CityCastilla y Leon462 km to Santiago de Compostela

Salamanca

A magnificent golden sandstone university city with the oldest university in Spain (founded 1218), the most beautiful Plaza Mayor in the country, and two cathedrals. A UNESCO World Heritage site.

View accommodation Plan your arrival Start my Camino here

About Where to stay Explore Things to do Find a bed

Previous Location

Miranda de Azán

Next Location

Aldeaseca de Armuña

Services available

RestaurantCafeGroceryPharmacyATMTrainPost OfficeAirportBusClinicWaterTobacconistAccommodationPilgrim Office

About Salamanca

Salamanca is one of Spain's most magnificent cities, its golden sandstone buildings glowing in the sunlight. The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. Finding the hidden frog carved on the Plateresque facade of the university is a beloved tradition.

The Plaza Mayor, widely considered the most beautiful in Spain, is a masterpiece of Spanish Baroque architecture. The city has two adjoining cathedrals (Old and New), the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), and the Convento de San Esteban.

Pilgrims will find every service. Salamanca has a vibrant student atmosphere, excellent tapas bars, and a lively nightlife. It is the most significant city on the Via de la Plata between Seville and Astorga, and a rest day is essential.

Where to stay

Beds in Salamanca, night by night

Every kind of bed in one place: online booking, direct-contact albergues, walk-ins and donativos. Live prices for your night.

September 27 to October 10Each night shows how many places you can book online and the lowest price. Select a night to see the detail.From

Swipe for more nights

Sunday, September 27Albergue dorms and private rooms both count. Walk-in and donativo albergues never sell out online: arrive early in the day instead.

Prices come live from our booking partners and change with demand. Walk-in and donativo albergues are not counted here: they are in the full list at the bottom of the page.

Explore

Explore Salamanca

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

Select a pin to highlight the property.

Things to do

Things to do in Salamanca

6 things

RelaxationSit in the Plaza MayorThe Plaza Mayor of Salamanca is widely considered the finest public square in Spain. The uniform Baroque arcades in golden sandstone, the medallion portraits in the arches, and the sheer scale and harmony of the space are breathtaking. In the evening, the square is lit with warm light and every cafe is full. Sit at a terrace, order a glass of wine, and watch the city pass by. This is the moment on the Via de la Plata when the cumulative beauty of the route reaches its peak.…

HistoryVisit the UniversityThe University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. The Plateresque facade of the main building is one of the most intricate pieces of carved stonework in Spain. The tradition is to find the hidden frog carved among the elaborate decoration (it is said to bring good luck to students). Inside, the lecture halls, the library, and the cloister are all open to visitors. The university is the soul of the city and the reason…

SightSee the Two CathedralsAs in Plasencia, Salamanca has two cathedrals joined together. The Catedral Vieja (12th century, Romanesque) and the Catedral Nueva (16th century, Gothic-Plateresque) share a wall. Both are magnificent. The Old Cathedral has a remarkable painted altarpiece. The New Cathedral has soaring vaults and a famous carved astronaut and dragon on its facade (added during a 1992 restoration). The Ieronimus exhibition allows access to the towers of the New Cathedral, with views over the…

SightCross the Roman BridgeThe Puente Romano across the Rio Tormes is the traditional entry to Salamanca from the south. Half of the bridge's arches are original Roman construction, the other half are medieval replacements. Walking across the bridge towards the city, with the cathedral towers and the golden skyline rising above, is one of the great approaches on any Camino route. The small Romanesque bull sculpture on the bridge features in the picaresque novel Lazarillo de Tormes.

FoodEat and Drink on the Rua MayorThe streets around the university and the Plaza Mayor are full of bars, restaurants, and cafes. The student culture means the prices are lower than you might expect for a city of this beauty. Try the hornazo (a meat-filled pastry that is a Salamanca speciality), the local jamon, the roast suckling pig, and the lentil stew. The nightlife in Salamanca is legendary, but even a quiet dinner on the Rua Mayor with a bottle of local wine is a memorable experience.

Camino MomentTake a Rest Day (or Two)Salamanca deserves at least one full rest day, and many pilgrims take two. The Plaza Mayor, the university, the cathedrals, the museums, the food, and the atmosphere all demand time. If you started in Sevilla, you have walked nearly 500 km. Your body needs rest and your spirit needs beauty. Salamanca provides both in abundance. Sleep in. Eat a long lunch. Walk the golden streets at sunset. You have earned this.

All accommodation

Places to stay in Salamanca

Our Koala Picks first, then donativos, albergues and hostels, hotels, and everything else. Within each group the best-reviewed places lead.

Prices for the night of

Loading places to stay…