What to do in Salamanca

Activities, attractions and tours

Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca
Cathedral of Salamanca

Salamanca Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Salamanca has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Salamanca, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Salamanca with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Salamanca

Salamanca is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Salamanca, and make it a breeze to explore Salamanca and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Salamanca to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Salamanca, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Salamanca.

Salamanca attractions

Salamanca has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Salamanca to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Salamanca.

Looking for things to do in Salamanca can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Salamanca or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Salamanca attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

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Top places to visit

1. Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is the central nucleus around which the city of Salamanca spreads. The large square is a popular gathering point for locals and visitors, drawing sightseers with its majestic buildings of Baroque style. Sit at the outdoor tables of the many restaurants and cafés surrounding the square and watch people going by.
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Plaza Mayor

2. University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca is a world-renowned university made up of architectural gems used for residence halls and faculty buildings. Established in 1218, the college was the first university in Spain and is one of the oldest in Europe. Make your way through the pleasant courtyards and halls of its historic structures for a sense of the prestige associated with this university.
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University of Salamanca

3. New Cathedral of Salamanca

One of the largest and tallest buildings in the city is the New Cathedral of Salamanca, a huge church that was under construction for two centuries. Work started in 1513 and was completed in 1733. It was built next to the Old Cathedral, which was considered too small for Salamanca’s growing population. View the stately design, a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles.
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Cathedral of Salamanca

4. San Esteban Convent

With its grandiose church, opulent façade and majestic two-story cloister, San Esteban Convent is one of Salamanca's most beautiful pieces of architecture. This religious complex has been an important center of study and theology for the Dominican Order for hundreds of years and still houses a monastic community.
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San Esteban Convent

5. Old Cathedral of Salamanca

The Old Cathedral of Salamanca is a gorgeous Romanesque church dedicated to Santa María de la Sede. It was constructed during the 12th and 13th centuries and stands alongside the New Cathedral. Go on a self-guided tour of the interior, allowing at least 1 hour to explore the chapels and many religious artworks of the older church.
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Old Cathedral of Salamanca

6. Pontifical University of Salamanca

The Pontifical University of Salamanca was established by Pope Pius XII in the 20th century. It has many beautiful historic buildings that serve the 6,500 students that attend this college. Marvel at the array of elegant and impressive 17th-century structures and cobbled plazas that make up this exceptional campus.
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Pontifical University of Salamanca

7. Casa de las Conchas

The Casa de las Conchas is a fascinating historical structure dating back to the late 15th century. The building, which today contains a public library, is decorated with more than 300 shells. Capture photos of the intriguing décor of the façade and admire the range of architectural styles.
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Casa de las Conchas

8. Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum

La Casa Lis is a handsome early 20th-century modernist mansion that houses Salamanca's Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum. Inside the building are 19 collections of decorative arts from the late 19th century until World War II, consisting of about 2,500 pieces. View the artistic architecture of the building’s south façade of stained glass and ironwork. Gaze up at the blues of the large stained-glass ceiling over the courtyard.
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Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum

9. Roman Bridge

One of the survivors of Salamanca's past as a Roman settlement is the Roman Bridge, or Puente Romano, a granite stone crossing of 26 arches that extends over the Tormes River. The 15 arches on the city side are of Roman origin while the rest come from restoration work carried out in the 18th century. It is such a Salamanca icon that it’s included on the city’s coat of arms.
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Roman Bridge

Recommended things to do in Salamanca

Number of things to do
32
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Salamanca: Monterrey Palace Audio-Guided Tour: £6
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Salamanca

Popular places to visit

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor

4.5/5(26 reviews)

Gaze up at the majestic walls enclosing the heart of one of Spain’s most lively plazas where cobblestone paths pass upscale boutiques and restaurants serving traditional tapas.

Plaza Mayor
University of Salamanca

University of Salamanca

4.5/5(16 reviews)

Marvel at the historic buildings and learn about the student culture in one of the oldest educational institutions in the world.

University of Salamanca
Cathedral of Salamanca

New Cathedral of Salamanca

4.5/5(20 reviews)

Explore one of Salamanca's two cathedrals, a monumental building that houses a rich collection of centuries-old religious paintings and carvings.

New Cathedral of Salamanca
San Esteban Convent

San Esteban Convent

4.5/5(12 reviews)

Go on a self-guided tour of the church, chapels and cloister of this centuries-old convent. Admire gorgeous religious art and see where a saint confessed her sins.

San Esteban Convent
Old Cathedral of Salamanca

Old Cathedral of Salamanca

4.5/5(24 reviews)

Admire many works of religious art and climb up a medieval tower when you visit the oldest Christian building in Salamanca.

Old Cathedral of Salamanca
Pontifical University of Salamanca

Pontifical University of Salamanca

4/5(9 reviews)

Take a tour of this private Roman Catholic educational institution and snap photos of the panoramic vista of the old town from the historic church bell tower.

Pontifical University of Salamanca
Casa de las Conchas

Casa de las Conchas

4/5(9 reviews)

Count the regularly spaced scallop shells that adorn the walls of this historic 500-year-old building surrounded by symbols of love.

Casa de las Conchas
Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum

Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum

4.5/5(11 reviews)

View a vast collection of decorative objects, jewelry and everyday items in styles that were hugely popular in the early 20th century.

Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum
Roman Bridge

Roman Bridge

4.5/5(24 reviews)

Get to Salamanca's historical center by walking along its ancient Roman crossing, which was immortalized in a once-banned Spanish novella.

Roman Bridge

Explore areas of Salamanca

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Salamanca Centro

Salamanca Centro is noteworthy for its historical sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Plaza Mayor and Casa de las Conchas.

Salamanca Centro
Cathedral of Salamanca

Old Town Salamanca

5/5(35 area reviews)

Unique features of Old Town Salamanca include the historical sites and cafes. Make a stop by Casa de las Conchas or New Cathedral of Salamanca while you're exploring the area.

Old Town Salamanca
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Vistahermosa

Vistahermosa is well liked for its historical sites. You can also take some time to explore sights in the surrounding area like Roman Bridge and Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum.

Vistahermosa
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Santo Tomás

5/5(1 area review)

Visitors to Santo Tomás enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Jesuitas Park is worth a stop.

Santo Tomás
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Photo by Björn S. (CC BY-SA)

Prosperidad

Travellers like the parks in Prosperidad, and Jesuitas Park is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Prosperidad
Salamanca

Tenerías

You'll enjoy the bars and museums in Tenerías. You might want to make time for a stop at Salamanca Automobile History Museum or Monumento al Lazarillo de Tormes.

Tenerías

 

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