Old Town and El Tubo
The best area for doing everything on foot: El Pilar, La Seo, tapas and nightlife. Choose your street carefully if noise bothers you.
Itinerary · Zaragoza
Zaragoza in 5 days: day-by-day itinerary
A 5-day Zaragoza itinerary: Pilar, La Seo, the Aljafería, Mudéjar towers, Goya, the Expo, the tapas of El Tubo and an excursion to the Monasterio de Piedra.
- 5days
- 17stops
- 6Areas
This 5-day itinerary is designed for anyone who wants to get to know Zaragoza at a relaxed pace, without leaving out its museums, its Mudéjar towers and its tapas culture. The first four days explore the city area by area and the fifth is an excursion to the Monasterio de Piedra.
From the airport, line 505 of the Consorcio de Transportes has timetables coordinated with flights and stops at the Delicias Intermodal Station, from where you continue to the centre by bus or tram. There is also a taxi rank outside the terminal; the journey to the centre takes about 20 minutes and carries an airport surcharge.
Tips
- The historic centre is very compact: it is best done on foot, using the tram or bus for the Aljafería and the Expo.
- Book the Aljafería, the Pilar towers and the fifth-day excursion in advance.
- In El Tubo, go from bar to bar and order each one’s speciality instead of sitting down to dinner in a single place.
- Try Aragonese cuisine: ternasco (young lamb), migas, borage and the typical sweets.
- Lunch is around two o’clock and dinner from nine onwards; many restaurants close between lunch and dinner.
- In summer the heat is strong and in winter the cierzo, the north-westerly wind, makes itself felt. Dress accordingly.
Day 1
El Pilar, La Seo and the Ebro
Basílica del Pilar
Old Town
The great Baroque temple beside the Ebro is the symbol of Zaragoza. Inside are the Holy Chapel and the domes decorated by Goya; you can also climb one of its towers for a view over the city.
Catedral del Salvador (La Seo)
Old Town
It stands in the same square. It blends Romanesque, Gothic, Mudéjar and Baroque, and its Mudéjar exterior is part of the World Heritage-listed ensemble. The tapestry museum is worth a visit.
La Lonja y plaza del Pilar
Old Town
La Lonja is a Renaissance merchants' exchange, a stone's throw from the square. A short stop before crossing to the river.
Puente de Piedra
Ebro riverside
From this historic bridge you get the best-known postcard view of the basilica reflected in the Ebro. It is a good spot at sunset.
Day 2
The Aljafería, Mudéjar art and Rome
Palacio de la Aljafería
Delicias
An 11th-century Islamic palace that later became a residence of the Christian kings and is now the seat of the Cortes of Aragon. Its courtyard of interlaced arches is the most special part. Book ahead and start first thing.
Mercado Central
Old Town
A market of iron and glass with a Modernista feel. A good place to see Aragonese produce and have something light before moving on. You can get here from the Aljafería by bus or on foot.
Iglesia de San Pablo y barrio de la Magdalena
San Pablo
One of the prettiest Mudéjar towers in the city, in a neighbourhood of bars and shops with character. Nearby is the church of La Magdalena, with another Mudéjar tower.
Foro y termas de Caesaraugusta
Old Town
Zaragoza was the Roman Caesaraugusta. The museums of the Forum and the Public Baths, beneath today's city, show remains that surprise anyone who did not expect them.
Day 3
Paseo de la Independencia, Goya and the park
Paseo de la Independencia
Centre
The great avenue of the centre, with 20th-century buildings, café terraces and shops. It starts at Plaza de España and makes a pleasant, flat walk.
Museo Goya Colección Ibercaja
Old Town
Goya was born near Zaragoza, in Fuendetodos, and this museum brings together his work alongside that of other Aragonese artists.
Museo Pablo Gargallo
Old Town
Dedicated to the Aragonese sculptor Pablo Gargallo, in a Renaissance palace. It is small, quiet and easily seen in an hour.
Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta
Centre
The city's great park, with gardens, fountains and shade. An ideal rest for the afternoon.
Day 4
Expo 2008, the river and tapas
Recinto de la Expo 2008
Ebro riverside
Beside the river, Zaha Hadid's Bridge Pavilion, the Water Tower and the Third Millennium Bridge recall the 2008 exposition. You get there by tram or bus from the centre.
Acuario de Zaragoza
Ebro riverside
A freshwater aquarium devoted to the world's great rivers. It is a good option if you are travelling with children or the weather is not on your side.
Walk along the Ebro riverbank
Ebro riverside
Head back to the centre on foot or by bike along the riverbanks, with views of the Pilar at sunset.
Tapas in El Tubo
El Tubo
The maze of lanes beside the Pilar is the great tapas district. Go from bar to bar, with one or two tapas and a small beer in each place.
Day 5 · Day trip
Monasterio de Piedra
Monasterio de Piedra
A Cistercian monastery surrounded by a natural park with waterfalls, lakes and caves, near Nuévalos. It is just over an hour from Zaragoza by road; the easiest way is a rental car or an organised excursion, as public transport is limited. Book ahead and bring comfortable shoes for walking around the park.
Zaragoza
Where to stay in Zaragoza
Paseo de la Independencia and Plaza de España
A central area with good transport and hotels of every kind, ten minutes on foot from the old town.
Delicias
Next to the intermodal station and the airport bus. It is quieter and practical for late arrivals or early-morning departures.
Itinerary · Zaragoza
More Zaragoza itineraries
3 days
Zaragoza in 3 days
- Day 1 El Pilar, La Seo and the Ebro
- Day 2 The Aljafería, Mudéjar art and Rome
- Day 3 Paseo de la Independencia, Goya and the Expo
7 days
Zaragoza in 7 days
- Day 1 El Pilar, La Seo and the Ebro
- Day 2 The Aljafería, Mudéjar art and Rome
- Day 3 Paseo de la Independencia, Goya and the park
- Day 4 Expo 2008, the river and tapas
- + 3 days
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to see Zaragoza?
Four days is enough to see the city at a relaxed pace, and the fifth lets you head out to somewhere like the Monasterio de Piedra.
What do I need to book before travelling?
It is best to book the Aljafería, the Pilar towers and the excursion to the Monasterio de Piedra in advance, especially on long weekends and during the Fiestas del Pilar in October.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
Not in Zaragoza: it is done on foot, by tram and by bus. Only the fifth-day excursion is more convenient with a car or an organised tour.
Photo credits
- Basílica del Pilar: David Abián, CC BY-SA 3.0 es, Wikimedia Commons
- Catedral del Salvador (La Seo): FRANCIS RAHER, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Puente de Piedra: CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Palacio de la Aljafería: Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons