Viana

[MicheleL]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

 

[Bradypus]

Pleasant enough town but nothing very special. The main church in the centre of town is quite impressive. I would carry on to Logrono if the time was right and I felt fit enough.

 

[Phil Smith]

I haven't stopped overnight in Logroño, but Viana was beautiful. Also, the resting place of Cesare Borgia...what a piece of history! Lovely town.
Might depend if you prefer big city or compact town.

 

[trecile]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

If you want to have some semi rest days stop in Viana and Logroño. Viana is smaller, but still interesting, and Logroño is a great town with a wonderful tapas scene.

Calle Laurel Pinchos Guide: The Famous Logrono Spain Food Street

Calle Laurel Pinchos Guide: How and what to eat in Logrono Spain, with a focus on the famous Logrono tapas street, from a Spanish resident

fooddrinkdestinations.com

 

[stevepjq]

I agree with @Bradypus. Continue onto Logrono and enjoy the best tapas on the Camino!!

 

[J Willhaus]

Pleasant enough town but nothing very special. The main church in the centre of town is quite impressive. I would carry on to Logrono if the time was right and I felt fit enough.

Depending on the kind of places you want to stay, I totally recommend the Santa Maria Parrish Hostel in Viana. You do sleep on floor mats (not bunk beds) and it is a small albergue, but it is a communal meal where you help prepare. We also had a lovely pilgrim mass and the priest came to eat with us afterwards and took us to the choir loft to sing together after supper. It is located off the main square where you can also watch families gather in the evening.

It was a wonderful time for us. The hospitaleros are volunteers and it was one of the places that inspired us to become volunteers the following year.

 

[WalkinRon]

I walk very slowly and enjoy every step... After Los Arcos I walked to Viana and spent one night at the Palacio de Pujadas. A very nice place that I'd recommend. The dinner and breakfast was included with my room. I then walked to Logroño. I really enjoyed both places! Viana for the small, old town feel. Very restful. By the time I got to Logroño I was ready for the lively Friday night scene! It was also worth a stop. If I can't make up my mind, I just do both.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Browsing on the internet, I found this singular experience of the church in Viana; http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/specials/camino/1887.html

 

[trecile]

By the time I got to Logroño I was ready for the lively Friday night scene!

You don't even need to be there on a Friday for it to feel like a Friday!

 

[Anamiri]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

I loved Viana and would stay there again.

 

[MicheleL]

I loved Viana and would stay there again.

Thank you!

 

[NorthernLight]

The first time I went through Viana, it was a Sunday and the place was buzzing with families out enjoying the square; it was a lot of fun to watch but I moved on to Logroño. The second time, it was quiet and still a nice spot and I stayed there overnight.

I’m likely one of the few who didn’t really ever enjoy Logroño. My last camino, I stopped there only long enough to hit an ATM and then moved on to Navarrette.

What you do will depend on what you like. A small, old town vs a large metropolitan city (with an interesting church). Both have their charms. Do you have time for both?

 

[MicheleL]

The first time I went through Viana, it was a Sunday and the place was buzzing with families out enjoying the square; it was a lot of fun to watch but I moved on to Logroño. The second time, it was quiet and still a nice spot and I stayed there overnight.

I’m likely one of the few who didn’t really ever enjoy Logroño. My last camino, I stopped there only long enough to hit an ATM and then moved on to Navarrette.

What you do will depend on what you like. A small, old town vs a large metropolitan city (with an interesting church). Both have their charms. Do you have time for both?

Yes I think I will do both..I am not a big city seeker!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I loved Viana and would stay there again.

I loved walking through the streets of Viana on my way to Logrono. A charming little town with a lovely cathedral.

P.S. I never felt that Logrono was a large metropolitan city; probably because most things pilgrim related are in the historical area of town. Its population is 151,000.

 

[NorthernLight]

P.S. I never felt that Logrono was a large metropolitan city; probably because most things pilgrim related are in the historical area of town. Its population is 151,000.

Chrissy is correct, it’s not really that big. It just felt like it when I got lost looking for a specific bank in the newer part of town.

Happy planning.

 

[caminoresearcher]

I found Viana to be really beautiful and special, and I found myself wishing I had more time there. That said, it is rather small, especially compared to Logroño, so it all depends on your preferences and your time constraints.

 

[Darleen Taylor]

Depends on the day of the week. We spent a Sunday night there, and were treated to locals singing in the square after mass. It is one of the most memorable experiences on all my caminos.

 

[ChappyNS]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

I loved Viana. Burial place of Cesare Borgia...how cool is that? I also stayed at the former "palace" now converted to hotel for a pleasant and temporary escape from the albergues. A nice little town with great spots to eat/drink.

 

[RJM]

I've stayed in both towns and both are good places to stay and neither a bad choice. It's all just a matter of if you want to stay in a city or a smaller town. Personal preference. I personally lean towards the smaller municipality on the Camino.

 

[isawtman]

Here's my take. You are going to be hitting many towns like Viana. Cities like Logrono are fewer and farther between. I didn't like the Logrona Municipal Albergue because it felt like we were crammed in like sardines. But there must be other accommodations that are better. I would stay at that Albergue again if I really had to.

 

[wisepilgrim]

I agree with @Bradypus. Continue onto Logrono and enjoy the best tapas on the Camino!!

Burgos would like a word with you. And Pamplona too.

 

[WayWalker]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

Sounds like you may be prebooking your Camino. We hadn't planned to stay over in Viana and were going to walk to Logroño but we found out there would be a mini running of the bulls in Viana. So we decided to check into the 4 star Palacio de Paduja for like 60 euro including breakfast buffet. It was a fantastic spontaneous thing complete with the longest dinner party in the alley behind the hotel with awesome parade and party into the night. I know, not for everyone but for us it was amazing. Short walk to logroño the next day as we had originally planned two nights there anyway.

 

[PrayerPose25]

I loved Viana. It's a big enough town without being too big. Lots of restaurants, shops, etc... Just beyond the church is a nice park-like area that's perfect for watching the sunset over the mountains.

 

[alexwalker]

I have almost always stayed in the municipal in Viana, and walked to Navarete next day.

 

[jimmyc]

I have almost always stayed in the municipal in Viana, and walked to Navarete next day.

I did the same. Walked on past Logrono. I liked both Viana and Navarrete.

 

[Marbe2]

You will be walking in August. The weather/heat? might also be a factor in your decision.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Joe and I spent a few days in Logroño last season and discovered there's quite a bit to see there.
I love Viana, but if I were you, I'd take rest in Logroño - famous for its tapas, Laurel Street, and Museu de la Rioja, the bodega museum Calado de San Grigirio which is wonderful, lots of churches, and a beautiful river walk. If you want to see photos, you can go to my blog, then click on newer posts, newer posts, etc.

Museu de la Rioja

 

[Cindy McGuire]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

Viana is nice, Logrono is nicer with lots of good food and accommodations. Mush on.

 

[WGroleau]

HELLO,
I am doing my 1st hike in August and brealing up.some days . Is Viana worth an overnight stop or should I continue to logronk

I stayed in the municipal and would recommend it. But don't leave anything behind! I went maybe a kilometer before realizing I had left something important. All locked up; took fifteen minutes to find someone who knew who to call, and then about an hour waiting for someone with keys to show up.
I like Viana but I may be biased—friends operate the "Pilgrim's Oasis" there. A few blocks from the Camino (42.51645° N, 2.37222° W) is an olive tree with a sign claiming that it is four hundred years old.

 

[Anna Cameron]

Sounds like you may be prebooking your Camino. We hadn't planned to stay over in Viana and were going to walk to Logroño but we found out there would be a mini running of the bulls in Viana. So we decided to check into the 4 star Palacio de Paduja for like 60 euro including breakfast buffet. It was a fantastic spontaneous thing complete with the longest dinner party in the alley behind the hotel with awesome parade and party into the night. I know, not for everyone but for us it was amazing. Short walk to logroño the next day as we had originally planned two nights there anyway.

Yes! In Sept 2018, we had the same marvelous, unexpected experience in Viana - I forget the name of the Festival but it included the "mini" running of the bulls and a wonderful procession or parade with costumed figurines, bands and entire families participating, all dressed in red and white, and then dancing in the square into the night. We danced, too! This remains one of the top memories of my first Camino. I was glad we had (all-unknowing) booked accommodation in Viana that night.