toledo spain
Toledo is located about 70 km south of Madrid. It is the most popular day trip from Madrid and for good reason. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toledo was once the capital of Spain and has been influenced by a variety of cultures, including Roman, Visigoth, Jewish, and Muslim.
top tips for your visit
Must visit the Mirador
The Mirador which surrounds the city giving a great view of the city is a must when visiting Toledo. The way the sun works is that from the Mirador you will get the sun hitting the city in the morning and afternoon with the sun setting behind the city causing a silhouette at sunset. I would recommend walking the Mirador in morning after train. If you continue along the outskirts you can enter the city via the San Martin Gate which will get you close to the Monesatario de San Juan.
Comfortable shoes
Comfortable shoes are an absolute must. You will be walking a lot. There are hills and cobblestone streets. You will really be thankful to be shoes that you are comfortable walking in by the end of the day. Trust me!
buy the tourist wristband
Buy the tourist bracelet for 12 euros at any of the 7 included monuments. The wrist band allows entry into 7 places. Can stamp along the way with the map they give you! It is well worth the price of entry. It is consider invalid if the band is broken or removed from your wrist.
Check out some viewpoints within the city
There are several amazing viewpoints within the city walls. The Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha (library) has a café with great view and free to enter. Another not to be missed viewpoint is at the Iglesia de los Jesuitas. This church is included on the tourist bracelet or you can enter for 3 euros. Once inside, you’ll climb 131 stairs to the roof for the view.
Avoid Mondays if possible
Several of the tourist attractions and monuments in Toledo are closed on Monday so if it is possible it is much better to visit on another day of the week. We visited on Tuesday which was perfect!
Must visit the toledo cathedral
The Toledo cathedral costs 10 euros to enter. You should expect to spend at least 1-2 hours here. I would highly recommend audio guide which you can use for free however you need 50 euros cash deposit for the audio guide. You will get your 50 euros back after you return the guide. It is well worth your time and money.
time needed for day trip from madrid
You can visit Toledo in a variety of ways. There are many bus tours from Madrid that include visit to the Mirador, a short guide and then time on your own to explore. You can also visit on your own via train. I would recommend 8 hours to hit all main spots. We took 850 am train arrived 9:20 am and returned to Madrid at 5:25 pm arriving back at 5:55pm. I definitely would have felt very rushed if I had less time. If you want to have dinner in Toledo I would add more time and come back on a later train.
Map and Navigation
A map is necessary and GPS tracking is essential to navigate the narrow alleys. Google maps worked wonders for us getting from attraction to attraction. Otherwise you may get lost in the maze. This can be fun but if on a time schedule you may be very happy to not get lost!
