Salamanca packs more architectural treasures per square metre than almost any other Spanish city. The entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, built from warm Villamayor sandstone that glows gold at sunset. The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest in Europe still in operation. Most major sights cluster within a walkable 1km radius around Plaza Mayor. Here is what to see with practical details including opening hours and ticket prices (current as of 2025).
Things to Do in Salamanca: Landmarks, Museums and Views
Plaza Mayor
Salamanca’s Plaza Mayor is widely considered the most beautiful main square in Spain. Built between 1729 and 1755 in Spanish Baroque style by Alberto and Manuel Churriguera, the square is a perfect rectangle lined with 88 uniform arches on four levels, decorated with medallions depicting Spanish kings, conquistadors, and cultural figures. The plaza functions as the city’s living room: morning coffee at Cafe Novelty (open since 1905), lunch at one of a dozen terrace restaurants, and evening paseo. Free to access 24/7. The tourist information office sits under the clock tower on the north side. The square is particularly stunning when floodlit at night.
University of Salamanca and the Frog Facade
The Universidad de Salamanca’s main building on Calle Libreros features the city’s most famous landmark: an intricate Plateresque facade completed in 1529, carved in golden sandstone. The tradition is to find the small frog sitting on a skull among the dense carvings; legend says students who spot it without help will pass their exams. Entry costs 10 EUR (5 EUR for students and seniors) and includes access to the historic lecture halls, the library with 2,800 manuscripts, and the Fray Luis de Leon classroom preserved as it was in the 16th century. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00, Sunday 10:00 to 14:00. Book online at usal.es during peak months to skip the queue.
Old Cathedral and New Cathedral
Salamanca is unusual in having two cathedrals joined together. The Old Cathedral (Catedral Vieja), built in the 12th and 13th centuries, is a Romanesque gem with a magnificent 15th-century altarpiece comprising 53 painted panels by Dello Delli. The New Cathedral (Catedral Nueva), constructed between 1513 and 1733, is Late Gothic with Renaissance elements. Look for the astronaut carved into the Puerta de Ramos during the 1992 restoration, a playful restorer’s signature. The combined ticket costs 6 EUR and includes both cathedrals and the tower climb. Open daily 10:00 to 18:00 (until 20:00 in summer). The tower provides the best panoramic view of the city’s sandstone skyline.
Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells)
Built between 1493 and 1517, this former palace is covered in over 300 carved stone scallop shells, the symbol of the Order of Santiago. It now houses a public library and exhibition space with free entry. The inner courtyard has a small cafe with a carved stone well and Gothic arches. The iron window grilles are exceptional examples of 15th-century metalwork. Located on Calle Compania, it is open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 21:00, Saturday 09:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, Sunday 09:00 to 14:00.
Convento de San Esteban
This Dominican monastery, built between 1524 and 1610, features one of Spain’s finest Plateresque facades, a stone triumphal arch depicting the martyrdom of Saint Stephen. The interior includes a gilded Baroque altarpiece by Jose Benito de Churriguera and a Renaissance cloister with carved medallions. Entry costs 4 EUR (2 EUR reduced). Open daily 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 18:00. The convent sits on Plaza del Concilio de Trento, a 3-minute walk from the cathedrals.
La Clerecia Tower and College
The Jesuit college and church, built between 1617 and 1754, offers the best elevated view in Salamanca. The Scala Coeli tower climb involves 185 steps to two viewing platforms at 60 metres, providing 360-degree views over the cathedrals, Plaza Mayor, and the River Tormes valley. Entry costs 5 EUR and includes the church, cloister, and tower. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00. The guided visit, included in the ticket, explains the Jesuit history and the building’s Baroque architecture.
Roman Bridge (Puente Romano)
This 1st-century bridge spans the River Tormes with 15 of its original 26 Roman arches still visible; the remaining arches were rebuilt after a 17th-century flood. The bridge carried the Via de la Plata (Silver Route) from Merida to Astorga for nearly 2,000 years. It is now pedestrian-only and offers the classic postcard view of Salamanca’s cathedral-dominated skyline, particularly beautiful at sunset when the sandstone glows gold. Free access 24/7.
Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum (Casa Lis)
Housed in a striking Modernist building with stained glass facades overlooking the river, Casa Lis displays one of Europe’s finest collections of Art Nouveau and Art Deco decorative arts: Lalique glass, porcelain dolls, Faberge objects, and furniture by Emile Galle. Entry costs 5 EUR (3 EUR reduced, free on Thursday mornings). Open Tuesday to Friday 11:00 to 17:00, weekends 11:00 to 20:00, closed Monday. The on-site cafe is worth a stop for its terrace view of the river.
Huerto de Calixto y Melibea
This small terraced garden, named after the lovers from Fernando de Rojas’ 1499 novel La Celestina set in Salamanca, sits on the old city wall next to the cathedrals. It offers peaceful benches, cypress trees, rose bushes, a well, and views of the river and countryside. Free entry, open daily 09:00 to dusk. A quiet escape from the midday tourist bustle.
Convento de las Duenas
This 15th-century Dominican convent features a two-level Renaissance cloister with fantastical carved capitals depicting griffins, mermaids, and grotesques, considered among the most imaginative stonework in Spain. The nuns sell traditional sweets including almendrados and mantecados through a revolving wooden door. Entry costs 2 EUR. Open daily 10:00 to 12:30 and 16:30 to 18:30.
After sightseeing, find a place to rest with our where to stay in Salamanca guide covering hotels in every neighbourhood. For getting around the city, check the Salamanca travel tips and FAQ page. Explore neighbourhoods in our Salamanca neighborhoods guide.
