Cuenca (Spain)

Cuenca is a town in the Castile-La Mancha region of Spain. Its walled town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old town is an outstanding example of a medieval city, built on the steep sides of a mountain. The many casas colgadas ("hanging houses") are built right up to the cliff edge, making Cuenca one of the most striking towns in Spain. == Understand == Cuenca is found between Madrid and Valencia, in the third least populated region in Europe. It was home to about 55,000 people in 2018. Cuenca sits across a steep spur, whose slopes descend into deep gorges of the Júcar and Huécar rivers. It is divided into two separate settlements: the "new" city is situated south-west of the old one, which is divided by the Huécar course. === Climate === Winters are relatively cold, but summers are quite hot during the day with occasional cool nights. Spring and autumn seasons are short, with pleasant temperatures during the day but with rather cold nights due to its altitude from 956 m (3,136 ft) above sea level up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in the old town. == Get in == === By train === There is one railway station near Cuenca. The modern "Estación de Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel" 5 km from the town centre. It is on the high speed line from Madrid to Valencia, and is served by AVE (55 min from Madrid), Alvia, Intercity (~1 hr 10 min from Madrid) as well as low cost Iryo / Ouigo trains. Bus 10 connects (€1.20) the station and the town centre bus station every 15 minutes. === By bus === There is a coach (long distance bus) station called "Estación de Autobuses Cuenca" in the centre of Cuenca that travels to nearby cities. Travel time to Madrid is approximately 2 hours and it is about the same travel time to Valencia, costing around €12. === By car === Distances to Cuenca: Madrid 165 km (1 hr 30 min), Albacete 145 km, Toledo 185 km, Valencia 210 km == Get around == Although it is possible to get to the historic centre by car, parking is very limited. If you don't want to walk up the hill, bus lines 1 & 2 serve the historic Plaza Mayor area. Urban bus information is available here. There are five lines. Line 10 serves the Estación de Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel, High Speed rail station. == See == 1 Museum of Spanish Abstract Art, Calle Canónigos 16001 (Bus 1 & 2 Plaza Mayor), ☏ +34 969212983. Cuenca was the longtime home of artist and photographer Fernando Zóbel, and he chose it as the location for the museum, in two converted centuries-old "casas colgadas". Many of the pictures hang in glorious isolation with an entire wall for a single picture, and a few windows provide imposing views out over the gorge. (updated Mar 2025) 2 Cathedral of Cuenca, C. Obispo Valero, 12, (Bus 1 & 2 Plaza Mayor). Its façade is marred by a 19th-century attempt at remodeling, but has a beautiful Gothic interior with very detailed (and in some cases seemingly pagan) carvings. There is a near-absolute ban on photography, or even sketching, inside the cathedral, except by obtaining explicit permission, typically granted only on the basis of a portfolio. €5.50 for Cathedral only; €4.50 reduced. Other tickets are available for Treasure Museum, St Peter's Church & tower. (updated May 2025) 3 Museum of Cuenca (Museo de Cuenca), C/ Obispo Valero, 12. Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00&16:00-19:00; Su 10:00-14:00. Dedicated largely to Roman finds in the area. Normal €3; reduced €1.5; Wednesday afternoon, Sat all day & Sun morning free.. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Hanging Houses (Casas colgadas). These iconic houses, perched precipitously over the cliffs of the Huécar ravine, are best seen from the San Pablo bridge that crosses the Huécar to the former convent, now the Parador de Cuenca hotel. (updated Jun 2025) 5 El Castillo (On the main road in the highest part of the old town). El Castillo is the remains of an ancient Arab fortress, representing the older structures of Cuenca. Only a tower, two stone blocks, the arch which allows to enter/leave the old town from the Barrio del Castillo and a fragment of the walls have been left. The arch (arco de Bezudo) is named after Gutierre Rodriguez Bezudo, from Segovia, who fought the Arabs with King Alfonso VIII to conquer Cuenca. The castle was home of the Holy Inquisition after 1583, and it was destroyed during the 19th century by French soldiers during the Spanish War of Independence. Nearby are the small chapel and cemetery of San Isidro. Free. 6 Museo Paleontológico de Castilla-La-Mancha, Calle del Río Gritos, 5, ☏ +34 969 27 16 00. Museum of paleontology featuring lots of life-size dinosaur models. €5; reduced tickets & combined ticket with Science Museum available.. (updated Jun 2025) 7 Antonio Pérez Foundation – Contemporary Art Centre (Fundación Antonio Pérez – Centro de arte contemporaneo), Rda. Julián Romero, 14 (Bus 2 stop: Plaza Trabuco), ☏ +34 969 230 619. Tu-Sa 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–20:00, Su 11:00–14:00, closed M. Antonio Pérez's engaging collection of contemporary art, housed in 35 rooms in the maze-like Convento de las Carmelitas. A fun, irreverent counterpoint to the rarefied Museum of Spanish Abstract Art. Temporary exhibitions are held in nearby Casa Zavala (same ticket) €5 general, €2.50 students and seniors over 65. (updated May 2025) 8 Science Museum of Castilla-la Mancha, Plaza de la Merced, 1. This museum with planetarium is one of the more child friendly attractions in town. €5 (discounts for groups availible). (updated Jun 2025) == Do == See the hanging houses by the tourist train that leaves from the Cuenca tourist office on the hour every half an hour. If you have a car you can drive to some beautiful waterfalls in another part of Cuenca. == Buy == Because of the museums, the town is a popular place for visitors from Madrid, Cuenca has a fine collection of small art galleries. You can collect Cuenca souvenirs in the tourist centre near town. == Eat == Most of the best restaurants are down below in the newer part of town, which is far less picturesque. Mangana & Meson Plaza Mayor are a couple of restaurants below the cathedral that do a Menú del día for €15. Alaju, Morteruelo, Ajo Arriero, Zarajos are the most typical foods == Drink == There are some lovely outdoor pubs in the old city of Cuenca. And a more trendy street in the center of town, filled with 10 to 15 clubs. There is also a massive square near this street where people hang out drinking alcohol with friends. A high-alcohol-content liqueur named Resoli is a coffee-, anise- and orange-flavoured liqueur. == Sleep == Cuenca is a popular weekend destination, for lovers, artists and romantic people, so hotels are often less crowded during the week. 1 NH Ciudad de Cuenca, Ronda de San José, 1, ☏ +34 96 9230502. This hotel is in a new and calm residential zone, a few minutes away from the commercial centre, the old part of town and the intercity bus and railway stations of the capital. There are some cheap hostels in town. 2 Pension Central, Alonso Chirino 7, ☏ +34 969 211 511. Cheapest-priced at about €24 a double. 3 Hostal Mora, Cjón. de San Francisco 1, ☏ +34 969 214 138. Both are near the town center. In old town 4 Parador de Cuenca, Paseo del Huecar, ☏ +34 969 232320. single €128-138, double €160-175, breakfast €18, menue €33-45 (2013). == Go next ==