Cuenca

Summer activities

Experience Cuenca and/or the Enchanted City with an expert local guide on this full-day tour. We leave the center of Madrid in the direction of Cuenca. We will make a brief stop along the way to go to the toilet or have breakfast. The tour has two options depending on the day of the week: Enchanted City Option: On the way to the Enchanted City we will stop at the Devil's Window, a well-known viewpoint with amazing views. We will complete a guided walk through the Enchanted City, a place where erosion has generated magical figures in the limestone rock. We will go to the city of Cuenca to stop for lunch in the Barrio del Castillo. We will descend on foot with our guide to visit the most emblematic corners and numerous monuments of the medieval center of the city. Finally we will arrive at the San Pablo Bridge, from where we will admire the Hanging Houses and say goodbye to this magical city. In this tour option we do not visit the cathedral. You can do it on your own in free time for lunch Cathedral option: Upon arriving in Cuenca we will take our bus along the beautiful panoramic road to the Castillo neighborhood located in the highest area of the Medieval neighborhood. From there we will take a guided tour visiting the most picturesque corners of the historic neighborhood to the majestic cathedral of Cuenca. After visiting the cathedral we will have time to have lunch on our own in the Plaza Mayor. After lunch we will visit other areas of the Medieval Barium, and we will enter the historic Museum of Abstract Art located inside the Hanging Houses. We will end the tour by crossing the vertiginous San Pablo Bridge, which leads us to the Convent of San Pablo. After visiting the convent, we will return to Madrid. In this tour option we do not visit the Enchanted City.

Take a tour of Cuenca and experience its historic sites and stunning location with a Spanish-speaking guide. Perched on a natural rock, whose slopes descend into deep gorges of the Júcar and Huécar rivers, the city is often referred to as the "Eagle's Nest" and the old town is a great example of unbelievable architecture. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, Cuenca is an undiscovered gem of Spain, full of dramatic "Hanging Houses" and splendid ecclesiastical architecture. Take a stroll through the old town and discover the secrets of the main monuments. Travel back in time along the narrow streets and marvel at the hanging buildings. Get an insight into the local lifestyle and history along the way. Then, get the chance to look inside the 12th-century cathedral, ENTRANCE FEE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE. It was built between 1182 and 1270 in the Gothic style, and altered several times during the Renaissance and 18th century. (6 people minimum required to add extra time in the Cathedral)

Discover the UNESCO World-Heritage listed city of Cuenca in one day with the tourist train stopping at the city’s most important monuments. Head out on a route that totals approximately 45 minutes. Take a ride on the tourist train leaving from Plaza Mayor (the main square), before making its way to historic sites such as the San Julián Park, the Gothic-style Cuenca Cathedral and the famous Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses) on the banks of the Huecar River. You will also have the chance of visit the castle quarter. Enrich your visit with an audioguide providing explanations of the legends surrounding Cuenca’s landmarks. Listen through free headphones to the guide available in 5 languages: Spanish, French, English, German and Italian.

Gasp at the storybook landscapes of Cuenca, located in between two gorges, which create unique sceneries. Enjoy an evening stroll through the steep medieval streets on a walking trip with a professional guide and get to know all the historic landmarks of the city. Discover one of the most beautiful Spanish old towns and see the original fortress, built between two limestone canyons dug by the Huecar and Júcar rivers. Admire the facade of the first Gothic-style cathedral built in Spain and walk inside to take in the ornate decorations. Watch the characteristic 'hanging houses' light up at night, creating a mystical cityscape. Learn about their unique suspended structure, dating back to the 14th century.

We meet at the indicated site at 10:50. Get ready for a charming tour of the Ventano del Diablo, the Enchanted City and the Medieval Quarter of Cuenca. Marvel at the flight of vultures at the Devil's Window before experiencing the whimsical nature of the Enchanted City. End the day with a magnificent walking tour of the old city of Cuenca. The first stop will be at the Ventano del Diablo viewpoint, with spectacular views over the Júcar Canyon. Observe vultures or Egyptian vultures, among other birds, that fly over the heights. The next stop will be in the Enchanted City, the Enchanted City, where the wonders of the Cuenca environment await you. The Júcar river runs between Uña and Villalba de la Sierra, forming a huge and impressive canyon. Here, at almost 1,500 m above sea level, nature has created a capricious land that always fills the traveler with wonder. The Enchanted City was declared a Natural Area of National Interest in 1929. It is currently included within the limits of the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park (PNSC) and declared a priority protection zone. Numerous filmmakers have found inspiration in this impressive cinematic setting. The Enchanted City has become a cinematic landscape in which renowned artists such as Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Oliver Stone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have performed. Marvel at the karstic landforms that have created fantastic shapes in the rocks. These geological phenomena are rock formations carved by ice and wind. Vestiges from millions of years ago are hidden under the water. The trails invite you to walk through the unique rock forms of the land that seem to resemble human figures, objects and animals. The tour will end in a place other than the meeting point. It will end in the Castle District. If you wish, you can continue the tour after lunch with a walking tour of the Medieval Quarter of Cuenca.

Lose yourself in the ancient streets of Cuenca on a full-day guided trip from Madrid. Marvel at the colorful hanging houses, step inside the stunning Cuenca Cathedral, and enjoy free time to explore at your own pace. Start your day at Plaza del Conde in the morning and board your tour bus. Take in the scenery as you ride into the Castilla La Mancha region. Make a stop at a wine cellar for a short break before continuing to Cuenca. Upon arrival in Cuenca, embark on a guided visit to the cathedral and clerestory. Continue to the colorful Hanging Houses and Museum of Abstract Art. Learn about the sights with commentary provided by your guide. Next, enjoy free time to explore the city on your own. Then, rejoin the group and take a panoramic tour along the Huécar River that will lead you under the cliffs and up to the highest part of the city, El Barrio del Castillo. Descend on foot, exploring the most beautiful corners and monuments of the city's medieval quarter, before arriving at the Parador, where the bus will be waiting for you. Sit back and relax on a smooth return transfer to Madrid in the evening.

Explore the remarkably intact townscape of Cuenca on a night-time walking tour. See the medieval buildings of Plaza Mayor stacked on 2 deep river gorges. Walk through narrow winding streets and cross the San Pablo bridge to admire tall houses with wooden balconies hanging over the sheer cliffs.  Follow your guide through a network of cobbled streets while listening to the history and legends of this medieval fortress town. Enjoy the impressive views of the Júcar and Huécar gorges, passing by the most emblematic corners of Cuenca's old town. Arrive at Plaza Mayor to look at the two most iconic monuments in the town – the arcaded Town Hall and the Cuenca Cathedral. Marvel at the old-looking facade rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1902 with a magnificent Renaissance doorway.  Finally, head to the San Pablo bridge area. Get on this iron and wood footbridge that crosses the Huécar River to get the best views of the hanging houses of Cuenca – an emblem of the town – that look even more stunning at night in the floodlights.

Explore the medieval city of Cuenca and the Huécar and Júcar Gorges on a guided tour. Discover the medieval streets of this UNESCO World Heritage city and its historic cathedral. Transition from city to nature and make your way to San Pablo Bridge for views of the gorges. Start your tour by making a 2-hour descent from the upper part of the historic center of the fortified town of Cuenca. As you make your way through the maze of streets, listen to your guide's tales of the medieval town. Upon arrival at the Plaza Mayor, see the Cathedral of Santa María and San Julián. This cathedral is the fifth largest in Spain and is considered a national "laboratory" of Gothic architecture. Walk across the San Pablo Bridge, an iron walkway that crosses the Huécar River Gorge. Enjoy views of the hanging houses of Cuenca, an example of Cuenca architecture and an emblem of the city, to end your tour.

IMPORTANT: * From February 27th to April 21st 2024: - Mornings from 10h00 to 14h00 - Afternoons from 16h00 to 19h00 - Mondays CLOSED - Except Monday 25th March and 1st April (open as usual). - Special Easter Week opening hours (from 28th to 31st March April) - from 10h00 to 14h00 and 16h00 to 20h00. * From 23 April to 22 September 2024: - Mornings from 10h00 to 14h00. - Afternoons from 16h30 to 20h30. - Mondays: CLOSED - except all Mondays in August (OPEN from 10h00 to 14h30 and from 16h30 to 20h30). - Closed in the AFTERNOON (open only in the mornings): 22 and 29 June / 13 and 20 July. *From 24 September 2024 to 6 January 2025: Mornings from 10h00 to 14h00 Afternoons from 15h30 to 18h30 - Mondays CLOSED. - CLOSED December 25th 2024 and January 1st 2025. - CLOSED in the AFTERNOON (from 15h30 to 18h30): December 24th. *From January 7th to March 4th 2025: - Tuesday to Friday: Mornings from 11h00 to 14h00 Afternoons CLOSED - Weekends: Mornings from 10h00 to 14h00 Afternoons from 15h30 to 18h30 - Mondays CLOSED Last ticket sale 45 minutes before closing time Recommended visit: Castle 1h00-1h30 (fast 45min) and Trebuchet Park 45min-1h00 (fast 30min). If you have any doubts, please contact with the monument. -> Download the audio guide here: https://www.audioguiame.com/aplicacion-castillos-y-palacios-de-espana/ This tour provides access to all spaces that can be visited within the Castle: • Walled Enclosure and Parade Ground: After going through the drawbridge entry at the field gate, we continue through the battle ground and reach the pentagonal parade ground. Enjoy the neo-Gothic restoration of the two pavilions within the parade ground and the water well, visit the reception hall with a large-screen tour Introduction Film (12 min) to the castle and its most popular personalities, then continue through the armoury with 15th-century armour replicas and dungeons below ground. • The Rooms: Discover both the medieval palace and the Empress, Eugenia de Montijo, residence, The Ambassador Hall of Mudejar fabric, the latrine and the balcony facing the parade ground. The lovely Gothic Mudejar coffered ceilings and the medieval bestiary are remarkable. • The Ramparts: Explore the ramparts amidst battlements and enjoy the sightseeing from any of the 6 accessible towers.

We will begin our trip from your hotel in Madrid at the agreed time, heading towards the fascinating Don Quixote Route, where we will discover the charms of La Mancha, the largest wine-producing region in Spain. La Mancha, the largest vineyard in the world, will surprise you with its vast sea of vineyards. This region is known not only for its extensive vineyards, but also for the high quality of its grapes. Our first stop will be in the hometown of Dulcinea, the lover of Don Quixote of La Mancha. We will visit the Campos de Dulcinea Winery, a family winery where you will have the opportunity to learn about the process of making unique wines with their own personality. Here you can taste some of the best wines in the region and learn about La Mancha wine culture. We will follow the steps of the Hidalgo to the quixotic town of Mota del Cuervo, where its imposing mills will welcome us. Seven giants stand on the Balcony of La Mancha: El Zurdo, El Cervantes, El Piqueras, El Gigante, El Goethe, El Iraq and Franz Grillparzer. We will tour inside the mill dedicated to Grinding, discovering the history and functioning of these emblematic structures. After visiting the mills, we continue towards Belmonte, where we will first enjoy lunch. We will continue with a guided tour of Belmonte, walking through the streets of this gentleman's town. We will visit the Juan Pacheco Castle, one of the best examples of palatial residences from the 15th century. Built by the Marquis Pacheco and renovated in the 19th century by the French Empress Eugenia de Montijo, the castle today houses an impressive interpretation center of the history of the building. We will also visit the Collegiate Church of San Bartolomé, from the late Gothic period, which houses the first carved choir stalls in the entire Iberian Peninsula. We will not forget the birthplace of Fray Luis de León, one of the most illustrious characters in Belmonte. Finally, we will return to Madrid, completing a day full of history, culture and exquisite flavors. We will drop you off at your hotel, concluding a day full of discoveries and unforgettable experiences.