When somebody mentions a Spanish city break, Barcelona, Madrid and Seville are probably among the first places that spring to mind.
And with good reason. They're fantastic cities.
But Spain has plenty of other places that deserve a little attention, and Zaragoza is one I'd certainly put on the list.
Sitting on the banks of the River Ebro, roughly between Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza is the capital of Aragón and a city with an extraordinary mixture of history.
There's a beautiful riverside basilica, an Islamic palace, Roman remains and some wonderful places to spend an evening enjoying tapas.
It's the sort of destination that makes me think a short break doesn't always need to revolve around the same familiar cities.
And there's another advantage: you can explore much of central Zaragoza without needing to hire a car.
A palace worth making the journey for
If I were planning a visit to Zaragoza, one of the first places I'd want to see would be the Aljafería Palace.
Originally built in the 11th century during the period of Islamic rule, it's one of the city's most remarkable historic buildings.
And it's rather spectacular.
Inside, you'll find beautiful arches, courtyards and decorative details that reflect the building's long history.
Over the centuries, the palace has been altered and used for different purposes, including as a royal residence. Today, it also houses the Parliament of Aragón.
I think this is the sort of place that deserves some proper time rather than being squeezed into a busy afternoon.
If you enjoy history or architecture, a guided visit could be worth considering, particularly to understand how the building has changed over the centuries.
Because the palace is also a working parliamentary building, visiting arrangements can vary, so we'd check the current opening and tour options for your dates.
But for me, the Aljafería is a compelling reason to consider Zaragoza in the first place.
That magnificent riverside basilica
There's another building that immediately catches your attention when you see photographs of Zaragoza.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, usually known as the Basilica del Pilar.
Standing beside the River Ebro, with its towers and domes rising above the waterfront, it's one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
It's an impressive sight from outside, particularly when viewed across the river.
Inside, there are artworks associated with Francisco Goya, who was born in the Aragón region.
And if you enjoy exploring historic churches, Zaragoza has another important one nearby: La Seo, the Cathedral of San Salvador.
La Seo has a different architectural character and includes elements of the region's Mudéjar heritage, along with a notable tapestry collection.
Now, you could try to fit both churches, the palace and several museums into one day.
But personally, I'd rather enjoy two or three places properly than spend the entire afternoon checking my watch.
A walk along the Ebro between visits would be a lovely way to enjoy the city without rushing from one building to the next.
There's Roman history here too
Zaragoza's history goes back considerably further than its medieval buildings.
Under Roman rule, the city was known as Caesaraugusta, named in honour of Emperor Augustus.
And traces of that Roman city can still be explored today.
There are archaeological museums and remains associated with the Roman theatre, forum, baths and river port.
If Roman history interests you, you could quite happily build part of your city break around discovering them.
But there's no requirement to turn your holiday into a history exam.
You might prefer to explore the Aljafería, wander along the river and save the Roman sites for another visit.
That's the nice thing about a city with several different attractions. You can concentrate on whatever interests you most.
Now, let's talk about tapas
Of course, a Spanish city break isn't only about monuments and museums.
For many of us, deciding where to eat is a rather important part of the experience.
And Zaragoza has a particularly appealing area for that.
El Tubo is known for its narrow streets and concentration of tapas bars and restaurants.
It's somewhere you can make an evening out of trying a few different places, enjoying a drink and discovering local dishes.
Personally, I love the idea of wandering through the streets, finding somewhere that catches your eye and settling down for a relaxed evening.
You don't need a complicated dining itinerary.
Perhaps choose a couple of places you'd like to try, then see where the evening takes you.
And if you're somebody who prefers a proper table and a leisurely meal rather than moving between busy bars, that's absolutely fine too.
There's no rule saying you have to visit six tapas bars before you're allowed to call it dinner!
One small consideration when choosing accommodation: being close to El Tubo is convenient for evenings out, but staying directly above a lively bar might not be ideal if you value a peaceful night's sleep.
Could you really enjoy Zaragoza in two nights?
Yes, I think so, provided the journey works and you're realistic about how much you can fit in.
Remember, two nights away usually gives you one full day to explore.
That's why I'd keep the itinerary fairly relaxed.
Day one: Arrive and discover the city
After arriving and checking into your accommodation, head towards the old town.
Enjoy a wander around the historic centre, perhaps take a look at the riverside and find somewhere nice for dinner.
El Tubo could be a great place to spend your first evening.
No need to start racing around museums if you've already spent much of the day travelling.
Day two: Palace, history and riverside views
I'd make the Aljafería Palace the main attraction for your full day.
Give yourself time to explore it properly.
Then choose another sight that interests you, perhaps the Basilica del Pilar, La Seo or one of the Roman museums.
Spend some time beside the River Ebro, enjoy lunch and leave the evening free for another meal in the city.
A good city break needs a little room to enjoy the place, not just tick attractions off a list.
Day three: One last coffee before heading home
Depending on your departure time, you might have an opportunity for breakfast, a short walk or one final visit.
If you've got an early flight or train, though, don't try to cram anything in.
And if you want to see the palace, both cathedrals and several Roman museums without rushing, I'd seriously consider staying for three nights instead.
Sometimes that extra day makes all the difference.
Getting there might be the biggest decision
Here's where I'd look carefully before recommending Zaragoza as a short break.
The city does have its own airport, but direct flights from your preferred UK airport may not be convenient or available for the dates you want.
Fortunately, there's another possibility.
Zaragoza sits on Spain's high-speed railway network, with connections to both Madrid and Barcelona.
So you could potentially fly into one of those cities and continue by train.
That could work particularly well if you're planning a longer Spanish holiday or fancy combining two destinations.
But for a two-night break, I'd want to compare the journey properly.
Flying to Madrid, getting from the airport to the railway station, waiting for a train and travelling onwards might eat into a considerable part of your first day.
And that's not much fun when you've only got one full day in the city.
I'd rather recommend a slightly longer stay than send you on a complicated journey for a holiday that's over almost as soon as it begins.
Where should you stay?
For a first visit, I'd start by looking at accommodation in or near Zaragoza's historic centre.
That puts many of the main sights, restaurants and places to explore within reasonable reach.
You could head out in the evening, enjoy the atmosphere and return to your hotel without needing to organise transport across the city.
Of course, the exact location matters.
A hotel described as central might still be further from the places you want to visit than you'd expect.
And if walking distances, steps or particular room arrangements matter to you, those are things we'd investigate before choosing somewhere.
For most people planning a city-focused break, I wouldn't automatically recommend hiring a car.
Zaragoza has public transport, taxis and walkable central areas, so a hire car could simply add parking costs and another thing to organise.
Save that for a holiday where you're planning to explore more of the surrounding region.
When would I visit Zaragoza?
For a holiday involving plenty of walking and sightseeing, I'd generally start by looking at spring or autumn.
Zaragoza can experience very hot summers and cold winters, so the time of year can make quite a difference to how comfortable you feel exploring the city.
Spring and autumn could provide a pleasant balance for spending time outdoors, visiting historic buildings and enjoying the evening atmosphere.
But I'd choose the actual dates around the flights, rail connections and availability of the places you particularly want to see.
There isn't much point finding a wonderfully priced hotel if the journey leaves you with hardly any time in the city.
Who would enjoy a Zaragoza city break?
I think Zaragoza could be a brilliant option for couples, friends and solo travellers who enjoy history, architecture and food.
It's particularly appealing if you've already visited some of Spain's better-known cities and fancy discovering somewhere different.
And if you're interested in the mixture of Roman, Islamic and Christian history found across Spain, there's plenty here to explore.
Would I recommend it to someone wanting seven days beside a swimming pool with organised entertainment?
Probably not.
But if the idea of a magnificent palace, riverside views, historic streets and a few evenings enjoying tapas sounds appealing, Zaragoza deserves a place on your shortlist.
A different Spanish city break
There's something satisfying about discovering a destination that offers plenty to see without feeling you need a fortnight to explore it.
Zaragoza has enough history and character to make a short stay interesting, and enough restaurants and lively streets to make the evenings enjoyable too.
For me, the Aljafería Palace would be the standout attraction.
But combine that with the Basilica del Pilar, Roman history and a few relaxed evenings in El Tubo, and you've got the ingredients for a very appealing city break.
The one thing I'd insist on is getting the journey right.
A two-night trip should feel like a holiday, not an endurance challenge involving three transport connections and a stopwatch.
If Zaragoza catches your imagination, tell me where you'd like to travel from, how long you've got and what sort of city break you enjoy.
I'll help investigate the flights, rail connections and accommodation to see whether it's the right fit.
Let's plan your Spanish city break