An Argument For León

In the middle of Northern Spain lies the perennially forgotten city of León. Once the seat of a KIngom, this provincial capital is now generally a stopover point for those living the #vanlife before heading into Portugal. However, Leon will give and give and give to the curious visitor.

LEóN

WHERE: North-West Spain

WHY: Amazing locals, excellent Tapas bars

TIME: 1-2 nights

1)    THE TAPAS BARS

León is teeming with Tapas Bars. Whilst we’ve covered this theme in another post (read here), the Tapas bars are the finest that we encountered in northern Spain. Both Barrio Humedo and Barrio Romantico, conveniently located just off the central plaza and thoroughfare, contain a rabbit warren of tapas bars. Our favourites were La Bischa and Jamon & Jamon. Also, please note – tapas is free in León - all you need to do is buy a drink.

2)    THE WALKING

León is a dream city for those that like to walk. Everything that you’d need to see is located within 20 minutes walking, no matter where you find yourself. Church San Isidro, The Contemporary Art Museum, Plaza Mayor and Catedral de León are all located just a short walk from one another. In the space of half an hour you can wander from sprawling Latin plazas to a cosy tapas bar. Each side street is teeming with life; from Tapas bars, to cafes, to Catholic Supply stores, the city will reward the wanderer.

3)    THE LOCALS

The locals of León were by the far the friendliest, most welcoming, and funny in all of Northern Spain. From the bartender at La Bisha providing us more than our fair share of Morcilla (local delicacy), to the patrons at Jamon & Jamon asking us all about our hometown, the locals here certainly gave off a welcoming vibe. I can certainly say that we felt cared for the whole time we were in town.

4)    THE PRICE

The price of things in León certainly seemed to skew cheaper than that of the rest of Spain. A glass of wine seemed to set us back around 1-2 euros, whilst a beer seemed to go for around 2-3. For us, having come from the expense of Pamplona, or the blow-out that was France, this was a welcome reprieve. Generally, we found the price of living here considerably cheaper, and tended to pay around 4-5 euros for an excellent meal.

5)    THE ARCHITECTURE

The architecture of León is second-to-none, and we lost ourselves for a full day in wandering the streets. Whether it was the old city walls, integrated in Catedral San Isidro, the meandering alleyways or the cobblestone plazas, the city was beautiful in a truly remarkable way. While the city itself dates back to Roman Times, it is the Gothic Architecture on the many churches that truly gives the city its charm - any stroll around the city will afford you the best free architectural tour in Spain.