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Valladolid is a city in the Castile-León region of Spain. It is located about one hour northwest of Madrid in the center of plateau Meseta Norte. The geography contributes to the city’s climate, which is hot, sunny, and dry in the summer and cooler during winter months. This makes it the perfect place for wine production!

Food & Drink in Valladolid

Valladolid is much more budget-friendly compared to neighboring Madrid. A corto and tapa usually cost around 2 EUR, making it a fun city for tapa crawls. There are also several cafés that serve nice coffee alongside sweets. Notable places to try:

• Café El Minuto: Old-time café serving coffee
• Sesentta: Set meals, coffees, and juices
• Chocolatería y Chuerría El Castillo: Churros con chocolate
• Bar La Cárcava: Big toasts and sandwiches
• La Cabaña: Rice dishes, tortilla, and soups
• Jamonería Sarmiento-Jabuguito: Michelin-star cured ham
• Jero: Michelin-star tiny toasts with various toppings
• El Corcho: Croquettas

Travel tip: Definitely try verdejo wine in Valladolid, as most of this wine is produced in this area of the country. You can get great quality verdejo for incredibly low prices at restaurants and in markets.

Places of Interest in Valladolid

A few places to visit while in Valladolid include:

• Cathedral of Valladolid
• Plaza Mayor
• Cerro de las Contiendas
• Campo Grande
• Pisuerga River

Cerro de las Contiendas is my personal favorite because it has gorgeous views of the city and its surroundings, including a nearby pueblo. There are different trails which interconnect the base of the hill to the various viewpoints throughout the park, all which wind in and around a small, forested area.

Valladolid may not be as artsy as Barcelona or pretty as the streets of Sevilla, but it’s a special place to me because my sister lived here for two years. Visiting her showed me what life is like outside of major Spanish cities and gave a glimpse into the lives of many Spanish people. I was able to partake in daily siestas, drink wine, and learn about local culture—all which were highlights of my time in the country. It’s an easy train ride away from Madrid, making it convenient to visit for a day-trip, too.

Peace & happy travels,

Tay