Things to do in Huelva
Ready to discover if Huelva is worth visiting? Let’s start!
1. Watch the sunset at Muelle del Tinto, one of the best things to do in Huelva
One of the places that I did not want to miss during my visit to Huelva was Muelle del Tinto. It was built between 1874 and 1876 to load minerals extracted from the Riotinto Mines. It has a total length of 1,165 meters, of which 500 are located on the Odiel River and the rest on land.
Nowadays, it is in disuse but it has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city of Huelva. I recommend visiting the pier at sunset and stroll along the Paseo de la Ría.
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2. Have a drink or snack at Plaza de las Monjas
One of the most popular places in Huelva city visited by people wanting to go out for a drink, is Plaza de las Monjas (Monjas Square), located in the heart of the historic centre. It is usually very lively as it houses numerous bars and restaurants. Inside you can find a monument of Christopher Columbus.
Near the square, you can visit the Huelva Town Hall, the old Bank of Spain building and the Hotel Paris building. Martín Alonso Pinzón avenue starts from Plaza de las Monjas. It is known as Gran Vía. On this street, I recommend the Gran Vía Uno restaurant.
3. Nuestra Señora de la Merced Cathedral
Another awesome place to visit in the historic center of Huelva is the Cathedral of La Merced, located in Plaza de la Merced. In 1954, it was named the seat of the Diocese of Huelva. Previously, this building was the church of the Convento de la Merced, founded in 1605.
4. Wharf of the Caravels
The Wharf of the Caravels is located just 11 kilometers from the city of Huelva. You can visit the replicas of the 3 caravels used by Christopher Columbus (the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa Maria) that left from the port of Palos de la Frontera on August 3rd, 1492 in search of a new trading route with the Indies. We all know the rest of the story! Apart from visiting the caravels inside, there is also a small museum.
You can also visit Palos de la Frontera (town where Columbus’ caravels left from), Santa María de la Rábida Monastery, the Caravels Pier and the “Island of Discovery”. Another great idea to visit this interesting pace is taking a boat ride to the Wharf of the Caravels.
5. La Rabida Monastery
One more tourist attraction in Huelva is La Rabida Monastery. It is very close to the Wharf of the Caravels, therefore I recommend visiting both places. Christopher Columbus stayed there while he planned his trip to leave for the New World.
It was built between the 14th and 15th centuries in Gothic-Mudejar style. It has a very nice patio and a room decorated with frescoes, the work of painter Daniel Vázquez Díaz.
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6. Monument to the Discovering Faith
The Monument to the Discovering Faith, also known as Monument to Colon, is a 37-meter-high statue located in Punta del Sebo, 7 km from the city center. It was a gift from the United States to the Spanish people. It is the work of the sculptress Gertrudis Vanderbilt Whitney. According to the artist, the sculpture represents a navigator looking to the west, where Columbus must have looked when he discovered America.
7. Book a Huelva guided city tour
One of the most entertaining and fun ways to learn about the history of a city is through a guided tour. If the idea sounds good to you, I recommend this city tour. For 2 hours, you will take a long walk through the old town while you learn all kinds of details about the city. You will visit places such as Plaza de las Monjas, Queen Victoria district, Mora Claros Palace or Casa Colon.
8. Visit Plaza del Punto, one of the best places to visit in Huelva
Plaza del Punto is another square I recommend visiting during your trip through Huelva. In it is the monument of Virgen del Rocio, a work done in patinated bronze by Elias Rodriguez Picon. In this square you can also find Casa Colon, which is currently used as a congress palace and exhibition center.
Near this square, I recommend an ice cream parlor called Ice Cream Shop Pura Vida, on Berdigon street. So delicious!
9. Museum of Huelva
If you are a person who enjoys museums, visiting the Huelva Museum may be one of the best things to do in Huelva capital for you. The museum is located in Alameda Sundheim, a building inaugurated on October 12, 1973. It has 3,000 m² of space divided into three floors, a basement and a garden area.
It houses a section for fine arts, another for archeology and another for ethnology. If you are an EU citizen, admission to the museum is free.
💳 To get cash in the local currency of your destination or pay by card, I recommend getting the N26 card. With the free version you can withdraw cash from ATMs with a very low commission and pay in another currency with the best exchange rate and no commissions.
10. Day trips from Huelva
As I said in the beginning of the article, Huelva is the perfect starting point to visit other places in the province of Huelva, such as Doñana National Park, Aracena, El Rocío and Punta Umbría. If you have a car, you can do day trips. If you prefer to book an organized tour with a guide that can provide information and all the details of the places you visit, take a look at the following tours:
- Donana National Park jeep tour.
- Punta Umbria sunset cruise.
- Isla Cristina: Boat trip through the marshes.
Where to stay in Huelva city
↠ Search for hotels in Huelva capital.
If you are looking for a hotel in the city of Huelva, I recommend the hotel where I stayed: Exe Tartessos. It is very well located and has private parking, which is great if you are going to visit the city by car. The room was spacious and the breakfast was very good. Another great option to stay in Huelva is Senator Huelva.
On the other hand, if you prefer to stay in an apartment, two of the ones with the best reviews are this apartment close to boardwalk and this apartment in the city centre.
Map of what to see and do in Huelva
In the following map I have marked all the places mentioned in this article and the recommended hotels, with their respective links to Booking. I have also marked other places to see in Huelva city, such as the Parroquia Mayor de San Pedro, Calle Concepción, Parque Moret or the Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción.
Check my Spain travel guide to keep planning your trip to this destination.
I hope that this article about the best things to do in Huelva has been very useful to you when planning your visit to this Andalusian city. If you have any doubts or questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or send me an email. Until next time, travelers!
