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Ourense is the city of hot water. It bubbles up right in the street at As Burgas, a stone’s throw from the cathedral, and in open-air pools on the banks of the Miño. Nearby, the Sil Canyon’s terraced vineyards and towns such as Allariz await.
For this guide, we’ve selected six places to stay that we choose one by one: a hotel with a pool, two guesthouses and three holiday homes. Almost all are outside the urban centre, where there’s more space and peace and quiet.
How to choose an area
The key is whether you’ll be getting around on foot or by car:
- Old town: Praza Maior, the cathedral, As Burgas, and the wine and tapas area.
- Hot springs riverbank: the right bank of the Miño, with A Chavasqueira, O Muíño da Veiga and Outariz.
- Countryside outskirts: parishes a few kilometres away, with whole houses, gardens and parking.
- Ribeira Sacra: viewpoints over the Sil, monasteries and wineries, ideal for landscape lovers.
- Allariz and the south: a peaceful historic centre beside the Arnoia River.
If you’re arriving by train and staying for one or two nights, choose the city centre. If you’re travelling as a family or want to combine the city, the canyon and villages, a country house gives you much more space. The Ourense page lists all the places we’ve selected, including those in the city centre.
Where to stay in Ourense
Here are the six places we recommend, from a hotel with a pool to houses with kitchens for longer stays.
CASA RECTORAL DE SAN EUSEBIO
A country hotel in the parish of San Eusebio, about nine kilometres from As Burgas, with a garden, terrace and seasonal outdoor pool. Breakfast is continental or à la carte, and private parking is free. You’ll need a car to reach the city centre, and quiet is requested from 22:00 to 08:00.
Armada Sacra A Teixeira
Two independent apartments in A Teixeira, right in the Ribeira Sacra, each with a bedroom, living room, bathroom and mountain-facing balcony; one also has a terrace. There’s a garden, seasonal pool and free parking, with viewpoints and wineries nearby. Note the hours: check-in is only available from 17:00 to 20:00.
Casa AsCampinas
A detached 130 m² house with three bedrooms for six people, a garden, barbecue and terrace with a view. The kitchen comes equipped with a fridge and dishwasher, private parking is free, and pets stay free. Let them know your arrival time, as check-in ends at 20:00.
Casa rural Herminia
A 110 m² house with three bedrooms, a living room, patio and mountain-view balcony, sleeping six, with a kitchen equipped with an oven and dishwasher. Pets are accepted on request. There’s no internet, and the upper floors are accessed by stairs.
Casa MENDEZ - ALLARIZ
A small house in O Mato, near Allariz and Acearrica river beach, with a double bedroom and a single bedroom for three people. It has its own kitchen, a balcony and a private bathroom. There’s no internet or parking at the house.
Casa Da Vieira
A guesthouse in Covas with a garden, terrace, picnic area and barbecue, and rooms with a double bed, twin beds or a sofa bed. The family room measures 30 m² and sleeps four, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Free parking is nearby, but not within the grounds.
What to see in Ourense and nearby
Start at San Martiño Cathedral, with its Pórtico do Paraíso, Praza Maior and the steaming fountains of As Burgas. Then head down to the Roman Bridge and cross the Miño to follow the riverside path towards the hot springs.
On the right bank are the municipal pools at A Chavasqueira and O Muíño da Veiga, which are free and have changing rooms; the pools at Outariz are a little further along. When the Miño rises, the local council closes them until the water level drops and they’ve been cleaned. If you don’t want to walk, the tourist train leaves from Praza Maior and stops at all three hot spring areas.
If you have a car, the big day trip is the Ribeira Sacra: the Sil Canyon, Santo Estevo Monastery, vineyards clinging to the hillsides above the river and, in season, catamaran trips. In 2026, UNESCO asked for its World Heritage nomination to be completed, and the regional government hopes it will be inscribed in 2027. To the south are Allariz, beside the Arnoia, and Ribadavia, gateway to Ribeiro wines.
When to visit Ourense
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild temperatures and pleasant pools at any time of day. Summer is among the hottest in Galicia, so save the hot springs for morning or evening. Fog is common in winter, though bathing in hot water in the cold air has its appeal.
Every 11 November, the city celebrates its patron saint, San Martiño, in the middle of magosto season, when roasted chestnuts are enjoyed. Between February and March, depending on the year, Entroido fills Laza, Verín and Xinzo de Limia with masks. And 2027 is a Holy Year of St James: Ourense lies on the Vía de la Plata, so book early.
Getting there and getting around
Since December 2021, the Madrid–Galicia high-speed line has connected the capital with Ourense in just over two hours, with onward connections to Santiago and A Coruña. By car, the A-52 links the city with Vigo and the central plateau. The nearest airports are in Vigo and Santiago.
You can get around the city centre on foot; a car is almost essential for the countryside, the Ribeira Sacra or Allariz.
Ourense is one of the stops in our guide to where to stay in Galicia. If you’re following the Vía de la Plata, see where to stay in Santiago de Compostela; for other stages of the Camino, see where to stay in Arzúa, on the French Way, and where to stay in Padrón, on the Portuguese Way.
Frequently asked questions
These are the questions people most often ask when planning a few days in Ourense.
What’s the best area to stay in Ourense?
Without a car, choose the old town, between Praza Maior, the cathedral and As Burgas: everything is within walking distance, and the tourist train to the hot springs leaves from there. If you’re travelling by car, with family or with a pet, the country houses around the city offer gardens, kitchens and free parking. For a trip focused on scenery, stay in the Ribeira Sacra; for a peaceful town atmosphere, stay near Allariz.
Are the hot springs in Ourense free?
The municipal pools at A Chavasqueira and O Muíño da Veiga, on the right bank of the Miño, are free and have changing rooms and toilets; those at Outariz are a little further along the same riverside path. When the river rises, the local council closes them until the water level drops, so check that they’re open before you go. You can walk along the riverbank or take the tourist train from Praza Maior.
Can you visit the Ribeira Sacra while staying in Ourense?
Yes, but you’ll need a car. The Sil Canyon, Santo Estevo Monastery and the viewpoints over the vineyards make a day trip from the city, and in season you can take a catamaran along the canyon. If you want to spend more time there, staying in the Ribeira Sacra itself, for example in A Teixeira, puts viewpoints within easy reach at sunrise and wineries just a few minutes away.
How do you get to Ourense?
It’s easy by train: since December 2021, the high-speed line has connected Madrid and Ourense in just over two hours, with onward connections to Santiago and A Coruña. By car, the A-52 links the city with Vigo and the central plateau, and the nearest airports are in Vigo and Santiago. The city centre is easy to explore on foot; you’ll need your own or a rental car for the countryside, the Ribeira Sacra or Allariz.
When is the best time to visit Ourense?
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, with mild temperatures for walking and bathing in the hot springs at any time of day. Summer is among the hottest in Galicia, so the pools are more appealing in the morning or at dusk. On 11 November, the city celebrates its patron saint, San Martiño. And 2027 is a Holy Year of St James, with Ourense on the Vía de la Plata: if you’re visiting then, book early.
