Declared a Heritage City in 1985, Segovia is full of history, tradition and unique gastronomy. Discover all the things to do in Segovia Spain and fall in love with its architecture and charm. Beyond the imposing Segovia Aqueduct, this city has an infinite number of features, activities and scenery to offer that will make you want to come back again, and again, and again.
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Things to do in Segovia
Visit the Aqueduct of Segovia, the essential thing to do in Segovia Spain
The Aqueduct of Segovia is the most iconic and representative place in the city and a must-see during your trip. It is an impressive work of Roman engineering, built at the beginning of the 2nd century. With a height of 28 metres at its highest point and a total of 167 arches, the Segovia Aqueduct captivates you as soon as you see it.
The Segovia Aqueduct marks the beginning of every route through the city and was an indispensable infrastructure for Segovia for many years. The Segovia Aqueduct supplied all the inhabitants of the city, bringing water from the Fuenfría spring, located some 17 kilometres from Segovia Spain.
Alcázar of Segovia
The Alcázar of Segovia looms above the city, dominating the western part of Segovia. It is a palace of Roman and Moorish origins dating back to the reign of Philip II in the 16th century. Numerous Castilian monarchs have lived here, such as Isabella I of Castile, who lived there at the end of the 15th century.
Visiting the Alcázar is without a doubt one of the most iconic things to do in Segovia, where you can admire both its exterior and interior. Don’t forget to visit the Throne Room and the Hall of the Kings, where a gilded frieze depicts all the rulers of Spain from Don Pelayo of Asturias in the 8th century to Juana la Loca in the 16th century.
Segovia Cathedral
Built on top of the old Jewish quarter, Segovia Cathedral is one of the must-see spots in the city. It is one of the youngest original Gothic structures in Europe, as despite being built during the Renaissance it retained an early Gothic style. Don’t miss the interior of the cathedral with its remarkable paintings, sculptures and sarcophagi.
Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos in Segovia Spain
Next to the Eresma River and opposite the Casa de la Moneda is the San Marcos viewpoint. It offers the best possible panoramic view of the Alcázar of Segovia. Located in an exceptional enclave of the city, this park forms part of the grounds of the small church of San Marcos, which is also worth a visit. It is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Segovia Spain.
Walls of Segovia
As you will have seen in the Alcázar of Segovia, the city’s rugged topography facilitated its fortification and defence. After the Christians recovered the city from the Moors in 1088, King Alfonso VI extended the city’s defences. With a little help from the tourist office you can still trace the outline of these three-kilometre-long walls today.
There are five gates and also a series of huts overlooking the defences, so they have reinforced walls and towers. The part that is most intact is just west of the cathedral, around the Puerta de San Andrés. From there you can climb the walls and look across the Clamores Valley, where there was once a Jewish necropolis.
Casa de los Picos
It is difficult to walk past this house on Calle Juan Bravo without recognising it. The Casa de los Picos is a late 15th century mansion with a façade adorned with 617 pyramid-shaped granite spikes.
The building was purchased by councillor Juan de la Hoz, and you can still see his family’s coat of arms above the doorway and windows. Inside there is an exhibition hall for the Segovia School of Art, and you should also take a look at the majestic Renaissance courtyard. It is without a doubt one of the most interesting things to do in Segovia Spain.
Old Town and Jewish Quarter of Segovia Spain
Walking through the old quarter of Segovia makes you think that you may have unwittingly stepped into a time machine. Among its narrow, twisting streets, such as Calle Real de Segovia and Calle Cervantes, you will find beautiful churches such as San Martín, San Millán and San Juan de los Caballeros, the oldest church in Segovia.
In addition, strolling through the old town you can visit the Plaza Mayor or the Plaza de Medina del Campo, where you will find old mansions and small palaces. You can also visit the Jewish Quarter, where you can admire the legacy of one of the richest Jewish communities in Castile. In the centre you will also find bars and restaurants that bring the most historic part of Segovia Spain to life.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in and around Segovia?
Royal Palace of La Granja of San Ildefonso
The Royal Site of La Granja de San Ildefonso, declared a Site of Historic Monuments, is one of the best examples of the monarchic splendour of the 18th century. Philip V, the first Bourbon to reign in Spain, fell in love with this beautiful place in 1717. Such was his love that he decided to build a palace and gardens there, adorned with sculptures and fountains to remind him of his childhood at the French court of his grandfather Louis XIV. The creation of this Royal Site was his great personal work; he had found the ideal place to retreat from the world.
Pedraza
Pedraza de la Sierra is one of the most beautiful medieval walled villages in Spain. The town of Pedraza was repopulated between the 10th and 11th centuries, after the reconquest. The greatest splendour of the town came in the 15th century, in the times of the Velasco family, who were the lords of the castle and the town.
The town was built between two hills, between the rivers Cega and Vadillo, which made it an impenetrable bastion. The castle is strategically placed on a rocky outcrop where a pre-Roman fort once stood. For much of its history, the town of Pedraza served as a fortress and market place for the region.
What to see in Segovia Spain in one day?
Segovia is a small city, perfect for a day trip. With a day in the city of Segovia you will be able to discover the most iconic places of this historic city. Here is a one-day itinerary around Segovia, so that you don’t miss anything important.
- Alcázar of Segovia
- Aqueduct of Segovia
- Segovia Cathedral
- Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos
- Walls of Segovia
- Casa de los Picos
- Old Town and Jewish Quarter
What to see in Segovia Spain in two days?
If you have two days to explore the city of Segovia, we recommend spending your second day discovering the city’s surroundings, such as the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso or the beautiful village of Pedraza.
Frequently asked questions for a trip to Segovia
To get to this city in Castilla y León you can choose between private car, train or bus. Segovia train station is a little out of the way, but you can take bus number 11 to the aqueduct.
Segovia is a city to wander around at your own pace, discovering every street and small corner of its old town. However, Segovia also has up to 12 regular city bus lines that run throughout the city.
You cannot leave this city without trying the world-famous Segovian roast suckling pig, a delicacy worth discovering in any of the city’s restaurants. As well as roast suckling pig, in Segovia you can also find roast lamb, beans from La Granja, potatoes stewed with chorizo, partridges with Segovian style mushrooms, and trout, which are abundant in the cold waters of its rivers and reservoirs.
To taste these traditional Segovian recipes, here are 5 of the city’s best-regarded restaurants.
– Parador de Segovia
– Claustro de San Antonio el Real
– Casa Silvano “Maracaibo”
– Al Punto
– San Miguel
How to organise the things to do in Segovia Spain?
You can use this post as a reference and combine it with the suggestions on the Passporter website or app. There you will find a wide variety of ideas and inspiration on what to see and do in Segovia.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app to inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to organise your trip or plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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