Castilla y León covers almost a fifth of Spain and has three UNESCO World Heritage old cities (Salamanca, Segovia and Ávila), plus the great Gothic cathedrals of Burgos and León. The Camino de Santiago crosses it from east to west.
It is Spain’s heartland of castles and wheat fields, with some of the country’s most correct Spanish and lowest living costs.
Climate
Continental and high (most of it lies on a plateau at 700 to 1,000 m): hot days and cool nights in summer, long cold winters with frost and fog.
Best time: May, June, September and October.
Food and drink
Roast suckling pig (cochinillo) and lamb (lechazo), morcilla de Burgos, Ribera del Duero and Rueda wines, and free tapas in León.
What it’s like
Nine provinces, lots of space and very few people outside the cities. Salamanca is a lively student city; Segovia and Ávila are easy day trips from Madrid.
Living here
Cheap housing and a calm pace, but cold winters and limited jobs. Salamanca and Valladolid have the most going on. It is a popular place to learn Spanish.
Getting around
High-speed trains link Madrid with Segovia (about 30 minutes), Valladolid (about 1 hour), León and Burgos.
Towns and cities in Castilla y León
Castilla y León
Salamanca
Golden sandstone, one of Europe’s oldest universities, the Plaza Mayor and a huge student population that makes it Spain’s favourite place …
€€€€ 1 to 2 days
Castilla y León
Segovia
A Roman aqueduct, a fairy-tale castle and roast suckling pig, half an hour from Madrid by high-speed train.
€€€€ 1 day
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Castilla y León?
May, June, September and October.
What is the weather like in Castilla y León?
Continental and high (most of it lies on a plateau at 700 to 1,000 m): hot days and cool nights in summer, long cold winters with frost and fog.
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