Think you know Salamanca already? Think again! Salamanca is full of surprises that take lifetimes to uncover. It’s one of Europe’s cultural capitals, it’s the Oxford of Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with outstanding universal value. A city so historic and unique as Salamanca deserves to be discovered in historic and unique ways. Go off the beaten track and discover the city’s hidden gems on boat, bike or horseback! Read below to learn about the best touristic routes.

By Boat

Hop on a pedal boat or kayak to explore Salamanca in style. Take a peaceful ride on traditional “barcas del Tormes” for stunning views of the city including la Clerecía (a Jesuit church), Casa Lis (a fine arts museum focused on Art Nouveau and Art Déco), a stunning cathedral y several other interesting temples.

Practical information:

• Schedule: 11 a.m. – 9:30 pm Abril through September
• Price: Between €6-€15 depending on what kind of boat you rent and the number of people in each boat.
• Contact: Bar la Pachamama, Paseo Progreso, 1 Salamanca; Reservations: (+34)  636 82 56 14

By Bike

Bikes are always a great way to see a new city: you have the ability to see things up close and personal while covering more ground than you might be able to on foot! Salamanca is always expanding its network of bike paths and offers plenty of ways to rent bikes at your convenience including with SALenBICI (a city-owned bike share), the association Amigos de la Bici and the University of Salamanca.

Practical information to rent bikes from Bikecicletas Salamanca:

• Price: Starting at €5 per hour.
• Contact: Bikecicletas Calle Traviesa, 18-20 Salamanca; Reservations: (+34) 923 216 940

Parks and Neighborhood Tour by Bike

Discover the various neighborhoods and parks of Salamanca. You will be surprised as you find hidden oases in the city.  Enjoy pleasant sites lined by curious trees and riverbanks. On bike, you have the ability to not only see the parks within the city, but to also explore the districts just outside of the historic center.

Tour duration: 3 hours.           

Romantic Salamanca

Discover the most romantic areas of Salamanca. You are sure to find yourself daydreaming and sighing out loud as you listen to inspiring legends. Go beyond the city walls to discover the mysteries and romance of Salamanca.

Tour duration: 3 hours.

Camino de Santiago and Rural Salamanca

A guided bike tour takes you to the meadows and natural parks surrounding the city of Salamanca. Find yourself in green fields full of wildlife. Under the shade of big oak trees, you will probably see bulls, cows, Iberian pigs, sheep and quaint hamlets. Many of the towns here welcome pilgrims weary from the Camino of Santiago (St. Jame’s Way), via the Silver Route, as they did hundreds of years ago during the time of the Romans. If you are lucky, you might even see storks, deer, rabbits, fox and various types of birds. Enjoy nature up close and personal!

Tour duration: 4 hours.

By Horse

Riding a horse through Salamanca is a wonderful experience that makes you reminiscent of a past era. If you are looking for something different and exciting - tour the city on horseback! Choose between various routes, we recommend riding along the Tormes River. For more experienced riders, tours also go to the beautiful Finca Montegallardo or Finca Rodasviejas, approximately 25 miles outside of the city.

Practical information:

• Transportation to and from Salamanca included
• Tour duration: 1.5+ hours.
• Levels: Beginner to experienced riders.
• Price: Varies depending on the season, group size and tour duration.
• Contact: Lugar Aceña, S/N, 37336 Huerta, Salamanca; Reservations: 646 46 80 03

‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.’ - Nelson Mandela. 

Over 400 million native Spanish speakers world-wide would probably agree that Spanish is the best! We think so too, and here are a few reasons why you should learn Spanish as your second language.

1. It’s a global language.

If you want to visit beautiful destinations and understand the culture on a deeper level, Spanish will give you that ability in at least 21 countries where it is the official language. Imagine traveling to Ecuador or Mexico or even Spain, and being able to get around and meet local residence on your own, without a guide!

2. Spanish opens a whole world of interesting activities.

It is the root of many beautiful dances like tango, salsa and flamenco, all of which have their own specific Spanish music and associated unique instruments. Learning the language will help you understand their meaning, cultural roots and historic background. Equally fascinating are the classic Spanish writers like Cervantes, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Federico Garcia Lorca and Pablo Neruda. All of a sudden, you have new literature to read, Spanish blogs to discover, news with different perspectives to read and great songs to sing.

3. Spanish is ranked #1 on Britain’s Languages For the Future report.

This report was specifically created to rank the most important languages for UK citizens to learn after English, but the information is universal – Spanish is the language of the future! Spanish is indispensable for any global business and opens many doors for workers across all industries.

4. It's one of the most spoken languages in the world, as well as the most used on the Internet.

There are more than 400 million native Spanish speakers worldwide and many more who speak Spanish as a second language. Although there is some argument, Spanish is largely regarded as the third most used language on the Internet.

5. Spanish is closely linked with other Romance languages like French, Italian and Portuguese.

That means that once you have some knowledge of Spanish, you will most likely find that learning another Romance language is much easier. For example, Spanish and Portuguese have 89% lexical similarity and according to a study, it is possible to a certain extent to understand each other.

6. Spanish is 100% phonetic.

Compared to many other languages, Spanish is quite easy to learn! It follows rules for the most part, it sounds like it is written and written how it’s pronounced. That’s a relief!

7. Spanish will open doors for you academically and professionally.

Spanish is an official language of the United Nations, International Criminal Court, World Trade Organization, International Labor Organization, International Telecommunications Union, Latin Union, African Union, Central American Common Market, European Union, Mercosur, North American Free Trade Agreement, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization of American States  and the Union of South American Nations.