10 Best Hotels in The Pyrenees, Spain

Ten minutes north in the Pyrenean village of Calbinyà, this enchanting 15th-century farmhouse and inn exudes rustic charm with its stone-walled rooms and traditional wooden furnishings. It also provides inexpensive local gastronomy against a backdrop of panoramic views. The friendly owners often accompany guests into the woods to help identify mushrooms and berries and—if you request—will delightedly show you how to make jams, conserves, and cured meats in an informal lesson.

This stylish, refurbished 15th-century castle is a breath of fresh air in Huesca's relatively stale hotel scene. Just 10 minutes outside of town, the property sits on the foundation of what was once a Moorish fortress in the 9th century. It was later turned into a church and passed down into the current owner's family, who used it for farming. The place has a delightfully cozy, castle feel with homey common spaces and an airy garden pool open in the summer. 

In a village on the outskirts of Jaca, this adults-only bed-and-breakfast is worth sacrificing city-center conveniences. The property was carefully constructed to resemble a traditional Aragonese country house and has charming rooms with wood-beam ceilings and rustic stone walls that look out over the mountains. The sauna (with hot tub) and massages can be reserved privately, and there is an honor system refreshment bar. The owners provide top-notch sightseeing and restaurant recommendations, as well as above-and-beyond hospitality. 

Situated on a remote and wonderfully scenic stretch of the Eje Pirenaico (Pyrenean Axis Highway), midway between medieval Aínsa and the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, is this tasteful mountaintop B&B with verdant valley views, stone-wall rooms, and standout down-home cuisine. The British owner knows the surrounding trails through pine and oak forests like the back of his hand, and you can explore many of them without leaving the property, which spans over 200 acres.  

A comfortable old favorite near Puigcerdà's emblematic lake, this spa hotel with old-fashioned decor consists of several salmon-pink spire-topped mansions arranged around a grassy central garden. It's situated two minutes from the bell tower and town market on foot, though it feels deceptively bucolic and removed from the action. 

Enjoy all the comforts and details of a high-end hotel--turn down service, outstanding hospitality, spotless cleaning--in a quiet rural mountain village of 35 habitants. The refurbished stone farmhouse offers perpetual views of the mountains and surrounding valleys. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the intimate dining room, where they serve a plentiful homemade breakfast and a set dinner menu (with an outstanding hyper-local wine list to boot), provide some of the most impressive of the vistas. Other amenities include the downstairs bar highlighting local spirits, an outdoor pool, and Ritual brand toiletries. 

For rustic surroundings—light on luxury but long on comfort—only a two-minute walk from the ski lift, this modern-traditional construction of glass, wood, and stone is a good choice. It provides a little chalet in the mountains, with friendly staff and chalet warmth for après-ski wining and dining. The spa is small, but offers a range of rejuvenating treatments you no doubt deserve after shredding the slopes.

A mountain refuge and state-run hotel, this family-oriented base camp has double, triple, and quadruple rooms. The lodging and dining are basic, and they're offered at 6,500 feet above sea level within an imposing gray monolith that looks strikingly out of place. For a day's outing or as a starting point for a major hike (12 hours) to Ulldeter, above Setcases, or even a weeklong walk to the Mediterranean, this is a handy spot, although it is accessible only by the cogwheel train from Ribes de Freser (thankfully, pricey train tickets are included in the nightly rate). Camping is also available on the grounds.

Ideally located for exploring Zaragoza's sights, this may be an in-and-out type of hotel—somewhere to lay your head—but as an agreeable city stopover, it's perfect. The rooms are well proportioned and functional, beds are comfortable, facilities are modern, and the staff are very helpful. At the price, it's a great value.

This stately town-house complex at the edge of the lake has some of the most sought-after rooms and food in the Cerdanya Valley. Along with lots of peace and comfort (think rooms with plush white linens and deep-soak tubs), the hotel restaurant, L'Estany Senzone, is worth a visit even if you're not staying upstairs.