How to spend a perfect day in Toledo: our Toledo day trip itinerary (best things + food stops)
How to visit Toledo from Madrid and see the best of Toledo in a day: our detailed Toledo day trip itinerary with top things to see and food stops.
One of the most pleasant and easy day trips from Madrid is a visit to the stunning city of Toledo, the old capital of Spain and one of the country’s most beautiful historic centers.
Originally funded by the Romans, like nearby Segovia, Toledo has a long history that saw it become a crossroad of nations: here you can still see the Toledo Alcazar (ancient Royal Palace), the stunning Synagogues and Toledo Cathedral.
Toledo as a whole is a real treat for history lovers but also a great day out for food lovers and for anyone interested in leaving behind the busy streets of Madrid for a day.
We visited Toledo for a full day, arriving from Madrid. We didn’t have a tour on this occasion, we we had preselected some we considered, which I have added should you prefer to have a live guide.
This is the exact itinerary we followed: I hope you find it useful! Safe travels!
How many hours for a Madrid – Toledo day trip?
Our itinerary takes an full day but not an overly long one.
We took the train from Madrid between 9 and 10am and we arrived in Toledo mid morning.
We the left before dark, so we were back to Madrid for the late afternoon. We felt this was a sufficient amount of time to enjoy the city without rushing.
Since this was our fist visit, we focussed on the most famous Toledo attractions usually recommended as the best things to see in Toledo.
How to get to Toledo from Madrid by train
The easiest and best way to get to Toledo from Madrid is by train.
The two cities are connected by frequent and efficient trains departing from Madrid Puerta de Atocha station.
You can buy tickets from the main ticket office inside the station or we found handy booking the via The Renfe website (Spanish railway) so we didn’t have to line up and we could pick the best train time wise.
Especially at the weekends, Toledo is very popular with day-trippers and trains fill up fast so if you prefer to have set times, booking even just a few days before is best.
Tourists tend to leave the city in the late afternoon with the 5 pm train, so if you book a slightly later one you see a calmer, more authentic side of the city.
Toledo is perched on a hill and the train station is right at its bottom.
The walk to the town centre is not long (about ten minutes) but uphill. Buses and taxis are available at the station if you prefer to save your legs for the day!
Best things to see in Toledo in one day
Toledo is small and you ca walk from one side of the town to the other in a matter of minutes.
All the main attractions are close to one another and you will see them all just by strolling.
You don’t need a step by step Toledo itinerary but we followed this order:
- Alzazar
- Santa Maria La Blanca
- Sinagoga del Transito
- Lunch (see recommendations below)
- Cathedral
- Alcantara bridge
The tops things to see in Toledo in a day
Toledo Alcazar
The Alcazar is the top thing to see in Toledo and the most famous.
It is the first building you see on arrival and the one that dominates the surrounding countryside with its pointy towers and elegant facade.
The Toledo Alcazar dates back to Roman times (III century A.D.) but was subsequently rebuilt and extended until in the XVI century acquired its current appearance, typical of the Renaissance aesthetic.
Over the course of the centuries, the Alcazar worked as a palace and a fortress and was at the centre historically significant sieges.
Latest and most famous is the one that happened in 1936, during the Spanish civil war, when the Nationalists manage to keep hold of it for over two months, despite the attacks of the republican artillery.
Nowadays it works as a museum of the armed forces.
Santa Maria la Blanca (historic Synagogue of Toledo)
The church of Santa Maria La Blanca is possibly the building in Toledo that made the strongest impression on me, because of its peculiar aesthetics and history.
It is allegedly the oldest Synagogues in Spain, where the Jews are believed to have arrived in the I century A.D. right after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Roman army.
However, it was built by Islamic architects for the Jewish population of Toledo during the time of the Christian Kingdom of Castilla, which makes it an incredible example of cooperation between these three major faiths and communities.
Inside, you will notice Moorish columns with golden motives, whitewashed walls, and Christian Cross. Santa Maria La Blanca is now a ticketed attractions: I highly recommend you pay the (inexpensive) entry fee even just for a peek!
Sinagoga del Transito
Another incredible building located in the Jewish part of Toledo town is the Sinagoga del Transito, nowadays a museum.
The Synagogue was built in 1356 and it is one of those buildings that seem designed to surprise the visitor.
Its outside is severe and not overly ornate (except great detailing around the window frames) while the inside has intricate stucco artwork that will leave you in awe.
The Synagogue has a main prayer hall and, beside it, the Sefardi museum, telling the story of the Jewish community in Spain. Access to both the Synagogue and the museum is free and a visit is not to be missed.
Toledo Cathedral
Toledo has a wonderful, grand cathedral, built in the Gothic style and considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in the whole of Europe.
It is also, once again, a place that bears witness to the passage of the different communities that called Toledo home as it operated as a church, then a Mosque and finally a church! It took the appearance we see now in the 1200s.
The cathedral is surrounded by narrow streets and despite its size and importance is not immediately visible to the passers- by.
Small street and building somehow obscure its facade, but this only adds to the jaw-dropping effect the visitor experiences once stepping in.
Its facade is impressive, but it is its interior that really steals the show with an incredible baroque altar and two paintings by El Greco.
Make sure you enter from the main door to access the area of the building open to tourists.
.Toledo’s cathedral is 120 m long, 60 m wide; it contains 5 naves supported by 88 pillars and counts 72 vaults as well as being home to one of the most elaborate choirs in Europe!
The Alcantara bridge
Originally built by the Romans, the Alcantara bridge is one of the entrances to the city of Toledo.
It crosses the river Tejo (incidentally, the longest river in the Hiberica peninsula, it goes all the way to Lisbon!) and it is in a really impressive location, crossing the gorge of Toledo’s hill.
The bridge and the river can be reached on foot from the city centre, following the ancient steps climbing down the hill slope and it is a vantage point for a view of the city.
From it, you get a beautiful view over the Alcazar from the bottom up: standing on the far end of the bridge, you get a full understanding of how powerful the Alcazar must have been as a fortress to defend the city!
Top tip: considering how steep Toledo’s hill is, I recommend to leave the bridge as the final stop of your day. From here, the train station can be easily reached with a short walk (about 5 to 10 minutes)
Where to eat in Toledo: lunch spots
I was in Toledo with a friend who loves food, so we researched this one well! Our shortlist of places to eat in Toledo includes:
Taberna Skala, Cuesta Sal 5, 45001 Toledo – great for traditional tapas but very very popular so come early to avoid Spanish lunch time!
Barrio, Calle del Barrio Rey 5, 45001 Toledo – local restaurant with Spanish traditional tapas with a twist, this is a great address if you want to mix more typical Spanish flavors with inventive and creative new combinations,
El Embrujo, Calla Santa Locadia 6, 45002 Toledo – located towards the San Juan monastery this restaurant is a great spot for drinks and meat dishes especially
Other things to see in Toledo
Toledo is a small town so, as you walk, you will come across several additional churches and museums big and small you may want to visit.
Churches, belvedere terraces, courtyards and museums and everywhere. I feel a special mention however goes to El Greco Museum which is also here.
One day in Toledo for kids: is Toledo kid-friendly?
On this occasion, I visited Toledo with a friend but I couldn’t help myself wondering what it would be like to be here with kids.
I felt that Toledo was easy for older kids to enjoy and a little harder for toddlers due to the stroller unfriendly cobbles and the crowds.
Definitely not a dealbreaker but I feel a couple of suggestions can come in handy.
- Buggies and strollers: I noticed many buggies and strollers in the city, but the cobbled streets, the many steps and the crowds are a recipe for parents’ exhaustion! If you have a baby or a toddler, a carrier is a better option.
- While I did notice a small playground, the city is very much a cultural stop. If your children are not yet at an age when they can get interested in the history of sieges, war and art, you might find boredom will set in quickly.
- Slightly older children, on the other hand, might really enjoy the army museums and the many shops selling knick-knacks and Spanish costumes.
- When in the city, pay particular attentions to the cars. Despite the small streets, not all the city is pedestrianised and it’s easy to feel a false sense of safety: cars abound!
Toledo Day Trip Itinerary – pin this!
