Best Hot Air Balloon Rides in Toledo

Hot air balloon rides are among the best things to do in Toledo. The walled city of Toledo has dazzling palaces and buildings that can be seen from the air, such as the Alcazar and the Cathedral. You will also see its churches, synagogues and mosques, its narrow streets, alleys and the Jewish quarter.

Ballooning is one of the most characteristic activities in the region of La Mancha. Near Toledo you can also fly in a balloon over the municipality of Ocaña, where aerial sports such as parachuting are practiced, or over Consuegra, where you can see the fields of Castilla and its famous windmills. Most of the territory of Toledo has historical monuments, many of which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

One of the best tours you can do in Toledo is to take a hot air balloon ride over Toledo to see this magnificent medieval city from a height of around 450 meters.

On a flight over Toledo you will be able to see from the air the main attractions of the city, all the old town of Toledo and the Tagus River. One of the most dazzling monuments you will see is the Alcazar of Toledo, a royal civil and military fortification located at the top of the city. This huge 60-meter long building has 4 towers of 60 meters high and was declared a site of cultural interest.

If you are staying in Madrid, this is not a problem, as the companies usually include a round trip transfer from Madrid to Toledo. The activity is done in small groups of 2 to 20 people. In addition, they usually give passengers a souvenir in HD video and photos that the companies obtain during the flight.

Balloon rides take place early in the morning when the sun rises and depend on favorable weather conditions. Some of these tours also include a toast with champagne and a Spanish Iberian lunch.

Details of interest

• Price of the flight: from 180€.
• Duration: between 3 and 6 hours
• Schedule: in the morning, starting at 7 am
• Recommendations: wear comfortable closed shoes
• Advantages: Optional round trip transfer from Madrid city. Includes an HD video and photos of the trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: in case you have to cancel or change the date for any reason, you must do it up to 24 hours before the flight, otherwise many companies will not reimburse you.

There are balloon flight options in Toledo that also include a guided walking tour. That is, in addition to touring Toledo in a hot air balloon and glimpse its main historical monuments from about 450 meters high, you can also visit these same attractions accompanied by a guide upon landing.

From the air you can see emblematic monuments such as the Cathedral of Toledo and the Alcazar, as well as synagogues, churches, museums and different ancient architecture. Many of these buildings were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

These tours are usually done in small groups of people and usually include lunch and a toast with champagne upon landing. In addition, they are made at dawn, since it is more convenient to undertake balloon flights at that time.

The view of the city with the Tagus River and the plains of Castile is really impressive. In addition, most companies give you a recording of the flight and professional photos.

The activity ends with a walking tour through the streets of Toledo, where you can see the Cathedral and the Alcazar, one of the main attractions of the city, accompanied by a guide who will give you interesting information about these sites. In addition, you will visit monuments with stunning medieval, gothic, neoclassical and baroque architecture.

If you decide to make the tour of the city on your own, you can purchase your Toledo City Card Plus, which will give you queue-free access to about 10 emblematic monuments of Toledo, many of them with the accompaniment of a specialized guide. And if you don't have a car, you can take the bus with free stops around Toledo, which will take you to the most representative sites of the city.

Details of interest

• Price of the flight: around 230€.
• Duration: from 6 hours
• Schedule: starts at 7 am, only in the morning.
• Advantages of this option: you can fly over Toledo in a hot air balloon and then walk around the most important attractions of the city accompanied by a guide. You get HD video and photos of the trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: in general, companies have an age limit to fly in a hot air balloon, so you should consult in case of traveling with children.

There are many options to fly in a hot-air balloon over Toledo special for couples. The flight has a special route so you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the city and its historical monuments, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria, French Gothic style, and the Alcazar, a military fortification whose first building was built in the third century.

This is an intimate aerial tour that you will be able to enjoy alone with your partner. You will only travel with one person, the balloon driver, who will show you the best attractions during the whole trip and will tell you interesting stories about each place. Like almost all balloon rides, it usually includes very romantic photos and videos of the whole experience.

Among the most beautiful places you will see from the air is the landscape around the town of Toledo, which is located on a hill. On the ride you will fly over the Tagus River and you will also be able to see the beautiful Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.

This type of flight usually includes pick up and return to the hotel or accommodation, a bottle of Cava to toast and snacks to go with it.

Details of interest

• Price of the flight: around 950
• Duration: from 4 hours
• Schedule: departures can be in the morning or in the afternoon, from 7 a.m. until the end of sunlight.
• Advantages of this option: it is ideal for couples who prefer an exclusive flight.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is an exclusive flight for adults only, that is, children cannot travel.

Near Toledo, 40 minutes by car, you can take a balloon ride over the town of Consuegra, located in the community of Castilla-La Mancha, where you can see from the air very beautiful, hidden and rarely visited places.

During this flight you can usually see the Consuegra Castle, also known as Castillo de la Muela, and the famous giant windmills, built in the late eighteenth century. As is well known, these windmills were immortalized in Cervantes' Don Quixote. You may also see animals such as hares, deer or foxes.

As for the Castle of La Muela, it is a fortress that is 800 years old and is located on a mountain surrounded by a landscape of green hills. It was built by the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

The flights through Consuegra are usually made in small groups of up to 8 people, including children, and accompanied by a specialized guide. As in other flights of this type, they usually include a video and photos for you to take home as a souvenir. Most of the flights through Consuegra include a transfer to and from your hotel, and some offer a glass of cava upon landing.

Interesting details

• Price of the flight: around 180€.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Schedule: only in the morning, starting at 7 am.
• Recommendations: you must book the activity in advance because it is done in small groups of up to 8 people. If you are traveling with children, check if the company has an age limit to participate.
• Advantages of this option: Includes a video and photos of the trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: It does not include the transfer to and from the city of Toledo.

You can also take a balloon ride over the town of Ocaña, which is 40 minutes drive from the city of Toledo, where you will see the fields of Castilla and La Mancha.

It is an ideal flight if you travel to Toledo with children because it will be fun for them to see how they practice aerial sports such as skydiving and paragliding from the balloon. In addition, the sky is usually covered with hot air balloons. Something that children also like is the moment of the assembly and inflation of the balloon.

The flights in the city of Ocaña are usually made in small groups of 20 people maximum and last about an hour. Some companies may include a picnic lunch and a toast with champagne and juice. From the beginning, it is customary for the companies to film and take pictures so that you can take home a beautiful family souvenir.

In addition, most companies perform a brief ceremony where they give each participant a diploma certifying that they participated in the hot air balloon flight.

Details of interest

• Price of the flight: from 140€.
• Duration: about 4 hours
• Schedule: starting at 7 am
• Recommendations: If you are traveling with children, check if the company has an age limit to participate.
• Advantages of this option: Includes a video and photos of the trip and a diploma certifying participation in the flight.
• Disadvantages of this option: It does not include the transfer to and from the city of Toledo.

During your stay in Toledo you cannot miss a hot air balloon ride over the town of Aranjuez, which is a 22-minute drive from Toledo.

In this flight you will see the Royal Palace, its narrow streets, the Jarama and Tajo rivers that cross the city. You will also be amazed by the gardens that embellish the city.

Some of the gardens of Aranjuez that you will see from the air are the Prince's garden, the garden of Isabel II, the Parterre garden and the garden of Oñate. In addition, you will be able to glimpse other outstanding attractions such as the bullring, the sports center and the main square.

These flights can be done with children, who will be interested in seeing animals such as rabbits in the area of the mountain, when the balloon crosses the Andalusia highway. The activity is done with a small group of people. In addition, the companies usually give a diploma certifying the flight, a HD video and photos as a souvenir of your experience.

Details of interest

• Price of the flight: from 180€.
• Duration: from 3 to 5 hours
• Schedule: at dawn, starting at 7 am
• Recommendations: book in advance. If you are traveling with children, check if the company has an age limit to participate.
• Advantages of this option: Includes HD video, photos and flight certificate.
• Disadvantages of this option: Does not include transfer to and from the city of Toledo.

Toledo is a very old city with monuments that stand out for their medieval architecture. They are huge constructions that are beautiful inside and out, so they look phenomenal from the sky. In addition, you will have an incredible panoramic view and you can choose the places that caught your attention to visit them on foot and inside.

No doubt flying in a hot air balloon is a unique experience that you will enjoy to the fullest. The flights, even if they are in the same city, are never the same because the balloon moves depending on the direction of the wind, so it never follows the same route.

Usually, the balloon drivers are also tour guides or connoisseurs of the city, so they can tell you stories or interesting facts about each attraction you see from the air, which will surely make your trip more interesting.

Hot air balloon flights usually last about an hour in the air, but the ride as a whole extends from 3 to 6 hours approximately. This depends on the activities included by the companies offering the balloon rides. Some companies, for example, invite you to participate very early in the inflation of the hot air balloon and teach you how to set it up before take-off.

In addition, the excursions are usually complemented with an Iberian lunch and a toast with champagne upon landing, during which you can share your experience with the rest of the passengers. In this case, the balloon flight will be extended a little longer.

The flights in Toledo in summer start at dawn, very early, around 7 and 7.30 am. On the other hand, flights in winter start between 8 and 8.30 approximately. The best time to fly in a balloon is in summer because it gives you the chance to see the sunrise over the clouds.

It is recommended that you book balloon tours in advance because each balloon flies with a maximum capacity of 20 people and most of them make a single flight in the morning. That is why if you plan to travel with your family group or friends, you should book in advance.

In any case, keep in mind that if the weather conditions are not favorable, the flight cannot take place. In that case, the companies will be able to change the date or reimburse the amount you have paid for the trip. For this reason, it is best that you do not book your flight for your last day in Toledo, but a few days before, so you do not miss the experience if the weather is bad.

A key piece of advice I can give you is to arrive on time so as not to delay the take-off and make the most of the excursion. The flights usually take place early in the morning, since the atmospheric conditions are more favorable at that time.

It is important that you wear comfortable clothes and sneakers since you will be standing during the flight. As for clothing, in the balloon you will not be colder than on the ground, since the difference in climate is not much, so the coat you wear is enough, either in summer or winter. It is also advisable to bring a hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun.

Another fundamental fact is that you should travel as light as possible. Only carry the most necessary items in a carry-on bag, as there are weight limits for balloon travel. It is also not necessary to carry a camera because most companies include filming and photos of the entire excursion for you to take as a souvenir.

Finally, keep your peace of mind, there is no reason to fear, as the flights are totally safe. The balloons have to pass periodic tests to be able to take off and the controls of the State Agency for Aviation Safety are rigorous. In addition, the balloons are very stable, and do not generate dizziness.

I hope these tips I have given you for your balloon trip in Toledo will be useful and you can make the most of your ride through the air.