Things to do in Cuenca
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Cuenca
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best overall, warm days, green Serranía and the Cuervo waterfalls in full flow after rain.
Good with a midday rule, hot on shadeless limestone, canyoning high season and the Cuervo may be dry.
Best for festivals, food and walking, with San Mateo in September and mushroom season in autumn.
Cold, quiet and atmospheric, with hard frosts, occasional snow and the lowest hotel rates outside holiday peaks.
What's on
- Semana Santa Holy Week, spring, dates vary by year
Silent torch lit processions climbing the spine, of International Tourist Interest, book months ahead.
- Semana de Música Religiosa During Holy Week, spring, dates vary by year
One of Spain's oldest classical festivals, held alongside Semana Santa since 1962.
- San Mateo around 18-21 September
Festival of the 1177 conquest with parades, concerts, fireworks and vaquillas in Plaza Mayor.
- Christmas lights and market on Plaza Mayor December
Christmas lights and market on Plaza Mayor in the cold, quiet winter season.
Best things to do in Cuenca
Casas Colgadas
Medieval houses with timber balconies cantilevered over the Huecar gorge, the defining image of Cuenca.
Puente de San Pablo
Iron footbridge about 60 metres above the Huecar gorge with the best view of the Hanging Houses.
Museo de Arte Abstracto Español
Major Spanish abstract art by Tapies, Chillida and Saura inside the Hanging Houses, with gorge views.
Catedral de Santa María y San Julián de Cuenca
Spain's first Gothic cathedral, begun in the late 12th century under Anglo-Norman influence.
Museo Tesoro Catedralicio
Cathedral treasure museum in the Episcopal Palace holding two El Grecos and fine goldsmith work.
Plaza Mayor de Cuenca
Baroque town hall arches and coloured houses framing the start of the old town spine walk.
Rascacielos del Huécar
Skyscraper houses with modest street fronts that drop ten plus storeys down the Huecar gorge side.
Torre de Mangana
Historic clock tower on the spine walk, a landmark to orient by in the old town.
Where to stay in Cuenca
Casco Antiguo - Plaza Mayor / Calle San Pedro / Alfonso VIII
first trip, all-round base
Sleep on the spine with the cathedral, Hanging Houses and best old town restaurants on your streets.
Across the Puente de San Pablo - San Pablo / Parador side
the view and for drivers
The full postcard panorama from your own terrace, plus pool and real parking, with a steep nightly climb to dinner.
Parte Baja - around Parque de San Julián / Carretería
value, flat access, longer stays
Flat streets, modern hotels with lifts and parking, and everyday restaurants a step cheaper than the old town.
Think twice about
- Fernando Zóbel station district
Several kilometres out in open country with nothing around it, so every coffee and sight needs a bus or taxi.
- Outer industrial estates and autovía-edge motels
Functional road stops only, with no walkable restaurants or evening life and a drive and park penalty.
- Serranía villages as a city base
Uña, Villalba and Valdecabras mean a 30 to 45 minute mountain road drive each way daily with no public transport.
Best restaurants in Cuenca
Restaurante Casas Colgadas
Jesus Segura's creative territory rooted tasting menus in rooms cantilevered over the gorge.
Restaurante Casa de la Sirena
More accessible sibling of the Casas Colgadas restaurant, in the hanging house of the same name.
Raff San Pedro
Updated traditional cuisine in a stone vaulted former stable, with set menus that are the value play.
Olea Comedor
Modern lower town dining room mixing fusion plates with local meats and warm bilingual service.
Figón del Huécar
Traditional gorge rim house with a terrace facing the bridge, serving roasts, morteruelo and game.
Taberna Albero
Neighbourhood taberna with careful local food, famed as the Sunday night dinner when much of Cuenca closes.
Romera Bistrót
Parte Baja bistro with Mediterranean European cooking and praised gluten free awareness.
Sala Cinco CB
Cafeteria bar whose cheek plates and daily specials reviewers call worthy of a far grander room.
Outdoor things to do in Cuenca
Ciudad Encantada
Limestone towers, arches and animal shapes on a signposted 3 km circular path through pine forest.
Ventano del Diablo
Natural rock window above the Jucar canyon where griffon vultures circle at eye level.
Nacimiento del Río Cuervo
Woodland walk to springs spilling over moss covered travertine terraces in a curtain of waterfalls.
Júcar Aventura
Wetsuited canyoning descents of the Jucar gorges with slides, swimmable pools and optional jumps.
GEAventura
City based operator for canyoning, climbing, caving and kayaking with kit and certified guiding.
Ruta El Escalerón y La Raya
9.7 km circuit of the Una lagoon climbing to the Escaleron viewpoint and back along the La Raya ledge.
Los Callejones de Las Majadas
Free 2 km maze between eroded limestone blocks, a family friendly mini Ciudad Encantada.
Piedra del Yunque
15 km circular walk from Villalba de la Sierra past the Ventano del Diablo for stronger walkers.
Best hotels in Cuenca
Parador de Cuenca
16th century convent across the bridge with pool, parking and a terrace facing the Hanging Houses.
Hotel Convento del Giraldo
17th century convent two minutes from the cathedral, the old town's best full service hotel.
Hotel Leonor de Aquitania
Dependable mid range stone mansion at the top of the spine with spa facilities and a cafeteria.
Posada de San José
17th century former monastery on the gorge rim with terrace and direct Huecar views.
Hospedería Seminario Conciliar de San Julián
Simple well kept rooms in the working diocesan seminary, quiet and favoured by walking groups.
NH Ciudad de Cuenca
Modern chain hotel with gym and parking, about 15 minutes walk from the centre.
Exe Cuenca
Modern value workhorse, regularly the cheapest respectable full hotel rate in the city.
Hotel Torremangana
Larger hotel below the old town with pool season and parking, trading atmosphere for space.
Is Cuenca expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €55 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €105 a person |
| Splurge | €210 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Cuenqueando: a few days ahead
- Júcar Aventura: a few days ahead
- GEAventura: a few days ahead
- Hoz de Priego: a few days ahead
- Uñaventura: a few days ahead
- Cuenca Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Parador de Cuenca: weeks ahead
- Hotel Convento del Giraldo: weeks ahead
- Book hotels weeks ahead for Semana Santa, San Mateo, Spanish holiday weekends and summer weekends.
- Book Restaurante Casas Colgadas as soon as dates exist and confirm its current format.
- Reserve Raff, Olea and the Figón terrace days ahead at weekends, and canyoning or via ferrata days ahead in season.
Is Cuenca safe?
- Cuenca is a very safe small city, the real risks are falls on steep wet cobbles and gorge edges.
- Leave nothing visible in cars at trailhead and viewpoint car parks.
- Emergency number 112.
Cuenca travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Madrid day trips combining Cuenca with Toledo, or squeezing Ciudad Encantada into four hours on the ground.
- Plaza Mayor terrace pricing, the same drink costs notably less one street behind the square.
- Expecting the Cuervo waterfalls in August after a dry summer.
- Visiting only on a Monday when most museums and many restaurants close.
Getting around Cuenca: public transport and more
- Walk the steep cobbled spine on foot in shoes with grip, every five minutes involves a slope.
- City buses link the station, lower town and old town approaches, and taxis are plentiful and cheap.
- Do not drive into the old town, use signed car parks at its edges such as the Castillo quarter.
Who Cuenca suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Cuenca your trip
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