A short train ride separates the beautiful city of Valladolid from the Spanish capital. This hidden gem that is the de facto capital of the Castile and León region is a city rich in history, culture, and art.
As the 20th-largest city in the country, it’s usually overlooked by people arriving in Madrid and rushing to the coastal regions looking for the beach.
That said, those who take the time to stop off in Valladolid are often surprised by how much there is to see and do in the region despite the metropolitan area’s population of only 400,000 — similar to Victoria, BC.
Here are 11 things to do in Valladolid, Spain.
1. Iglesia de San Pablo
La Iglesia de San Pablo is a beautiful Catholic church with intricately carved facades. Depicting the royal coat of arms, animals, and religious scenes, this impressive design was completed in 1500 in a Plateresque or “Isabelline Gothic” architectural style — a transition between Gothic and Renaissance art — that developed particularly in Spain between the end of the 15th and the end of the 16th centuries.
Step inside and find beautiful artwork, bronze sculptures, and incredibly detailed tile paintings. The church is still in use as a religious building, so services may postpone your visit, but San Pablo’s beauty is worth the wait.
2. Pasaje Gutiérrez
As Valladolid grew and became a major industrial hub in the 19th century, several covered galleries were built with shops and restaurants, creating little corners and secret nooks for the rich to gather and enjoy themselves. Pasaje Gutiérrez is one of these covered alleyways.
In fact, Pasaje Gutiérrez is 1 of only 3 of this style of gallery left in Spain. With beautiful architecture, stunning frescos, and thoughtful lighting, it’s like taking a stroll back to the Belle Époque of Spain. The beautiful glass and metal dome is a reminder of the city’s wealthy past.
Sit back in a little cafe and watch others do some luxury shopping. The gallery is open late, with traditional bars serving drinks and playing music. If it’s raining, the gallery is super busy.
3. Palacio de Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Palace, finished in 1491, is thought to be one the oldest surviving buildings from the Spanish Renaissance.
Previously a college and now part of the university, the Palace is a museum and gallery with art exhibits and displays. Touring the museum and galleries takes several hours, allowing even more time to appreciate the building itself.
The stunning design is one of the only Renaissance designs of this style outside of Italy. The building itself is a work of art, with ornate arches and windows, an impressively carved courtyard, towers, pillars, and decorated facades, and the best thing is that it’s free to visit.
4. Campo Grande
Campo Grande is Valladolid’s largest park. It’s a great place to sit and relax, enjoy a picnic, read a book, or wander down meandering paths admiring the plants.
Aside from its size, birds are what sets this park apart and earn Campo Grande its spot on this list. Wild peacocks roam freely around the park, shaking their majestic tails and calling for each other. There is also a pheasant sanctuary, an aviary, and a dovecot.
You can also admire many statues, including the Columbus Monument, as the famous explorer died in the city.
With several fountains and even a waterfall, it’s a calm and relaxing retreat in the middle of the busy city.
5. Plaza Mayor
Dating back to the 1300s and reconstructed after the fire in the 1500s, Valladolid’s Plaza Mayor is the oldest and one of the largest and most impressive “Plazas Mayores” in Spain. So much so that it was used as a template for the ones in Madrid and Salamanca.
Lined with tapas bars and restaurants, this vast square is the perfect place to admire the impressive architecture and meet for a drink. Nearby shops and important government buildings mean the square is always busy with locals and visitors.
It’s a vibrant, bustling part of the city that brings the past and present together. It’s ideal to visit in the afternoon or in the early evening to enjoy the sunset with some local wine from a bar on the square.
The buildings that front the square are all exceptional, but the red brick town hall is the most majestic. Many parties, festivals, and celebrations happen in front of the town hall, so don’t be surprised to hear music and see street performers.
6. Casa de Cervantes
Remember Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the author of the famous Don Quixote? Well, he lived in Valladolid, and yes, you can visit his house, Casa de Cervantes.
Cervantes moved to the city following King Felipe III’s court in 1603. The house, built for the author, has been preserved to show what life was like for a wealthy gentleman of the court at that time.
Tour the house and gardens, look for educational plays, music, and performances, and visit various exhibits to learn about the Royal court, 17th-century customs, and Cervantes’ life. It’s a close and personal glimpse into what Valladolid was like at the time as well as a good chance to learn some literary and cultural information.
Allow at least an hour to enjoy the Casa de Cervantes properly. Entrance is free.
7. Castillo de La Mota
Dating back to the 1400s, the Castillo de La Mota, or Castle of La Mota, is one of Spain’s most beautiful castles. Built from brick instead of stone, it has lasted well throughout the centuries and it’s breathtaking to walk around. The castle is a national monument and a cultural site, so it’s well-protected and preserved.
It’s located in Medina del Campo, a medieval town around 40 minutes south of Valladolid. It’s the perfect day trip and it’s easily accessible by car (rental cars are C$70 per day in Valladolid) or by train for just C$10.
You can tour the castle and see the places where it was damaged by artillery before they even had gunpowder! Explore the fortified walls, dungeon, prison cells, moat, courtyard, and tower. Spend a full day in the castle and nearby village, which offers several other medieval sites, including a church, royal palace, and city walls.
If you like shopping, make sure you allow time for it as the village is also great for buying souvenirs from local artisans using traditional methods.
8. Museo Nacional de Escultura
Originally a college built for Dominican Monks, this beautiful building is now the National Museum of Sculptures. With pieces dating back to medieval times and as recent as the 19th century, this museum is one of the most impressive in Valladolid.
The collection includes stone carvings, wooden figurines, religious imagery, marble busts, larger pieces such as carved choir stalls, and a smaller collection of paintings. In addition to the permanent collection, there are temporary modern exhibits, performances, workshops, educational talks, and other displays.
It’s a fun way to spend a few hours. The standard entry fee is just €3, but there are plenty of free events and activities, so it’s worth looking online.
9. Skulls
These 2 are quite unusual: the Wamba Ossuary is not too far from the city, and the Museum of Anatomy is directly in the city.
The ossuary has 3,000 monk skulls, all of which are hundreds of years old (some are from the 12th century). The skulls and bones fill a church vault to the ceiling. That’s definitely not something you can see everywhere. It’s in a small town a half-hour from Valladolid.
The museum is actually just 2 rooms inside the University of Valladolid, and it contains very weird exhibits of body parts, including hundreds of skulls. In case you’re into that and want to stay in the city, this one is a lot more accessible.
10. Santa María La Antigua Church
The front facade of the church of Santa María La Antigua (Saint Mary the Ancient) is one of Valladolid’s most recognizable sites. The church, which dates back to the 11th century, is protected by Spanish Cultural Heritage.
The imposing bell tower is the highlight of the church and is famous all over Spain. It’s also one of the only original features. The church was added to, torn down, and rebuilt over the years, making an unusual and unique mismatch of architecture.
Built out of Castilian brick, it’s best viewed from the nearby Portugalete Square, preferably with a drink in hand.
11. Relaxation
If you want to relax after busy days of exploring the city, you can splurge on a nice hotel for at least a part of your stay. Trivago has plenty of accommodation options in Valladolid.
But the best option is a beautiful free hotel — and it’s easy to get! Our Flytrippers readers have earned over 3 million dollars in free travel with our travel rewards deals, so you should take advantage of them too (this hotel deal is a great one for beginners).
The AC Hotel Palacio de Santa Ana is a beautiful 5-star hotel built on the site of an 18th-century convent just outside of Valladolid.
It costs 5,700 Marriott points per night (28,500 for 5 nights). That’s just 2,850 points per person per night with a companion! It’s as cheap as Marriott hotels in Southeast Asia, which is incredible to see in Europe.
The current welcome bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card gives you 53,000 points (or 106,000 points if your companion takes advantage of it too).
The cash price is $740 ($148/night for 5 nights) so using points can give you great value — those particular dates give you almost 3 times our conservative Flytrippers Valuation! You can read how Marriott Bonvoy points work.
The hotel is one of the most luxurious and unique among the Marriott hotels that require very few points.
Its stunning indoor pool and Turkish bath are a great spot to chill if you want to spend a day at a slower pace while in Valladolid.
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Summary
These 11 things to do give you a good introduction to the capital of the Castile and León region in Spain. Valladolid is a great destination for those seeking an authentic Spanish medium-sized city experience. Compared to Madrid or Seville, you’ll see fewer crowds of visitors.
What would you like to know about what to do in Valladolid, Spain? Tell us in the comments below.
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Featured image: Plaza Zorrilla, Valladolid (photo credit: Andres Garcia)
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