Burgos, Head of Castilla, is known not only for our magnificent Gothic Cathedral or for the sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca located about ten kilometers from the city. It is also part of the French route of the Camino de Santiago and has an excellent gastronomy based on meats, black pudding, sausages, vegetables, cheese and good wine.
We invite you to get to know our city. It is worth spending a few days getting to know its corners.
Burgos Cathedral
Our proposal:
Day 1
Visit the city center. Burgos stands out for its medieval architecture and as such it was a walled city. There are several gates that are still preserved. If you start the tour from San Lesmes square you will be able to admire the church that has the same name, the impressive San Juan Monastery and the new building of modern architecture of the public library, all of them with free visit.
Cross the arch of San Juan, if you continue along the street on the left, La Puebla street, you will reach the Cordón square where you can admire the facade of the Palacio de los Condestables where the Catholic Kings received Christopher Columbus on his return from his second trip to America. Behind you is one of the best known traditional food restaurants in Burgos, Ojeda restaurant. However, if you continue along San Juan Street you will reach the Capitanía Square where you can visit the Burgos Military History Museum or enjoy a nice walk in the Venerables Park.
Continue to Santander Street (one of the commercial streets) turn left and you will reach the Plaza del Cid Campeador Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. Emblematic figure of the city. You can see the San Pablo Bridge, in the background the Museum of Human Evolution and the central building of the Post Office. The Main Theatre is on your right, continue along the Paseo del Espolón to the Santa María Bridge whose arch bears the same name. Behind it is our impressive Cathedral of Santa María, a World Heritage Site, in the French Gothic style. The visit will take you no less than two hours. If you happen to be inside it at twelve o'clock, don't forget to visit the Papamoscas.
Cathedral dome in Burgos
When you go out have a snack, there are several establishments nearby.
Going up the stairs on the main facade in the Santa María square you arrive at the Church of San Nicolás de Bari, with a spectacular stone altarpiece. Walk down Fernan Gonzalez Street to the arch of San Gil. Go down to the Plaza de la Flora.
It is inevitable to enjoy in Burgos our rich gastronomy, roasted lamb and black pudding stand out among other delights. There are several restaurants where you can enjoy these typical products, we recommend that if the weather permits you take a walk along the Paseo de la Isla to the Azofra restaurant following the river to the west of the city passing through the Parral park. If you do not have the strength, you can take a public bus or the car, as it is easy to park. Booking in advance is a sure thing. This is the area of the university campus and the old neighbourhood of Parralillos, the gardens of the Law School are spectacular with a huge chessboard that serves as a stage for concerts in the summer nights.
After lunch you can walk to the Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales and/or return to the centre and visit the Museum of Human Evolution, a small introduction that will make you understand better the visit of the sites the next day.
Museum of Human Evolution
At the back of the Museum there are several establishments for lunch and drinks. We recommend the Centro Galego or the Taberna de Tanín. Santa Clara street is a very interesting area to have a drink at midday, there are small traditional bars where you can share a good Ribera wine with a gilda, such as Bar GildaEcu.
Day 2
Visit the Atapuerca sites. Book well in advance, in winter the opening hours are reduced considerably. Find more information en su web. There are various combinations but we recommend the option that includes bus transport, entrance to the site and the CAREX, an experimental archaeology centre that is a delight to young and old alike. Bring water and a snack as the visit ends at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Atapuerca Sites
After a well-deserved siesta, if you feel like taking a walk eastwards along the Arlanzón River to reach the Paseo de la Quinta or if you have the strength, the Fuentes Blancas Park. Nearby is the Monasterio de la Cartuja. You can have a drink at the bar on the campsite (the squid are delicious) or have dinner at the bar Las Veguillas, a little closer to the centre.
Atapuerca Sites
If you don't feel like this plan, go to the Plaza Mayor where the Town Hall is located. Enjoy the centre by walking around and drinking some Ribera del Duero or Arlanza wines. San Lorenzo Street and Sombrería Street have excellent snacking options. If you want to see and even join other Burgos people singing the city's hymn, the Victoria Vermouth is a perfect place. Every day at ten o'clock at night.
Day 3
Today we suggest you visit the Castle area. First we visit the Museum of the Altarpiece in the Church of San Esteban. Close by is the CAB, a centre for contemporary art. From San Estebán street there are some stairs to access the Castle's viewpoint. If you want to visit it, their website can help you, the entrance is free but you can get information about the timetable.
Relax. if you would like a relaxing massage or a yoga class, you can ask for Chus at his yoga centre Pura Vida in the Plaza Alonso Martínez 7.
Our recommendations:
Cultural
Buy the combined ticket for the Cathedral, San Nicolás, San Gil and San Esteban churches, they call it the four monuments bracelet, you can buy it in the ticket office of the Cathedral and in their web.
Golden Staircase Cathedral of Burgos
Accommodation
The city centre is a good place to stay, but Burgos is a small city, almost all places are accessible on foot but it also has good bus combinations, so if you move away from the centre you will know the atmosphere of other neighbourhoods.
Gastronomy
Roast lamb and blood pudding are one of our most representative dishes, sometimes it is included in the daily menu, but if you want to enjoy a complete gastronomic experience, although Asador y Restaurante Azofra offers this product all year round, for a few months you have the possibility to enjoy the gastronomic days of the lechazo of Burgos.
Garlic soups and rotten pot are also very typical and can be tasted at Mesón La Cueva. The Gaia vegetarian restaurant offers an economical and delicious vegetarian and fusion menu of the day. If you want to enjoy avant-garde food there are multiple options, we recommend Blue Gallery, La Fábrica and Fogón de Jesusón. From Monday to Friday they offer economical menus.
Torrijas Azofra Restaurant
Restaurant El Carmen is also off the beaten track and offers a spectacular menu of the day and if you want something different they offer a tasting menu at weekends (in Calle José María Codón). But there are many more Cobo (with a Michelin star), La Favorita, El Huerto de Roque, Alma, Pascual restaurant...
Tapas
In Burgos the alpargatas (toast with ham and tomato) are very famous, the most famous in Rimbombín and Morito. Also the morcilla, the black pudding croqueton from Mesón Froilán is delicious. If you like smoked herring in the Orfeón Burgalés they usually have this delicious tapa.
In Mesón el Avellano the sweetbreads and the mushroom skewers are a delight. Potato omelette with divisas in the Gigantillos. The best bravas in the world (that's what they say and they are really good) at Paquita Mariví. La Cestería is perfect for snacking and for dinner or lunch with traditional dishes such as crumbled oxtail and other more innovative dishes such as crispy prawns with wakame seaweed. Don't miss their star tapa, the trigreziña.
Out of route but close to the center, in the Martín Antolínez street, the bar bodega El Retiro, is an excellent place for tapas of homemade food at a very good price, they do not make reservations and it is usually full. If you want a table you have to go there soon. If you want to change your registration and have a good beer at the Golden Garden in calle Trinidad, you'll find a wide variety of them and it's very good for tapas.
If you fancy Mexican, Enchilados, good value for money, it's a small but cosy place, they don't book so it's best to book early.
If you prefer a vegan and healthy option you have to try Cúrcuma Green Food, their breakfasts are brutal.
Drinks
If you want to have a Try drink, the Norte or the Bóveda are perfect. To dance to the rhythm of the indie Cooper in the old town, in San Juan street la Buena Vida and La Cuca or the Bar de Blas in La Puebla street.
Off the center
In the Gamonal neighbourhood you can visit the Church of La Real and Antigua and eat tapas in traditional bars such as Equs (magnificent bravas), Rubio or El Alpi, with a wide variety of pickles. For a beer in the afternoon the Fact 4 bar is a great option with a lot of atmosphere.
So you see, it's all about options, don't think about it, come and visit us!