NH Collection Palacio de Burgos

Burgos may not be one of Spain’s most famous destinations, but you can trust the Spanish-based NH Hoteles to present it in its best possible light. The NH Collection Palacio de Burgos is a former convent, a minor Gothic spectacle some 500 years old, and while it’s set across the river from the historic city center, there’s nothing second-class about this location: a four-minute walk across an ancient footbridge and suddenly you’re at the foot of the 13th-century Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos, the final resting place of El Cid.

Old cloisters make fantastic luxury hotels, and this one is no different. In typical style the historical architecture is allowed to shine through where appropriate, especially in the common spaces, while in the rooms and suites the balance tips more in the direction of contemporary luxury-hotel design, with dark hardwood floors, modern furniture, and rain showers in the stone-clad bathrooms.

The restaurant, Palacio de la Merced, bears the former name of the building, and serves everything from an expansive breakfast to a dinner menu that features upscale Castilian favorites. A lobby bar serves a menu of light bites and a substantial selection of drinks.