Car rental at Zamora train station

Zamora lies on the high-speed line from Madrid towards Galicia, so the station has become a handy stop for travellers who want to explore a part of Spain that sees far fewer foreign visitors than Andalusia. The city itself is compact and walkable, built on a rock above the Duero, with an unusually rich collection of Romanesque churches and a cathedral crowned by a scaled dome.

The rental desk

Alamo, Enterprise and National share a desk at the station on Carretera de la Estación. As a small town office, it keeps limited hours, and weekend and evening collections may not be possible, so check that your train arrives during opening hours.

Drives from Zamora

• Toro: east along the Duero, a hilltop town with a collegiate church and the vineyards of the Toro wine region.
• Arribes del Duero: to the west, the river carves deep canyons along the border with Portugal. The natural park has viewpoints, boat trips and very quiet roads.
• Lago de Sanabria: the largest glacial lake in Spain, north-west of Zamora near Puebla de Sanabria.
• Ruta de la Plata: the A-66 motorway runs north to Benavente and south to Salamanca, a historic north-south route across western Spain.
• Portugal: the border towards Miranda do Douro and Bragança is close. Tell the rental company if you plan to cross.

Parking and timing

The historic centre has narrow streets and limited parking, so it is easiest to leave the car in a public car park and walk up to the cathedral and the castle. Holy Week is a major event in Zamora, with processions that close streets in the centre, so plan your route if you collect or return the car then. Summers are hot and winters can be cold, with occasional fog and frost on the plateau roads in the early morning.