I originally put together this guide together for the girl who would be living with my host family after me–she arrived the day before I left, so I made this guide for her to show her all my favorite cafés, stores, etc. Here is that same guide! I hope it helps. As always, remember that I’m a teenage girl who visited Segovia on a school trip with other teenage girls, and that can’t help but bias my opinion!
cafés:
- There are many, but we visited these almost every day: La Colonial, Farggi, and Limón y Menta.
- La Colonial and Farggi are great places for chocolate crêpes or croissants, and both are open in the morning for breakfast.
- If you sit someplace you have to order, but that being said once you order you can sit there for literally hours.
- Unlike in the United States, you can’t get simply a free cup for tap water; rather, you must pay for a bottle, which is usually around 1 or 2 euros depending on the location.
key phrases:
- For ordering food or drinks, say “me puedes ponerme __________, por favor” or “me puedes darme __________, por favor.” Even though it makes sense in English, don’t use “tener” when ordering!
interesting things to do:
- Check out the historic, can’t-miss sights like El Escorial, El Alcazar, Valle de los Caídos, La Granja, and the Aqueduct (which, as it runs through town, is impossible to miss). Everything but El Alcazar and the Aqueduct is a bus ride out from the city, but all are beautiful and important places in Spanish history, making them necessary to see at least once in your lifetime!
- If you stand on the steps at the side of Plaza del Azoguejo, at the top of the aqueduct on either side you’ll find a beautiful view of the city and the aqueduct, perfect for taking pictures.
- There’s a market every Thursday in Plaza Mayor with literally everything a person would ever need, from books to bracelets to food to flowers and more!
- In terms of religious architecture, seeing both Segovia’s cathedral, located in the Plaza Mayor, and La Iglesia de San Millán, is an absolute must. Also, if you’re religious, there’s Catholic mass every night at 8pm in San Millán.
- It’s impossible to take a bad photo of this city!
- Pedestrians don’t have the right of way, so be mindful when crossing the street. Also, there are some areas that are marked as pedestrian areas only…yeah, there’s still cars and trucks that go through.
- There are a variety of museums throughout town–I didn’t get the chance to check out any while I was here, but I wish I had!
- There are good walking and running trails in the forest below the Jewish cemetery, and also above; additionally, the above part is an offshoot of El Camino de Santiago.
shopping:
- RIP my bank account–there is an endless supply of shopping, especially for clothes, here! Some of our favorites included Mango, Berksha, Amichi, and Pull + Bear.
- Most of the shops are located along Calle Real, which is what Segovians call the street that winds its way through the town!
- There are obviously a lot more stores than just these, so explore!
- Good places to buy gifts are the street leading to El Alcazar (especially good for pottery), the weekly market, and the Segovia shop.
My final piece of advice would just be to explore! My biggest regret is sticking to the same cafés and same stores–there’s so much more out there if you’re willing to look for it.
jennifergracefully 