Spain

23 Most Beautiful Paradors in Spain to Feel Like Spanish Royalty

Updated on by Leah Wersebe

If you’re looking for a unique and beautiful place to stay that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, then you should stay in a Parador in Spain. I’ve always wanted to stay in a castle or a converted monastery. They’re often filled with history, usually very pretty, and really make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Brothers’ Grimm fairy tale or the set of Game of Thrones. If you stay at a Parador, you’ll get to experience all this and more.

What are Paradors in Spain?

Paradors are state-run hotels in Spain. They are typically found in monasteries, castles, convents, and other restored historical properties. Some are in modern properties, which you might want depending on the temperature of the region! Every Parador has a restaurant with food on the menu from that region. The restaurants are expensive, especially by Spanish standards. Depending on your preferences, that means some are worth a visit and some aren’t so look at the menus beforehand.

Is it Worth Staying in a Parador in Spain?

It’s worth it to stay in a Parador at least once in your life. Many are expensive. A lot of Paradors in Spain are in the middle of nowhere and cater more towards older European tourists with cars. So they are unique and great places to visit for a night or two if you want the experience of staying in an old palace or convent.

Keep in mind what kind of experience you’re looking for – if you’re looking to relax, eat slow, long meals in old-fashioned dining halls, and mostly go on walks through less-visited Spanish locales, then Paradors are for you. Other than a few very expensive and special ones, like Parador Granada, they are usually located in less touristy places. If you’re looking to go out a lot, party, hang out with young people, and eat cheap meals – then just budget to visit a really special Parador for 1-2 nights and stay somewhere else the rest of the time.

Best Paradores in Spain: ASTURIAS REGION

1. Parador de Corias

If you’re walking part of the Camino in Asturias, you might go by Parador de Corias. You’ll want to stay a couple of nights, maybe forever, after you’ve visited the spa facilities. Condé Nast Traveller voted Parador de Corias the best non-urban hotel in Spain. It’s easy to see why. It’s a beautiful hotel in a former monastery on the side of a river in the mountains of Asturias. It’s the perfect Parador to stay in to get a taste of luxury, and because it’s in the less-visited northwest Spanish countryside, it’s pretty cheap compared to many other Paradors!

2. Parador de Cangas de Onis

One of my favorite places in northern Spain to visit is the Lakes of Covadonga. You can combine a trip to see the lakes with a stay at the Parador de Cangas de Onis. This Parador of Spain is one of the prettiest Paradors to stay at. It’s in a former monastery just outside of the Picos de Europa National Park, so it’s surrounded by beautiful nature.

The monastery was reportedly founded by King Alfonso I in the 8th century. You can visit Roman ruins in the area and drink local Asturian cider at this Parador. It’s one of the perfect Paradors to stay and get a taste of why people love to stay at these hotels so much.

Best Paradors in Spain: Andalucía Region

Let’s start with our favorite part of Spain, the south! We love the cultural heritage here, which many of us from Latin America can find a lot of connection to. From the Moorish influences to the ugly history of the Spanish Inquisition and colonization. Seville is one of the places where many Spanish criminals and invaders launched their boats from to steal and kill throughout the Americas. Alas, that is why many of us speak like them (especially in the Caribbean). Pretty, interesting, huh? Anyways.

3. Parador de Granada

Parador de Granada is in the Alhambra in Granada. The Alhambra is one of the best-preserved palaces in the Islamic world. It’s located on a hill in Granada, a vibrant fun university city that’s one of the best places to visit in Spain. This is a rare Parador because its location within the Alhambra means that it’s the perfect place to stay if you want to experience a Parador but don’t have a car and don’t want to visit one in a rural location.

Parador de Granada is the most visited of the Paradors, so book ahead of time. Make sure to get something to eat or drink and sit on the terrace that overlooks the Alhambra’s gardens. It’s a view that you won’t have any other place in the world.

4. Parador de Carmona

Anna Michal

Parador de Carmona is in the small town of Carmona, about 20 km outside of Sevilla. This is a great Parador to stay at if you’re spending the summer in Sevilla and you want a Parador experience somewhere unique and fantastic. This Parador is built on the ruins of a 14th-century fortress with beautiful views of the surrounding area. It’s known for its Moorish architecture and one of the prettiest dining rooms in the entire Parador chain.

5. Parador de Ronda

A long visit to southern Spain is not complete until you’ve visited Ronda, one of the best places to visit in Spain. It’s a mountaintop city that’s at the top of a gorge with a stone bridge, Puente Nuevo, connecting the 2 sides made up of the new town on one side and the old town on the other. Parador de Ronda is right on the edge of the gorge in Ronda’s former Town Hall. All the rooms have private balconies, and many have views of the bridge and the gorge.

6. Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro

Malaga, Spain – March 4, 2020: Parador de Malaga Gibralfaro with the Mediterranean Sea in the background.

Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro is another Parador that is in a central location. It’s also a “modern” building. Modern for Spain means it was built in the 1940s. This hotel sits on top of green Mount Gibralfaro next to Castillo de Gibralfaro. If you walk 15 minutes down the hill, you’re in central Malaga. A huge draw is a roof with a swimming pool and a terrace where you can have a drink and overlook Malaga. There aren’t many rooftop swimming pools in Malaga.

Best Parador Hotels Spain: GALICIA REGION

7. Parador de Santiago de Compostela

Armando Gonzalez Alameda
Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

When you visit Galicia on your Northern Spain road trip you have to visit Santiago de Compostela and stay at the Parador there. Many consider this the oldest hotel in the world. It’s located next to the famous Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela, where the Camino de Santiago ends. The hotel was originally a royal hospital from the 15th century to accommodate pilgrims. It’s one of the most luxurious of the Paradors as it was recently renovated in 2006. It’s even got 4 cloisters and a museum.

8. Paradore de Baiona

Paradores, CC BY-SA 4.0

Parador de Baiona is located on the Monterreal peninsula in a traditional medieval Galician fortress. It’s a short walk to the beach and easy access to the center of Baiona so you get the best of both worlds. It has huge rooms, many with beautiful views of the ocean. It’s very close to Portugal so you can always combine a trip to Northern Portugal while you’re here.

  • 4-star hotel
  • $$$
  • See prices here: Parador de Baiona
  • AKA: Hostal dos Reis Católicos

Basque Country

9. Parador de Argómaniz

Parador de Argómaniz is the perfect Parador to stay in if you want to soak up some nature in Basque Country. It’s in a Renaissance palace overlooking mountains, and a national park is about 5 km away. It has extensive grounds and a playground. This is the kind of Parador you visit to stay in a former palace after a day of hiking in the surrounding area.

Canary Islands’ Best Paradores

10. Parador de El Hierro

Roque de Bonanza

Parador de El Hierro is a modern Parador, but you still get a significant taste of luxury because of its seclusion on one of the smaller islands in the Canaries. It’s right on the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with mountains as a backdrop. It might not have a lot of history compared to some of the other Paradors, but it more than makes up for that with the views and ambiance. It has beautiful gardens and the colonial-style architecture is stunning.

11. Parador de La Palma

Another great Parador in the Canaries to stay at and soak up the atmosphere of these volcanic islands is Parador de La Palma. Parador de La Palma isn’t directly on the beach, but it’s surrounded by 44 hectares of tropical gardens. This is a side of the Canaries that a lot of visitors don’t see if they just stick to the beaches. It’s also a modern Parador, but with its numerous facilities, including a sauna and exquisite gardens, it’s worth the visit.

12. Parador Conde de la Gomera

Parador Conde de la Gomera combines the beachside atmosphere of Parador de El Hierro and the lush gardens environment of Parador de La Palma into one location. It’s set in clip-top gardens overlooking the Atlantic with a view of the main island of Tenerife. It’s centrally located in San Sebastián de La Gomera so you can easily visit the rest of the town. You are going to have a bit of a hike going up and down that cliff though but you’ll need it after all the seafood you’ll be eating in their restaurant.

Spain Paradores: CANTABRIA REGION

13. Parador de Fuente Dé

If you want to stay somewhere with a backdrop that looks like it’s CGI, then stay at Parador de Fuente Dé. I stayed at Parador de Fuente Dé because it is at the base of a cable car that goes up to a viewpoint of the Picos. It’s not the prettiest or the most historic of the Paradors. In fact, it’s in a modern building and a lot of hikers stay at the Parador. It’s a perfect place to stay for a night or two if you take the cable car up to the top and then hike all the way back down to the Parador. Like most of Northern Spain, there are cows outside the Parador that graze so when you open up your windows, you’re greeted by a very bucolic scene surrounded by dramatic mountains.

Spain Paradors: CASTILLA-LA MANCHA REGION

14. Parador de Cuenca

The walled city of Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its famous hanging houses. Parador de Cuenca is located in a large former convent with picture-perfect views of the hanging houses. It’s one of the pricier Paradors as it’s been recently renovated. It has a gorgeous spa and a pool. It’s only a 5-minute walk to the city of Cuenca so it’s also in a great location. It’s one of the more unique stays thanks to the incredible views that you won’t see anywhere else.

15. Parador de Almagro

There are a lot of convents and monasteries in Spain and Parador de Almagro is another beautifully renovated convent turned hotel. This one is in the historic city center of Almagro. You can try delicious Manchegan food under exposed beams while staying in rooms that used to house monks. It’s the exact kind of experience you’re looking for at a Parador.

Best Paradores in Spain: LA RIOJA REGION

16. Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada is a wonderfully unique Parador. It’s in a converted 12th-century hospital in a very small town in La Rioja. The architecture is beautiful with stone arches. I stayed at this Parador for a few nights. It’s a little out of the way if you don’t have a car, but it’s worth the trip if you can get to the Parador. Stay in Logroño for a few days, visit a few wineries, then stay at this Parador to wind down. My cousin had the best risotto of her life in this restaurant so you’ll also be fed well.

Madrid’s Top Paradores

There are no Paradors in the center of Madrid. Madrid is also a region encompassing the capital city so both of these Paradors are in the region, not the city.

17. Parador de Chinchón

Audrey Sel
M. Peinado

Parador de Chinchón is in a former Augustinian monastery with two restaurants on-site. This is the perfect Parador to stay in if you’re visiting Madrid for the week and you want to get a taste of the Spanish countryside outside of Madrid for a few days. You can relax at the pool, eat amazing food, and take walks in the amazing gardens at this Parador.

18. Parador de Alcalá de Henares

Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Alcalá de Henares is a historic city where several important literary figures, such as Cervantes, lived just outside of Madrid. The Parador de Alcalá de Henares is a beautiful respite from the intense scene of Madrid and features a pool, a gorgeous terrace in a former cloister, and sleek, modern rooms. It’s a former monastery school from the 1800s. It’s another perfect place to get your first taste of the luxury Parador life if you’re short on time and only visiting Madrid.

Extremadura’s Best Paradores

19. Parador de Cáceres

The old town in Cáceres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parador de Cáceres is in a 14th-century stone palace in the center of the old town. The vaulted ceilings add an incredible ambiance to this Parador and make it a worthwhile stop on your trip through Extremadura. It’s also got a great restaurant with options like Iberian pork loin and other regional specialties.

20. Parador de Trujillo

Extremadura isn’t as well-visited as Andalucía or Catalonia, or some of the other more-traveled regions of Spain. Which is a pity. There are beautiful sites all over Extremadura, including amazing places to visit in Spain, like Parador de Trujillo. It’s a peaceful, quaint former 16th-century stone convent that’s very close to Trujillo’s city center. It’s a great place to get the full Spanish experience as you relax by the pool with a drink and siesta before hitting the streets for a late dinner.

Catalonia’s Best Paradores

21. Parador de Tortosa

One of the best Paradors in Spain is in southern Catalonia along the Ebro River. This Parador is a stunning 10th-century castle originally built by a Moorish King and later updated in the Gothic style. It has a beautiful grand terrace with great views. The restaurant at this Parador is a great place to try Catalan food, which is unique in Spain. It’s the perfect Parador to visit if you’re traveling to Barcelona for the week and you want to see a little bit of the Catalan countryside and relax.

Castilla y León’s Best Paradors

22. Parador de León

León is a charming city in northern Spain. It’s always a good idea to visit a city in Castilla y León on a trip to Spain because the region’s history is so crucial to understanding modern Spain. It was the seat of the Spanish Empire for many centuries. When you visit León, stay in the Parador de León because of the history, the location, and the classic Spanish atmosphere that you’re looking for. It’s in a 16th-century military outpost and former cloister, so you’ll truly feel like you’re in another time period.

  • AKA: El Hostal de San Marco
  • 4-star hotel
  • $$$
  • See prices here: Parador de León

23. Parador de Ciudad Rodrigo

Parador de Cuidad Rodrigo is one of the most interesting Paradors in Spain to visit. It’s a royal Parador because it’s inside the castle of Enrique II de Trastamara. Ciudad Rodrigo is a Spanish city filled with history, so you’ll want to spend a few days walking around. The restaurant at this Parador is excellent with several charro dishes, a dish native to Castilla y León and something every visitor to Spain should try.

  • 4-star hotel
  • Parador de Ciudad Rodrigo is temporarily closed right now. It will reopen though, so keep an eye out!

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How many Paradors are in Spain? There are 97 Paradors in Spain, with more being built. The first Parador in the Balearic Islands is being built right now. Parador is a commonly used word in hotel names in Spain, so you’ll see the word ‘Parador’ in the title. Take a look at the official Parador website to see all of the state-sponsored Paradors.
  2. Which is the oldest Parador? The first location to be a part of the Parador network is the Parador Nacional de Gredos.
  3. What is the most expensive Parador? The most expensive Paradors are the Parador de Cuenca and the Parador de Grenada, but prices can often depend on the season.
  4. Which region has the most Paradors? Andalucía has the most Paradors with 16 listed in the region.
  5. In general, how much do Paradors in Spain cost? Prices typically range from $75 a night all the way up to $350 a night for a standard double room in the summer. In the winter, many of the Paradors are cheaper. The prices on this list are all for the summer so if you want to visit a Parador and are on a budget, find one that has 2 $$, and check out their rates during the off-season. These prices are generally considered discounted as the hotels are luxury hotels at a discount.

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