The Best Day Trips From Zaragoza Spain

The city of Zaragoza is the capital of Spain’s autonomous region of Aragón, and lies in the northeast of the country. Sitting along the Ebro River, it lies approximately half way between Barcelona and Logroño. Besides the amazing sights to see in the city, it makes a great base for exploring the wider Aragón region, too. Here’s our pick of the best day trips from Zaragoza.

Huesca

The city of Huesca is located around 74km northeast of Zaragoza and can be reached in around one hour. It’s filled with sights and magnificent pieces of architecture including its Gothic cathedral, the Romanesque church of San Pedro el Viejo and El Palacio de los Reyes de Aragón – the old palace of the Aragón kings, which is now a museum.

Tarazona

Calatayud

Calatayud lies an hour’s drive southwest of Zaragoza. The city has an important history, which goes all the way back to Roman times. The historic centre also has some best-preserved examples of Mudéjar architecture in the region of Aragón.

Illueca

Around an hour west of Zaragoza, you’ll find the small town of Illueca, situated along the banks of the Aranda River. The town’s most prominent feature is the Castillo Palacio del Papa Luna, which was built in the 14th century as a defence fortress during the Muslim occupation. Another of the sights to visit here is the Church of San Juan Bautista – a Mudéjar building built in 1677.

Monasterio de Piedra

The Monasterio de Piedra lies an hour and half drive southwest of Zaragoza, just south of the small village of Nuévalos. Set in a lush parkland and lying on the banks of the Piedra River, the monastery was founded 1194 by Alfonso II of Aragón. Today, it may be left in ruins, but it’s still an atmospheric place to visit.

Belchite

The abandoned ghost town of Belchite makes for a unique and different kind of day trip. A 45-minute drive south of Zaragoza, you’ll find this eerie town that has been empty since 1937. The town was heavily bombed during the Spanish Civil War from August 24 to September 7, leaving it virtually destroyed. Franco ordered that the ruins be left untouched as a ‘living’ monument of war, and a new town was built nearby.

Reserva Natural de los Galachos de la Alfranca

For a different type of day trip, visit the Reserva Natural de los Galachos de la Alfranca. Lying in the heart of the Ebro valley, it’s an important wetland area and is made up of several lagoons, islands and riverside forests. The reserve is home to a variety of birdlife, from kingfishers and cormorants to mallard ducks.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.