Located just a short distance from the capital of Madrid, you’ll find that there are plenty of things to do in Toledo, Spain. Also known as the “City of Three Cultures“, in Toledo you can enjoy an impressive historical and cultural heritage, as well as stroll through an old town that has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Thanks to the fact that it is not an excessively large city, you will be able to visit its most iconic spots in a short time, so you may have a little time left to discover some of the wonders hidden in the surrounding area.
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map. You can also keep important documents such as travel tickets or hotel reservations all in one place, among many other features.
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Things to do in Toledo
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Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is one of the most visited and beautiful places in Toledo. This monument, characterised by its Elizabethan Gothic style, was built in 1476 at the request of the Catholic Monarchs.
You will love its impressive façade, but the really interesting part is inside the monastery. You can walk around its two floors while looking at a beautiful exhibition of sculptures and decorations. Furthermore, you can visit the interior church and admire all its ornamentation. Without a doubt, this is one of the places you cannot miss on your visit to Toledo Spain.
Mirador del Valle Viewpoint
One of the first things you must see in Toledo is its impressive Mirador del Valle viewpoint. From this emblematic spot you can enjoy unbeatable views of the city and the entire Tagus River, either at sunrise or sunset. You’ll love it at both times of day.
This set of viewpoints are located in the south of Toledo, where you can see some of the most beautiful buildings and monuments of the city, such as the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, or the emblematic Alcázar of Toledo. The Mirador del Valle is a 40-minute walk from the centre, but you can also take the L71 bus or even a taxi to get there. You won’t regret it!
Cathedral of Santa María de Toledo
The Cathedral of Santa María is one of the places you must see in Toledo. Also known as the Primate Cathedral of Spain, it is considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the world.
The origin of this building dates back to 1226, and its construction was finally completed in 1493. It has a distinctive Gothic style with three different façades. As soon as you arrive, you will find a spectacular front façade with an almost 100 metre tall tower. You can also see the famous Clock Gate, located on the oldest façade of the Cathedral. And if that wasn’t enough, you can go inside and admire its different rooms. It is truly fascinating.
Plaza de Zocodover
Plaza de Zocodover is not only one of the most symbolic places in Toledo, but also one of the most central points in the city. In addition to its beautiful setting surrounded by traditional and colourful buildings, what you will like most about this square is definitely its atmosphere.
You can enjoy a pleasant stroll in this rectangular arcaded square while you admire its Castilian-style buildings. It is the ideal place to stroll around in the evening and enjoy a good dinner in one of its little terraces. In this square you will also find numerous souvenir and sweet shops. There are several entrances to the square, although the most famous is the Arco de la Sangre.
The Alcázar de Toledo
The Alcázar is, without a doubt, one of the places that should be at the top of your list of things to do in Toledo. This impressive medieval fortress is strategically located in the highest part of Toledo, visible from any point of the city.
It has a spectacular rectangular structure which dates back to Roman times, although it was later rebuilt with the modern structure it has today. You can’t miss a visit to this symbolic monument, especially if you are an architecture lover. You can also see the interior of the Alcázar, as well as enter the Library of Castile-La Mancha completely free of charge. Don’t forget to climb one of its towers to get an incredible view of the city.
See the Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo
The Church of Santo Tomé is one of the most essential places to see in Toledo, Spain. This church is well known because it has one of El Greco’s masterpieces: “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz”.
We recommend going inside to admire this incredible painting that is almost five metres high. Although the church itself is nothing special, it is still a beautiful building to visit. Once you have finished visiting the church, you can go to the El Greco museum just 10 minutes away to continue exploring his works.
Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca
The Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca is in the old Jewish quarter of Toledo. It is now one of the most acclaimed and visited sites in the city. It is an imposing religious building from 1180, with a characteristic Mudejar style.
This building was a synagogue for more than 200 years and later became a church in 1411. Admire the impressive façade that will leave you speechless, and then enter to discover its amazing interior. You can walk through many walkways with white walls and golden ornamentation, the combination of which has served as inspiration for many other synagogues around the world. You can’t miss a visit to this place in Toledo!
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 around Toledo?
Cabañeros National Park
Cabañeros National Park is located between the provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real, and is a spectacular natural area where you can enjoy unbeatable landscapes and abundant flora and fauna. It is the ideal place to visit if you want to enjoy an experience on the outskirts of Toledo Spain.
Considering that it is considered one of the fifteen protected areas in Spain, the park will fascinate you as soon as you arrive. You will enter through an impressive tunnel of trees, which will take you to the Torre de Abraham viewpoint. From up there you can enjoy spectacular views of the reservoir. Along your route, you will have the opportunity to see different species, such as eagles, vultures and storks.
In this park you can experience different types of routes, whether on foot, in 4×4 cars, bike rides or even on horseback. Each of these options offer a totally unique experience. You can’t miss it!
Castle of Guadamur
The impressive Guadamur Castle is located on the outskirts of Toledo, and is a beautiful fortress dating back to the 15th century. It is currently privately owned, but that doesn’t stop you from being able to see it up close.
You can book a guided tour of the castle to learn about the history of the castle. Thanks to the many restorations it has undergone, the castle now has a splendid façade that will leave anyone who visits it speechless.
Las Barrancas de Burujón
The Burujón ravines are one of the most beautiful natural landscapes to see in the area around Toledo. Located just 30 kilometres from the city, these ravines form the Calaña and Castrejón reservoir.
This impressive spot has been compared to the Grand Canyon, due to its characteristic reddish clay and landscape created by wind erosion. Although it is an amazing place to visit at any time of day, we recommend going at sunset for a unique experience. You won’t regret it.
Tips for a trip to Toledo
- Check which area you are most interested in staying depending on your interests.
- Make sure you are well protected if you are travelling to Toledo during the hot months.
- We recommend staying inside the city walls for easier access to everything.
- If you are travelling with your own car, find out where the car parks are located and their prices.
- There are tourist cards that can speed up your visits and help you save money.
- Visiting the city at night is a spectacular experience.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Toledo
There is very good accessibility between Toledo and Madrid, and you can choose between different means of transport.
– You can take a bus with the ALSA company from Plaza de Zocodover, which takes around 50 minutes and costs €5.50 one way, or €10 return.
– You can also choose the AVANT high-speed train leaving from Atocha Station and arriving in Toledo in just 30 minutes. The fare is €14.
– Finally, you can rent a car. You will have to drive for about an hour along the A-42 until you reach Toledo.
The best months to visit Toledo if you want to enjoy the good weather are May to August, as rainfall is minimal and temperatures are higher. Even so, you should bear in mind that during June, July and August, temperatures can be excessively hot. That’s why we recommend travelling between April and June to enjoy the good weather but with more moderate temperatures.
The most efficient and comfortable way to get to Cabañeros National Park from Toledo is by car. You will have to drive approximately 83 kilometres along the CM-4013, and then the CM-4017. You will reach your destination in just one hour and fifteen minutes.
In addition to its heritage and culture, Toledo stands out for its excellent gastronomy. You will have the opportunity to try a variety of dishes to suit all tastes.
– One of our first recommendations is the garlic soup, prepared with ñoras (a type of pepper), garlic, paprika, ham and oil with bread and eggs.
– Next, don’t miss the stewed partridge cooked to perfection, with a light touch of aromatic herbs.
– You will also love the famous caldereta, a dish made with lamb simmered in an earthenware dish, accompanied by pepper, onion, garlic, tomato and pepper.
– Finally, we recommend trying the cochifrito, made from lamb, goat or pork, stewed while fried in oil with spices, garlic and vinegar.
A standard ticket to the Cathedral costs €10.
How to plan your itinerary of places to see in Toledo?
Download the Passporter app and plan your trip in the most organised way, according to the days and places you want to see in Toledo, Spain.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Save important information about the destinations you want to visit that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
- Save your tickets and reservations.
- Organise your route on Google maps with your accommodation as the starting point or any other that you indicate.
- Find out the best travel option for each place.
- Save and publish your own photos and experiences as you go along, so that when someone asks you “How was your trip to Toledo?” you can reply “Visit my traveller profile on Passporter!”
If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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