The national paradors network has 97 establishments spread throughout the country. They are located in unbeatable locations: in places or buildings that are emblematic or considered to be of historical, cultural or artistic interest. Below we highlight the 10 most highly rated hostels by users.
The first establishment of Paradors de Turisme in Spain was inaugurated publicly in Navarredonda de Gredos (Ávila) in 1928 and the last one built, opened on June 25, 2020, is in Muxía, on the Costa da Morte (A Coruña ).
The podium for the best place is very competitive: the three best rated get the best grade, a 9.6.
Plasencia
The inn in the city of Cáceres tops the ranking of the best inns in Spain with an average score of 9.6 on the establishment network’s website. Located in the convent of San Vicente Ferrer, Plasencia’s Gothic inn is one of the jewels of the city and of all of Spain, and hides secrets such as its Escala Volada, one of the most beautiful, or its Bar de Nit.
It promises a journey through time and a tour of other important buildings of the time, since the inn is part of a monumental complex made up of the aforementioned convent, the church of Santo Domingo and the Mirabel palace of the Zúñiga family , benefactors and builders of the convent at the end of the 15th century.
Jaen
This 18th-century castle sits atop Santa Catalina Hill in Jaén, and has been tastefully restored and retains its massive stone walls and numerous authentic historic features.
The inn, rated by users with a 9.6, offers its guests the possibility of traveling back in time to the 18th century thanks to its original architectural structure. The property has high arched ceilings, wooden beams and beautiful tiled floors. In addition, it has a unique decoration that harmonizes completely with the historical structure of the building and has classical-style furniture with Arabic influences.
Santo Estevo (Ourense)
“Lost from the everyday world” or “the essence of the soul” are some of the descriptions given to this establishment by users, who have also given it an excellent score (9.6). This reformed monastery is located in the Ribeira Sacra region, next to the Miño and Sil rivers. It offers a magnificent spa, a beautiful central courtyard, gardens and an excellent dining room with regional food.
The building is Benedictine, dating from the 10th century and has been renovated and turned into a unique and sophisticated luxury hotel, in the parador style. It houses historical elements, such as stone arches, carved window frames and the monastery’s 3 original cloisters, in Baroque, Romanesque and Renaissance styles.
The rooms have an elegant and exclusive decoration and are spread over the 3 cloisters. Some also enjoy views of the Sil River and the surrounding countryside.
Nerja
The Parador de Nerja offers wonderful views of the Costa del Sol. It is located on a cliff next to the Mediterranean Sea, on the mountains of the Serra d’Almijara and beautiful cliffs. In Nerja, summer is blue, adventurous and endearing. It hides unforgettable places, such as the Cova de Nerja. In one of its many rooms, The Cataclysm Room, there is the largest column in the world listed in the Guinness Book of Records, with a height of 45 meters. The hotel has a splendid garden whose greenery contrasts with the blue of the pool. The spacious and bright interior spaces are very comfortable and almost all the rooms have terraces facing the sea. The superior rooms have spectacular views over the Mediterranean.
The iron
Do you want to feel tranquility and peace like you’ve never felt before? The location of the Canary Island El Hierro is a paradise nestled between the volcanic mountain and the blue ocean, it is an island bathed by transparent waters where you will feel in a place only imaginable in your dreams. The location of the hotel allows the sea water droplets to splash on your walks in the garden and the deep blue of the water to seep through the window. The building’s balconies bring you so close to the ocean that you can almost touch it with your hand. From the garden with swimming pool and the comfortable rooms you will enjoy the soft sound of the waves, relax and rest feeling that you are in an idyllic place.
Costa da Morte (A Coruña)
The Parador Costa da Morte is located next to the beautiful Praia de Lourido in A Coruña. It is a new building with contemporary architecture that is developed on several levels adapted to the topography of the natural slope, with spectacular views of the sea.
It allows you to discover a natural environment of great beauty with incredible views of the cliffs and beautiful beaches, where the sea has exerted its power over time, and is the origin of an unparalleled gastronomic heritage. Only half an hour from the hotel is the impressive Cap de Fisterra Lighthouse, named by the Romans as “the end of the world”, a place always linked to navigation and legends.
Aiguablava (Girona)
The parador of Aiguablava (Girona) has been completely renovated, with more services and the family and calm atmosphere of old. It is located in a privileged place in the Mediterranean, with unbeatable views of the Costa Brava from the top of the Punta d’es Mut cliff. The natural environment is surrounded by pine trees and has an almost virgin nature. What better place to disconnect.
Just four kilometers from the Parador is the village of Begur, located on top of a hill. At its peak is the main symbol of the town: its medieval castle. There are also colonial-style Indian houses built in the 19th century by emigrants who returned from America. The first weekend of September sees the Indian Fair in which Begur relives its Indian past.
Chinchon (Madrid)
The Parador de Chinchón, in Madrid, is an old Augustinian convent, with large windows, beautiful common areas and exquisitely decorated rooms, with a perfect combination of colors and attention to every detail. Its beautiful inner courtyard full of medlar trees and the well-kept gardens will make you enjoy a beautiful and quiet place, where we offer delicious dishes such as Madrid stew, garlic soup or roast lamb. Chinchón is a small town with a peculiar charm.
The manor houses, beautiful courtyards and galleries supported by beautiful columns make Chinchón a town of singular beauty. In the center of the town you can see the monuments of the Clock Tower, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the Monastery of the Clarisas or the House of the Chain.
Santiago de Compostela
In Santiago de Compostela, destination of millions of pilgrims, a city where the sun’s lightning illuminates the facades in the summer and the rain causes a magical atmosphere to take over the cobbled streets in the winter, it is located one of the most luxurious and beautiful hotels in the paradors network. The Hostal was born as a Royal Hospital in 1499 to accommodate walkers who were going on pilgrimage to Santiago. Now known as Hostal dos Reis Católicos, it mixes history, art and tradition. It is located in the Plaza do Obradoiro forming an angle with the cathedral of spectacular beauty in one of the most visited capitals in the world. To stay here is to do so in a truly unique and exclusive place.
Inside this ‘parador-museum’, considered the oldest hotel in the world, you will discover four beautiful cloisters, elegant rooms, spectacular rooms and a luxurious dining room that offers fish and meat cooked in the Galician style, in addition to the classic ‘filloas’ caramelized with apple and cream.
Siguenza (Guadalajara)
The Parador de Sigüenza, in Guadalajara, is a 12th century medieval castle, set in an Arab fortress. Firmness and splendor characterize this royal fortress with nine centuries of history in its stones. It is built on a Roman settlement and the building was the residence of bishops, cardinals and kings. The Middle Ages can be seen in all the rooms, both in the lounges and in the bar and restaurant. The hotel’s traditional Castilian furniture is displayed with taste in the spacious and cozy rooms, some with canopied beds that will make you feel like you are in the rooms of a real palace. Between the thick stone walls appear the cobbled courtyard, a stately dining room, rooms ideal for meetings and celebrations and the 13th century Romanesque chapel.