Parador Leon
The San Marcos Monastery, whose construction began in the 16th century, replaced another 12th century monastery from the times of King Alfonso VI.
Different artists immortalized the past where the strength of his legacy can be seen in stone and wood, making the Parador of Leon a living museum.
The past emerges in the Cloister and Chapterhouse embracing the present with a learned renovation of large rooms. In days gone by these sheltered pilgrims. There are suites located in the original building with views of the square and also an annex constructed in the 20th century where the majority of the accommodation is housed.
Regal halls, spacious rooms, a library and a restaurant which in the main part offers an impeccable traditional gastronomy with touches of signature cuisine; all of which makes the Parador de San Marcos a unique establishment on St. James’s Way and the Silver Way.
Information and reservations at Parador of Leon
We recently stayed at the Paradore in Leon as well as several others across Northern Spain. The hotel was extraordinary and the history was facinating to see and read about and to experience at first hand. The room was good, breakfast was excellent and service was also good. However the food provided in the restaurant, like most of the other Paradoes we stayed at was extremely disappointing with an over reliance of “local specialities”, this is not what you expect from 4 and 5 star hotels. Despite this we enjoyed our stay and would recomend it to others.
We staid for 2 nights in this lovely parador beginning of August 2011.
Very friendly and helpfull personnel.
Beautiful and spacious rooms with balcony.
The breakfast was a delight and a feest for the eye.
We enjoyed our stay very much and would recommend this hotel to everyone who wants to stay in Leon.
Very nice town as well.
My wife and I stayed here on our way to Northern Portugal and on return. It was recommended to us by a very authoritative source based in Porto who declared this location the finest hotel in the entire Iberian Peninsula… and we are pleased to agree wholeheartedly!!
Notwithstanding my surname which might have been off-putting to anyone who might think I came to singe the King of Spain’s beard like my namesake of old, my wife and I were treated with utmost courtesy and good humour from the moment of arrival to departure on both our visits.
We stayed on both occasions in one of the rooms to the right of the main entrance overlooking the Plaza – we even had a statue of a Saint over or the portico to our balcony to guard our slumbers. This place reminded me of the Pousada dos Loios in Evora which is a place we remember with affection. We ate royally and confirm that we believe we have never seen a breakfast table more replete than here notwithstanding travels in the USA and Canada!
This was quite the most historically interesting place to stay, and having been amazed by our experience the first time, we were not disappointed the second time 2 weeks later – our congratulations to the staff in particular – what an excellent advertisement for the qualities of Northern Spain
The building is totally amazing, and everything was brilliant. Our first room overlooked some lovely formal gardens but there was a noisy wedding going on which hadn’t stopped by 10pm (we were told it would stop by 7.30), and the staff changed our room without any hesitation at all. We were given a smaller but lovely, quiet room next to a little garden, with a stork’s next on top of a nearby chimney stack, and were very comfortable. We basically used the parador as an overnight stop on the way to Santiago, but managed to get to the Cathedral and sit at a cafe on the cathedral plaza and look at all the people taking their evening stroll. It is a big hotel, so you don’t get the personal attention you might get from smaller ones, but it is also a ‘destination’ building in itself and worth taking time to explore all the courtyards and statues, etc. We thought the parador was very well run given its large size, and we had a restful and interesting stop. We would certainly return.
I will be forever grateful to this beautiful hotel for memories that can never be replaced with my husband. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in 2004/2005. The memories are still with today…..
My husband and I stayed in the Parador Leon on our way to start walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The parador was like staying in a beautiful museum- and certainly, along with the cathedral, is one of the major tourist sites in Leon. Our room was comfortable (although it did show its age), the service good, and the breakfast excellent. We also had a relaxed enjoyable dinner in the hotel bar/restaurant. Definitely a great place to stay when one is in Leon.
My partner, daughter and I stayed at the Parador Leon to break up a journey from Barcelona to Porto and had a wonderful time, I hope we get to stay there again.
From the moment we pulled up outside the door the staff were brilliant – helping us with our bags, advising us how to find the private car park and, importantly, how to get back into the hotel, and telling us about the breakfast service as they accompanied us to our room. When we went out to sample Leon’s fabulous tapas bars that evening the staff were extremely helpful in guiding us to where we wanted to go. Throughout our stay I found every member of staff friendly, helpful and approachable.
The building itself is spectacular, the rooms are spacious, the breakfast was delicious – all in all the perfect hotel.
A very wonderful stay. Front Desk Staff were most helpful. Room was quite and clean with a lovely view of the garden. Location and availability of parking a big plus.
Um hotel belíssimo.
We stayed 3 nights in one of the newer rooms overlooking the garden. The room and bathroom were very comfortable and really big by Spanish standards, very quiet, the right temperature and it was lovely to be able to sit on the balcony looking at the park. We enjoyed our stay very much and would recommend this hotel to our friends. However, we could have used more information about the hotel in our room, as the staff didn’t tell us anything about the facilities (couldn’t speak English, except for the desk clerk) and we didn’t discover the lounges, the library, or that we could sit in the cloisters until the very end of our stay – we would have liked to have spent more time in these spaces. We found the evening meal nicely served but plain; the breakfast was overpriced. The hotel could use an ice machine.
We had a lovely 3 night stay before we took on the Camino. The front desk and concierge were most helpful. The restaurant served fine regional food, and the more informal room was also good. The included beakfast was delightfu with cheerful service. Our room was a standard one. It was quiet, clean and extra large by European standards.l
Front desk staff very helpful (including loaning us an umbrella). We thought the parador was fantastic, including the museum – a must see. Breakfast was great.
Bonjour,
Ayant séjourné dans trois de vos établissment hotelier ,je ne peux qu’en faire des éloges et, la beauté des trois hotels, et surtout la recherche de la mise en valeurs du patrimoine , le professionalisme hotelier du personnel faisait plaisir à voir.
We had a two night stay at the hotel in this beautiful building. The reception and the spirit of the personel was very good. The room excellent and quiet. Breakfast and diner well served. Access to the city can not be better. All together a unforgetable stopover in Leon.
We stayed at the Parador in Leon in July. The room was lovely and very clean. The hair dryer was ridiculously outdated. None of the paradors we stayed in had clocks in them?? Breakfast was incredible, and we had a late dinner in the bar (sandwiches, small bites and dessert) which was delicious. The restaurant had a “bus load” of people to deal with and would not accommodate us. The staff was not as helpful or friendly as some of the other paradors we stayed in. There was a wedding the night we were there, and we were allowed to walk through the cloister to check out the flowers and take pictures, before the wedding started. It is a wonderful parador overall, and Leon is a must see!
A well organized and very pleasant trip along beautiful paradores.
Nice and clean rooms and excellent service
The best and the last was Santiago.
Best value for money !
We stayed here for 2 nights in late June 2010, the 3rd parador on our trip. We had paid for a superior room and it was with a balcony overlooking the Plaza. It was very luxurious and the whole place was stunning. The city was interseting and we were lucky to be there for a festival so we had fantastic fireworks and a parade. Food was good, breakfasts fantastic, as they all were, plenty of parking we really enjoyed it. The only suggestion I could make for an improvement would be that the reception staff should be more welcomimg and helpful. They weren’t rude but just a little offhand.
I love it!
Nuestra visita con vosotros, al igual que las experiencias anteriores cuando nos hemos alojado en otros Paradores…excelente !!! Hicimos un lindo paseo andando hasta la zona historica de Leon, cenamos el menu gourmet en el Parador el cual disfrutamos tanto por la fina atencion del personal como los deliciosos platos. Hicimos tambien una visita al nuevo museo contemporaneo que queda muy cerca del Parador y pudimos ir caminando despues del estupendo desayuno y amabilidad de todo el personal. Un clima envidiable durante nuestra estadia lo que nos permitio hacer esos agradables paseos.
Nuestra habitacion….no se puede pedir mas !!…Ocupamos una habitacion con balcon mirando a la plaza.
Gracias y ojala que hasta pronto.
Los Nickels
El edificio e instalaciones esatn de acuerdo con lo que esperabamos. Las habitaciones para ser un hotel de 5 estrellas GL no estaba a esa altura.El precio en esta ocasion estaba muy proporcionado y el desayuno espectacular.
El servicio de conserje muy profesional y bien realizado.El restaurante un poco confundido en el servicio sobre todo el servicio del vino no estuvo al nivel esperado.
En general pienso que necesita una reforma para adaptarlo a los nivels actuleas. El lugar y el emplazamiento es imposible de mejorar. En general de 0 a 10 esta en un aprobado raspado debido a lo que es esperado de un hotel de GL.
Dr. Miguel Gimeno
We spent two relaxing days in early October and found the San Marcos Parador to be a great place to stay. Our room overlooked the garden and could not have been more comfortable. Delicious and bountiful breakfast. The Golden Years rate allowed us to add a touch of luxury to our trip. Would most definitely stay again should we find ourselves in Leon.
A truly stunning Parador – we asked for a room in the original part and were allocated the most magnificent room in the whole of a 3rd floor tower!
Reception and conceirge service was efficient and friendly, but a little disappointed with restaurant service, and food only average.
Would stay again though for the splendour of the building
We loved our stay here – our first experience of a Parador. We were greeted on arrival and had our luggage taken to the room, while check-in was straightforward and courteous. The room itself was large, airy and comfortable, with a view of the knot-garden, and a fabulously spacious and well-appointed bathroom. We enjoyed our breakfast, but didn’t have any other meals at the hotel. We managed to explore the rest of the building including the cloister, which was all very atmospheric and lovely. Our only “complaint” – and that’s not really the right word – was that we were in a modern extension not an old room… but it was such a lovely room that we really didn’t mind! Leon is a great city, worth re-visiting, and we’d love to stay at this Parador again. Muchas gracias.
Stayed one night. Building spectacular and comfortable with ample parking. Room large and comfortable. One complaint would be the restaurant. Staff were not unfriendly but a bit impersonal and my meal had to be sent back as the chicken was still frozen inside! No apologies just reheated and brought back on same plate which meant rest of plate was overcooked! Not what you would expect from a so-called quality restaurant.
THe exterior of the building is spectacular. The inside is nice as well, but the rooms are a bit cookie cutter and nothing special although they are quiet and have nice views of the garden. The on site parking is spacious and convenient. The staff is professional, but not overly friendly. We loved the breakfast, but were not as thrilled with dinner in the restaurant. It was fine, but not memorable. It was annoying that we couldn’t get into the cloisters because they had not cleaned up from the wedding the day before. The city of Leon is beautiful and worth a visit.
Stayed three nights in 2008…Fantastic…
We had two nights here and loved it. The building is beautiful, and we particularly loved sitting in the high, canopied black leather chairs in the Library and catching glimpses of the wedding services in the church below from the Library balconies. The place was buzzing with wedding guests on the Saturday but our room was very peaceful. The old town around the Cathedral is a short stroll away and we had two pleasant evenings sitting outside there at small tables drinking Albarino wine/Estrella beer and absorbing the family hubbub and some delicious simple Spanish food. Leon old town is magnificent- a highlight of our month in Spain.
We had a 2 night stay at the hotel.The service and the spirit of the personel was very good.We felt welcome as clients.The room was nice and quiet.Breakfast and diner well served.Some diner dishes seem pre prepared ilo freshly cooked.Over all:very good.
The accommodation was excellent. The staff were polite, friendly, couteous, and efficient. The restaurant service, atmsophere and quality of food was again excellent. The location and the building itself were perfect. I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Leon and , in particular, the Parador to any visitor.
I stayed two nights with my teenage son in May. I could not fault the hotel. The service was very good and friendly. The evening meals were delicious and the service impeccable. The room was fantastic-traditional,tasteful and overlooked the square. The building surpassed our expectations even though I knew of its fame before booking.Highly recommend.
Amazing building, you never tire of the atmosphere. Great breakfasts too. We stayed 5 nights and really enjoyed it. Highly recommended. The terrace is a great place to sit and chill out for a while – shame the bar doesn’t serve out there though, a real missed opportunity.
Service was really good too and the room was large and quiet. A wedding party was underway one evening but they had long packed up by the time we returned to the room after dinner. Perfectly located on the edge of the centre, an easy 10 minute walk to the main bars, etc.
Only the air conditioning was hopeless. But to be fair that’s the case in pretty much all hotels other than North America.
MOLTO BELLO
ADDETTI GENTILI, MA ALCUNI MOLTO LENTI
We stayed in Apr. I find the place a bit overrated – personnel was not at the high level you would expect from the Paradores, room was not cleaned well and it was crowded (may be as there were 2 weddings going on and many people all over the place). The building itself is very beautiful and is a must see in Leon. There is a spacious private parking to the hotel as well. We got the feeling that they rely more on the building to attract guests rather than do anything to keep them.