This list of places to visit in Cuenca It will help you to prepare a getaway to one of the 15 World Heritage cities of Spain.
Divided into two parts, the old town located more than 1000 meters above sea level and the new city that extends in the lower part, Cuenca has an impressive old town, located on a rocky hill surrounded by sickles from the Júcar River and the Huécar, in which the buildings border the precipice and the alleyways transfer you to the Middle Ages.
In it you can walk through the historic center until you find the emblematic Hanging Houses or the skyscrapers of the San Martín neighborhood, which is a real wonder and can still be enjoyed, at certain times of the day, with very few tourists.
Although to know the old town well enough with one day, we recommend you to spend the night in the city to take a pleasant night walk and have more time to see the jewels of the surroundings such as the Enchanted City.
Based on the experience of our visit to Cuenca, considered one of the best excursions in Madrid, we leave you this list of what we believe are, the 10 essential places to see in Cuenca. We start!
1. The Hanging Houses
The Hanging Houses, a series of buildings that have their balconies protruding or hanging over the sickle of the Huécar River, is one of the most iconic places to visit in Cuenca.
Currently, these civil buildings, built between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, only three are preserved: the Casa de la Sirena that houses an inn and the two Houses of the Kings, in which there is a Museum of Abstract Art.
To have the best views of the Hanging Houses we advise you to place yourself in the middle of the San Pablo Bridge or from the ascent to the San Pablo Convent.
The hanged houses
2. Plaza Mayor
The colorful Plaza Mayor is the nerve center of the city and another of the most beautiful places to see in Cuenca.
This square is surrounded by colorful façade buildings, among which the Baroque Town Hall stands out and with three semicircular arches, the Convent of Las Petras and the impressive cathedral of Our Lady of Grace.
The Plaza Mayor is also a perfect place to have a drink in one of its terraces and start a walking route through the city, as it is the place where you leave the bus line 1 that communicates with the train and bus stations.
A good option to know the history of the city and not miss anything important is to book this guided tour or this tour of Cuenca in its entirety, which includes tickets to the cathedral and the Museum of Abstract Art.
Main Square of Cuenca
3. Cuenca viewpoints
One of the best things to do in Cuenca It is to approach its viewpoints overlooking the Júcar and Huécar rivers, the city and the mountainous surroundings.
Among our favorite viewpoints to visit in Cuenca are:
- Florencio Cañas Viewpoint: located near the Plaza Mayor, standing out for its views of the Convent of San Pablo.
- Castle viewpoint: Located under the ruins of the castle, another of the places to see in Cuenca, offers spectacular views of the houses that border the hill and the Convent of San Pablo.
- Júcar sickle viewpoint: Located near the Plaza del Trabuco, it overlooks the sickle of the Júcar River.
- Mirador del Rey: Located in the highest part of the city, it offers panoramic views of all of it and the surroundings.
Mirador del Castillo, one of the places to see in Cuenca
4. Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa María and San Julián, located in the Plaza Mayor, is the most important religious temple to visit in Cuenca.
This cathedral was built in 1177 by order of King Alfonso VIII on an Arab mosque and although the predominant style of that era was Romanesque it became the first Gothic cathedral in Castile.
The exterior stands out for its huge Gothic facade that had to be rebuilt in the twentieth century, due to a collapse and although the exterior impresses, the interior is not far behind with its more than 20 beautiful chapels, the Choir, the Main Sacristy, the Hall Capitular, the Cloister, the Arch of Jamete and the Angel Tower.
Visiting hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cuenca Cathedral
5. The Enchanted City
Located in the center of the Serranía Natural Park, the Enchanted City is without any doubt, another of the essential places to visit in Cuenca.
In this incredible landscape you can see amazing rock formations that originated millions of years ago due to the erosion of water and wind, making this place one of the natural wonders to see in Spain.
The tour of the park is done on a signposted path and lasts about 90 minutes, during which you can see the most famous formations with animal-like shapes and a human face.
You can reach the Enchanted City, which is only 25 kilometers from Cuenca, by car in half an hour.
Once at the entrance you can book this guided tour with an expert in geology for only 6 euros or do it for free for 5 euros.
If you do not have a car you can book this excursion with an expert guide or this more complete one that also includes the visit to the Cuervo River Birth, taking into account that both tours will pick you up in the city of Cuenca.
The Enchanted City
Our recommended hotel in Cuenca
If you are going to spend the night in Cuenca, there is nothing better than staying in a historic site like in the restored 17th-century monastery, Posada San José. This hotel located near the Plaza Mayor is well connected to the AVE Fernando Zóbel station and the bus station using bus line 1.
In addition to its location near the main points of interest of the old town, the hotel has a 24-hour reception, comfortable rooms overlooking the sickle of Huécar and a great quality / price ratio.
6. San Pablo Bridge, one of the places to visit in Cuenca
The San Pablo Bridge is the best point to take the most typical photo of the Hanging Houses and another one of the places to see in Cuenca.
This bridge built in iron and wood in 1902 replaced another old stone bridge from the 16th century, which collapsed. In addition to the impressive views of the houses of the old part of Cuenca, this bridge allows you to cross the Huécar river through the highest part thanks to its 60 meters high and thus be able to more easily reach the Convent of San Pablo, of the order of the Dominicans, which is located on a rocky promontory and is now a national hostel.
St. Paul's Bridge
7. Skyscrapers of the San Martín neighborhood
In the neighborhood of San Martín, one of the oldest to visit in Cuenca, you will find narrow high-rise houses that are popularly known as skyscraper.
These colored façade buildings, which are 3 or 4 stories high, when you travel along Alfonso VIII Street, they extend to 11 floors in the front of the Huécar River.
This uniqueness that gives Cuenca fame is a product of the mountainous terrain and medieval architecture of the fifteenth century, when they were built. In addition to seeing these famous houses, we recommend investing time in this neighborhood full of stairs and alleys such as Santa Catalina, which we are sure, will make you fall in love.
Skyscrapers of the San Martin Neighborhood
8. Torre de Mangana
The Torre de Mangana, 28 meters high and located in the square of the same name, is another of the monuments to see in Cuenca with more history.
Although its origin is not known precisely, this tower could be part of the old Alcazar of Cuenca that was in this same square and from which you can still see some vestige of the walls.
From one of the sides of the square you will get an excellent panoramic view of the surroundings of Cuenca.
Torre de Mangana, one of the places to visit in Cuenca
9. Paseo del Huécar
Another of the best things to do in Cuenca It is to finish a visit to the city by taking a pleasant walk at sunset along the banks of the Huécar River.
During the walk you will have views of the Hanging Houses and the Skyscrapers of San Martín, in addition to enjoying a natural environment while listening to the transit of the river.
After the tour you can regain strength tasting the delicious homemade food, with an original touch, from the owner at the La Ponderosa bar, a restaurant that we loved.
If you are going to spend the night in Cuenca we recommend you book this night tour to know the curiosities and mysteries of the city in the company of a guide or take this offer that also includes the Enchanted City.
Walk along the shore of the Huécar
10. Excursions in Cuenca
Once the list of places to visit in Cuenca, you can take advantage of the extra time to know some of the wonders that are closest, by car or by booking any of these excursions:
- Day trip through the best of Castilla la Mancha, which includes Belmonte Castle, the Mota del Cuervo mills and the fortress of Castillo de Garcimuñoz.
- Tour of the wonders of the Roman Basin, where you will visit several Roman sites such as Noheda, Segóbriga and Lapis Specularis.
- Excursion to the towers and lagoons of Cuenca, where you will discover the impressive landscapes of the lagoons of Cañada del Hoyo and the Palancares torques.
How to get to Cuenca from Madrid
You can get to Cuenca by taking an AVE train at Madrid Atocha Station that will leave you at the Fernando Zóbel Cuenca station in less than an hour for about 25 euros. Although in general it is not necessary to book, if you are traveling in high season or weekend, it is advisable to book so you do not run out of seats. You can do it through this website and have the electronic ticket on your mobile.
Once you arrive at the station you have to take line 1 of the urban bus that will leave you in half an hour to the Plaza Mayor for about 2 euros.
Another cheaper way to get to Cuenca is to take a bus from the Avanza company, which leaves from the Méndez Alvaro South Bus Station and leaves you at the Fermín Caballero de Cuenca station in about two and a half hours for 13 euros. From this station you also have to take bus line 1 to get to the old town.
If you only have one day and want to learn more about the history of the city, we recommend you book this excursion to Cuenca with a guide in Spanish that includes the Enchanted City.
For more information about the transfer you can consult this post on how to get to Cuenca from Madrid.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to visit in Cuenca, add yours in the comments.
