Lonely Planet published its Best in Travel 2027 list on 23 September 2026 – 50 places to travel in the world for the best experiences. León is the only Spanish city on the list.
While this list isn’t a ranking, it’s surprising that the publication chose only one destination from Spain, while the USA and Japan have multiple places on their list. León is beautiful, and it deserves to be on the 2027 list.
Why Lonely Planet chose León
The reason for their picking León as one of the Best in Travel destinations for 2027 is based on the duality of the city: during the day, it impresses with its grand Castilian monuments, deep Catholic roots, and access to the Camino de Santiago, while by night, it becomes a very lively place for people to meet, eat, drink, and have fun.
What to see in León
The architecture in this city is impressive, but what strikes you from the first moment you get here is the Cathedral (the Pulcra Leonina), a very tall and grandiose Gothic church with amazing stained-glass windows.
Next to it, you can visit the Basilica of San Isidoro, known as the “Sistine Chapel of Spanish Romanesque” for its 12th-century frescoes with well-preserved vibrant original colors.
The next building you’ll want to visit is Casa Botines because it is one of the few works by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí outside Catalonia. He also designed the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.
Free Tapas in León
Just like Granada, you can get a free tapa with every drink in León. This ranges from Sopa de ajo or Patatas con morcilla at Bar El Gaucho to Chorizo and other cured products at El Romantico. As an exception, you’d have to order and pay for your tapas at Bar La Ribera, but you could get a free tapa of fried potato chips and alioli sauce.
Source: Lonely Planet
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