Guides ·Day trips

Getting to Sepúlveda

Linecar operates one daily bus from Segovia to Sepúlveda, departing at 2pm and returning at 7pm on weekdays. Weekend service is limited, so check the schedule in advance. The trip takes 75 minutes and costs €6 each way. The bus drops you at the edge of the old town on Avenida de la Constitución, a five-minute walk from Plaza Mayor. Buy tickets on board from the driver.

If you have a car, the drive from Segovia takes 60 minutes via the N-110 north through Navafría and Santo Tomé del Puerto. The road is scenic, climbing through pine forests and descending into the river valley. Parking is free in lots outside the old town walls. Driving gives you the flexibility to visit the Hoces del Duratón natural area and the Ermita de San Frutos, which are not accessible by bus. The bus schedule is tight, so a car is preferable if you want more than a few hours in the area.

Walking the old town

Sepúlveda is built on a hilltop above the Duratón river, with steep streets and stone buildings. Start at Plaza Mayor, the central square with arcades and the town hall. From there, walk to the Church of El Salvador, the oldest Romanesque church in Segovia province, built in the 11th century. Entry is €2 and includes a small interpretive center. The church has a simple nave and a carved stone portal. It is open from 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm except Mondays.

After El Salvador, walk to the Church of San Bartolomé on the south edge of town, another Romanesque building with a fortified tower. Entry is free and the church is usually open during daylight hours. The interior has 12th-century frescoes, faded but visible. From San Bartolomé, walk to the castle ruins at the north end of town. The castle is mostly gone, but the site offers views over the river canyon and the surrounding countryside. The walk from Plaza Mayor to the castle and back takes about 45 minutes.

Lunch and roast lamb

Sepúlveda is known for lechazo asado, roast suckling lamb, and the town has a dozen traditional asadores. Restaurante Cristóbal on Calle Conde de Sepúlveda is a local favorite, with a menú del día for €18 including lechazo, dessert, and wine. The lamb is roasted in a wood oven and served with a simple salad and bread. The restaurant opens at 1pm and reservations are recommended on weekends. The dining room is rustic and the service is efficient.

If Cristóbal is full, try Fogón del Azogue on Plaza Mayor, equally traditional and priced similarly. The lechazo portions are generous, enough for two people to share if you order sides. After lunch, walk to the Mirador de Ignacio Zuloaga, a viewpoint on the west side of town named after the painter who lived in Sepúlveda. The viewpoint overlooks the Duratón canyon and the hills beyond. There are benches and it is a good spot to digest your meal before continuing your tour.

Hoces del Río Duratón natural park

The Hoces del Duratón is a river canyon 10 kilometers northwest of Sepúlveda, part of a natural park known for griffon vultures and limestone cliffs. The main access point is the Ermita de San Frutos, a 12th-century hermitage perched on a cliff above the river. To reach the hermitage, drive 20 minutes from Sepúlveda on the SG-V-2413. There is no public transport, so this requires a car.

From the hermitage parking lot, walk 10 minutes to the cliff edge for views of the canyon and the river below. Vultures nest in the cliffs and you will often see them circling overhead. The hermitage itself is small and usually locked, but the exterior and setting are worth the trip. For a longer hike, take the trail down to the river, a two-hour round trip with steep sections. The trail is well-marked but rocky, so wear hiking boots. The park is free to enter and open year-round.

Canoeing on the Duratón river

If you visit in spring or summer, consider a canoe trip on the Duratón river. Several companies in the village of Villaseca, five kilometers from Sepúlveda, rent canoes and kayaks for self-guided trips through the canyon. The standard route is eight kilometers and takes two to three hours, ending at the Ermita de San Frutos. The cost is €20 per person and includes equipment and shuttle back to the start. Reservations are required, book online at Duratón Activo or Hoces del Duratón Aventura.

The river is calm and suitable for beginners, though you will get wet and should bring a change of clothes. The canyon walls rise 80 meters on either side and vultures are visible from the water. The trip is scenic and relaxing, a good alternative to hiking if you want a different perspective on the landscape. Canoe rentals operate from April to October, weather permitting. If you are on the bus schedule, you will not have time for a canoe trip, so save it for a car-based visit with a full day.

Afternoon: handicrafts and return

Sepúlveda has a few artisan shops on Calle de los Fueros and around Plaza Mayor, selling pottery, woven baskets, and local honey. The honey is produced in the surrounding countryside and sold in jars for €8 to €12 depending on size. The pottery is functional and traditional, with plates and bowls starting at €15. These are good souvenirs if you have space in your bag.

Before catching the bus back to Segovia, stop at a café on Plaza Mayor for coffee and a pastry. Café Bar Los Arcos has outdoor tables and serves a strong cortado for €2. If you are driving, you can extend the trip to include the village of Pedraza, 20 kilometers south, or return directly to Segovia via the N-110. The drive back takes an hour and the road is straightforward. If you took the bus, return to the stop on Avenida de la Constitución by 6:45pm for the 7pm departure to Segovia.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask before they set off on this one.

Rooms worth pairing with this guide.

San Lorenzo Hotel Venta Magullo

4.1/5 €65/ night

Judería Hotel Spa La Casa Mudéjar

4.1/5 €71/ night

Nueva Segovia Candido

4.3/5 €93/ night

24 with a full page

More guides to Segovia

All guides

Itineraries · 8 min read 48 hours in Segovia

Two days is enough to see the Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar fortress, and the old town, with time left for cochinillo asado and a sunset walk along the city walls.

Itineraries · 9 min read One week in Segovia

A full week lets you see Segovia at a local pace, with day trips to Ávila, La Granja, and the Sierra de Guadarrama, plus time for slow meals, market mornings, and repeat visits to your favorite corners of the old town.

Itineraries · 7 min read Segovia in 3 days on a budget

Three days in Segovia for under €150 total, including a hostel bed, supermarket lunches, free monuments, and one proper sit-down meal of cochinillo asado to say you did it.

Find a hotel