Things to Do in Castile and León, Spain: City Guides

Castile and León is a historic region in north-western Spain, known for its medieval cities, pilgrimage routes, Roman roads and wide plateau landscapes. From prehistoric human remains in the Atapuerca Mountains to the walls of Ávila and the cathedrals of Burgos and León, the region offers a remarkably deep journey through history. Neywo has free audio guides for 5 cities in Castile and León, covering 305 narrated places across 19 walking tours.

What to see and do in Castile and León

Explore the historic cities

The region’s most famous sights are concentrated in cities shaped by centuries of religious, political and commercial life.

Ávila is known for its impressive medieval walls, one of the defining monuments of Castile and León. The city’s cathedral is another major landmark, alongside historic palaces such as the Palacio de Polentinos, the Palace of Superunda and the Palacio de Bracamonte.

Burgos is home to one of Spain’s best-known Gothic cathedrals. Its historic character also appears in the Miraflores Charterhouse, the Universidad de Mercaderes y Consulado de Burgos and the Palacio de Castilfalé.

In Salamanca, historic buildings reflect the city’s religious, academic and aristocratic past. The Convent of Las Dueñas, Casa de las Conchas, La Salina Palace and Palacio de Orellana are among the places to discover.

Segovia brings together several of the region’s most recognisable monuments. Its Roman aqueduct, cathedral and Royal Alcázar form the city’s best-known landmarks, while Casa de la Tierra adds another layer to its historic centre.

In Tordesillas, the Iglesia museo de San Antolín de Tordesillas, the Royal Convent of Santa Clara, the Casas del Tratado de Tordesillas and the Church of Santa María reveal the importance of this town’s religious and political heritage.

Follow the region’s historic routes

Castile and León has long been crossed by routes linking the Iberian Peninsula from east to west and from north to south. The Way of St. James runs across the region and is recognised as a World Heritage Site. Today, it functions both as a hiking trail and as a motorway route.

In the west, the Roman Via de la Plata, or Silver Way, survives in a different form as a main road. Together with the Way of St. James, it helps explain why the region’s towns and monuments developed along such enduring lines of movement.

Railways continue this tradition of connection. The route from Paris to Lisbon crosses Castile and León towards the Portuguese frontier at Fuentes de Oñoro. Other lines connect Madrid with Cantabria and Galicia, while a route runs from León to Bilbao across the north.

Discover the region’s long human history

The story of Castile and León begins long before its medieval cities. In the Atapuerca Mountains, archaeologists have found many bones belonging to ancestors of Homo sapiens. The discovery of Homo heidelbergensis remains brought international attention to the site and established its importance in the study of human evolution.

Before the arrival of the Romans, Celtic peoples lived across these lands, including the Vaccaei, Vettones, Astures and Celtiberians. Their presence forms part of a much longer human history that continues through Roman roads, medieval kingdoms and the region’s modern identity.

The Cortes of León met in 1188, in an event UNESCO recognises as the cradle of worldwide parliamentarism. The modern autonomous community was created much later, in 1983, when nine provinces were brought together: three traditionally linked with León and six associated with Old Castile. Eleven World Heritage Sites now underline the density of the region’s historical heritage.

Experience the plateau and mountain landscapes

Castile and León occupies the Northern Plateau, the northern half of Spain’s Inner Plateau. The region is landlocked and surrounded by mountain barriers: the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, the Sistema Central to the south and the Sistema Ibérico to the east.

Much of the land is drained by the Douro, or Duero, which rises in the Picos de Urbión in Soria and flows west towards the Atlantic. Its basin includes lakes and lagoons such as Sanabria Lake in Zamora and Negra de Urbión Lake.

The landscape combines broad, often dry fields with fertile farmland. Dryland agriculture has long been important, while irrigation is used in valleys shaped by the Douro and its tributaries. Evergreen oaks and junipers grow across this setting, alongside protected natural areas and habitats for birds.

The region’s continental Mediterranean climate brings long, cold winters and short, hot summers, including the dry months typical of this climate. Its wildlife includes rare and distinctive species such as the brown bear.

See how rural life has shaped the region

Castile and León is Spain’s largest autonomous community by area, but its population is relatively sparse. Around 2.4 million people live across its nine provinces. Valladolid serves as the de facto regional capital, with the executive and legislative seats established there by law.

Agriculture and livestock once provided the main livelihood for many people. Rural emigration increased after the Spanish Civil War, as residents moved towards more prosperous urban areas. The region has consequently experienced population ageing, while its foreign-born population includes people from Colombia, Morocco and Venezuela.

This combination of open farmland, historic towns and changing rural communities is central to the character of Castile and León. Spanish is the only official language and the predominant language throughout the territory.

Experience Holy Week traditions

Holy Week is an important part of cultural life in Castile and León. Celebrations in several cities are recognised as being of International Tourist Interest, adding a living tradition to the region’s architectural and archaeological heritage.

The ceremonies form part of a wider cultural landscape that includes pilgrimage, historic government, religious monuments and the longstanding routes connecting the plateau with the rest of Spain and Portugal.

Explore Castile and León with Neywo

Neywo offers free audio guides for 5 cities in Castile and León, with 305 narrated places in total and 19 walking tours. You can use them in Ávila, Burgos, Salamanca, Segovia and Tordesillas.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, so you can explore historic streets, monuments and squares while keeping your attention on the city around you.