Burgos Holidays: Cathedral City Guide for UK Travellers
Provincia de Burgos · Castille and León · Spain · 176,418 residents
Burgos Cathedral
Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas
Museum of Human Evolution
Castle of Burgos
Coliseum BurgosBurgos sits at 863 metres on the high plateau of Castille and León, a city of around 176,000 people built around one of Spain's great Gothic landmarks. Burgos Cathedral, a World Heritage Site, stands just a short stroll from the centre, and within half a mile you will also find the Museum of Human Evolution, the Castle of Burgos and a cluster of old churches, convents and palaces. A little further out lies the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas. Summers are warm and remarkably dry, winters are cold, and the city is under two hours by car from the airports and ferry ports at Bilbao and Santander, which makes it an easy first or last stop on a northern Spain holiday.
Why go
- Burgos Cathedral, a World Heritage Site, stands only a few minutes' walk from the city centre.
- July and August bring highs of 29 to 30°C with just two rainy days each month.
- Direct UK flights land at Bilbao and Santander, both roughly 75 to 78 miles away by road.
Top sights in Burgos
Cathedral, Abbey and Museums
Burgos Cathedral comes first by any measure: a World Heritage Site barely 0.1 miles from the centre. A mile out, the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas is the city's other great religious monument. Closer in, the Museum of Human Evolution (about a quarter of a mile away) is a good choice for families, and the Castle of Burgos sits around 0.3 miles from the centre.
The old streets reward slow wandering. La Merced Church and the Casa de Miranda palace are both about 0.2 miles away, the Palace of La Isla and the Convent of Saint Clare around 0.4 miles, and the Discalced Carmelite convent of San José y Santa Ana and the Church-Convent of the Salesas a similar distance. Smaller museums include the Museo del Libro Fadrique de Basilea, right in the centre, and the Museo Marceliano Santa María. The Monasterio de San Bernardo lies just under a mile out, and the Coliseum Burgos indoor arena about 1.2 miles away.
Tours and tickets for many of these sights can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Burgos Cathedral
- 2Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas
- 3Museum of Human Evolution
- 4Castle of Burgos
- 5Coliseum Burgos
- 6La Merced Church
- 7Casa de Miranda
- 8Palace of La Isla, Burgos
- 9Convent of Saint Clare
- 10Monasterio de San Bernardo
- 11Convento Carmelita de San José y Santa Ana
- 12Church-Convent of the Salesas
1cathedral- 2monastery
- 3museum
- 4castle
- 5amphitheatre
6monastery._Portada.jpg/500px-Casa_de_Francisco_de_Miranda_(Burgos)._Portada.jpg)
7palace
8palace
9monastery
11monasteryConvento Carmelita de San José y Santa Ana
In the centre · Photo
convent of Discalced Carmelite nuns in Burgos, Spain
12monastery
Monasterio de San Bernardo
monastery · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in Burgos
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Burgos can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Burgos
Choosing a Base in Burgos
Burgos is an inland city, so the choice is about how close you want to be to the historic core. Staying near the cathedral puts the castle, the Museum of Human Evolution and most of the churches and palaces within half a mile on foot, which suits a short city break.
With a population of around 176,000, Burgos has the range of a proper provincial capital rather than a resort, and areas a little away from the centre will feel calmer, with Las Huelgas and San Bernardo still within about a mile. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare locations.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Burgos and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 1 h 50 min away.
Best time to visit Burgos
When to Visit Burgos
- 8°CJan50 mm
- 10°CFeb46 mm
- 13°CMar57 mm
- 17°CApr28 mm
- 18°CMay52 mm
- 23°CJun82 mm
- 29°CJul6 mm
- 30°CAug12 mm
- 22°CSept38 mm
- 19°COct130 mm
- 13°CNov58 mm
- 8°CDec34 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the best months, with highs of 29°C and 30°C, lows around 14°C and only two rainy days each. July is the driest month of all, with just 6mm of rain, and August is the hottest.
October is the wettest month by a distance, with 130mm across 17 rainy days, and June can also be showery at 82mm. Winters are cold at this altitude: December and January peak at 8°C with nights near 1°C. April is relatively dry at 28mm and 17°C if you prefer a cooler spring visit. Burgos is inland, so there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C | 1°C | 50 mm | 5 h |
| Feb | 10°C | 1°C | 46 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 13°C | 3°C | 57 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 17°C | 5°C | 28 mm | 11 h |
| May | 18°C | 7°C | 52 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 23°C | 12°C | 82 mm | 11 h |
| Jul | 29°C | 14°C | 6 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 30°C | 14°C | 12 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 22°C | 11°C | 38 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 19°C | 10°C | 130 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 13°C | 5°C | 58 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 8°C | 1°C | 34 mm | 5 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Getting to Burgos from the UK
Three airports with direct flights from the UK serve Burgos. Santander is the closest, about 75 miles away and roughly an hour and three-quarters by car. Bilbao is about 78 miles away, around an hour and 50 minutes' drive. Madrid is further, about 128 miles and roughly three hours on the road.
If you would rather bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to both Santander (around 24 to 32 hours) and Bilbao (around 28 to 32 hours), and from Plymouth to Santander (about 20 hours). Both ports are roughly 77 to 78 miles from Burgos.
Driving all the way through France is also possible: from Calais the journey takes about 15 hours of driving.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)78 miles, about 1 h 50 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)75 miles, about 1 h 47 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Madrid (MAD)128 miles, about 3 h 2 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 15 h 7 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Bilbao (77 miles), Santander (78 miles).
Burgos is good for
Around Burgos
Day Trips from Burgos
The closest excursions are Covarrubias and Lerma, both about 22 miles away, and Castrogeriz at a similar distance. Covarrubias and Castrogeriz are small villages of a few hundred people, while Lerma is a little larger.
Heading further, Trespaderne is about 35 miles away and Huerta del Rey around 39 miles. To the south, the Duero towns make a longer outing: Villalba de Duero at about 45 miles, Aranda de Duero, the largest at around 33,000 inhabitants, at about 47 miles, and Pesquera de Duero at about 53 miles.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Burgos lies at 863 metres, so evenings are cooler than you might expect even in high summer, with July and August lows around 14°C. Pack a warm layer, and a proper coat from November to March.
The main sights are tightly grouped, with the cathedral, castle, Museum of Human Evolution and several palaces all within half a mile of each other, so walking is the easiest way to get around the centre. If you are visiting in October, plan for rain: it is the wettest month, with 17 rainy days on average.
Questions people ask
How far is Burgos from Bilbao airport?
Bilbao airport is about 78 miles from Burgos, roughly an hour and 50 minutes by car. Bilbao has direct flights from the UK. Santander is slightly closer at about 75 miles, around an hour and three-quarters' drive, and also has direct UK flights.
Can I take a ferry from the UK to near Burgos?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Santander and Bilbao, and from Plymouth to Santander, with crossings of roughly 20 to 32 hours depending on route. Both ports are about 77 to 78 miles from Burgos by road.
What is the best month to visit Burgos?
July and August offer the most settled weather, with highs of 29 to 30°C and only two rainy days a month. July is the driest month at just 6mm of rain. Avoid October if you dislike rain, as it is the wettest month.
Is Burgos cold in winter?
Yes. Because the city sits at 863 metres, December and January highs reach only about 8°C, with nights close to 1°C. February is similar, peaking around 10°C. Bring warm clothing for any visit between November and March.
Is Burgos good for a family holiday?
Burgos suits families interested in history. The Museum of Human Evolution, about a quarter of a mile from the centre, is a family-friendly highlight, and the Castle of Burgos and the cathedral are close by, so children do not have far to walk between sights.
How long does it take to drive from Calais to Burgos?
The drive from Calais to Burgos takes about 15 hours behind the wheel, not counting stops. Many British travellers break the journey overnight in France, or shorten it by taking a ferry to Santander or Bilbao instead.