Stand on the Puente de Piedra at dusk and the two cathedrals rise on the riverbank in front of you, their domes and towers lit against the water. It is the view that explains Zaragoza faster than any map: a city built on the Ebro, layered with Roman, Moorish and Christian stone.
Zaragoza suits travellers who like their history walkable and their sightseeing unhurried. The old town, the riverbank and the Mudéjar churches sit close together, and the Roman and Moorish remains are woven into ordinary streets rather than fenced off from them. This guide covers the places worth your time, with a one-day plan at the end.
Top things to do in Zaragoza
1. Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
The more famous of the city's two cathedrals stands on the bank of the Ebro. It venerates the Virgin Mary, who reportedly appeared to Saint James the Apostle on this riverbank; she appeared on a pillar, which gave the church its name. The present building was constructed on the orders of King Charles II of Spain between 1681 and 1872, and the long construction allowed for domes painted by Francisco Goya a century after work began. Those vault paintings are now one of the main attractions inside.
Combine it with the rest of Plaza del Pilar, which holds the tourist office and the Fuente de la Hispanidad, and walk the short distance to La Seo while you are on the square.
2. Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza (La Seo de Zaragoza)
On the Plaza de la Seo, this cathedral is called la seo to distinguish it from el pilar. It was originally built on the site of one of the first mosques during the Moorish period, and was destroyed to make way for a Romanesque church in the 12th century. Reconstructions followed in the Gothic and Mudéjar styles and beyond, so the building now spans styles from the 12th to the 19th centuries and holds an exquisite collection of tapestries.
Opening hours are 10:00–21:00 in summer and 10:00–18:30 in winter, and entrance closes sometimes during the day when there is mass. Entry is €4.
3. Palacio de la Aljafería
A Moorish castle with intricate decorations, including ceilings of gold, which now houses the Aragon regional parliament. Take bus 32, 34 or 36 from the city centre.
Check the website before you go, as opening hours vary during the year. Entry is €5, or free with a Tourist Card.
4. Iglesia de Santa María Magdalena
Distinctive for its square tower and polygonal apse, la Magdalena stands out within the old town as one of the few relatively intact examples of Mudéjar architecture of the 14th century. Its interior was renovated in the Baroque period.
It is one of the Mudéjar churches of the city, a style that mixes Christian and Muslim tradition; the others worth seeking out are San Miguel and San Pablo.
5. Iglesia de San Miguel de los Navarros
Another example of Mudéjar architecture, with a square tower and polygonal apse reminiscent of la Magdalena. It retains a richly gilded Renaissance high altar by Damian Forment, though its tower did not escape a Baroque intervention in the form of a spire.
Pair it with la Magdalena if you are working through the Mudéjar churches in one stretch.
6. Iglesia de San Pablo
At Calle de San Pablo 42, this third Mudéjar church features a Gothic portal and another altar by Damián Forment, as well as a pyramid-spired octagonal tower whose shape is echoed by two lanterns flanking the portal.
It sits on the street that carries its name, so it is easy to fold into a walk through the old town.
7. Caesaraugusta route
A route of four museums covering monuments from the time of Caesar Augustus: the Port, the Forum, the Baths and the Theatre. A joint ticket is available at a better price than buying separately.
Two of them, the Forum and the Theatre, are much bigger than the other two, which are not worth going to as the only ones you see. At the Forum, almost everything is from the era of the emperor Tiberius, and as well as models of the two versions of the site there is the opportunity to walk along a Roman sewer.
8. Theatre
Discovered during urban works in the 1970s, this site exposes much of the Roman theatre. Better preserved examples exist elsewhere in Spain, but it is still impressive. The museum has a very good section on the history of the site, including its occupation by Muslims and its use as the city's Jewish quarter up to the end of the 15th century, as well as on how the theatre operated.
This is one of the two larger stops on the Caesaraugusta route, so give it more time than the Port or the Baths.
9. Forum
Almost everything here dates from the era of the emperor Tiberius. It was the site of the original forum from Augustus' time, but that was demolished after the river flooded and its materials were used as filler when the street level was raised by several metres to build a bigger forum.
You can see models of both versions and walk along a Roman sewer. It is one of the two substantial museums on the Caesaraugusta joint ticket.
10. Museo de Zaragoza
At Plaza de los Sitios 6, the municipal museum is free and worth a visit for its mosaics from Caesaraugusta and for its celebrated collection of Goya.
Note that it is temporarily closed as of March 2026, so check before planning your day around it.
11. Museo Goya (Ibercaja Collection)
A museum displaying a collection of Goya alongside temporary exhibitions. Entry is €4 for adults, free for concessions and free with a Tourist Card.
It is also temporarily closed as of March 2026. If you are in the city for the Goya connection, the cathedral vault paintings remain the surest place to see his work.
12. Educational Museum of Origami in Zaragoza (EMOZ)
A gallery devoted to the craft of origami within the Centro de Historias, run by a long-running local group. Some of the work is astonishing, both beautiful and baffling in how it was made with no cuts or glue, just folds.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00, Sunday 10:00–14:30, and closed on Monday. Entry is €3 or free with a Tourist Card.
13. IAACC Pablo Serrano
A contemporary art museum in a curious building, and free to enter.
It makes a good counterweight to the city's older sights if you want a break from churches and Roman stone.
14. Expo 2008 and River Aquarium
Zaragoza hosted an international expo in 2008, for which a new area was opened with buildings designed by architects such as Zaha Hadid. It is now possible to stroll around this area, though the only facility open to tourists is the aquarium.
The River Aquarium is a reasonably big aquarium of freshwater species, with fish and turtles, and a large tank simulating underwater trees that you walk through in multiple directions via glass tunnels. It is also possible to arrange a guided scuba-diving session here. Entry is €16.
15. Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta
A vast city park from 1929 with impressive features, arrangements and a monumental fountain staircase. Originally named after the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, it was renamed in 2008 following the death of the Aragonese singer-songwriter, activist and politician José Antonio Labordeta. The city's Botanical Gardens are included within the park's grounds.
It is excellent for a walk or simply to sit and cool off; the many fountains add to the distraction. Take the tram to Emperador Carlos V.
16. Puente de Piedra
The central bridge of Zaragoza, built in the 15th century and reconstructed many times since to repair flood damage and reinforce the construction. Today it is restricted almost entirely to pedestrian traffic and features four pillars at its ends with lions, the symbols of Zaragoza.
Walk it in the evening, when the cathedrals on the bank are lit and the crossing becomes the best free view in the city.
17. Puerta del Carmen
A surviving example of what were once twelve entry gates to the walled city. The gate looks ancient but was actually built in 1789 in neoclassical style, hence its resemblance to Roman ruins. Its dishevelled appearance documents its role in several sieges of the city, which is why it was not restored to its original glory, though minor repairs were carried out in 1997 after a bus collided with it.
Combine it with a wander along Las Murallas, parts of the ancient wall that surrounded the city and are still standing.
18. Basílica of Santa Engracia
On the spot where Saint Engratia and her companions were said to have been martyred on Valerian's orders stood the Church of Santa Engracia de Zaragoza. Only the crypt and the doorway survived the Peninsular War; it was rebuilt around the early 20th century and is now a functioning parish church.
It is a quiet stop rather than a set piece, best folded into a walk rather than made the purpose of a trip across town.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start on Plaza del Pilar and visit the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, then cross the square to the Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza (La Seo de Zaragoza). If you are moving quickly, walk down to the Caesaraugusta route and choose the Theatre and the Forum, the two larger museums on the joint ticket.
Afternoon. Take bus 32, 34 or 36 to the Palacio de la Aljafería and spend the middle of the day among its decorated ceilings. On the way back, stop at the Iglesia de Santa María Magdalena and, if time allows, the Iglesia de San Miguel de los Navarros and the Iglesia de San Pablo for the Mudéjar towers.
Evening. Walk the Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta as the heat drops, then return to the river and cross the Puente de Piedra on foot, with the cathedrals lit on the bank. Finish on Plaza del Pilar, where the Fuente de la Hispanidad stands in front of the basilica.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of day to see La Seo?
Opening hours are 10:00–21:00 in summer and 10:00–18:30 in winter, but entrance closes sometimes during the day when there is mass, so plan around a service rather than assuming the doors stay open continuously.
Is a joint ticket worth it for the Roman museums?
Yes, if you intend to see more than one. The Caesaraugusta route offers a joint ticket at a better price than buying separately, but note that the Forum and the Theatre are much bigger than the Port and the Baths, which are not worth visiting as the only ones you see.
Which sights are closed at the moment?
The Museo de Zaragoza and the Museo Goya (Ibercaja Collection) are both temporarily closed as of March 2026. Check before you build your day around either.
How do I reach the Aljafería and the Parque Grande?
Take bus 32, 34 or 36 from the city centre for the Palacio de la Aljafería, and the tram to Emperador Carlos V for the Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta.
Pick your dates, check the current opening hours for La Seo and the Aljafería, and start building your days around the riverbank.