This guide on what to do in Cuenca in one day It will help you plan the walking routes through a World Heritage City, making the most of the time.
Although we know that it is impossible to know a city in a single day, we can assure you that if you have a single day in Cuenca, it is more than enough to know the old part of the city, the most interesting, located on a hill at 1000 meters high and surrounded by the sickles of the Júcar river and the Huécar.
In addition to visiting the historic center where the famous Hanging Houses and other points of interest are located, we recommend you spend about 2 hours to surprise yourself with the incredible natural landscapes of the Enchanted City, located half an hour by car or bus from Cuenca.
If you have more time you can spend the night in the city and take a night walk to enjoy the city almost alone.
Based on the experience of our visit to the city, in which we write this list of places to visit in Cuenca, we have optimized an itinerary on foot so you can get to know the best of Cuenca in one day. We start!
How to get to Cuenca
Although Cuenca is less than an hour by train AVE from Valencia, the most common is to visit the city from Madrid by train or bus.
To get to Cuenca you can take a high-speed AVE train at Atocha Station that will leave you at Fernando Zóbel station in less than an hour for about 25 euros.
If you prefer a cheaper means of transport you can take a bus at the Méndez Alvaro South Bus Station in Madrid that will leave you at the Fermín Caballero de Cuenca station in just over two hours for 13 euros.
Once in Cuenca you have to get on the bus of line 1 and get off at the Plaza Mayor stop, located in the heart of the old town.
The frequency of buses and trains is quite high and although it is difficult to fill, you can book tickets in advance from this page especially if you travel on weekends or holidays.
Another more comfortable alternative and with which you will know better the history of the city is to book this excursion to Cuenca by bus with a guide in Spanish one day and that includes the visit to the Enchanted City.
For more information on the transfer you can consult this post on how to get to Cuenca from Madrid.
Where to sleep
The best area to sleep and meet Cuenca in one day It is the upper part of the city, concentrating on it all tourist attractions.
We recommend to stay the Posada San José, located in an old monastery 150 meters from the Plaza Mayor.
In addition to having good communication with the city's bus and train stations, this hotel has been restored to offer a comfortable experience by having spacious rooms, friendly staff, 24-hour reception and stunning views of the Huécar sickle.
Cuenca in one day
The itinerary of what to do in Cuenca one day It starts early in the morning arriving at the Fernando Zóbel train station or the bus station.
From these two stations you can take line 1 of the urban bus that will take you in half an hour to the Plaza Mayor if you come from the train station and in 15 minutes if you come from the bus station.
Once in the Plaza Mayor you can start a walking route through the whole old part that will occupy you for a whole morning.
Main Square of Cuenca
Another good option to not miss any important place and know the history of the city is to book this guided tour or this tour of Cuenca in its entirety, which includes tickets to the cathedral and the Museum of Abstract Art.
If you prefer to do the route for free, we recommend you start by entering the Cathedral of Santa María and San Julián, located in the Plaza Mayor and that opens at 10 in the morning.
At this time you will avoid the organized groups, allowing you to calmly explore its impressive interior with more than 20 chapels and several essential places such as the Sacristy, the Choir, the Chapter House and the Cloister.
Cathedral
After leaving the church, spend a few minutes observing the exterior facade of this 1177 building, which became the first Gothic cathedral in Castile, and take a walk around the fantastic Plaza Mayor, located in the heart of the old town surrounded by colorful facade buildings, the Convent of Las Petras and the magnificent Baroque Town Hall.
The Cuenca route in one day Continue climbing the beautiful Ronda Julián Romero to reach the viewpoint of Florencio Cañas, which overlooks the Convent of San Pablo and from where you can wander to the Plaza del Trabuco to reach the Mirador sickle Júcar, located behind the Plaza del Trabuco and overlooking a magnificent natural environment.
If you keep going up you will reach the ruins of the castle where the entrance door is preserved, pieces of the walls and several square towers and from where you will enjoy excellent views of the houses that border the sickle of the Huécar river and the Convent of San Pablo , both from the upper part of the castle and from the lower area.
Castle viewpoint
The last viewpoint of this high area is across the Bezudo Arch of the castle and up another 700 meters to reach the Mirador del Rey, since you get stunning views of the city and the surrounding natural environment.
Once all the viewpoints are completed, the Cuenca in one day Continue down to the Plaza Mayor to then take Calle de los Canónigos, which will take you to Las Casas Colgadas, the emblem of the city and one of the most famous places to see in Spain.
These three old buildings that have their wooden balconies hung over the sickle of the Huécar River, have inside the Museum of Abstract Art and an inn.
To get the best views of the Hanging Houses you have to go down to the San Pablo Bridge of iron and wood.
St. Paul's Bridge
Crossing this bridge you will reach the Convent of San Pablo, which is currently a national hostel and also offers good perspectives of the old part of the city.
After taking photos of these original houses you can return to the old town down Santa Catalina Street, where the skyscrapers of the San Martín neighborhood are located, houses that reach up to 11 floors in the front and are reduced to 4 or 5 flats on Alfonso VIII street, one of the most beautiful in the city full of colorful façade buildings.
The last stop of the old town in this Cuenca in one day It is La Torre de Mangana, 28 meters high, which is said to be part of the old Alcazar of Cuenca.
Mangana Tower
If you are still on time, you can walk down to the base of the hill to take a pleasant walk along the banks of the Huécar and regain strength with the homemade food of La Ponderosa, a restaurant that we consider another essential in the city.
In the afternoon you can approach the Enchanted City, located 25 kilometers from the center of Cuenca.
If you have a car you can reach the Enchanted City in half an hour and travel a path for about 90 minutes to see the incredible natural formations, product of millions of years of erosion.
The ticket price is 5 euros and for one more euro you can book this guided tour with an expert in geology.
If you do not have a car, we advise you to book this tour or this more complete one that also includes the visit to the Cuervo River Birth, both located among the best valued by travelers visiting the city.
The Enchanted City
Once back to the old town you can dine more gastronomy modern in the Raff San Pedro or the homemade food of the Albero Tavern.
After dinner we recommend finishing the Basin in a day with a pleasant night walk through the most interesting points of the old part of the city.
If you prefer to know the most interesting mysteries and anecdotes of Cuenca you can book this night tour with a guide in Spanish or take this offer that also includes a visit to the Enchanted City.
Cuenca map in one day
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