One of the pleasures of driving in Zaragoza isn’t just unlocking the wonders of the city itself, but the great places nearby. You’re only a short way from the Pyrenees and the French border, while Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona are all close enough for you to visit too. Driving in this part of Spain is straightforward and pleasurable, with wonderful scenery and easy to navigate roads.

The city is cut in half by two roads, making it easy to get to exactly where you want to be. The N-330 runs north to south, the N-232 east to west. If you want to get across Zaragoza without touching the centre, perhaps at rush hour, you can use the ring road made up of the Z-40 and A-2.

There is plenty of parking in Zaragoza, although on weekdays you’ll have to pay to use the blue and yellow zones, with the yellow zones being more expensive.

In the city, the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h (30mph), as it is in all Spanish cities and towns, although there are some slower areas too, which will be clearly signposted. Once you’re out on the Spanish motorways, there’s a top speed of 120 km/h (74mph), although it’s worth noting that some Spanish motorways are tolled.

You’ll be driving on the right and overtaking on the left in Spain, as in the rest of continental Europe, and seatbelts must be worn by all passengers. Children aged 12 and under cannot ride in the front passenger seat unless all the rear seats are already occupied by children. As at home, mobile phone use while driving is illegal. If you have any specific questions about driving in Zaragoza or Spain, our local teams and helpline are both ready to help you.

Zaragoza has been one of Spain’s cultural and religious battlegrounds for hundreds of years. Today the thoroughly modern side of the city coexists with the well-preserved remnants of the old. You’ll find the remains of Moorish rule, the coming of the Catholics and even Roman relics in a place that has played a major role in Iberian history. Delve into history, feast on fantastic Spanish delicacies or just take time out to relax – Zaragoza has it all.

Roam through Roman Zaragoza

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of sensational buildings in Zaragoza and to head straight for the big-hitters such as Basilica del Pilar. And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. But don’t let that make you overlook some of the other gems this city hosts, such as the magnificent Museo del Teatro de Caesaraugusta. As the name suggests, this is a piece of Roman history, with the city of Caesaraugusta, named for the emperor of the time, standing here from 14BC.

There are various remains left, but this ancient theatre might be the best of all, only discovered in the late 20^th century. It once seated 6000 people and is visible through a clear box that preserves it. Tick off the rest of the Roman tour here with a visit to the Museo del Foro and the Public Baths.

From Goya to folded paper

Art plays a big role in the life of this city, unsurprisingly when Francisco de Goya, one of Spain’s preeminent painters, was born just a short way away. You’ll find numerous pieces of his dotted across the city, including 19 paintings at the excellent Museo de Zaragoza. There are also some mosaics from Roman Caesaraugusta here too.

For art of much more modern fix, head for the striking IAACC Pablo Serrano. This is home to some significant contemporary and modern art, with Warhol and Picasso taking pride of place, along with the work of the local sculptor for whom the funky, unusual building is named.

For art that even the kids will love, the Origami Museum is truly individual, and the only centre dedicated to origami outside of Asia. Exhibits range from the simple and traditional – with a thorough introduction to the artform – to the extravagant and unusual. Hippos, dragon, Samurai warriors and angels are all rendered with remarkable intricacy.

Flavours to savour

Unusually, for the 5^th largest Spanish city, Zaragoza isn’t replete with Michelin star restaurants. That doesn’t mean it’s not a great place to eat, with whole districts seemingly turned over to tapas restaurants that bustle with life and are scented with saffron and more.

La Prensa is perhaps the best fine dining destination, however, achieving a Michelin star in 2018. If you’re parked up for the day, rejoice, because the wine list here is sensational, housed in a glass-fronted cellar. Presentation is immaculate, flavours fresh and the sobrasada croquette particularly memorable. It’s a true taste of Zaragoza.

With car hire in Zaragoza, you can see everything there is to be seen here in this surprising and vivacious city, before setting forth to explore the rest of Aragon and north-east Spain.