A complete guide for the best things to do in León, Spain, with my recommendations on what to do and things to see in this Spanish hidden gem.
León was originally founded as a Roman military encampment over 2,000 years ago. 900 years later, it became the capital of the Kingdom of León, an independent kingdom in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
But it was in the Middle Ages when the city really flourished, when it became an important stop along the pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago.
Today, it is still apparent how León was a city built for pilgrims, with its religious buildings and what used to be an important pilgrims’ shelter. But there is a lot more to León than this.
From reminders of its Roman past and ancient churches steeped in history, to modernist architecture and a vibrant nightlife, León is a modern city with a rich past that has something for everyone.
I visited León as part of a 5-day itinerary of Northern Spain by train, so here are my recommendations for the top things to do in León. But before I get into the details, here is a little overview on this historical city.
Table of Contents
- 1 An overview of León
- 2 How to get to León, Spain
- 3 Where to stay in León
- 4 Things to do in León
- 4.1 Enter the House of Light (León Cathedral)
- 4.2 Stay in a luxury 16th century monastery
- 4.3 Follow the Camino de Santiago
- 4.4 Admire the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque Art
- 4.5 Find reminders of Roman León
- 4.6 Discover Casa Botines, León’s Gaudí surprise
- 4.7 Get lost in the Barrio Húmedo
- 4.8 Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC)
- 4.9 Taste the local DO León wine
An overview of León
León is located in Northern Spain, in the region of Castilla y León, Spain’s largest region. It is the capital of the province of León, which borders the regions of Asturias and Galicia.
If you are a history buff or a culture vulture, León is a city that should be on your wishlist. I would recommend combining a trip to León with a visit to cities such as Oviedo, Gijón or Valladolid, which are very well connected by train.
León has a large number of attractions associated with the Camino de Santiago, such as its magnificent Cathedral and the grand San Marcos Monastery. But León is also known for its vibrant nightlife.
How to get to León, Spain
The easiest way to get to León is by flying into either Asturias Airport or Madrid. Vueling is the only international airline that flies to Asturias Airport directly from London, but you can fly to Madrid from all over the world. You could even make a trip out of it and spend 4 days in Madrid.
> Check the best deals on flights on Skyscanner here
From Asturias airport, you can get a bus to Oviedo and then, either another bus or a train to León.
> Check the best deals on bus and train fares on Omio here
If you would like to avoid flying, you could take a ferry from Plymouth to Santander. Then take either a bus or a train from Santander to León.
> Check the best deals on bus and train fares on Omio here
Where to stay in León
Hotel Real Colegiata de San Isidoro
With so much history around León, it was only fitting that I stayed at the Hotel Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, once part of the 12th century monastery. The rooms were once monastery cells, although you wouldn’t guess it now. All the rooms have views over the old cloister or the Roman walls.
> Book Hotel Real Colegiata de San Isidoro here
Parador de Turismo de León
The Parador de Turismo de León is set in the impressive 16th-century San Marcos Monastery and former pilgrims hostel. All the rooms are located in the original part of the building and they feature antique furnishings and tapestries.
> Book Parador de Turismo de León here
Hostal Albany Ancha
Simple yet stylish accommodation located 200 yards from León Cathedral, Hostal Albany Ancha is a guest house with a lot of charm. The rooms have original exposed brick walls with a lot of character, and its location couldn’t be better.
> Book Hostal Albany Ancha here
Things to do in León
Enter the House of Light (León Cathedral)
León was, and still is, an important stop for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. And this has left an important legacy in the city.
A great example of this legacy is the magnificent León Cathedral. Its grandiosity is breathtaking, but it’s the interior that will truly blow you away.
It was built in the 13th century and it is one of the greatest works of Gothic style, with influences from the French Gothic cathedrals in Reims and Amiens. It is famous for having one of the largest collections of medieval stained glass in the world.
The light coming through the 1,800 sq metres of stained glass windows will make you gasp as you walk in and look up, earning it the nickname of House of Light.
I was impressed by the largest expanse of stained glass in the Cathedral in York, but León Cathedral takes things to the next level.
What’s even more impressive is that around 80% of the stained glass is original, with the oldest glass dating back to the 13th century.
To make the most of your visit to the Cathedral, I would recommend booking a tour, where you can learn about its history, its chapels and, most importantly, the stained glass windows.
> Book your tour of León Cathedral here
Stay in a luxury 16th century monastery
Another big clue of how important the city has been for the Camino de Santiago, is the San Marcos Monastery, a former monastery originally built in the 12th century as a shelter for pilgrims.
It was rebuilt in the plateresque style in the 16th century, giving it its current grand appearance. Today it is a luxury hotel run by the state-owned Paradores brand, and it’s one of the most amazing things to see in León.
So why not treat yourself while you are in León and stay at this historic pilgrims shelter and enjoy a bit of luxury?
> Stay the Parador de Turismo de León
Follow the Camino de Santiago
Although it was my second visit to León, it was the first time I got to appreciate this historical city properly. My first visit was a quick overnight stay on my way to Santiago de Compostela while I walked the Camino.
Despite not being a religious or spiritual person, the Camino was the most important experience I’ve ever had and I’d go as far as to say it is one of my personal seven wonders of the world.
Although it won’t be as deep an experience as walking the Camino all the way to Santiago, following the yellow arrows and scallop shells that you find all over the city is a really fun thing to do in León.
Admire the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque Art
Another important building in medieval León is the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro de León. The original church dates from the 9th century, but it was rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries after being destroyed during the Muslim conquest.
The church houses the tomb of St Isidore, Patron of Seville. But make your way to the back of the building to visit the Museum of Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, one of the top things to do in León.
Here you will find the Panteón Real (Royal Patheon), comparable to the Sistine Chapel in The Vatican. In fact, it is known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Romanesque Art’.
This vaulted chamber contains the tombs of kings and nobles of the ancient Kingdom of León. The incredible frescos that cover the ceiling are a medieval masterpiece. Incredibly, they’ve never been restored, they have only been cleaned up.
The museum also houses the Chalice of Doña Urraca, an 11th century jewel-encrusted onyx chalice.
Doña Urraca was a princess of the Kingdom of León during the Middle Ages, and there are claims that say that her chalice is the Holy Grail. Although there are also claims that the original Holy Grail is kept in the Cathedral in Valencia.
The library in the museum is also worth noting, with its collection of ancient books, including a Bible from the 10th century.
Find reminders of Roman León
The Middle Ages was the time when León flourished, thanks to the pilgrim-related trade. But León’s beginnings go further back in time. Founded as a Roman camp, the name of the city does not come from the word ‘lion’, but rather from the word ‘legion’, which refers to its origins.
As you walk around the Old Town, you will come across sections of the medieval walls built on top of the original Roman city walls.
Look down and you will see golden footprints with studs. These emulate the footprints of the Roman legion and mark ‘The Footprint of the Legion’ route around León.
One curiosity is that locals have found a way of integrating the walls in everyday life. Walk down Serradores Street and you will see how residential houses have been built into the ancient walls.
Discover Casa Botines, León’s Gaudí surprise
One of the biggest surprises that León has in store for visitors, is one of only three buildings designed and built by Gaudí outside of Catalonia – Casa Botines.
Known for his modernist buildings in Barcelona such as Casa Batlló, Gaudí was commissioned to design a building for two cloth merchants in 1891. The building would serve as a textile warehouse and residence for two families.
The result was a modernist building in the medieval style. Today the building houses a Gaudí museum about the building and his work, and also a small art gallery with works by artists such as Dalí, Goya and Chillida. Visiting Casa Botines is one of the best things to do in León.
A great view of Casa Botines is from the back. Climb to the top of the Roman wall to enjoy a different angle of this fantastic building.
If you are interested in architecture, you can do an architectural walking tour of León which will take you to Casa Botines too.
> Book your architectural walking tour of León here
Get lost in the Barrio Húmedo
Once you finish exploring the cultural aspects of León, head to the Barrio Húmedo, literally translated as ‘Wet Quarter’ due to the large number of bars and restaurants located in a relatively small area.
The Barrio Húmedo is centred around Plaza de San Martín (San Martin Square), and is one of the liveliest areas in the city, so if you are wondering what to do in León at night, this is the perfect place to get a taste of the city’s nightlife. And to try the local tapas and wines!
Don’t miss visiting Leon’s iconic Plaza Mayor, with its arcades. It was built in the 17th century and it’s the traditional image of a Spanish Plaza Mayor, one of Spain’s most characteristic urban elements.
To get to know the history of the Barrio Húmedo and other areas of León, why not take a walking tour of the city? This tour includes a tour of the Cathedral too.
> Book your walking tour of León here
Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC)
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC) in León is an award-winning museum and one of the most important contemporary art museums in the region of Castilla y León. It was designed by architects Emilio Tuñón and Luis Moreno.
The multicoloured glass exterior of the building was inspired by the incredible stained glass windows of León Cathedral.
Inside, you will find over 1,500 pieces of art by Spanish artists, and in particular Leonese artists from the 20th and 21st century.
Taste the local DO León wine
Wine has been grown and consumed in León since Roman times. The city and its province boasts an ancient wine region that has only recently been awarded Denomination of Protected Origin status – DO León.
DO León includes 39 wineries, 36 of them located in the province of León and 3 of them in the province of Valladolid.
All the wineries grow the local native grape varieties known as Prieto Picudo and Albarín (not to be confused with Albariño). Prieto Picudo is used for red and rosé wine and Albarín is a white wine grape.
These grape varieties are not easy to find outside of León, so if you are a wine lover, one of the best things to do in León is a tour of DO León wineries with wine tasting.
> Book your León wine tasting tour here
Do you have any questions about things to do in León?
Let me know in the comments!
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Disclosure: This post has been created as a partnership with Spanish Tourism. As always, all views are my own.