Hello All,
Planning a trip possibly in October 2023. Love the new Canfranc Estación Hotel and would like to include that as part of my trip. What is the best way to get to Canfranc from Barcelona? Car? Train? Hints & advice?
Any other help hints of cities to visit in that part of Spain? We love historical cities & sites as well as different cultures.
Hi Canfranc is actually pretty far from Barcelona and not connected well with public transportation to my knowledge.
You could take the fast train to Zaragoza, spend a few nights there, then rent a car, then drive up to Canfranc. Seems like a lot of time and energy just to see a tacky hotel in a former train station in the middle of nowhere.
Much more interesting places closer to Barcelona for history buffs to see imo.
We had a car when we visited Canfranc last May. Construction was still ongoing at the hotel. I was hoping to see the building when it was a derelict train station. Oh well. Next time we’re in that area, we plan to return. There is a nice, modern train station there, so check the Renfe site. My website has a few photos of the buildings at Canfranc from last May. When we visited it we were staying in SOS Del Rey Católico. Canfranc has an interesting history with regard to WW-II and the cooperation between the Franco and Hitler regimes. Near it are some post WW-II bunkers. The area is beautiful and is only about 6km from the French border.
For places in that area, there is Monasterio Nuevo de San Juan de la Peña and Loarre castle near Jaca. I could recommend more places, but without knowing what you intend to do, or where you’re going, after Canfranc, or how you’re getting around, it’s hard to recommend places. The photos from my website might give you some ideas of sights in the area.
It’s just my opinion, but in that part of Spain, many of the sights are in small or no towns and are best reached by car.
