Originally published 5 January, 2025

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team unless otherwise stated.

Is Toledo a good day trip from Madrid?

Located just 75 km south of Madrid, Toledo is one of the easiest day trips you can take from Madrid. And one of the richest too, as Toledo houses so many architectural and artistic treasures in a relatively small area. It’s one of the best places in Spain to appreciate the contrasts and similarities of the “three cultures” (Christian, Jewish and Muslim) that shaped the country.

But if you have more time available, Toledo is also great to visit for a few days, discovering the both famous sites and the hidden jewels. Furthermore the city is even more magical at night, as most monuments are illuminated in beautiful and dramatic ways. Plus, at night, all of the day trippers are gone, making Toledo less crowded and more magical.

Regardless of how you want to explore, we at Spain Less Traveled share our tips to discover Toledo and make the most of your time there.

Where is Toledo Spain?

Toledo is located south of Madrid, and is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Castilla - La Mancha as well as Toledo province.

How to get to Toledo from Madrid?

There are many ways to get to Toledo from Madrid, depending on how do you want to visit the city.

If you want to discover it at your own pace, catching a train is the most popular way. There is a high-speed train line that connects Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes and Toledo stations in 35 minutes.

Sadly, the line ends in Toledo and doesn’t continue to Andalucía, so you cannot visit Toledo on route to the south if traveling by train.

Almost every train sells out, so we recommend you book your tickets at least a week in advance, as you could be stranded in the city if you don’t have a return ticket booked. The line is solely operated by Renfe, so you do not have other options.

If the train is sold out, there are regular buses connecting both cities for a lower price. The setback is that buses depart from Plaza Elíptica, which is not in Madrid’s city center, and the journey takes about 90 minutes. We recommend the train.

Once in Toledo, both the bus station and train station are located next to the other, but you still have to get to the city. You can walk for 10 minutes along the river to get to the Recaredo escalators. Toledo’s city center is on top of a hill so the escalators are an easy way to go up. The escalators go up to near Plaza de Zocodover, which is the center of the city.

If you prefer not to walk, there are three bus lines that stop in front of the train station and take you to Plaza de Zocodover: Lines 61, 62 and 511. All take about 8 minutes to cover the distance. Also in front of the train station, you’ll find the stop for Toledo’s Hop-on, Hop-off buses that is another option to visit the city, but take into consideration that the city is full of narrow streets, so these buses only go around it.

And you will also find taxis at the train station that will drive you to (almost) anywhere in Toledo.

And of course there are also many organized day tours from Madrid that you can book with transportation included from Madrid, or with pick-up at Toledo’s train station. These tours come in all shapes and sizes from private tours, to small group tours, to coach tours.

A city of three cultures

Toledo has a long history, so it has seen many different people and cultures come and go. No wonder the historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The first dwellers of the city, during the final Bronze Age were the “carpetanos”, who had a large settlement in the area. In the 2nd century B.C., the area was occupied by the Romans, who created the city of “Toletum” and stayed there for more than 500 years.

In the 5th century A.D., the visigoths took over and in the 6th century created the Kingdom of Toledo, being the first Christian culture in the city. And 300 years later, the muslims took the city, that with the name of “Tulaytula” became part of the Caliphate of Córdoba. Finally, in 1085 Toledo was taken by the Kingdom of Castille and became Christian again.

During the 9th century, the first Jews arrived in Toledo, and by the time of the Christian conquest of the city, they had become a large and prosperous community. After the Christians took Toledo, both Muslims and Jews kept living in the city for more than 400 years, until 1492, when they were expelled from all of Spain.

The coexistence of those three cultures was not always easy, but more harmonious than you would imagine. You can still see many traces of that harmony in present Toledo, not just in the architecture, but in the food, the language and the open character of the city.

Christian Toledo

There are little remains of the Christian era before the Muslim conquest in the 9th century. The best place to see them is in the The Councils and Visigoth Culture Museum. It’s located in the amazing church of San Román, built in the 12th century, over the foundations of a Visigoth basilica. There you can see sculptures, capitals and the gorgeous architecture and murals. A very special place.

Of course, there is much more of the Christian culture after the takeover of the city in the 11th century. The most important place to visit is the Gothic-style Cathedral, considered by many to be one of the the top cathedrals in Spain. It was built on the site of the former Grand Mosque, that was built on top of a 6th century Visigoth church. Don’t miss the beatiful “Transparente”, a Baroque structure built to bring some natural light into the cathdreal’s apse, and the museum, with amazing golden monstrances and reliquaries. You can but tickets in advance online, or at the ticket office located just in front of the entrance.

The other main Christian building is the magnificent Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, a masterpiece of the Isabelline style. This style, named after Queen Isabella I, combines late Gothic and Renaissance styles, in a very unique way. The main church and the cloister are amazing.

Muslim Toledo

Although the Muslim period of the city only lasted about 200 years, its influence was great in the architecture and art of the city, as most artists and artisans remained in the city after the Christian conquest, creating a style called “mudejar” that combines elements of both cultures. You can find many examples of this architectural style all over Spain, but especially in Aragon, Murcia and Andalucía.

There were ten main mosques in Toledo, the best preserved is Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz (yes, it’s weird to have a mosque named after Christ, but that’s precisely Toledo). Built in the 10th century, it’s relatively small, but very beautiful. Despite the different additions done in the 12th century, it keeps most of its original charm.

Other places where you can appreciate the Muslim heritage are the city’s “puertas” (gates), especially Puerta del Sol (no, not the Madrid one) and Puerta antigua de la Bisagra.

Jewish Toledo

Toledo is one of the best cities in Spain to see the country’s rich Jewish history.

The “judería” (Jewish quarter) was located on the southwestern area of Toledo, very close to San Juan de los Reyes. You can visit some houses that have been converted into museums, such as Casa del Judío. But the main monuments everybody wants to visit are its two splendid synagogues:

Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca (once again, a synagogue named after the Virgin Mary) is the most famous. Don’t be fooled by its muslim aspect, it was built specifically as a synagogue in the 12th century (under Christian rule). This beautiful arched structure, with its delicate contrast of white walls and stone details is a must. Let’s just say it: it’s one of the most beautiful buildings in Spain.

Sinagoga del Tránsito, built in the 14th century, is perhaps less spectacular, but it’s more important, as it houses the Sephardic Museum, where you can learn a lot about Jewish life in Toledo. It was the last synagogue built in the city, and its main features are the beautifully carved stone walls, and the amazing wooden ceiling.

If you want to explore even further into Toledo’s Jewish culture, you can download this helpful bilingual guide provided by the “Red de Juderías” organization.

El Greco, the Greek master

Doménikos Theotokópoulos was a Greek painter born in Crete in 1541. After years of study in Italy, he arrived in Toledo in 1577, where he lived for almost 40 years until his death. Since his name was a bit complicated for Spaniards, he was nicknamed “El Greco”. He’s considered the most important Spanish painter of the Renaissance. His style is very peculiar, with elongated human figures, and detailed but a bit blurry images.

There are two places in Toledo that you can visit to appreciate his work:

Casa Museo de El Greco: Actually, it’s not his house. The whole compound was rebuilt in the early 20th century, using the ruins of several houses. It’s divided in two parts: a reconstruction of a 16th century house, with a beautiful patio, and a more modern wing, where the paintings are displayed. Don’t miss the series of 12 paintings depicting Christ’s apostles.

The other place you should visit is Iglesia de Santo Tomé. Right at the entrance you can see El Greco’s masterpiece: “The Burial of Count Orgaz”, one of the most important paitings in all of Spain. It’s a very popular place, so you may have to line up for several minutes.

A bracelet to rule them all

If you want to see (just about) everything or just want to visit other smaller and less touristic sights, then the Toledo Monumental wristband is what you need. For 12€ (at the time of writing this blog) you get access to seven different monuments. Four of them we have already covered (“Cristo de la Luz” mosque, “Santa María la Blanca” synagogue, “San Juan de los Reyes” monastery, and “Santo Tomé” church). The other three are:

Church of El Salvador: A mosque converted into a church where you can appreciate some fine Roman and Visigoth buried remains.

Royal College of Noble Maidens: A former school for girls with a gorgeous Renaissance chapel.

Church of the Jesuists: A beautiful and elegant Baroque church. Don’t miss climbing the towers for one of the best views in town. (The first photo of this blog entry).

Please note that the bracelet does not cover admission to the cathedral.

A walk around the river bend

Toledo’s old town is surrounded by the Tagus river, and if you cross it you can get great views of the city. Getting to the vista points is not especially easy, but totally doable with public transportation.

The best view is from Mirador del Valle, located on the road that follows the river bend. If you have your own car, there is a small parking area, and even a restaurant with a terrace and a small chapel. You can also get there by taking the public bus line 71 from Plaza de Zocodover. If you are using the Hop-on, Hop-off bus, there is a stop right by the mirador, or you can take a taxi from the city.

If you want a more VIP experience, Parador de Toledo is right over the mirador, so you can admire the same view while having a drink at their terrace, or from your own balcony, if you decide to stay there. While it is not a historic parador, it is worth checking out.

One of the public bus stops is at Puente de La Cava, right at the exit of the old town. There is also a great view from there, and you can even cross the river on a zip line.

Outside the walls

Most of Toledo’s attractions are located in the partially walled old town, but there are some great places outside the walls that you can visit if you have time.

The most impressive is Hospital de Tavera. This former hospital, built in the 16th century is considered one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Spain. Its twin courtyard is a wonder of elegance and symmetry. The hospital belongs now to the House of Medinaceli, one of Spain’s most important noble families, and it’s a museum that you can visit in one of their hourly guided visits. The pharmacy and the library are the highlights of the visit, with many important works of art.

You can book tickets in advance on their website, but it’s not normally crowded, so you can buy the tickets for the next available tour when you arrive. Most tours are in Spanish, but you are given a sheet in English to follow the explanations.

A unique theme park

Located 8 km away from Toledo, Puy du Fou is a unique theme park dedicated to the history of Spain. Open since 2021, it’s a great experience, and a fun approach to history. It’s not a park with rollercoasters or rides, but with large shows dedicated to specific characters or periods of Spain’s history. From El Cid’s life and legend to the adventures of Lope de Vega, the shows display amazing sets and costumes, and special effects that you won’t believe. Their open air falconry show is pure poetry, and their impressive night show “The Dream of Toledo” is like attending the opening of Toledo’s Olympics.

All over the park there are small “villages” with restaurants, shops and small street shows. There’s enough to do and see to spend a full day there. We recommend going on a weekday for shorter lines.

Getting there is easy, there are shuttle buses from Toledo’s Plaza Granadal that take you to the park and back. A taxi from Toledo costs about 40 Euros, so it’s convenient if you are a large group. And of course you can get there with your own car. You can even visit it if you don’t visit Toledo, since there are also shuttle buses from Madrid and back, departing from Paseo del Prado. We recommend you book the shuttles in advance, through Atrapalo, Viator or Civitatis.

The park is not open all year round. It closes from January through March. Like everything in Spain, be sure to check specific hours before you go.

What to eat in Toledo

Toledo is the entrance to the La Mancha region, and of course you can get some of the best Manchego cheeses all over the city. There is even a Museo del Queso Manchego that offers cheese and wine tastings.

Other local delicacies include:

• “Carcamusas”, a stew of pork meat with tomato sauce and peas.

• “Pisto manchego”, similar to French ratatouille with or without a fried egg on top.

• “Sopa de ajo”, a very rich and thick garlic soup.

• “Cuchifrito”, crunchy deep-fried pork meat seasoned with garlic.

• “Perdiz en escabeche”, partridge cooked with a vinegar and vegetable sauce.

One cool tradition is going for lunch or dinner to a “cigarral”. These are restaurants located outside of the city, surrounded by nature and with great views of the city. Some of them even have their own vineyards. There are several on the road leading to the miradores.

Toledo is also famous all over Spain for its sweets, especially “mazapán” (marzipan), and is considered to be some of the best food in Spain, especially for the holiday season..

Swords and pottery… what to buy in Toledo

Toledo is also full of handicraft stores, with four items being the most popular:

• Swords and knives. Toledo has a long tradition of sword making. There is even a famous 16th century play, “El acero de Toledo” (Toledo’s steel) about it. The designs vary from the traditional swords, to others inspired by the Muslim times of Toledo. And designs from movies and shows such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones” have become very popular. One very important thing: If you are returning to Madrid by train, you won’t be allowed to carry the swords and knives that you bought for security issues. Most stores offer a shipping service directly to your country, and we recommend you use it.

• “Damasquinados”. This unique technique consists of embedding gold threads into a metal surface, creating intricate designs. It’s used for pendants, brooches, pill boxes and other small items.

• Lace. It’s also an old tradition in all La Mancha region.

• Ceramics. The city of Talavera de la Reina, in Toledo’s province is one of the most important centers for ceramics and pottery in Spain, and you can buy their products in Toledo. Pottery can be complicated to carry back home, but there are very beautiful tiles that take up no space in your luggage.

Need help planning your dream trip to Toledo Spain?

Has your appetite for Toledo increased? Let us help you with that. We offer several levels of Spain travel planning services. Spain Less Traveled can work with all different types of travelers and travel planners, from those who want our full support throughout the entire travel planning process, to those who simply need to talk with a Spain destination specialist to assist with specific aspects of travel planning. 

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