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Late spring to early autumn is the best time, with warm days and cool evenings. Winters are long and cold, with frost and some snow, and the city is often grey.

The main festival is San Pedro y San Pablo in late June, with parades and street events. Holy Week is also marked.

• Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece with tall spires and a rich interior. It holds the tomb of El Cid.
• Museo de la Evolución Humana explains the finds of the nearby Atapuerca sites, which are among the oldest in Europe.
• Monasterio de Las Huelgas is a royal convent with fine Gothic and Moorish details.
• Cartuja de Miraflores is a Carthusian monastery outside the center, with a carved altarpiece.
• Arco de Santa María is a medieval gate on the river, next to the cathedral.
• Castillo de Burgos is a ruined castle on a hill, with views over the city.
• Iglesia de San Lesmes, Iglesia de San Gil, Iglesia de San Nicolás, Iglesia de San Esteban and Iglesia de San Lorenzo are churches in the old town.

• Walk the Camino de Santiago through the city, and look for the shell marks on the pavement.
• Climb to the castle for views of the cathedral spires.
• Take a guided visit to the Atapuerca sites.

• Atapuerca (about 15 km, 20 minutes by car): archaeological sites with guided visits. Book ahead.
• Santo Domingo de Silos (about 60 km, 1 hour by car): a Romanesque monastery known for its cloister.
• Palencia (about 90 km): a quiet provincial capital.
• León (about 180 km, 2 hours by car): a Gothic cathedral city.
• Valladolid (about 120 km, 1.5 hours): a university city.

Other places nearby:

• Old cities: Valladolid, Salamanca, Segovia and Ávila.
• Cathedral cities: León and Palencia.
• Wine: Ribera del Duero.

• By air: Burgos has little commercial air service. Use Bilbao, Valladolid or Madrid airports.
• By train: Trains run to Madrid, Valladolid, León and the Basque Country. Book on Renfe.
• By bus: Coaches serve Madrid, Bilbao and other cities in the north.

• On foot: The old town is compact and flat. The cathedral, the main squares and the river are all close together.
• Cycling: A riverside path runs through the city. Cycling is practical on the flat parts.
• Public transport: Buses reach the monasteries outside the center.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the old town. A car helps for Atapuerca and the villages.
• Parking: Use an underground car park at the edge of the center.
• Restrictions: Much of the old town is pedestrian only.

Burgos is known for hearty Castilian food. Morcilla de Burgos (rice blood sausage), roast lamb (lechazo) and fresh cheese are the best-known local foods.

Wines from the nearby Ribera del Duero are common in the restaurants.

Burgos is a very safe city. Winters can be very cold, and the roads can be icy, so pack warm clothes. Summer evenings are cool, so a jacket is useful.

Burgos was founded in 884 as a fortress and became the capital of Castile. The knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, lived here in the 11th century.

The cathedral was begun in 1221 and finished in the 15th century, and it was listed by UNESCO in 1984. The city later became a center of the wool trade and the Camino de Santiago.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: