View of Salamanca (Castilla y León)

Salamanca

The Golden city of a thousand legends

Salamanca

To talk of culture is to talk of Salamanca. Taking a walk through the streets of its historical centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, means taking a walk through centuries of history, art and knowledge and experiencing the wonder of landmarks such as its famous University, one of the oldest in Europe, and which today continues to attract thousands of students.

When evening comes, the light of the setting sun gives the monuments a special golden hue, thanks to the stone from which they are built. It is then that the night-time Salamanca comes into its own, bringing a lively, youthful atmosphere.

Secrets hidden in monuments.

When you enter the monuments of Salamanca, a world of legends and history awaits you. A good stroll could start in its famous Plaza Mayor, the meeting point par excellence in the city. Enjoying a coffee in the legendary Novelty while looking at its 88 arches or sitting quietly on any of its terraces are all highly recommended.You can start exploring at the two cathedrals in Salamanca (yes, two!, the New and the Old). On the Puerta de Ramos of the New Cathedral, you need to find the figure of an astronaut carved from stone and then go up one of its towers on the leronimus tour, to experience unbeatable views.More secrets? The University of Salamanca features a stone frog “hidden” in the façade which is said to bring luck to students; legend has it that the palace of Casa de las Conchas hides a treasure, the huerto de Calixto y Melibea, which is really a garden linked to a literary tale; it is said that the Devil taught witchcraft in the Salamanca Cave ... And there are thousands more stories like these in a city that has so many landmarks to discover, such as the Casa Lis, the Cielo de Salamanca, the Clerecía, the Roman bridge...

Cuisine and nightlife: two more of Salamanca's strong points

One thing that is certainly no secret is the fantastic cuisine in the city. Some of its typical products include the various cured sausages, ham from Guijuelo, and the popular snack known as 'hornazo', a pastry filled with egg and other ingredients such as pork loin, chorizo… You can purchase some to take away with you, although eating it here definitely makes it taste all the more delicious.Speaking of shopping, the pedestrianised streets of Toro and Zamora are full of shops and in the Plaza del Liceo you can even go shopping in a refurbished church, part of the old convent of San Antonio el Real.The city's nightlife also has a well-earned reputation as university students bring life to the city both day and night. Their vitality can be felt on a tapas tour along Calle Van Dyck and their alternative culture is also present in the Barrio del Oeste neighbourhood, where you find garages and walls covered in urban art. Under the moonlight, the monuments are lit up and it's time for live concerts or a drink in any of the city's bars.

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What to visit


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What to do

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information


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How to get there by road

  • Via the A-62 and A-66 motorways.

  • From Madrid, take the A-50 motorway.

How to get to bus

  • Avanza Bus operates a direct coach to Salamanca from Terminals 1 and 4 of Madrid-Barajas airport. The coach stop is located at Terminal 1 of the airport, in the car park opposite the arrivals hall. For more information, phone: +34 902020999.

  • Different regular bus lines (with their corresponding links) make it easy to reach Salamanca from any Spanish or European city.

  • Salamanca Bus Station is located on Avenida Filiberto Villalobos, 71, a 15-minute walk from the city centre. Telephone: +34 923236717.

How to get to train

How to get to aeroplane

  • Salamanca has a small airport in Matacán (20 kilometres away), which offers chartered and scheduled flights at certain times of the year.

  • However, if you are flying to Spain, the easiest thing is to fly to Madrid (Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport) and then travel by bus (Avanza Bus company) or by train (RENFE). The journey from Madrid to Salamanca takes approximately two hours.

How to get around in bus

  • Daytime service and two night-time services that operate from 11 pm to 3 am and until 4 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. More information

How to get around in other means of transport

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