One Day in Cuenca - The Shadrian Chronicles

Mostly known for the “Casas Colgadas,” or hanging houses, the tiny town of Cuenca has a lot of charm and history to explore. With the journey being only three hours by train, Cuenca makes for a great day trip from Madrid. Check out our guide below for spending a day in Cuenca.

How to get to and around Cuenca?

From Madrid, you can catch the train from the Atocha station, which takes roughly 3 hours. The train stops outside of the city, so you do need to catch a taxi or the bus to get to the city. Buses do service the train station and are a cheap option to get around the city. The taxi from the train station to the old city was $12 each way.

Using a rental car, the drive is roughly two hours, and there is parking available at a few places within the old city. Be aware though, gas is expensive in Madrid.

Once you are in Cuenca, you can reach all of the tourist attractions by walking, or catch one of the public buses. Bus rides start at 2 euros.

Things to Do and See

Below is a list of the highlights of Cuenca to check out during your visit.

Casas Colgadas – Probably the most well known attraction within the city, the hanging houses sit right on the edge of the cliff. There are only a few remaining today.
Museo de Arte Abtracto Español – The museum is located inside the same building as the remaining hanging houses. The museum is only abstract art by Spanish artists.
Cuenca Cathedral – One of the first things you will see as you get into the old city is the cathedral. The exterior architecture is impressive and picture worthy. You can explore the inside for a small fee.
San Pablo Bridge – The bridge connects the old city to the Parador de Cuenca, a former monastery turned hotel. The views from the bridge alone are worth the visit. If you are afraid of heights, definitely avoid the bridge.

There are also some old ruins of walls and buildings that are scattered throughout the old city. You can also find a free walking tour or guided tours of the city if you are wanting something more planned.