities are connected to Zaragoza with frequent high speed trains, and also buses between the cities run daily. Buses and taxis are available for getting around in the city. Bus tours for sightseeing in Zaragoza are offered by the tourist office. Car rental in Zaragoza is also available for independent touring.
Visitor services. As Zaragoza is a popular leisure and business travel destination, the city has good availability of hotels in Zaragoza, and finding good restaurants in Zaragoza is not a problem either. If you plan to test the facilities of the city or try shopping in Zaragoza, you should buy a Zaragoza card, which provides you a free entry to all museums and monuments of the city, as well as a 24-hour free use of public transport in Zaragoza.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Pyrenees
