18 Fast Facts for Visiting Zaragoza, Spain (From a Local)
- Maria DiCicco
- 3 hours ago
- 8 min read
Alright, I hate to admit it, but my quiet corner of 'authentic Spain' has officially been 'discovered'. In 2021 my family bought a holiday home in Zaragoza with the intent of seeing extended family more frequently, and generally taking on the expat vibe whenever we felt the need to leave the States.
It was a traditional Spanish town, big but not too big, not a lick of English to be heard anywhere, and the only tourists who had known about it were die-hard travelers and other Europeans.
Well, not anymore. I'm overhearing American English at the next table over all the time now, which is both fun and disarming, when it was supposed to be my getaway from all that.
Nonetheless, the response is unequivocally the same from this new scene of travelers - they LOVE Zaragoza.
Selfishly, I don't want the new influx of travelers to spoil the fun of yesteryear, but if ya'll are gonna show up, at least let me educate you on what's in store for your adventure (and introduce you to some insider secrets).
Without further ado... Read up and know what to expect for your trip to Zaragoza, Spain!
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You have to pass through Zaragoza to/from Madrid or Barcelona on the train. So you may as well stop!
Zaragoza is the center point between Barcelona and Madrid on the train line. I see people ask all the time on Reddit which cities they should visit if Barcelona and Madrid are already on their itinerary.
If you're traveling by train, Zaragoza is a no-brainer for an overnight stop. Three nights is ideal, but 1, 2 or 3 nights in Zaragoza allows for plenty of siteseeing on foot.
It's good to note that train travel is an ideal way to visit multiple Spanish cities, but it has it's drawbacks. Always leave enough time to get to your train to/from the airport, factoring in waits on regional subway trains, and note the bag allowances on the 'budget' lines like AVLO.
(Here's a good opportunity for a sidenote: don't go to Toledo, get a cool knife, then try to get on the train system. Guys, it's just like the airport - you can't be taking weapons on the train, k?)
Meanwhile...In order to purchase train tickets in Spain, you'll need to start on the Renfe website (or Ouigo), where you'll have the choice of AVE, Renfe, AVLO, Ouigo, and others.
To skip the headache of figuring out which train line to book through, I typically recommend Omio to outsiders. It's a straightforward platform with easy to visualize booking and comparison tools. Renfe's website is just such a nightmare!
You don't need a car in Zaragoza, but I recommend it.
Honestly, we rent a car whenever we're able, even if we end up paying one way fees. You can travel in three-ish hours from Madrid or Barcelona by car, or take the train from Barcelona to Zaragoza and pick up a car right there at the train station, too, which can just be a for a few days.
Parking in the city is easy at the public garages and driving is pretty intuitive.
Having the car allows you to venture out of the city to wineries, historical sites and more. Here's a list of my favorite day trips from Zaragoza.
If you do choose to hoof it, know that the light rail and bus system is well connected and easy to use, but most tourist places are accessible on foot.
The Weather is FICKLE.
In Zaragoza there is something called the 'cierzo' wind. It's infamous. If you're there in cooler months, expect the wind to be a killer.
If you're there in the summer, expect the heat to be a killer. (For some tips, here's Things To Do In Zaragoza Spain with Kids On a Hot Day).
There's no happy medium, except the mornings and evenings can be quite lovely (along with of course the shoulder seasons).
Summer temps can easily reach Death Valley style temps - so be aware, it's really, really hot.
Zaragoza is not a swimming destination.
That said, Zaragoza is in the flipping desert, ya'll. It's high plains, I think the term is...
At any rate, the only natural swimming holes are not recommended for swimming for various reasons, and there's some hot springs (like in Arnedillo), but they are not really a destination to seek out if you only have a short amount of time.
Municipal city pools are open in the summer months, but most locals are heading to Salou (Tarragona area) for beach vibes and theme parks.
Traditions and Festivals are Common
There's always something happening in Zaragoza. It may be a city-wide art festival, a sporting thing, or a flower and garden event, to name a few.
And, there's a holiday for everything, it seems!
From Easter's insanity with the constant drumming processional and these guys (below), to the romanticism of books and roses on Dia de San Jorge, there's something for everything.
The holidays are especially fun when the German Christmas markets come out, along with ice skating, 'snow' tubing in the plaza, and the arrival of the Three Kings on January 6th.
The people in Zaragoza are deeply religious, and all holy holidays are observed (and then some!). It is their culture, so expect random closures for holidays that don't exist on the American calendar.
People from Zaragoza can be unwelcoming to other cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
This is not an over generalization, this is a personal thing I have witnessed. Come at me, bro.
I live in Florida, where just about everyone is from somewhere else, with different languages, different cultures, and different colors. It's all groovy here.
In Zaragoza, there is a lot of unspoken prejudice. I think the younger generations are filtering that out, but being that Zaragoza was quite traditional only some years ago (as I stated when I started this article), you may still encounter this in Zaragoza. Just be aware.
People in Zaragoza might speak English, but they won't.
Same goes for language. Younger people know English, but are generally afraid or hesitant to use it. We're on their turf, ya know.
So brush up on your Spanglish, you're going to need it.
The food is heartier than you might expect.
First of all, don't ask for paella or sangria. Just don't.
In Zaragoza, the alternatives would be fideua or tinto de verano. You'll sound much more like a Maño! (A native of the area).
Typical meals might be at asador-style restaurants, where suckling lamb (ternasco) and other grilled favorites like chuleton (aged steaks) and costillas (lamb chops) are roasted on open flames. Served with potatoes, it's a pretty hearty meal so bring your appetite.
Here's 8 Facts and Misconceptions About Eating in Spain to better understand what you're getting into!
Tapas and cafe culture are huge in Zaragoza.
Banks close, storefronts shutter, and everyone is out on the street throughout the day for the typical merienda, almuerzo, and so on. It's a full on feast of flavors from sun up to sun down.
There's no shortage of coffee breaks or tapas to take in, and you're definitely going to want to join in on the culture of it all.
Dare to try some new foods, while you're there!
Here's two articles to feed your research:
Meal time means meal time - zero exceptions
As frustrating as it might be, the primary 'American' meal times are as follows in Zaragoza:
1-4pm Lunch
8-11pm Dinner
Don't show up anywhere expecting to find food before 1pm or 8pm. You'll stand out immediately as a tourist, and annoy the staff of the restaurant, if they've even unlocked their doors yet.
On that vein - ALWAYS have a reservation, and NEVER show up early for it. You need to be "Spanish early", like 5-10 minutes late.
It's just the way it is.
Walk across the bridge for sunsets.
Sunset and evening photos of the Pilar are stunning from the other side of the river. Go to a little bar called Le Pastis to make it part of your walk.
There are no fancy hotels in Zaragoza.
This is not the big city. It's a humble town, fifth largest in Spain actually, but not over-the-top in luxury. If you want fancy, I always recommend the NH Gran Hotel in the bougiest area of town, Plaza de Los Sitios.
Here's some more suggestions from moi: Where To Stay In Zaragoza's Historic Center (From A Local).
The Roman ruins are small, but mighty.
To visit the Roman ruins, expect small sites that take about 10-15 minutes each, with the exception of the Roman Theater and the Forum.
Get the combo pass and see all of them!
Psst...another pro tip for combo passes - get a combo ticket for La Seo and the tower, where you can hike or the top and get great views of the city.
Attractions follow meal times
Note: attractions like the Aljaferia, the museums, and the Roman ruins follow meal times, meaning they close around 2pm and don't reopen until 5pm.
Restaurants aren't always open, even if Google says so
Here's another fun tip - on Sundays, stores and malls are closed but attractions and restaurants are open.
On Mondays, stores are open, restaurants are closed.
Many restaurants also observe closures on Sunday evenings and all day Tuesday.
Even more so - if Google tells you that a restaurant is open, it doesn't mean that their kitchen is open. If anything ,they might have some montaditos waiting for you at the bar (bread with stuff on it).
To make matters worse, places close when they want "por vacaciones". I had a reservation fall through today, in fact, where the online reservation tool took my reservation, but upon arrival I was met with a closure notice.
It's Spain. They do want they want!
The Rastro is a hidden secret for only the locals!
For those who love the markets and Rastros like in Madrid, Zaragoza has their own rastro by the train station. There's a small market on Wednesdays and a larger one on Sundays.
You can visit from around 8 or 9am until lunch time (1 or 2). This is a market for locals, so expect anything from underwear and socks for sale, to rummage bins of 1 euro hand-me-down clothing. It's fun though and I get a lot of great stuff there!
There's more to Zaragoza than the Pilar...
Despite the iconic towers of the Pilar taking up much of the photo content here, there is actually quite a bit to see in Zaragoza without ever leaving.
Prioritize time for:
Museums like the Goya Museum, Aquarium, or Caixaforum
Shopping along the Gran Via (I love Bimba y Lola!): more on shopping in Spain here
Wander the Mercado Central
Take the light rail to the Parque Grande
See the Roman Ruins
Go to the rastro
...and more than this article needs to suggest :-)
Zaragoza is surrounded by six wine regions.
This is worth noting as a reason to get a car - you can do a lot of damage drinking wine nearby in regions such as:
Cariñena
Somontano
Calatayud
Navarra
Campo de Borja
Rioja
Here's some good information on how to go wine tasting in Spain.
Did I leave something out?
I may spend only part of my time there, but I've got a wealth of knowledge for you! Feel free to message me directly or subscribe to my site to get more details of European travels weekly.
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