10 Things to Do in Segovia in Winter

Although winter in Segovia causes temperatures to turn cold, this city compensates by becoming even more beautiful if possible. Often, this Castilian city is covered in a mist that makes the Alcázar look like a fairytale castle, even more so than usual. And if you are lucky enough that the snow has buried Segovia under its white blanket, you will be able to enjoy a truly exceptional sight.

Moreover, this time of year is ideal for those who prefer to explore Segovia's attractions in a quieter way, as it is the lowest season in terms of tourism. And if your trip coincides with the arrival of Christmas, you'll find it adorned with beautiful illumination that contrasts beautifully with its ancient architecture and smoking chimneys.

Every year as Christmas approaches, the city of Segovia dresses up to welcome one of the most endearing festivities of the winter season. Strolling through the streets of Segovia's city centre under the Christmas decorations is an unforgettable experience, as the cheerful illumination contrasts in a special way with the historic buildings of this medieval city. And, if you are lucky enough to have snow in Segovia during your trip, you will find a magical sight that I assure you will make the cold worth it.

One of the most typical Christmas activities you can do at this time of year is to go and see nativity scenes, especially the two most famous ones, the Seminary Nativity Scene and the Torreón de Lozoya Nativity Scene. I also recommend a visit to the Plaza Mayor, where activities take place every year, and where a charming Christmas market has recently started to take place.

However, the best plan for this time of year is to wrap up warm and go out into the streets to enjoy the lively life and festive atmosphere of the city. One option if you want to visit all the nooks and crannies of the city while they tell you the history of this millenary place, is to take a tour of the city. Best tours of SegoviaYou can book a guided tour of Segovia, in which an expert guide will accompany you to the main places of interest and tell you some interesting facts about the city.

Every year, the town of Zamarramala in Segovia celebrates the Feast of Saint Agatha, which takes place on the first Sunday after the 5th of February. Zamarramala is only 10 minutes by car from Segovia and during this festival, also known as the festival of the married women, both Santa Águeda and the Zamarriegas are honoured for their role in the times of the Reconquest.

The story goes that when the Alcázar was occupied by the Muslims, these brave women dressed in their best clothes and decided to carry out a manoeuvre to entertain the occupants of the castle by dancing for them, thus distracting them. The men then took the opportunity to enter the fortress and recapture it. Since then, this day is celebrated in this small town by honouring the women by holding different events.

If you are lucky and your trip coincides with this festivity, you will have the opportunity to see the typical costumes of this celebration, as well as enjoy the rest of the activities that include dances**, parades** and the custom of eating the traditional chorizo sausage, which is cooked in wine.

Seeing a play at the prestigious Teatro Juan Bravo is an excellent way to take shelter from the cold while enjoying an entertaining show. And if that wasn't enough, at this time of year its programme is especially important, as during the winter months it hosts a succession of theatre, music and dance performances. In addition, some performances are also staged for the little ones, making it an ideal plan that they will love. 10 Things to do in Segovia with Kids

The theatre is located in Segovia's Plaza Mayor and was built in 1917. This building with its neoclassical façade has recently been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and houses an exhibition hall where events and other activities are organised. So, if you decide to take a trip to Segovia during the winter, don't hesitate to check out its programme and enjoy a fun performance in the stalls of this Segovian theatre.

What better way to warm up after a long walk than with a comforting hot meal? And that's why the next plan on the list is for you to go and taste the exquisite Segovian gastronomy in one of its best-rated restaurants, the legendary Mesón de Cándido, which also happens to be the oldest in the whole city.

Once there, you will have the chance to try Segovia's best-known traditional dishes, such as the hearty Castilian soup, made in a clay pot and whose ingredients include broth, ham, hard bread, egg and paprika, or the farm beans, another of the stars of the area's gastronomy.

However, its star dish is its famous roast suckling pig, which is a must-try. Another of the attractions of this renowned restaurant is its location, as it is in one of the most important and touristy squares in the city, as well as having enviable views of the thousand-year-old Segovia Aqueduct.

Practical information

• Where: Mesón de Cándido is in Plaza Azoguejo, number 5.
• Opening times: every day from 1.30pm to 11pm.
• Price: from 35€ to 60€ approximately per person.

Just a few kilometres from Segovia, you will find the well-known Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, and if you like snow and winter sports, you will love this excursion. In the colder months, the Sierra de Guadarrama is covered in white, giving rise to a beautiful winter landscape, where you can also enjoy different activities.

Some of the winter sports you can enjoy in this spectacular natural area are Nordic skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding. As if that wasn't enough, most of these activities are free of charge, although you will need to bring the necessary clothing and sports equipment to carry them out, or hire it from the park itself.

The nearest Visitor Centre is the Valsaín Visitor Centre, which is located just 20 minutes by car from Segovia. This centre serves as an information point, visitor centre and entry point to the National Park. If you decide to go on this exciting excursion, bear in mind that you should check the weather beforehand to make sure that the park is in optimum conditions for your visit.

It is always advisable when travelling in cold weather to take a break on the road to have a hot drink and get your strength back. And what better way to accompany your coffee or hot chocolate than with Segovia's most typical sweet?

To get to know a city in its entirety, you also have to get to know its gastronomy. Segovian punch is Segovia's most emblematic sweet and its creator was the confectioner Frutos García Martín, whose original recipe is still a secret and is protected by patent. This cake alternates layers of sponge cake dipped in syrup with generous layers of custard. The cake is then covered with marzipan and finally sprinkled with icing sugar, which is burnt to form its characteristic pattern.

The most legendary place to taste this sweet native to Segovia is the same place where it was created, the Confitería el Alcázar, which is located in the always lively Plaza Mayor. So if you happen to be strolling around this emblematic Segovian square, I encourage you to stop by this old establishment and try the city's most famous sweet.

Practical information

• Where: El Alcázar Confectionery is located at 13 Plaza Mayor square.
• Opening times: every day from 10:00 to 19:00 h.
• Price: from 3€ to 9€ approximately per person.

10 Things to Do in Segovia in Summer or during the cold winter, dedicating a part of your time to visit the Cathedral Segovia Cathedral Opening Hours is an almost obligatory visit. In addition, during this time of year you will have the advantage that the tourist influx is much lower than in other seasons, so you will have the opportunity to get to know this spectacular temple in a much calmer and more pleasant way.

Segovia Cathedral is a late Gothic style building, whose construction took place between the 16th and 18th centuries. Composed of three large naves, this religious temple is particularly striking for its high tower of up to 88 metres in height, as well as for its beautiful stained glass windows that let in the light, creating a spectacle worthy of admiration. So, if you travel to this charming city, be sure to pay a visit to this magnificent monument, which has been called the Lady of Cathedrals.

For the following plan, I am going to suggest that you take advantage of the low tourist influx to visit one of this city's must-see sights in peace and quiet, Alcazar of Segovia Tickets and Tours. At this time of year, you can enjoy this impressive medieval castle without the crowds of tourists, making it a much more pleasant visit. What's more, inside you can take shelter from the cold for a while.

The Alcázar of Segovia is a magnificent fortress which has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by Unesco and whose visit will not fail to surprise you from the moment you cross its drawbridge, which looks like something out of a film scene. Inside, you can marvel at the numerous rooms and halls decorated with Christian and Mudejar elements.

If you are lucky enough to find Segovia covered in snow during your trip, you will be able to contemplate one of the most beautiful sights imaginable, as the landscape created when the Alcázar, which stands guarding the city on a rock formation, is covered in white by the snow, is a truly spectacular image.

Winter in Segovia is cold, so if you decide to make your trip during this season it is best to alternate outdoor walks with visits to museums and monuments to protect you from the cold temperatures. With this in mind, the next plan I am going to suggest is that you take a tour of the most important churches in Segovia.

The first and one of the most important in the city is the Church of San Miguel, a Gothic style temple with an important history that is located next to the Plaza Mayor of Segovia. The church we can see today is a reconstruction of the temple where Queen Isabella I of Castile was proclaimed Queen, which suffered a collapse in the 16th century. Another place to visit on this tour is the unique Church of Vera Cruz, a Romanesque-style building that stands out mainly for its original dodecagonal floor plan.

Two churches that are also worth a visit are the Church of San Martín, a medieval building located on the busy Calle Real and known for being one of the most emblematic monuments in Segovia, and the Romanesque-style Church of San Esteban, which stands out for its tall bell tower, which rises up to 56 metres high.

To continue with visits to interior spaces where the cold cannot reach you, I encourage you to visit the Antonio Machado House Museum, located in Calle de los Desamparados. This house was, as its name suggests, the residence of this admired poet for more than 10 years and here you can see the writer's modest room, which is still intact and decorated with photographs of the author and portraits signed by artists such as Álvaro Delgado and Pablo Picasso.

Antonio Machado lived in this small guest house while he held a professorship at the secondary school in Segovia. One of the peculiarities that make this museum so interesting to visit is that the house maintains the atmosphere of the period, giving the impression that the author himself still resides there. It also houses his drawings, the letters he wrote to his beloved and even a library filled with all his works, both in Spanish and in other languages.

Practical information

• Where: The Antonio Machado House Museum is located at Calle de los Desamparados 5.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Tuesday from 11am-2pm and Wednesday to Saturday from 11am-2pm and 4-6pm.
• Price: admission to this museum is available from €3.

The climate in Segovia is partly determined by its altitude, which reaches up to 1000 metres, and its location to the north of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, which means that the cold mountain winds sometimes reach the city. Because of this, winter temperatures in Segovia tend to be low, often below freezing.

Between December and March, maximum temperatures average around 10ºC, while minimum temperatures are between -2ºC and 3ºC, so winters in Segovia are usually quite cold. As for precipitation, it can occur from time to time during this time of year, however, it is not uncommon to encounter snowy days during the winter months.

Although this city is not lacking in charm and dreamlike landscapes during the winter season, due to its low temperatures, this becomes the lowest season for tourism in Segovia. Especially during November, January, February and March, as these are the coldest months. In December, the influx is somewhat higher, although not too much, due to the fantastic Christmas atmosphere in the city, which combines wonderfully with the snowy landscapes that can be found there.

As for prices, being the season with the lowest number of tourists, they are also lower than at other times of the year, so you will be able to find very cheap accommodation if you decide to visit Segovia during this season. During the month of December, prices may go up a little and there may be less accommodation available, however, it is also possible to find accommodation at a fair price as long as you book in advance.