Getting There -- There are three trains to and from Madrid every day, and two to and from La Coruña (trip times: 3 hr. and 6 hr., respectively). The railway station is at Calle Alfonso Peña (tel. 90-224-02-02; www.renfe.es), about a 15-minute walk from the edge of the Old Town. Follow Avenida de las Tres Cruces northeast of the center of town. One-way fare from Madrid to Zamora is 25€ to 34€ ($36-$49).
Ten to 23 bus connections a day from Salamanca make this the easiest way to get in and out of town (trip time: 1 hr.). There are seven buses a day from Madrid (trip time: 3 1/2 hr.) for 13€ to 20€ ($19-$29). The town's bus station lies a few paces from the railway station, at Calle Alfonso Peña 3 (tel. 98-052-12-81). Call tel. 98-052-09-52 for bus schedules and price information.
Zamora is at the junction of eight different roads and highways. Most of the traffic from northern Portugal into Spain comes through here. Highways headed north to León, south to Salamanca, and east to Valladolid are especially convenient. From Madrid, take the A-6 superhighway northwest toward Valladolid, cutting west on the N-VI and west again at the turnoff onto 122.
Visitor Information -- The tourist office, Plaza de Arias Gonzalo 20 (tel. 98-053-36-94; www.ayto-zamora.org), is open daily 10am to 2pm and 4 to 7pm.
Special Events -- Holy Week in Zamora, the week before Easter, is a celebration known throughout the country. Street processions, called pasos, are among the most spectacular in Spain. If you plan to visit at this time, make your hotel reservations well in advance.
