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One night in Leon

C

Colstarwalker

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September (2018)
Hi folks,

We are starting our camino in Astorga in September. We plan to arrive in Leon the day before we start walking. Could anyone recommend a good place to stay the night in Leon? A good place for a meal? A good pub?

Are there any must see sights in Leon?

Thank you.
 
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Depending on your budget, I recommend the Hostel Covent Garden, Calle Ancha, Leon. The price we paid, last July, was €17.00 per person, breakfast included. Good bunks, duvets, sheets and pillow cases, towels, showers and toilets separate. I think there was a washing machine as well. +34 601 08 20 02. On the google search page, the price is higher. The owner speaks English, and if you choose to contact him, you can find out the price for a direct booking rather than through the agencies. Sorry, I did not keep a record of his name.
 
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Many thanks for your reply Kirkie, much appreciated.
 
The Cathedral, The Basilca San Isidro, The Barrio Humedo, The Casa Botines, Hostal San Marcos, if you do not walk to walk use the tourist train, passes by them all. Lots of good restaurants, depending how much you want to pay. Above all, enjoy the city I call home
 
In Leon the Benedictinas offer the Hospideria PAX
with private accommodation which is very nice and which you can reserve.
Here is their web--
http://www.hospederiapax.com/

Their nearby Pilgrim albergue provides dormitory accommodation for 134 with shared facilities but does not accept reservations except for groups. Both facilities are located on the plaza Santa María del Camino.

The Hospideria has a pleasant dining room open to all with a good inexpensive daily menu .

While often staying in the nearby pilgrim albergue I peeked at the Hospideria facilities which appear to be very comfortable. The choice is up to you!

Do check out the many tips/advice in this earlier forum thread re the Leon to Astorga stretch.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/leon-to-astorga.24955/

Buen camino!
 
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There are lots of bars and restaurants in the Plaza Mayor area and the streets to it. Remember that the Spanish begin dining at 9 p.m., so don't expect a restaurant to open before 8 p.m. (and probably 9 p.m.). The bars will be open and probably have tapas.

Use booking.com to find a place in your price range. I have found that you can rely on the ratings from the customers.
 

Wow, that's a lot of things to see. Many thanks Dsavid.
 

Thank you for all that information, I do appreciate it.
 
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Thank you once again Falcon269, much appreciated.
 
As a matter of interest, do pilgrims naturally gravitate to one another when staying overnight in a town like Leon? That is, are strangers generally approachable or do people tend to stay in their own little groups?

What has been peoples' experience?
 
Colstarwalker said:
As a matter of interest, do pilgrims naturally gravitate to one another when staying overnight in a town like Leon? That is, are strangers generally approachable or do people tend to stay in their own little groups?
Click to expand...
On your first day on the Camino and in a big city, you may find connecting with fellow pilgrims somewhat difficult unless you are staying in the albergue. Staying in a hotel will mean that you are pretty much alone. Enjoy it. You are your own best friend forever!!
 
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Thank you falcon269
 
Colstarwalker said:
Could anyone recommend a good place to stay the night in Leon?
Click to expand...
@Colstarwalker
I have stayed twice at Hostal Don Suero when travelling through Leon on camino. It is an inexpensive hotel: private rooms with bath, and cost me about 25 euros per night for a single room, right on the camino, close to the parador. Address: Suero de Quinones, 15; tel. +34 987 230 600. The current price, if booking now, is 42 euros per night for a double room if you book from their website. Booking.com charges 46 euros, booking now for September [it might be more in September]. This is a quiet hotel a little past central Leon. Buen camino.
 
It's been a few years, but like Colstarwalker I stayed at the Hostal Don Suero--cheap, clean, safe and close to the historic center. The Benedictine albergue is also fine, although large and institutional--perhaps a rude shock for your first Camino night!
There is a lively street of bars near the Cathedral--I really recommend "Jamon Jamon" for both the atmosphere and the best free tapa you will ever get with a cheap vino tinto!
 
Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
I stayed at that hostel too. A wonderful stopover. Very clean and airy. Nice People running it.
 
We stayed at Hotel Q!H Spa Centro; has a good restaurant and is across from cathedral. We stayed another night in a Marriott.
 
I always recommend the Hostal San Martin. Rooms are en suite, good and reasonably priced. They don't food but bars and cafes are close by.
If you want to see the sights and don't have a lot of time then do a quick tour on the tourist train. After that visit those places that appeal the most.
 
Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Depending upon your point of origen you'll likely be too exhausted when you arrive to both find accommodations AND connect with other pilgrims on your first night. Just get settled in at whatever sleeping place fits your style and budget, see the city and go to bed early. Get up and hit the Camino and before you know it you'll be connected with others. From there on out it will be easy and intuitive.
 
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In a city like Leon (and Burgos), there are a lot of people around, tourists, residents and pilgrims. You can usually pick the pilgrims from the tourists and residents by their limited clothing attire a lot of the time. But unless you stay in an albergue, you probably wont socialise as such until the day you start walking.

But Leon is a beautiful city, I also wouldn't even bother trying to socialise with pilgrims, but rather spend the time looking around.
 
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Thank you Albertagirl, very much appreciated.
 

Thank you Patchymorning
 
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Ok, tourist train sounds good. Thank you Fleur, I appreciate that.
 
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Some good advice there, thank you Kdespot
 

Thank you for the advice Anamiri, it makes sense indeed to focus on the city for that one day.
 

And they spoke English which was great
 
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I stayed in the hotel that is part of the San Isidoro. It was very nice, beautiful location and interior. The coffee at breakfast was some of the best I've ever had in Spain! It's not cheap but it wasn't crazy expensive, either. Great location, right in the heart of town without being right in the busiest part. http://www.hotelrealcolegiata.com/

I loved Leon. Very nice city. Good night life. There is one street of old, traditional bars (Cervantes?) which is great fun. Young, old, children, dogs. The walk from the bus station, along the river, is lovely. Cathedral is stunning. Nice little park of Roman remains.

If I remember right, the place where you get the credencial opened weird hours and was a bit of a trek out of the town centre. I think it didn't open until quite late in the morning unless I'm mistaken. I ended up not bothering with one when I walked the Salvador as I didn't want to waste walking time hanging around.
 
I loved Leon, too, and I stayed at the "Le Petit" hotel, very near the cathedral, reasonably priced and several rooms
have a private terrace with a table and chairs. We loved sitting out there on a warm afternoon upon arrival. We were on the 3rd floor, viewing the surrounding tiled roofs and the storks in a nearby nest while sipping vino blanco and fresh strawberries, so refreshing! A memory I will never forget. AND the hotel had an elevator (unlike the one in Bilbao the following year, where we climbed up and up five flights of stairs to our room after walking 16 miles. I thought it was a joke as we kept going and going, round and round...like the energizer bunny...another unforgetable memory! Lol!)
 
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If you're looking for a good pub AND good food I highly recommend http://www.fourlionsbrewery.com/edad/
We finished in Leon yesterday. The Cathedral Mass, held in the chapel, was beautiful. To follow up with a great craft ale pint (yes ... an actual pint sized glass) with beautifully crafted beer AND great food was a real joy. Cannot recommend the place enough. See attached pictures.
San Isidore - this was a most spiritual experience: it was so profound we took no pictures. It is a must as far as I am concerned - exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in a truly wonderful setting.
Buen Camino
 

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I remember sitting in a cafe just off the main square in Leon and in a short time we had a table of five or six. I agree with the other responses, but would add that pretty much any town on the way most pilgrims are open to a hello and an offer to join or not.
 

Thank you for the heads-up on the credencial Stuart.
 
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Thanks for sharing those memories Chris.
 

I shall certainly check that out. Many thanks Phil.
 
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