Burgos
Basic Info
Burgos is the old capital of the Kingdom of Castile and Leon, Spain. It is located about 250 kms north of Madrid and 200 kilometres south of San Sebastian. It is not a well known place unless you are a pilgrim walking de Camino de Santiago.
How to get here: The closest airport is Madrid. From there you will need to drive or take a bus here.
Best time to Visit: Spring (April to June) and Autumn (September to October) are popular choices due to milder weather and fewer tourists.
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day. The main sight here is the cathedral
Things to Do
Burgos was a walled city and there used to be several gates into the city. The most stunning arch is the Arco de Santa Maria which takes you directly in front of the cathedral. The Cathedral is the main site to be visited here. The building is one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture in Spain. You can see it was inspired by the Cathedrals of Paris and Reims. This is the only cathedral which has a UNESCO world heritage site that is not tied to a city. The inside of the cathedral is quite stunning and you can easily spend half a day admiring all the different chapels with the intricate detailing.
After a visit to the cathedral walk back under the arco de Santa Maria to step onto the Paseo del Espolon. It is a perfect spot to grab a bite or sip coffee before heading back home!