Zaragoza
Go to Zaragoza for the Basílica del Pilar, the 11th-century Aljafería Palace and Roman remains, a train ride of about 90 minutes from Madrid by AVE.
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Zaragoza is the regional capital of Aragon in northeast Spain, on the middle Ebro at about 208 m above sea level. The Romans founded Caesaraugusta over the Iberian town of Salduie, and the modern name comes from that colony. Muslim rule followed through the Taifa of Zaragoza, an independent kingdom founded in 1018, until Alfonso I took the city from the Almoravids in 1118. The Basílica del Pilar and La Seo show these layers most clearly.
The city works as a short stop between Madrid and Barcelona or as a city break of a few days. Madrid is about 90 minutes away by AVE from Zaragoza Delicias station, and Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao are each about 300 km off. Summers are hot, often above 30 °C, while winters are cold with frequent night frosts and the cierzo wind. Spring and autumn are the rainiest seasons, so pack a rain layer for those months.
Zaragoza in five
- Check the Interbús card before you rideThe Interbús card works on regional buses and the tram. Check which card or fare you need before you board.Getting around
- Find your stop on Tram Line 1Tram Line 1 runs about 12.8 km through Valdespartera, Universidad, Centro and Parque Goya, with transfers to buses and commuter trains. Find the stop nearest your hotel before you arrive.
- Book beds early for the Fiestas del PilarThe Fiestas del Pilar run for nine days, with the main day on 12 October, which is Spain's national holiday. Book your bed well before those dates if you plan to attend.Festivals
- Carry a windproof jacket for the cierzoThe cierzo, a cold, dry northwest wind, blows often in winter and early spring. Fog can linger in late autumn and early winter, so pack a warm layer for both.Clothing
- Plan Sunday for the Plaza de San Bruno marketPlaza de San Bruno holds a craft food market every Sunday, along with antiques and medieval markets.
Things to do in Zaragoza
See all attractions in Zaragoza
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen short-stay rules; visa-free for many passports Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; rounding up the bill is common
- Time
- UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Cold, cierzoJanuaryClear
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, cierzo
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Cold, frostsFebruaryClear
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frosts
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Holy Week processionsAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holy Week processions
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh25°Low12°Mild, some rainMayClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, some rain
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°Hot, long daysJuneClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, long days
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°Hot, dryJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°Hot, dryAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warm, some rainSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, some rain
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Pilar festivalOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Pilar festival
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Fog, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fog, rain
- DecemberClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, frostsDecemberClear
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frosts
Average daily high and low in Zaragoza, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Zaragoza
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 35%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Zaragoza
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°8°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue13°7°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed14°4°23%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu16°5°51%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Fri17°9°11%Friday: Fog. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat14°10°11%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun15°12°64%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 64%.
Updated 07:00 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Madridabout 90 min by AVEThe capital, reached by AVE high-speed train from Zaragoza Delicias station.
- Barcelonaabout 300 kmThe Catalan capital, linked to Zaragoza by high-speed rail and motorway.
- Valenciaabout 300 kmA Mediterranean coastal city, linked to Zaragoza by motorway.
Before you go to Zaragoza
Rules for Zaragoza, checked
- Non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Spanish foreign ministry site before you book.Source
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering La Seo or the Basílica del Pilar, and keep quiet during services.
- Check with Spain's Ministry of Culture before you buy antiques or art, since some cultural objects need an export licence to leave the EU.
- Keep to the paths in the Sotos y Galachos del Ebro, a protected nature reserve near the city.
Plan around Zaragoza
Spain in a wider route, with regions, cities and trip ideas
Read the guideAragón regionThe wider region, its provinces and the routes around the capital
Read the guideFestivals and eventsFiestas del Pilar, Holy Week processions and other city events
Read the guideGetting aroundAVE trains, tram, buses and the airport connection
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa before you fly in or travel by train
Read the guideWhere to stayBases near the Basílica, Plaza de San Bruno and the Ebro
Read the guideZaragoza FAQ
Is Zaragoza worth visiting?
Yes for the Mudéjar churches, the Aljafería Palace and the Roman remains. It is about 300 km from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao, so it fits a route between them.
How do you get from Madrid to Zaragoza?
Take a high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Zaragoza Delicias station, which takes about 90 minutes. Long-distance coaches also use Delicias.
How many days do you need in Zaragoza?
The Basílica del Pilar, La Seo, the Aljafería Palace and the Roman museums are the core sights. The Expo 2008 sites and a canoe trip on the Ebro add to a longer stay.
When is the best time to visit Zaragoza?
Spring and autumn are the rainiest seasons. Summers are hot and often above 30 °C, and winters are cold with common night frosts and the cierzo wind.
How do you get from the airport to the city?
Bus line 505 runs from Zaragoza Airport, about 10 km from the centre in the Garrapinillos area. A taxi costs roughly 20 euros.
What are the Fiestas del Pilar?
Nine days of festivities that peak on 12 October, Spain's national holiday. They include the opening speech, jota dancing, fireworks and bullfights.