Hotels in Ezcaray

Old town and Plaza de la Verdura

The centre of Ezcaray revolves around Plaza de la Verdura, with wooden arcades and terraces. Nearby are the fortress-like church of Santa María la Mayor and the Real Fábrica de Paños building, a reminder of the village’s textile tradition. The restaurants and blanket shops are concentrated in these streets.

Staying here lets you walk out to dinner, a real plus in a village with such a reputation for food. It gets very busy at weekends in winter.

Best-rated in this area: Apartamentos la Demanda, with a score of 9.0 from 1,105 reviews.

Along the river Oja

The river Oja runs through the village, flanked by newer streets with houses and apartments. This is where the Vía Verde del Oja begins, following the old railway line towards Santo Domingo de la Calzada. It is ideal for walking or cycling with children, on flat ground all the way. Parking is usually easier in these streets than by the square.

Zorraquín and Valgañón

Heading up towards the Sierra de la Demanda are Zorraquín and Valgañón, small villages of stone houses surrounded by meadows. They have rural cottages and mountain apartments for anyone after peace and quiet. The road to the Valdezcaray ski resort is close by, as are the hiking trails through the beech woods. In winter, when it snows, carry snow chains in the car.

Ojacastro and the Oja valley

Further down the valley, Ojacastro and its neighbouring villages have a quieter, farming feel. Ezcaray and Santo Domingo de la Calzada are both close, so it suits anyone wanting to combine mountains, the Camino de Santiago and Rioja wineries. You will need a car to get between villages. In return, the atmosphere is very local and there is hardly any traffic at night.