Zaragoza

City · Aragon, 🇪🇸 Spain

Zaragoza is the capital of Aragon and a large city on the river Ebro. It lies halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. The city has Roman, Moorish and Baroque monuments, and a lively tapas scene.

Most visitors stay one or two nights. Zaragoza suits travelers who want big sights, good food and a local atmosphere, with fewer tourists than the biggest Spanish cities.

Printable tourist map

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When to visit

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold. A strong northwest wind called the cierzo can blow at any time of year and feels cold in winter.

The biggest event is the Fiestas del Pilar in the second week of October. They include parades, concerts and a large offering of flowers to the Virgin of the Pilar.

Best time to visit: April, May, September, October

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Fair

13° (feels like 8°) · extremes -2°–19°
3° at night
6 rainy days
11 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Fair

15° (feels like 10°) · extremes -2°–21°
4° at night
5 rainy days
15 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Good

18° (feels like 14°) · extremes 1°–25°
6° at night
7 rainy days
16 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Great

22° (feels like 18°) · extremes 4°–29°
8° at night
8 rainy days
17 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Great

26° (feels like 23°) · extremes 7°–33°
12° at night
9 rainy days
19 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in June

Good

31° (feels like 29°) · extremes 11°–38°
16° at night
7 rainy days
21 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
UV index 8 · very high

Up to 6 days above 35°

Typical weather in July

Poor

34° (feels like 33°) · extremes 13°–41°
18° at night
4 rainy days
26 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
UV index 8 · very high

Up to 14 days above 35°

Typical weather in August

Poor

34° (feels like 33°) · extremes 14°–41°
19° at night
5 rainy days
24 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
UV index 7 · high

Up to 13 days above 35°

Typical weather in September

Great

29° (feels like 27°) · extremes 11°–35°
15° at night
6 rainy days
19 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Great

24° (feels like 21°) · extremes 6°–31°
12° at night
7 rainy days
16 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Good

17° (feels like 13°) · extremes 1°–23°
7° at night
7 rainy days
12 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Fair

13° (feels like 9°) · extremes -1°–19°
4° at night
6 rainy days
9 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Basilica of Our Lady of the PillarSee Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar for the church in Buenos AiresThe Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar is a Catholic church…

Aljafería PalaceThe Aljafería Palace is a fortified medieval palace built during the second half of the 11th century in the Taifa of Zaragoza in Al-Andalus…

La Seo CathedralThe Cathedral of the Savior or La Seo de Zaragoza is a Catholic cathedral in Zaragoza, in Aragon, Spain.

Stone BridgeThe Puente de Piedra is a bridge across the river Ebro in Zaragoza, Spain.

El TuboThis narrow street is the main area for tapas in the city. The tapas here are the traditional, and also said to be the best ones in Zaragoza!

Roman Walls of ZaragozaOne of the main sights in Zaragoza. The wall, built between the 1st and the 3d century AD, is 3,000 m-long and has about 120 defensive…

Zaragoza Central MarketThe best place to buy food of the highest quality. Choose from an assortment of fresh fruit, vegetables and meat!

Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar is the city's best-known landmark, with eleven domes and four towers beside the Ebro. Inside are paintings by Goya.
Palacio de la Aljafería is an Islamic palace from the 11th century. Christian kings added to it later, and today it houses the regional parliament.
Catedral del Salvador is the city's cathedral, known as La Seo. It mixes Romanesque, Gothic, Mudéjar and Baroque styles.
Puente de Piedra is the old stone bridge over the Ebro. It gives a good view of the Pilar and La Seo.
Murallas de Zaragoza are the remains of the Roman walls of the city.
Mercado Central is a market hall from the early 20th century with an iron and glass structure.
El Tubo is the old network of narrow streets known for tapas bars.

Featured Lists

Ivanhercaz / CC BY-SA 4.0

Zaragoza City Essentials

Zaragoza showcases a chronological journey from the 1st-century Roman Theatre and Caesar Augusta Forum to the Mudéjar-influenced La Seo Cathedral. The city’s landmark is the baroque Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, situated on the vast Plaza del Pilar alongside the Renaissance Lonja and the 15th-century Stone Bridge. Art enthusiasts can study Goya’s works at the Ibercaja Museum, while the Expo 2008 site offers contemporary architecture and Europe’s largest river aquarium. For local gastronomy, the historic alleys of El Tubo serve as the city’s primary hub for traditional Aragonese tapas.

12 places

Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / CC BY-SA 4.0

Museums of Zaragoza

Zaragoza’s museums center on the Caesaraugusta Route, featuring excavated ruins of the 1st-century Roman theater, forum, public baths, and river port. The Museo Goya houses an extensive collection of the artist’s engravings, while the Tapestry Museum in La Seo Cathedral displays rare 15th-century Flemish masterpieces. Specialized collections include the world-renowned Origami Museum, the Museum of Fire and Firefighters, and the Renaissance-era Lonja, which serves as a premier exhibition space.

13 places

Jiuguang Wang / CC BY-SA 3.0 es

Historic Churches & Cathedrals

Zaragoza’s religious landscape is defined by the coexistence of two cathedrals: the Baroque Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and the Mudéjar-influenced La Seo. The city’s historic center preserves several 14th-century churches, such as Santa María Magdalena and San Miguel de los Navarros, which showcase intricate Mudéjar brickwork and bell towers. Later additions, including the 18th-century Iglesia de San Felipe and the gilded San Carlos Borromeo, highlight the city’s transition into Baroque and Neoclassical styles.

10 places

Juanedc / CC BY 2.0

Historic Sites & Landmarks

Zaragoza’s architectural landscape spans two millennia, from the 1st-century Roman Theatre to the futuristic structures of the Expo 2008 site. This collection features the 15th-century Stone Bridge across the Ebro River and the ornate Art Nouveau Casa Solans. Modern landmarks include Zaha Hadid’s Bridge Pavilion and Jaume Plensa’s "Alma del Ebro" sculpture. The list also includes the central Plaza of Our Lady of the Pillar, home to the monument honoring Francisco de Goya, the city's most famous artistic son.

8 places

Parks and Gardens

Zaragoza’s urban landscape features diverse green spaces, notably the 120-hectare Luis Buñuel Water Park created for the Expo 2008. This expansive area includes specialized botanical collections and a Zen garden designed for meditation. In the Actur district, the Parque de los Caprichos and Parque de los Tapices pay homage to the artistic legacy of Francisco de Goya through themed landscaping. These sites provide a combination of ecological preservation, recreational facilities, and cultural tributes across the city.

6 places

What to experience

Join the tapas route in El Tubo. Order a small plate and a drink in one bar, then move on to the next.
Walk along the Ebro at sunset for views of the Pilar and the Stone Bridge.

Tours & Activities

Zaragoza — Map

Zaragoza — Printable Tourist Map Open the interactive map

Day trips

Belchite (about 50 km, 45 minutes by car): the ruins of a village destroyed in the civil war.
Huesca (about 70 km, 1 hour by train or bus): a small city at the foot of the Pyrenees.
Tarazona (about 85 km, 1 hour by car or bus): a town known for its Mudéjar buildings.
Monasterio de Piedra (about 120 km, 1.5 hours by car): a park with waterfalls around a monastery.

Where to explore

Other places in Aragon:

Huesca and Tarazona are nearby historic towns.
Benasque is a mountain village in the Pyrenees for hiking and skiing.

Getting there

By air: Zaragoza airport (ZAZ) has limited service. Most visitors arrive by train.
By train: High-speed trains reach Zaragoza-Delicias from Madrid in about 1.5 hours, and from Barcelona in about 1.5 hours. Book on Renfe.
By bus: Buses link Zaragoza with Madrid, Barcelona and other cities.
Delicias station is about 3 km from the old town. Use a city bus or taxi.

Getting around

On foot: The old town is flat, and most main sights are close together.
Tram: A tram line crosses the city and stops near the Plaza del Pilar.
Cycling: The city is flat, and there is a public bike-share system called Bizi.

Driving

Is a car worth it?: Not for the city. A car helps for day trips outside the city.
Parking: Use a car park near the edge of the old town.
Restrictions: Parts of the old town are closed to normal traffic.

Food & drink

Aragon is known for ternasco, roast young lamb, and for borrajas, a green vegetable. Local sweets include frutas de Aragón, candied fruit covered in chocolate. Red wine from nearby Cariñena is common.

For tapas, go to El Tubo, the narrow streets near the Plaza del Pilar. The Mercado Central is good for a quick lunch.

Breakfast

Churros Churros con ChocolateFried dough sticks served with a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping — a classic Spanish breakfast or late-night snack.

Lunch

Paella ValencianaA saffron-scented rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The traditional Valencian version uses chicken, rabbit, and green beans — best eaten at midday.

GazpachoA cold, blended soup of raw tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, originally from Andalusia. Served as a drink or a starter, especially in summer.

Dinner

Pulpo a la GallegaBoiled octopus sliced onto a wooden board and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt, and smoked paprika — a signature dish of Galicia.

Snacks & street food

Jamón IbéricoDry-cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, sliced paper-thin and eaten on its own or with bread. The finest grade, jamón ibérico de bellota, is one of Spain's most prized products.

Tortilla EspañolaA thick potato and egg omelette, served warm or at room temperature, found in virtually every bar in Spain. Often eaten as a tapa or a quick meal.

Patatas BravasFried potato chunks served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli — one of the most common tapas across the country.

PintxosSmall snacks anchored to slices of bread with a toothpick, the Basque Country's answer to tapas. Found in bar counters across San Sebastián and Bilbao, often with elaborate toppings.

CroquetasCrispy breaded cylinders with a creamy béchamel filling, typically made with jamón, bacalà (salt cod), or mushrooms.

Drinks

Rioja Wine Vino de RiojaSpain's best-known wine region produces full-bodied reds from Tempranillo grapes, aged in oak. The crianza, reserva, and gran reserva labels indicate increasing age and complexity.

Safety & health

Zaragoza is a safe city. Keep your bag closed in crowded streets such as El Tubo at night.

In summer, the heat is strong. Drink water and avoid the hottest hours.

History

The Romans founded the city as Caesaraugusta around 14 BC. Parts of the Murallas de Zaragoza still stand.

The Moors held the city from the 8th century. In the 11th century they built Palacio de la Aljafería. King Alfonso I of Aragon took the city in 1118 and made it his capital. The Pilar basilica, Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, was built much later, from the 17th century.