Free walking tours in Huesca and what to see

Must-sees

Huesca has a small old town that is easy to explore. At the top is the Gothic cathedral of Santa María, with an elaborately carved doorway and an alabaster high altarpiece by Damián Forment. Opposite stands the Renaissance town hall. Very close, the Huesca Museum occupies the old university and part of the palace of the kings of Aragón, home to the hall of the Bell of Huesca.

Another key visit is San Pedro el Viejo, a Romanesque church with a cloister of very expressive capitals and the pantheon where Alfonso I the Battler and Ramiro II the Monk lie. For a rest, Miguel Servet park is large and central. Around the Coso, the street that rings the old town along the line of the old wall, are the shops and the life of the city.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours cover the old town in about two hours: the cathedral, the town hall, San Pedro el Viejo and the legend of the Bell of Huesca. You pay what you wish at the end. They are less frequent than in big cities, so book before you go.

The most interesting guided visits are in the province. Loarre castle, Romanesque and very well preserved, is close by. There are also trips to the Mallos de Riglos, the monastery of San Juan de la Peña, Alquézar and the Sierra de Guara. Ordesa and the Pyrenees are a little further, but fit into a long day.

How long to spend

One well-used day is enough for the city. If you have two or three, spend the rest in the province: a day for Loarre and the Mallos de Riglos and another for Alquézar or San Juan de la Peña. With more days, Huesca is a good gateway to the Aragonese Pyrenees and a base to set out from each morning.

Where to stay

The most practical area is the centre, between the Coso, Plaza de Navarra and Miguel Servet park. You are a few minutes from the old town with restaurants and shops close by. If you are driving for excursions, look for a place with parking or in the Ensanche, from where you get onto the provincial roads quickly.