4 Best Day Trips to Toledo from Madrid

Toledo is known as the City of the three cultures, as its heritage includes Christian, Muslim and Jewish elements. Taking an excursion to Toledo from Madrid is one of the best options to complete your trip.

This full day excursion to Toledo is the most convenient option to visit the city with a specialized guide, who will explain the most important cultural highlights and leave you free time to visit Toledo at your leisure. The excursion includes transfer from Madrid in an air-conditioned bus and costs approximately 90 €.

What you will see on the tour

• Catedral Primada de Toledo: It is the jewel in the crown of the city and it would be a cultural sin to leave the city without visiting it. Do not hesitate to go inside to visit places like the Main Chapel, the Chapter House, the Mozarabic Chapel or the Treasury. Gothic in style, this is one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world.
• Old Town: Strolling through the historic center of Toledo is like stepping back several centuries. Cobblestone streets and stone buildings make up a landscape full of history behind every corner. Be warned: in Toledo there are many slopes and the walk can be tiring.
• Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca: It is a Mudejar synagogue from the 12th century converted into a church. It is located in the Jewish quarter of Toledo and is one of the most beautiful monuments in the area. Its labyrinth of whitewashed arches stands out.
• Church of Santo Tomé: If you have visited the Prado Museum in Madrid you will have seen some of the works of El Greco. This artist was born in Toledo and this church houses one of his most famous paintings: The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. The guide will tell you about the different and interesting interpretations of the work.
• Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes: Isabella I of Castile ordered the construction of this Franciscan monastery. Gothic and Elizabethan style, the monastery is one of the most beautiful places in Toledo. Do not be in a hurry to walk through its corridors and admire the contrast of the stone with the green of its interior courtyards.

Details of interest

• Price: from $101.
• Duration: 8 hours
• Recommended if... you want to get to know Toledo in one day with a guide and free time to explore at your own pace.

The duration of this excursion to Toledo with guided visit to the cathedral is approximately 8 hours. The guide will pick you up in Madrid and transfer you to Toledo by bus.

Once in Toledo, you will start a guided tour through the most important points of the center of Toledo: the Plaza Zocodover which is the liveliest square of the city, the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, the old Jewish quarter and of course the Cathedral Primada, among others. All this permanently accompanied by a guide who will explain everything about this fascinating destination.

The entrance fees to both the Cathedral and the monuments are included, as well as the bus transfer and the guide. This tour is around 60€ and is one of the most complete if you want to know Toledo in depth.

What you will see on the tour

• Toledo's Primate Cathedral
• Church of Santo Tomé and the painting of El Greco
• Old Jewish Quarter
• Alcazar
• Zocodocer Square

Interesting details

• Price: from $67
• Duration: from 5 to 8 hours
• Recommended if... you are looking for a complete guided tour that includes the entrance to the Cathedral and other historical monuments.

Many excursions to cities located in the outskirts of Madrid take advantage of the trip to include other tourist attractions close to the capital that are not easily reached from the center. This organized excursion to Toledo includes a visit to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen; two places that will not take much of your time in Toledo and that are very interesting to visit.

What you will see on the tour

• El Escorial Monastery: It was built in the 16th century under the rule of Philip II and during this tour the guide will tell you why it is one of the most popular visits around Madrid. During the tour you will visit the inside of the monastery, but the real beauty is in its gardens and views.
• Valley of the Fallen: It is a controversial monument erected in honor of the fallen during the Spanish Civil War. If you know nothing about this historical period it is an ideal occasion to soak up the explanations of your guide; I guarantee you will find it very interesting to see this place from a different perspective.
• Historic center of Toledo: Once you finish the visits in Madrid you will head to Toledo and in about an hour you will be walking through the streets of the center. During the guided tour you will enter the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the Church of Santo Tomé where you can admire the painting of El Greco. Afterwards, you will have free time to stroll around the city or to further explore places such as the Cathedral.

Details of interest

• Price: from $110.
• Duration: 11 hours
• Recommended if... you want to make the most of the day visiting Toledo and two essential historical monuments near Madrid**.**

An excellent option to make the most of a day near Madrid is this combined excursion to Toledo and Segovia, which will allow you to discover two of the most monumental cities in Spain in a single day. With round-trip transportation included and a tour guide for the entire tour, you won't have to worry about logistics: just enjoy the heritage, the scenery and the history.

Toledo will welcome you with its medieval streets, its multicultural past and its impressive Cathedral. You will tour the main monuments of the city with your guide, such as the Alcazar, the Jewish quarter or the Primate Cathedral, and then you will have free time to explore whatever catches your attention. In the afternoon you will visit Segovia, with its imposing Roman aqueduct and the spectacular Alcazar, a fortress that looks like something out of a fairy tale.

In addition to the guided walking tours in both cities, this tour includes free time for you to discover squares, viewpoints, stores and cafes at your own pace.

What you will see on the tour

• Toledo: guided tour of the city of the three cultures, with visits to the Cathedral, the Alcazar and the Jewish quarter.
• Segovia: visit to the famous Roman aqueduct and the Alcazar, with panoramic views of the city.
• Free time: in both cities to explore at your own pace after the guided tour.

Details of interest

• Price: from $72
• Duration: 11 hours
• Recommended if... you have little time and want to know the highlights of the historic center of these two Castilian jewels.

If you have decided to visit Toledo on an organized excursion, you don't have to worry about anything: the guided tour will show you the main points of interest. On the other hand, if you want to discover the city by yourself, these references will help you not to leave the City of the three cultures without knowing its most emblematic places.

• Viewpoint of the Valley

It's not always easy to get to since it's located on the outskirts of the city, but a cab from downtown Toledo shouldn't charge you much for a round trip. The views from there are so breathtaking that for me it deserves to be on the Top of the list of things to see in Toledo.

• The Cathedral

Of course, it is the main attraction as it is one of the most visitedcathedrals in Spain and is among the most amazing in Europe. Already from the outside the facade of this Gothic cathedral will captivate you, but do not rule out a visit to the interior: it is well worth it.

• The historic center

Even if you go on your own, if you have the opportunity to hire a guided tour through the center of Toledo I recommend it. They will tell you the history and secrets hidden in this city and will contextualize the different monuments scattered throughout the city.

• The synagogue of Santa María la Blanca

Don't be fooled by appearances; this Mudejar synagogue located in the Jewish quarter may not catch your eye from the outside, but you will be surprised by its interior full of arches and white walls.

• The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes

A labyrinth of stone walls, gardens and high ceilings that may turn out to be one of the most beautiful visits you make in Toledo.

• The Alcazar

This medieval fortress is located in the highest part of the city and, even if you skip the visit to the interior, it is worth a visit to the Alcazar to contemplate its facade and the views of the city.

Ana's Traveller Tip

If you are visiting the city without a tour guide, I recommend reading about its main places of interest beforehand to learn about its history.

If you have more days and you are interested in exploring the corners of Spain and its attractions in more depth, you can also combine your visit to Toledo with other cities. Of course, you will have to dedicate more days and a little more budget, but it will be worth it to get a more complete and deeper experience of the different regions.

I recommend some interesting proposals:

• Excursion to Avila, Segovia and Toledo from Madrid
• 4-day tour to Andalusia and Toledo from Madrid
• 5 day tour to Andalusia, Caceres and Toledo from Madrid
• 6 days tour to Andalucía, Cáceres and Toledo from Madrid

When to go

You can visit Toledo at any time of the year, but avoid visiting in summer if you don't want to suffer from the heat. Summer temperatures in Toledo can exceed those of Madrid. In winter, however, it is a little colder so you will need an extra jacket.

As for the influx of tourists, in Toledo there are always tourists, but it is not such a large volume that you can not enjoy the city regardless of the day of the week you choose to go (there will always be more people on holidays).

Recommended duration of the tour

Toledo can be seen in one day, but it is not crazy to stay one night in the city to see it more in depth without being aware of the clock. The only thing is that if you intend to sleep in Toledo you should book your accommodation well in advance; otherwise you could find yourself on the street at nightfall and it would not be pleasant.

What to eat

Excellent quality at affordable prices, what more can you ask for? In Toledo you can go for tapas in the old town or book a good restaurant to enjoy some of its most famous dishes such as stewed partridge, cochifrito manchego, carcamusa (meat and vegetable stew), arroz a la toledana, or mazapán de Toledo (Toledo marzipan).

What to take to Toledo

If you are going to walk a lot it wouldn't hurt to pack a couple of band-aids in your backpack. Toledo has many hills and you will need, above all, comfortable shoes. Otherwise, you can take the same as any other excursion, but you can take back to Madrid some of its typical sweets or Manchego cheeses: a delicious souvenir.

Ana's Traveller Tip

Do not forget to contemplate the views of Toledo from the Mirador del Valle; they will leave you impressed.

After seeing Toledo you will discover that, beyond the provincial capitals, Spain has impressive cities that you can visit without spending too much time on the road. Another of these cities is Segovia; preceded by its well-known aqueduct, it is located one hour from Madrid and there are several organized excursions and guided tours available. I have written this guide about 6 Best Day Trips to Segovia from Madrid that may be of interest to you.

If you prefer to stay in Madrid and enjoy every second in the capital, I recommend you to consider the possibility of taking a guided tour of the city: it will help you to better understand all the corners of its streets and its history. I leave you in this article about 12 Best Tours in Madrid all the information you need to organize your guided tour.