Apartments in Cuenca

If you are looking at an apartment in Cuenca, the first thing you should know is that the city has two clearly distinct areas and it is worth choosing according to what you want to do. The upper part, around the Plaza Mayor and the Catedral, is the most touristy: cobbled streets, restaurants and the famous Casas Colgadas just a step away. Here the apartments are usually in renovated old buildings, full of charm, but also with less light and more noise at night, especially on weekends. The lower part, next to the Huécar river and the San Antón neighborhood, is quieter and more modern, with better car access and easier parking, although to go up to the old town you will have to walk uphill or take the city bus. There are also options in the area of the train station and the industrial estate, which are cheaper, but they are far from the monuments and barely have any atmosphere.

As for prices, the difference between high and low season is notable. If you can, avoid the December long weekends, Easter and the weekends from May to October, when demand drives rates up. The months of November, January and February, from Sunday to Thursday, are when you find the best prices: the average cost drops from the 98 euros per night that is usual on average in the city to figures close to 51 euros, which is the minimum you can pay for a basic studio. To get there, the most comfortable option is the high-speed train from Madrid (about 50 minutes) or the bus from Valencia or Madrid. Once there, if you stay in the upper part, forget about the car: the streets are narrow and many are pedestrian. Better to park in a park-and-ride at the entrance and get around on foot. If you go in low season, the car will be useful for visiting the Ciudad Encantada or the source of the Cuervo river, which are half an hour away.

Before booking, check three specific things. First, whether the apartment has an elevator: many are in buildings without one and the stairs in the old town are steep. Second, the heating and hot water policy: in winter, a good heating system is essential, and some old accommodations have electric radiators that raise the bill or do not heat well. Third, whether the price includes final cleaning or a pet supplement, because in Cuenca it is common for it to be charged separately. It is also worth checking whether the kitchen has a dishwasher or washing machine, not so much for using them, but because it indicates the level of equipment. And if you travel as a group, pay attention to the number of bathrooms: many three-bedroom apartments only have one, and that can be a problem. Accommodations such as Apartamentos Casa Botes II, Wonder, Alojamiento Turístico la Moneda de Huecar or cuencaloft next to the cathedral are real examples of what you will find, but always read recent reviews about noise and the state of the beds before deciding.