Walking around old medieval towns near Madrid was one of our top priorities during our 2 week trip to Spain, so we visited Segovia and the stunning city of Toledo by train. Both were lovely, but we found Toledo’s old city to be especially captivating.
We actually spent a night in Toledo, but in this guide we show you exactly how to take a day trip from Madrid because it’s a more popular way to do it. Read more about us.
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Getting To Toledo
Train
Toledo is just a 33 minute train ride from Madrid. There are 13 daily trains departing Madrid Atocha station, which is southeast of the city center.
If you’re heading to Toledo from other cities like Cordoba or Barcelona, you’ll have to change in Madrid. We recommend taking an early train so have more time in Toledo, there’s quite a lot to cram into one day. The 8:50am train from Madrid is perfect, and it arrives at 9:23am.
Bus
Another option is to take the bus from Madrid Plaza Eliptica to Toledo bus station. The bus is cheaper but takes longer, between 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on time of departure.
Toledo’s bus station is 1km (10 minute walk) from the train station, but both are in a similar-ish area, and you have to make your way up to Toledo old town whether you go by train or bus.
Getting To Toledo Old Town
The only way to get from either the bus or train station to Toledo’s stunning old town (which sits on top of a hill) is to walk. So you’ll be happy to hear there are public escalators running most of the way up, but only if you go the right way.
You have 2 options to get to the old city from the train station. If you take the first left at the roundabout and go over the stone bridge, you’re in for a bit of a lung busting climb. The better option is to go straight over the roundabout and over the bridge, before taking the first left and seeing the escalator.
Day Trip Tours
If you’re short on time, you don’t want to deal with public transport or you want someone else to do the explaining for you, a day trip tour might be your best solution. And better yet, many day trip tour options also combine nearby places like Segovia as well.
Compare top rated tours originating in Madrid below:
Get Your Guide: Toledo Full Day Tour | Segovia and Toledo with Alcazar + Cathedral
Viator: Full Day Tour To Toledo & Segovia | Toledo Half Day Tour
What To Do In Toledo
Okay, let’s take a look at the things you have to see and do when you arrive.
Lose Track of Time in the Labyrinthine Streets
But not too much, unless you decide to stay a night! We honestly loved aimlessly wandering around the beautifully intricate streets and admiring buildings all around us. Taking things slowly is the best way to enjoy this historic town.
The main tourist walkways from Plaza de Zocodover to the Cathedral are packed full of souvenir shops and restaurants. We suggest giving them a once over and then heading to the quieter parts like the Jewish Quarter, where you’ll find more of Toledo’s medieval history.
You’ll know you’re in the Jewish Quarter when you spot tiles with Jewish symbols on the ground.
Appreciate the Diversity of Toledo’s Architecture
Toledo’s architecture is as diverse as it is picturesque. There’s churches, synagogues and mosques to discover, showcasing influences from Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Many of the important buildings are spread out across Toledo. Fortunately, it’s small enough to cover them all. Use the list below to figure out which you’re interested in and plot a route.
Christianity
- San Juan de los Reyes
- Church of Santo Tome
- Santiago del Arrabal
Judaism
- El Transito Synagogue
- Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue
Islam
- Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz
- The old Bisagra Gate
- Mosque of las Tornerias
Want to learn about Toledo from a local guide? Book a Toledo walking tour here.
Santa Iglesia Cathedral Primada de Toledo
Located exactly in the center of the city in Plaza del Ayuntamiento is Toledo’s stunning 13th century High Gothic cathedral, and it’s the must see on your day trip.
Originally a Visegothic church, it became the site of the Great Mosque of Toledo before work on the new church began in 1226. The cathedral is considered by some to be the best of Spain’s Gothic style. It houses masterpieces by local legend El Greco and a wonderful baroque high altar.
There are more than 750 artistic stained glass windows, which absorb the light and illuminate the interior of the cathedral.
- Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:30pm, Sun 4:00pm-6:30pm.
- Tickets: €5.50 adult, €4.85 students/over 65/groups, under 14 free.
- Pro-tip: Free entrance to the Cathedral Wednesdays between 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
- Bonus: Be sure to check out the Toledo El Greco Museum if you’re a fan of art.
Looking to have a guided tour of the Cathedral? Book this 1 hour guided tour.
Army Museum at the Alcazar Fortress
The Alcazar of Toledo is a super easy on the eye fort found at the highest point of the old city. It was rebuilt after the Spanish Civil War and the siege of the Alcazar between 1939 and 1957. Seen from afar, the fort is prominent in the Toledo skyline and it makes for the most amazing photo opportunities in town,
Today, the Alcazar houses a library and army museum, which we thoroughly enjoyed exploring. It contains firearms, swords, knives, uniforms, artillery, flags and so much more. We spent 2 hours inside but could easily have stayed longer.
- Hours: Tues-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Monday.
- Tickets: €5 entry plus €4 audio guide, reduced €2.50, children free.
- Pro-tip: Entrance on Sunday is free for all.
Walk the River Tagus + Discover Toledo’s Gates
If you’re just taking a day trip to Toledo, you might not have enough time to walk the river but you should try to check out the 2 main bridge entrances to the city if you can.
The River Tagus runs around three quarters of the city, and there are tons of picnic spots along the way to eat a cheap lunch and perhaps even a cheeky glass of wine, which is exactly what we did on our first day.
Toledo’s gates called Puerta Bisagra, Puerta del Cambron and Puerta del Sol each have their own story of historical importance and sieges in days gone by.
The bridges called Puente de San Martin and Puente de Alcantara have some amazing photo opportunities. If you stand in the calmness and tranquility on either bridge, try to imagine what a siege would have been like a thousand years ago.
Staying A Night
What can you do if you decide to spend a night in Toledo like we did?
Drink Beers & Eat Tapas in a Local Tavern
We really hope you decide to stay a night because once the day trippers leave, Toledo becomes a super peaceful place in the evenings. It’s a lovely spot to take a late stroll after dinner and wine, but there’s pretty much no nightlife scene so don’t stay over if you want to mingle with locals into the early hours.
That said, we enjoyed a few beers and tasty tapas in local taverns and we stayed out later than we expected. The beers were cheap and the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed which we really appreciated.
Learn from a Local on a Free Walking Tour
A great way to spend your next morning if you stay over is to fill up on coffee, then take a free walking tour starting at 11:00am in Plaza del Zocodover. Better yet you could get up for an early morning run and watch the sun rise over Toledo way before the tour begins.
We took the free walking tour ourselves and our guide was superb. She was genuinely interested in Toledo and its history, and her passion led to our gain in knowledge!
We walked past places we’d already seen the day before, but this time we learned the facts from a local. And we saw things we missed on our first day too. Toledo’s small size meant the tour covered the whole old town and ended at the cathedral.
You could of course take a walking tour on a day trip, but it would eat up a big chunk of your time.
Where To Stay
Toledo is split into the old city and new city. Truth be told, we didn’t go to the new city because it was far too cozy and attractive in the old city, and almost every tourist was up in the older part.
You can stay in cheap pensions, quaint bed and breakfasts, or lovely hotels if you decide to spend a night. We found accommodation to be surprisingly affordable because few people actually stay over.
There’s plenty of options so shop around. Check availability and prices for all hotels in Toledo.
What To Eat
During the day when walking the streets, we stopped in at cafes, drank plenty of coffee and devoured far too many churros. We made a point of staying clear of the tourist hot spots and looked more more authentic experiences.
It gets busy during the day with tourists so it can hard to escape the crowds, and we recommend the Jewish Quarter for quieter restaurants.
And if you stay over, you must eat some local food for dinner. Toledo was Spain’s capital of gastronomy in 2016 after all!
Their most famous dishes are hearty meat stews and marzipan. If you love cheese like we do, you have to try locally produced manchego cheese, and if you want something substantial, try the manchego lamb.
We were deep into a paella phase and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to eat more (which you can see in our photo above). But in hindsight we should have tried the manchego lamb.
Toledo Day Trip Map
Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, and scroll around. If you’d like to see a bigger version, click the “view larger map” icon in the top right, and if you’d like to see anything specific, click the arrow and square icon in the top left.
More From Spain
- 2 days in Barcelona itinerary
- One day in Cordoba itinerary
- Things you can’t miss in Granada
- Unmissable things to do in Ronda
- Segovia day trip from Madrid
- Hiking Los Cahorros near Granada
We hope our day trip to Toledo guide helps you plan for your visit!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.