Ourense's Hot Springs Still Line the River Miño in 2026

Ourense operates a Zona de Bajas Emisiones restricting the most polluting vehicles from the central area, as Spanish cities are required to do. Spain's system uses DGT environmental labels, which foreign-registered cars don't have, so check the current local rules and any visitor provisions before driving into the centre. For most visitors, parking in a garage and walking the compact old town and the riverside is the simplest approach.

Check emission zone requirements

Ourense is famous across Galicia for its termas, natural thermal hot springs of geothermal water emerging at high temperatures along the river Miño. There are several sites, from free or low-cost public pools (like As Burgas fountains in the city, and riverside pools such as A Chavasqueira) to more developed spa complexes, where you can soak in the warm mineral water, especially atmospheric in cool weather with the steam rising. The springs are the city's signature draw, some reachable on foot, others a short way along the river.

The Ponte Vella (Old Bridge) is Ourense's landmark, a long, elegant bridge over the river Miño on Roman foundations and much rebuilt in the medieval period, with a high central arch. Alongside it the city has a striking modern Millennium Bridge with a curving walkway. The old town near the bridges, with its cathedral, cloisters and squares, is compact and walkable, and lies on a route of the Camino de Santiago.

Use a central garage and walk. The old town, the cathedral, the As Burgas springs and the river are walkable, and the riverside thermal pools are a short distance along the Miño (some with their own parking, or reached by a little tourist train). Parking once and walking avoids the ZBE, keeping the car for the Galician countryside and the Ribeira Sacra wine region.

Plan your trip costs including parking

Not for the compact city, which is walkable, and Ourense is on the high-speed rail line. A car helps for exploring inland Galicia around it — the dramatic Ribeira Sacra (canyons of the Sil and Miño with terraced vineyards and monasteries), the spa towns, and the route toward Santiago de Compostela — driven from a central garage rather than used in the ZBE centre.