Free walking tours in Teruel and what to see

Must-sees

Teruel is best understood through its Mudéjar architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The towers of San Martín and El Salvador, with their brickwork and green and white tiles, can be seen from almost any street. In the cathedral of Santa María de Mediavilla, look up at the painted wooden ceiling. Beside the church of San Pedro is the Mausoleum of the Lovers, where Isabel and Diego, the heroes of the city’s best-known legend, lie.

Plaza del Torico is the centre of daily life, with the little bull sculpture on its column and several Modernista buildings around it. From there you can walk down the neo-Mudéjar Escalinata, which links the old town with the station, and over to the Los Arcos aqueduct. If you are travelling with children, Dinópolis, the dinosaur park, is a few minutes from the centre and easily fills half a day.

Free tours and guided visits

Teruel’s free tours explore the historic centre on foot in about two hours, on a pay-what-you-wish basis. They usually pass the Mudéjar towers, Plaza del Torico and the cathedral, and spend much of the time telling the story of the Lovers. Among paid visits, the most interesting is the San Pedro complex, which includes the mausoleum, the church, the cloister and the climb up the tower. A guided trip to Albarracín, less than an hour’s drive away, is also worthwhile.

How long to spend

With a full day you can see the essentials of Teruel at an easy pace: the towers and cathedral in the morning, and San Pedro, the mausoleum and the Escalinata in the afternoon. If you have a weekend, spend the second day in Albarracín, with its walls and houses hanging over the river Guadalaviar, or at Dinópolis with the family. Teruel suits a relaxed two-night break, with no need for a car in the city.

Where to stay

The most practical choice is to stay in the historic centre, near Plaza del Torico or Calle San Juan. From there you can walk to the towers, the cathedral and San Pedro in a few minutes, with bars and restaurants close by at night. The Ensanche, across the viaduct, has slightly more modern hotels and usually keener prices, a short walk from the old town.