Spain Guide
Castilla y León and La Rioja
Accommodation
1 Boccalino Plaza de San Isidoro 1, Casco Antiguo 
987 220 017 Sits on a lovely square overlooking San Isidoro church. The rooms are above a café-bar, and have parquet floors, good bathrooms with decent showers, double-glazing and church views; across the square is the associated restaurant, a good-value pizza and pasta place. Internet access available.Price: €51-70
2 
Hostal Albany c/la Paloma 13, Casco Antiguo 987 264 600 
www.albanyleon.com One of the best in town, right opposite the cathedral, a spiffy, modern two-star hostal with compact en-suite rooms with a/c and flat-screen TVs. It also has a great café on the square (good cakes and home-made ice cream) and the fine attached restaurant, Las Termas, which serves more inventive meals than most (menú €13).Price: €51-70
3 Hostal San Martin Plaza Torres de Omaña 1, 2°, Casco Antiguo 987 875 187 www.sanmartinhostales.com An excellent hostal with simple but stylish rooms painted in pastel shades – there's a choice of shared or private bathrooms, and wi-fi is available. Price: €36-50
4 Pensión Puerta Sol c/Puerta del Sol 1 2°, Casco Antiguo 987 211 966 Reasonable pensión rooms in an excellent location overlooking Plaza Mayor; however, if you're looking for quiet, early nights, this is not the part of town for you. Price: Up to €35
5 Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor 15–17, Casco Antiguo 987 344 357 www.nh-hotels.com Chic boutique style in a classy refit of one of the square's handsome arcaded buildings. Facilities and services are four-star standard, and include one of superchef Ferran Adrià's Nhube contemporary bistro-style restaurants. Best rates are online. Price: €101-150
6 Hostal Bayón c/Alcázar de Toledo 6, 2°, new town 987 231 446 Handsome budget hostal: stripped-pine floors, high ceilings, large windows, quiet rooms and firm beds throughout. There are only five rooms, so it's essential to book ahead. Price: Up to €35
7 Hostal España c/del Carmen 3, 1°, new town 987 236 014 A cheap standby, located in a quiet side street. It's a bit dowdy, and there aren't any en-suite rooms, but you can't argue with the price. Price: Up to €35
8 Hotel Residencía Londres Avda. de Roma 1, 1°, new town 987 222 274 www.hostallondres.com Large, spotless singles and doubles with cork-tile floors, some with particularly spacious bathrooms, and big windows onto the street. For breakfast, you can pop over the road to the fabulously retro Cantabrico café. Price: €36-50
9 Hotel Residencía Reina c/Puerto de la Reina 2, new town 987 205 212 www.hotelreina.com A surprisingly funky one-star hotel, quite centrally located, with excellent-value rooms, some en suite. The cheery, English-speaking hosts have taken some care with the decor and furnishings, and there's a really laidback feel. Price: €36-50
10 Parador Hostal San Marcos Plaza San Marcos 7, new town 987 237 300 www.parador.es The sensational parador occupies one of León's oldest and most dramatic buildings. Bedrooms are of the antiques and four-poster kind, though with all mod cons, and there's a sense of calm and majesty throughout. The restaurant is also good, with mains from €25. It's one of only a handful of the paradores with no off-season prices. Price: €201-250