Toledo Day Trip from Madrid with Cathedral Guided Tour

This tour lasts approximately 8 hours and includes both the coach transfer from Madrid and an expert guide. This gives you plenty of time to explore Toledo, a city of three cultures – Christian, Arab and Jewish – and one of the best-preserved medieval destinations in the country. It is situated on a hilltop and surrounded by defensive walls dating back to the Muslim period. You’ll also have the chance to sample the local cuisine thanks to the tapas menu included in the tour.

The tour usually starts in a central location, such as the Plaza de Zocodover. Its name derives from the Arabic ‘sūq ad-dawābb’, meaning ‘market for pack animals’. It is currently the liveliest area of the city and is home to legendary bars such as El Trébol and Ludeña.

Another must-see monument is the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. Inside, the colour white predominates and the elegant octagonal pillars reveal its Jewish origins. It is situated in the old Jewish quarter, a neighbourhood bounded by the San Martín Bridge, the Daycán Tower and the Cambrón Gate.

The itinerary takes in other places of worship in the city: the Primatial Cathedral and the Church of Santo Tomé. The former is a Gothic building constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries. Inside, the Mozarabic Chapel stands out; it was used to celebrate Masses of this rite. As for the Church of Santo Tomé, it is best known for ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’, a splendid oil painting on canvas by El Greco.

No visit to Toledo would be complete without a visit to the Alcázar, the fortress overlooking the old town. A stronghold already existed here in Roman times, which was later transformed by the Visigoths and the Muslims. Today, it houses the Army Museum. At the end of the tour, the coach will take you back to Madrid.