Hotels in Valladolid

Valladolid’s Plaza Mayor has been the place where everything happens for centuries. Today it hosts the Book Fair, the International Street Theatre and Arts Festival and the city’s patron saint festivities, but there was already a market here in the 13th century. It would not become a regular square, the first of its kind in Spain, until the 16th century. After the fire of 1561 destroyed the city centre, Philip II ordered it to be rebuilt with an appearance very similar to the one it has today. It remains an essential meeting point for locals and visitors, with arcades lined with bars that make it an irresistible place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. 

Valladolid may be monumental and rich in heritage, but it is also a great city for shopping. See for yourself at Pasaje Gutiérrez, one of the few 19th-century shopping arcades still preserved in Spain. Culture lovers will find plenty to enjoy in the programme at Teatro Calderón or at the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci). If you’re looking for some fresh air, head for Campo Grande park, several thousand square metres of greenery where you’ll even find peacocks. As night falls, make your way to Plaza de San Miguel: you’ll want to raise a glass to your getaway. 

Valladolid cuisine is rooted in traditional Castilian cooking. One essential dish is wood-fired roast suckling lamb. In a land of cold winters, they certainly know their way around hearty stews. Their Castilian soup is a must. And don’t forget the patatas a la importancia or the stewed pigeon. When it comes to raising a glass, choose local wine: Ribera del Duero, Rueda or Cigales. At Mercado del Val, you can browse the stalls for seasonal, locally sourced produce used in many of these dishes; and in the area known as Plaza de la Coca, you can enjoy the always tempting art of going out for tapas. 

Valladolid has excellent transport connections that make travelling easy. Valladolid Airport is less than 15 minutes by car from the city centre, while its railway station offers AVE high-speed train connections to Madrid and other cities such as León and Burgos. By road, the nearby A-6 links the city with Madrid and Galicia, while the A-62 connects Valladolid with Salamanca and Burgos. Once you arrive, distances are manageable and our recommendation is to explore the city on foot. You won’t just be visiting Valladolid — you’ll be experiencing it.