Where to Stay in Ávila – A Guide to Castile’s Best-Preserved Walled City
Ávila is a walled city located in the autonomous community of Castile and León in north-central Spain. It is famous for its impressive medieval architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In this post, we’ll discover the best areas to stay in Ávila, Spain.
Why visit Ávila
With a history dating back to the 11th century, Ávila is undoubtedly one of Spain’s most interesting medieval cities. Founded as a military stronghold to defend the Christian kingdoms from the advance of the Moors, Ávila is the birthplace of Santa Teresa and the resting place of Fray Tomás de Torquemada, the creator of the infamous Spanish Holy Inquisition.
Ávila has managed to preserve its medieval essence despite the passing of the centuries and the unstoppable advance of modernity. Its cathedral, which mixes Romanesque and Gothic elements, and its evocative historic city centre, characterised by narrow cobbled streets and century-old palaces, seem suspended in time. The most impressive tourist attraction in Ávila is undoubtedly its imposing and well-preserved defensive walls. With 82 semicircular towers and nine gates, Avila’s fortifications are the most complete in Spain. See accommodation in Avila’s Walled City.
Other tourist attractions in Ávila, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, include the Romanesque churches of San Vicente, San Pedro and San Segundo. Additionally, the city has several monuments related to the life and work of Santa Teresa, including the Convent of Santa Teresa de Jesús, the Museum of Santa Teresa and the Mirador de Los Cuatro Postes.
What’s the best time to visit Ávila
Due to its inland location and high altitude (1,300 m.a.s.l.), Ávila has a temperate Mediterranean climate. The city experiences four seasons marked by a great thermal amplitude between summer and winter. Summers are scorching and dry, with average temperatures ranging between 13 and 29 ºC. On the other hand, winters are cold with occasional snowfalls. Temperatures in January usually range between -2 and 7 °C. Due to its very hot summers and freezing winters, the best times to visit Ávila are spring and fall (March to June and September to December).
Getting there & moving around
Ávila does not have a commercial airport. To get to the city by air, the best option is to fly to Madrid-Barajas Airport and then take the train to Ávila. Madrid-Barajas is located 120 kilometres southeast of Ávila. This major international airport is the busiest in Spain. It offers a wide range of domestic and European connections and frequent nonstop flights to Latin America, the United States, Canada, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Madrid-Barajas airport is the main hub for several airlines, including Iberia and Air Europa.
Ávila is very well-connected by train. Ávila station is located 1.2 km east of the city centre and offers frequent regional services to Madrid-Chamartín and almost all Castile and León. Additionally, some Intercity trains connect the city to Galicia, the Basque Country and the French border. See train schedules, routes & rates.
The best way to get around the city, especially in the Old Town, is on foot. The Historic City Centre is semi-pedestrianized. Ávila also has bus routes, taxi services and mobile applications such as Uber. To discover the natural wonders of the surroundings of Ávila, the most recommended option is to rent a car.
Where to stay in Ávila
The best area to stay in Ávila is its Walled City Centre. Avila’s Old Town is a charming area home to the main historical and cultural attractions, nightlife venues, excellent restaurants, and some of the best hotels in the city. See accommodation in Ávila’s Walled City.
Other excellent neighbourhoods to consider when choosing the best location for tourists in Ávila are around the train station and Lienzo Norte Congress Centre.
Keep reading to learn more about the best areas to stay in Ávila, Spain.
The Best Areas to Stay in Ávila, Spain
1. Recommended area: Centro Histórico (Ávila’s Walled City)
Staying in the Old Town of Ávila allows travellers to enjoy the city’s medieval atmosphere and learn about Spanish history through its impressive sites.
The main attractions within this area include the famous Walls of Ávila. A true city icon, here you can enjoy panoramic views by day and by night.
There are lots of restaurants and accommodation options in this area, making it a popular district for tourists and locals.
In addition, in the Old Town, you can visit the Route of the Palaces and the Romanesque-style churches like the Church of San Pedro or that of San Vicente.
The Walls of Ávila Wall, perfectly preserved, have 9 medieval gates such as San Vicente or Mercado Grande to access the city.
The Old Town has good connections to other areas of Ávila through public transport, with different bus stops at most of its attractions.
The Old Town is definitely the area to stay in Ávila; the area is also home to many hotels and is the best place to enjoy the city’s festivals and celebrations.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Ávila:
- Walls of Ávila
- City centre
- Unesco World Heritage Site
- Ávila Cathedral
- Variety of hotels
- Nightlife and gastronomy
Accommodation in this area
-
Top Choice
Palacio Valderrabanos
This medieval-style hotel is housed in a 14th-century palace, next to Ávila Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers elegant rooms and free Wi-Fi.
-
Budget
La Sandalia Hostel
La Sandalia is located in Ávila, 200 meters from Lienzo Norte Conference Center. It offers a shared lounge, sun terrace and shared kitchen with free coffee and tea. The Santa Teresa Convent is 400 metres away.
-
Luxury
Parador de Ávila
This Parador occupies a beautifully restored 16th century palace surrounded by gardens, located in the old part of the city. Visit their excellent restaurant. Discover the grandeur of this elegant palace with high ceilings and granite floors.
2. Around Ávila’s Train Station
Ávila’s RENFE station offers regional and long distance rail services.
The main railway hub in the city is located less than a kilometer from the Old Town.
The area around the Renfe Station has some cheap accommodation, including guest houses and budget hotels.
This area is also home to shops, restaurants and cafés.
Ávila’s RENFE Station has car rental offices, a tourist information center, a bookstore and a parking area.
During the night, this area comes to life thanks to the many restaurants and bars with terraces.
The area near RENFE Station is recommended as the best area to stay for visitor travelling arouns Spain by train.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Ávila:
- RENFE station
- Quiet area
- Connections to Madrid and the rest of Spain
3. Around Lienzo Norte Congress Centre
The Lienzo Norte Congress Centre is located in front of the Walls of Ávila.
Lienzo Norte is a multi-purpose complex built to host fairs, congresses, events, concerts and recitals.
Attractions around this congress centre include the Mirador Ávila, the Puerta de la Adaja and the Post-medieval Hornos.
The area near the Lienzo Norte Congress Center is a great area to stay in Ávila for business travellers.
This area is also recommended for visitors travelling by car, as it is one of the few areas near the city centre with parking spaces for visitors.
The Congress Centre area is also well-connected to other districts through public transport and taxis.
In addition to historic sites and impressive architecture such as churches and convents, the area near the Congress Center has many restaurants and shops.
The area around Lienzo Norte Congress Centre is home to business-style modern hotels.
Por qué es una zona recomendada donde dormir en Ávila:
- Best area for business travellers
- Lienzo Norte Congress Centre
- Cultural events
Read this in other languages
|ES| Las mejores zonas donde alojarse en Ávila, España.
