Muralla de Avila – Walking on the Fortified Walls of Avila, Spain
La Muralla de Avila, literally the Walls of Avila, are the most well-preserved fortifications in all of Spain.
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This guide has everything you need to know to plan your visit.
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The walls of Avila are the main characteristic of Avila, often nicknamed “the Walled City of Spain“. Whether you look at the walls from inside the fortified city or from the outside, they are absolutely stunning. Even better, you can go on top of the walls, and walk along them!
In this travel guide about the Walls of Avila, Spain, you’ll find in the table of contents below everything that we’ll see, from learning facts & visiting the walls to opening hours, entry fee and more.
Simply click on the table to expand it, then click on any part you’d like to jump to.
Where is the Muralla de Avila?
The Muralla de Avila is located in the city of Avila, Spain, north west of Madrid.
The walls are all around the old city center, which is on the West part of the city. It goes from the city limits of Avila in the west to the Avila Cathedral in the east.
Facts about the Walls of Avila
Are you fond of facts? I know I am! I love learning more about a place and its history with some quick & interesting facts, so I’ve gathered a few about the Muralla de Avila for you:
- the fortified walls were built during the 12th century
- even before the walls you can see today, there was a wall built by the Romans around the 1st century
- the wall is 2,516 meters long (1.5 mile).
- There are 9 gates, 87 turrets, and 2500 merlons! (part of the parapet between two crenels)
- the walls of Avila are the best conserved city walls in Spain, and among the best in Europe (see also the city walls of Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland)
Exploring the Fortified Walls of Avila
My 2 days road trip around Madrid was totally unplanned. After exploring Segovia for a day, I drove to Avila, but the truth is I had absolutely no idea what to see there.
In fact, the only reason why I decided to drive to Avila was because I saw a picture of the fortified city walls online.
So, with no plans at all, I rolled up to the city, drove to the walls, and of course I couldn’t find anywhere to park (see below for free parking spots in the city). But I still got to see the walls from afar, which got me excited!
I drove back in the city, and found a parking spot next to the Avila train station. I made my way towards the wall, and arrived from the north east. Right before reaching the city walls, I saw a stunning building, the Basilica de San Vicente.
And then, I finally reached the Muralla de Avila, from the Puerta de San Vicente.
From the picture I saw online prior to visiting, I had no idea how big these walls were. But when I was standing right below, at the Gate of San Vicente, I truly realized how massive these walls really were!
What I also didn’t know before coming is that you can go on top of the walls, on walk all along the Muralla de Avila! The only part where you can’t walk yet is the southern wall, which still needs preparation work to make it available to the public.
To get up on the walls, you need to access from a “Puerta“, “gate” in Spanish. There are 9 gates in the walls of Avila, but only 4 of them allow access to the top. You’ll find below a list of the 9 gates.
Gates of Muralla Avila (in bold are the gates with access to the top):
- Puerta del Alcázar (Gate of the Fortress)
- Puerta del Peso de la Harina, de los Leales o de la Catedral (Gate of the Flour Weighbridge, of the Loyalists or of the Cathedral)
- Puerta de San Vicente (Gate of Saint Vincent)
- Puerta del Mariscal (Gate of the Marshall)
- Puerta del Carmen (Gate of El Carmen)
- Puerta del Puente (Gate of the Bridge)
- Puerta de la Malaventura, de la Mala Dicha o Arco de los Gitanos (Gate of Misfortune, or of the Gypsies)
- Puerta de la Santa o de Montenegro (Gate of the Convent of St Teresa or of Montenegro)
- Puerta del Rastro o de la Estrella (Gate of El Rastro or of La Estrella)
We’ll see more about each of these 4 access below.
The Gate of El Alcazar
The Puerta del Alcázar is the most impressive gate of the Avila walls. It was once the gate to the castle of Avila, but there is no trace of the castle today.
The main tower on the left is the Torreón del Homenaje (The Keep); you can go inside, where you’ll find very interesting documentaries about the walls and the construction of the walls.
When you go up the walls, you will have a nice view of the Avila Cathedral.
You can also walk all the way to the cathedral on top of the walls.
Puerta del Peso de la Harina, de los Leales o de la Catedral
The Gate of the Cathedral is located right next to the Cathedral, and also allows access to the top section of the walls. This is a pretty special section of the walls, because the Cathedral was directly integrated into the walls.
As you can see on the picture above, the round part is actually the back of the Cathedral (the apse), and it has been built to be part of the walls.
Gate of El Puente
The third access to the walls is the Gate of El Puente.
This gate is on the west side of the fortified walls, and it’s a bit different than the other ones. To access the top, you can’t go directly from the gate itself: you have to go through the gate to enter the city, then on your left you will see the access to the top.
Gate of El Carmen
The last of the 4 access to the top of the walls is the Puerta Del Carmen.
The Gate of El Carmen is also the most distinctive gate of them all, because of its huge bell tower towering above the city walls. It’s very distinctive, and you can see it from afar.
This side is my favorite part of the Muralla de Avila, because the walls are on a gentle hill, with gardens in front.
Best View of the Avila Walls
To make sure you get the best possible experience for your visit of Avila, I will share with you my 2 best viewpoints over the Muralla de Avila: from the slopes of El Carmen & from the Mirador 4 Postes.
From the Slopes of El Carmen
The first best spot to see the walls of Avila is from the slopes of El Carmen.
Next to the Puerta del Carmen (the one with the big bell tower), there is a succession of towers and no adjacent buildings, making this spot one of the best to see the walls.
In front of the walls, you’ll find big open fields, where you can sit down, relax, and maybe enjoy a nice picnic with a killer view on the walls!
From the Slopes of El Carmen
Mirador 4 Postes
The Mirador 4 Postes is my favorite view of the walls of Ávila.
It offers an incredible view over the whole city, and you can see most of the walls: the west, north and south part! You can also see the steeple of El Carmen, and the Cathedral of Avila in the back.
Mirador 4 Postes
Read more about the Mirador 4 Postes here: the Best View of Avila
Muralla de Avila Tickets
You need to buy a ticket to visit the Avila city walls.
Here are the prices for the Muralla de Avila tickets:
Under 18 years old / Students under 25: 3.50€
Children under 12 years old: Free entry
Buy Tickets here: Walls of Avila tickets
The Muralla de Avila is included in the VISITAVILA card, a tourist card that adds to 40% discount if you visit multiple monuments in the city.
Muralla de Avila Opening Hours
The opening hours for the Muralla de Avila vary depending on the time of the year. Make sure to check the opening times below to avoid coming when it’s closed.
Please note that last entry is 30 minutes before closing time for the Gate of Alcazar, and 45 minutes before closing time for the other gates.
From March 29th to June 30th: 10am to 8pm / open on Mondays
From July 1st to August 31st: 10am to 9pm / open on Mondays
From September 1st to October 27th: 10am to 8pm / open on Mondays
How to Get to the Muralla de Avila
You can either get to the city walls in Avila by car, or by train.
By car
Avila is a perfect day trip from Madrid, and from other Spanish cities. You’ll find below the driving time from nearby cities:
From Madrid: 1h20 via highway, 1h40 without tolls
From Segovia: 1h
From Salamanca: 1h10
It’s difficult to drive and park in the city; the best option is to find a parking outside of the city walls, then walk to the center.
When you’ll reach Avila, head to the north west of the city, right outside of the city walls. This is where you’ll find the cheapest parking options, and the most parking spaces available.
By train
If you don’t have a car, you can get to Avila by train from Madrid. There is a direct train that goes straight from Madrid to Avila.
From: Madrid-Chamartin
To: Avila
Duration: 1h32 minutes
Cost: 13€ (average price)
Book here: Train to Avila
You can also take the trains from other cities in Spain (Barcelona, Toledo, …), just click on the link above to see all options.
From the Avila train station, you can walk to the city center, which will take you around 15 minutes.
Where to Stay Near the Walls of Ávila
If you’re visiting Avila and its fortified walls, you have several options for where to stay. You’ll find below hotels depending on your travel style:
Budget: Hostel El Rincón
Cheapest accommodation in Avila, for around 30€ per night. It comes with private bathroom and free wifi.
This hostel has the best location, it’s within the fortified walls of Avila, and everything is within walking distance. There’s also a free toiletries in the bathroom for your comfort.
If you’re travelling with 2 other people, check out the option below which is way better, and costs the same.
Comfy: Vallespin Suite
The Vallespin Suite is my favorite accommodation for a comfy stay in Avila, for around 60€ per night for the full suite, which can host 3 people (that’s 20€ per person if you’re 3)
It’s ideally located inside the fortified walls of Avila, and it’s a 8 minutes walk from the Cathedral. The beds are pretty comfy, and the included breakfast makes it a perfect choice for your stay in Avila.
Luxury: La Casa del Presidente
The best hotel in Avila, hands down.
La Casa del Presidente has everything you’ll need, and even more: free parking, breakfast included, incredible rooms, a swimming pool, and the location… The hotel is right next to the Avila fortified walls, you can’t be closer!
Visit Spain
Planning a trip to Avila and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip:
Avila Guides:
Visit the First Gothic Cathedral in Spain – in Avila!
Explore the Birthplace of Santa Teresa in Avila
Spain Guides:
How to get from Madrid to Segovia
I hope you enjoy your trip to the walls of Avila and to Spain!
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.
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