Hotels in San Millán de la Cogolla

San Millán, next to Yuso

The village grows at the foot of the Yuso monastery, in the Cárdenas river valley, and visits to the Suso monastery, higher up the hillside, are organised from here. Staying here lets you start early and stroll in the evening, once the coaches have gone.

It is a small area with few restaurants, suiting those who come for the heritage and do not need much going on at night. Wear comfortable shoes: there is a good climb up the hillside between the two monasteries.

Berceo

Berceo, a short walk down the valley, is the birthplace of Gonzalo de Berceo, the first Castilian poet known by name. It has stone and brick houses, vegetable gardens and meadows on both sides of the valley road. It suits those looking for rural houses, walking to Yuso and having a few more options for eating.

Lugar del Río and the head of the valley

Upstream, Lugar del Río and the hamlets at the head of the valley reach towards the Sierra de la Demanda. They are very small places, for sleeping in silence and walking through beech woods and forest tracks. You need a car, and in winter there may be snow higher up.

Badarán and Cárdenas

Down the valley, Badarán and Cárdenas are already in vineyard country, on the way into Rioja Alta. They have more services than San Millán and a good road to Nájera, with its monastery of Santa María la Real, and to Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Choose this area if you are driving and want to combine the monasteries with wineries and other Rioja villages on the same trip. It is also an alternative when San Millán is full on long weekends and weekends.