You should travel to Salamanca, Spain
Salamanca is one of the most fascinating cities we’ve visited in Europe. Known for its ornate sandstone architecture and the historical University of Salamanca, this ancient city is one of Spain’s most beautiful.
If you plan to visit the Iberian Peninsula, you must add Salamanca to your travel plans.
Located in Northwestern Spain, about two hours east of the Portugal border, this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage City dates back to the pre-Ancient Rome period. It’s over two thousand years old!
We visited Salamanca while on a Portugal river cruise.
The ship docks in the town of Barca d’Alva (Portugal). We spent 2 nights here. This gives us one full day to explore the city of Salamanca.
We disembark the ship and take a private coach directly to the Old City of Salamanca. On the way, we stop for coffee and tapas in a small town in the Spanish countryside. I don’t recall the name.
As the coach approaches Salamanca, we are mesmerized by its towering cathedral and walled city. The drive through the Spanish countryside is mostly flat, so the city is quite noticeable from afar.
Salamanca instantly transports you back in time.
Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain
Known as the ‘living room’ of Salamanca, Plaza Mayor is one of the largest public squares in Spain. It’s located in the heart of the city. It’s one of the top tourist attractions in Salamanca.
Built in 1755, Plaza Mayor has some of the most impressive baroque-style architecture in Spain. We think it’s the most beautiful square in Western Europe. However, that’s a subjective statement worthy of debate.
The square is lined with restaurants, cafes and tourist shops.
It was a pleasant sunny day during our visit. Naturally, this means enjoying a bottle of Spanish red wine with a selection of tapas while under the shade of an umbrella.
Like most restaurants in tourist hot spots, we overpaid for our food and drinks. However, we did not mind. This was neither the time or place to be frugal.
Plaza Mayor has a fun atmosphere. It’s a great place to people watch and eat tasty tapas.
Endless rows of outdoor seating at Plaza Mayor.
Tapas and wine enjoyed at an outdoor restaurant in Plaza Mayor.
It’s easy to see why UNESCO declared the old city of Salamanca a World Heritage Site.
The New Cathedral of Salamanca towers over the old walled city.
Salamanca Central Market
The Central Market is another good option for food. It’s located near Plaza Mayor inside a historic 19th century building. You can pick up fresh seafood, produce and meats, or sample a variety of cured meats, fresh cheese, olives and wine.
It’s a nice alternative, if you’re not interested in dining at a Plaza Mayor restaurant.
Fresh seafood on display at the Salamanca Central Market.
Sampling a variety of cured meats, cheeses and olives inside the Central Market.
New Cathedral of Salamanca
The New Cathedral of Salamanca is one of the most impressive cathedrals we’ve visited. It’s incredible. It was constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries in both late Gothic and Baroque architecture styles. This style of architecture is called Plateresque, which is developed in Spain and its territories.
When we first stepped inside this massive cathedral we were left speechless. It’s absolutely stunning.
General entry to the cathedral is about 5 Euros. You can explore on your own or use an audio tour to learn about the cathedral’s history and religious artifacts.
Above – looking up at the impressive dome, said to be 80 meters in height.
The giant columns rise over 40 meters in height. The detailed stonework is remarkable.
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The Salamanca Cathedral is home to hundreds of religious paintings, statues and artifacts.
The façade of the Plateresque style cathedral and tower.
Exterior view of Salamanca Cathedral. It’s really big, making it difficult to capture in one frame.
The Old Cathedral of Salamanca
The Old Cathedral is actually attached to the New Cathedral. Building the cathedral began in the 12th century and completed in the 14th century. It is dedicated to Santa Maria de la Sede.
The old cathedral is accessible from the new cathedral. It’s not as big as the new cathedral but it is certainly worth visiting. The artwork on the walls is quite fascinating.
Above – the Apse inside the Old Cathedral of Salamanca.
The artwork on the walls in the old cathedral is hundreds of years old.
Casa de las Conchas
Built from 1493 to 1517, Casa de las Conches is another top tourist attraction in Salamanca. The unique facade, which blends late Gothic and Plateresque architecture style, has over 300 carved stone shells.
The shells symbolize the order of Santiago and the pilgrims who walk the celebrated Camino de Santiago.
Above is the Façade of Casa de las Conchas.
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest and most prestigious university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. It’s considered to be one of the most beautiful universities in the world.
We did not enter the university during our visit because we had limited time, but we’re told it’s worth seeing. The plateresque façade inside the University of Salamanca is the star attraction.
As you wander the streets of Salamanca, it’s clear that this is a university town. We witnessed several bachelor and bachelorette parties. We also visited during graduation season, so the streets with alive with celebration. It felt like a really fun place to go school.
How cool is this big purple door? Very impressive.
Can you spot the people in the tower above?
If you have the time, consider climbing to the top of Tower Clerecia (pictured above). The views from this vantage point are amazing. Sadly, we didn’t realize visitors were able to climb this tower until just before we had to depart Salamanca.
We recommend you include this on your sightseeing itinerary.
More photos of Salamanca Spain
We spent most of our time wandering the old streets of Salamanca. We must have taken 250+ photos during our visit. It’s such an interesting city.
Below are a few more photos that prove Salamanca should be included on your travel wish list.
Big red door. I believe this door leads to the Salamanca Cathedral.
The streets of Salamanca are filled with outdoor restaurants and cafes.
There was lots of student celebrations happening during our visit. It has a fun university atmosphere. I would have loved going to university here!
You will spend hours looking up at Salamanca’s stunning architecture.
Casa Lis, also known as the Museo Art Nouveau and Art Déco.
Every turn leads to more incredible architecture and statues.
Convento de San Esteban, a Dominican monastery in Plaza del Concilio de Trento.
More posts from Portugal and Spain:
- Thinking about a European River Cruise? Here’s what you need to know.
- 30 Photos of Porto that prove it should be on your travel list
- Lisbon totally exceeded our expectations! Find out why.
- Here’s what we did on our Portugal River Cruise with Viking
- 15 Reasons you should visit Portugal’s River of Gold
Did we convince you to travel to Salamanca?
Have you visited Salamanca? Share your tips in the comments section.
Gorgeous architecture and good food? I’m sold!
I can’t believe that I couldn’t visit it when I was in Spain. You did amazing pictures and Salamanca is for sure on my top bucket list.
I lived in Salamanca the summer of 1997 and you captured it so beautifully – just as I remember it. What a special place and what great photographs you took and shared!
I’ve been there last week for two days and it was amazing. I was able to visit almost everyhting you mentioned and I really want to go back someday. I enjoyed the food on different bars near the plaza Mayor but my favorite thing were the ice creams in Esencia Valenciana. I went 3 times in 2 days haha I highly recommend it! Despite the hot weather, it was a beautiful experience!
I was in Salamanca last October, 2022, with friends. It was a bus day trip from a Vking riverboat on the Duoro River. We loved our time in Salamanca and took many pictures just like you did. And now my friend is going to make a Shutterfly book about our trip. I wonder if you could help me with an identification of a statue across the street from the Marketplace. It was of a short woman standing behind a table and selling some sort of wares. The guide mentioned something about the statue which we didn’t hear or can’t remember. I have tried to look up the statues of Salamanca, but nothing is noted about that one. It would help so much if you could share anything that you know about it.
I so enjoyed all of your pictures, especially the architectural ones. We did not have enough time to take all the pictures we would have liked to take, but seeing yours made up for those we couldn’t see.
I hope to hear from you if you have some information to share. And if not, thank you for your time.
Gratefully,
Susan Keller, Minneapolis, MN
Salamanca truly comes alive through your writing! The way you’ve brought out the city’s blend of historic charm and vibrant culture makes it easy to see why it’s such a special destination. Your detailed tips and personal insights give a well-rounded view of what to explore, from the stunning architecture to the lively local spots. It’s clear that Salamanca has left a lasting impression on you, and your enthusiasm for the city is contagious. This guide is a delightful resource for anyone planning a visit!