Toledo is a city located just 1 hour by car from the Spanish capital. It is located in the region of Castile La Mancha and, with a strong Arab influence, it is a true gem. So, find out all you can visit in Toledo with this 1-day itinerary.

The walled city of Toledo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. And it is easy to understand why. Toledo has had significant historical importance (it was once the capital of Spain) and perfectly combines the presence of Islamic, Christian and Jewish elements.

Throughout this blog post, you will also find some suggestions for restaurants and accommodation in Toledo, as well as some extra tips to plan your visit to Toledo in the best possible way 😊

Being located in the Spanish countryside, Toledo is known for its extreme climate: very hot summers and harsh winters. Therefore, the best time to visit Toledo is in spring and autumn, trying to escape the crowds (remember that it is a very popular day trip for those visiting Madrid) and the typical summer heat.

In terms of festivities, these are some of the main ones in the city:

• Day of San Ildefonso (23rd January)
• Carnival (February/March)
• Holy Week
• Castile La Mancha Day (31st May)
• Corpus Christi (after Easter)
• Day of La Virgen del Sagrario (15th August)

Toledo is a small city and therefore one day in the city is enough to get to know the main points of interest. However, in order to enjoy everything the city has to offer in a more relaxed way, 2 to 3 days is the ideal duration to visit Toledo 😊

Hotel Sol was the hotel I chose for the only night I spent in Toledo. It is a fairly simple hotel, but the hotel is quite nice and within walking distance of the streets of Toledo.

In terms of parking, Hotel Sol is located on an already steep and narrow street but has some parking spaces available (paid for during some hours of the day). Alternatively, the hotel has a garage. However, there are other options that are also quite interesting:

• Hotel San Juan de los Reyes: central location with very spacious rooms. It is the result of the restoration of an old flour mill with a typical Mudéjar façade
• Hotel Sercotel Alfonso VI: close to some of the city’s main monuments (e.g. Cathedral, Alcázar), some of the rooms have spectacular views over the city and others even have a terrace.
• Hostal Alfonso XII: cheaper option, but also located in the heart of Toledo. The rooms are basic but more than enough for those looking for a place to rest.
• Hotel Domus Plaza Zocodover: super central location, this hotel is also set in a restored 17th-century building. The interior space of the hotel is modest but still fine.

The journey by car between Madrid and Toledo is quite short, so the best option is to fly to Madrid and from there travel by car to Toledo. However, if you do not intend to use a car, I suggest:

• Bus by ALSA: The journey also lasts about 1 hour and the price is around 10€.
• Train by RENFE: The journey takes about 30 minutes and the round trip cost about 23€.

Alternatively, you can also buy an organised tour on platforms such as Get Your Guide:

Before we start with the itinerary itself, I have an initial tip. If you take a car to Toledo, and as you would expect in a walled city, it is best to park your car outside the city wall. There are some free parks outside the walls, such as Safont park or Paseo de la Rosa park.

Although the historic centre is on a hill and these two parks are located at the bottom of the hill, there are escalators next to these 2 parks that easily get you to the historic centre. The escalators aren’t open 24 hours a day, but they operate long hours!

There are also some paid options in the historic centre: Parking Corralillo San Miguel | Parking Garaje Santo Tomé | Parking Recaredo | Parking Palacio de Congresos (Miradero) | Parking Garaje Alcázar

Finally, I take the opportunity to leave you a map with a summary of what you can visit in Toledo.

Our Toledo itinerary begins at Bisagra Old Gate. This dates back to the period of Muslim occupation of the city and was one of the gateways into the city. Built in the 10th century, it fell into disuse with the construction of Bisagra’s New Gate in the 16th century.

We continue on to Santiago del Arrabal Church. Built in the 13th century on the orders of King Sancho II, this church is a good example of the Mudéjar style in the city.

Next is another gate to the city and this one is probably the most beautiful 😊 Built in the 13th century by the Knights of the Order of St John, this really is one of the must-see spots in Toledo.

Take the opportunity to walk a little way up the street to Alarcones Gate. The views from here over the outskirts of Toledo are superb and especially beautiful at sunset.

Then walk up the narrow street where the Valmardón Gate is located and quickly reach Cristo de la Luz Mosque.

This mosque still retains much of its original elements from 999. Despite its rather small size, I highly recommend a visit inside to learn a little more about its history and the city of Toledo.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the Mosque inside costs only 3€ and includes an audio guide available in several languages. It is open every day of the week from 10 am to 6.45 pm.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Depending on what you are planning to visit in Toledo, it may make sense to buy the Tourist Wristband (‘Pulsera Turística de Toledo’) that gives free entry to various monuments. It only costs 12€ and can be purchased in any of the monuments included or online. The Wristband is valid in the following monuments: Real Colegio de Doncellas Nobles | San Ildefonso Church | San Juan de los Reyes Monastery | Cristo de la Luz Mosque | Santo Tomé Church | El Salvador Church | Santa María la Blanca Synagogue.

Open since 2014, the San Agustín Market is a market where we can find everything from gourmet food spaces to show-cooking shows.

We continue our way up towards Zocodover Square. This is the most important square in the city and where for many years there was a market on Tuesdays. It was also here that the important days of the city and the region were celebrated.

Enjoy the liveliness of this square, where hundreds of locals gather throughout the day. Look out for the clock on one of the façades of the buildings that make up Zocodover Square and walk down the steps past Arco de la Sangre until you come across the statue in honour of Cervantes – an important Spanish writer.

The Alcázar of Toledo is probably the brand image of the city, as it is the building that stands out the most when we view the city from afar. This ancient palace stands out for its square plan surrounded by four towers, each 60 metres high. Currently, the building houses the Castile La Mancha Library and also the Museum of the Spanish Army, where we can learn more about Spain’s military history.

I actually chose not to visit the inside of the Alcázar. If you are short on time, given the size of the building, the Alcázar is a point you should consider if you really want to include it in your itinerary.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The Army Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm and the entrance fee is 5€. You can better plan your visit here.

We continue our itinerary through Toledo to Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where we find Toledo’s Cathedral. If from the outside it looks like “just another cathedral”, the inside will easily leave you awestruck. The amount of detail in this cathedral is absolutely surreal. It would take days to observe every detail.

It is, without any doubt, a place you must visit in Toledo 😉 Having been built between the 13th and 15th centuries, it was inspired by Burges Cathedral. Especially noteworthy is the baroque-style altar, called El Transparente.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the inside of the Cathedral is quite expensive (10€), but includes a comprehensive audio guide available in several languages. In terms of opening hours, the visits run from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6.30 pm and Sundays from 2 pm to 6.30 pm. You can consult the most up-to-date information here. Save at least one hour to visit the Cathedral because the audio guide is very complete!

I know there are plenty of churches to visit in Toledo, but this one is particularly worth a visit. Rumour has it that the church was built on the birthplace of San Ildefonso – the city’s patron saint.

The San Ildefonso Church is quite beautiful on its own, but what makes it one of the best churches in Toledo are its towers over 50 meters high 😉 If you only have time to visit one church (besides the Cathedral, of course), I highly recommend this one. I promise you won’t regret the incredible views of the city you can achieve from up there.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The San Ildefonso Church is open every day of the week from 10 am to 6.45 pm (April to September) and from 10 am to 5.45 pm (October to March). The ticket costs 3€ and also gives access to the towers. Don’t forget that a visit to this church is included in the Toledo Tourist Wristband.

The Santo Domingo Convent dates back to the 11th century, but it has undergone several renovations over the years. It is an important place in the city as it houses a collection of paintings by El Greco.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the inside costs 3€ and visits can take place any day of the week. The Covent is open Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 1.30 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm, and Sunday from 4 pm to 7 pm.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you find this type of visit interesting, you may also want to visit the Santa Clara la Real Convent (entrance fee is 3€). However, please note that it is only open on Saturdays from 10.30 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 6.30 pm. If you don’t visit Toledo on a Saturday, there is no point in including this convent in the itinerary since the outside of the Convent is not that interesting.

The Colegio de Doncellas Nobles is a former girls’ school in Toledo, founded by the archbishop of Toledo Juan Silíceo in the 16th century. It is certainly a historic building of the city that, even if you don’t visit inside, is worth it for its exterior!

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The entrance ticket costs just 3€ and is included in the Toledo Tourist Wristband. It is open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 6.45 pm.

Before heading to the next point on this itinerary, stop at Virgen de la Gracia square, as from here we have a good shot of the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery.

Go down the steps next to Virgen de la Gracia Square until you reach the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery. As the name suggests, it was commissioned by the Catholic Kings to commemorate their victory in the Toro Battle. It is particularly noteworthy for its Gothic-style cloister.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION Entrance to the Monastery costs 3€ (also included in the Toledo Tourist Wristband) and opening hours are Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm and 3 pm to 6.45 pm. From the 16th of October to March it closes at 5.45 pm.

Built in the Middle Ages and having already undergone several reconstructions, the San Martín Bridge is one of the two bridges worth visiting in Toledo. Take the opportunity to cross it and admire the Tagus river 😊

And if you’re a bit adventurous, you can also enjoy a zip line experience near the bridge with Fly Toledo.

The itinerary continues towards the city’s Jewish quarter, one of the must-see spots in Toledo 😍 We start at Santa María la Blanca Synagogue, which is said to have been built in the 2nd century. Having been subject to a few refurbishments since its existence, some indicate that this may be the oldest synagogue in Europe still in existence.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The entrance ticket costs 3€, but is included in the Toledo Tourist Wristband. It is open every day of the week from 10 am to 6.45 pm. From the 16th of October to March it closes at 5.45 pm.

Also located in the Jewish quarter, you can visit another Toledo synagogue – Synagogue of El Tránsito, which currently houses the Sefardí Museum. In this museum, you can find an exhibition about the history of Judaism in Spain.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and opening hours vary depending on the day of the week. Entry costs 3€ or 5€ if combined with the El Greco Museum. On Saturdays from 2 pm or Sundays, the visit is free. For more information, click here.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you love this kind of art, you should seriously consider a visit to the El Greco Museum. The entrance fee is only 3€ and you can enjoy some of the works of art by this famous Greek painter. However, in order to add this point to your itinerary, I suggest you dedicate more than one day to Toledo or give up another part of your itinerary.

We move on to the last religious place I recommend visiting in Toledo. The Santo Tomé Church dates back to the 12th century and is built over an old mosque. Inside, you can admire the work “El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz” by El Greco.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Entry to the Santo Tomé Church costs 3€, although it is included in the Toledo Tourist Wristband. It is open every day of the week from 10 am to 6.45 pm. From the 16th of October to March it closes at 5.45 pm.

At to end this itinerary, nothing better than one of the most spectacular viewpoints with superb and panoramic views of Toledo 🥰

The El Valle Viewpoint is a bit far from the centre to get there on foot, so I suggest using a car.

If you have some extra time available to explore Toledo, I suggest adding the following points to your itinerary:

• El Savador Church
• Alcântara Bridge, with views over the San Servando Castle
• Santa Cruz Museum: museum of art, archaeology and ethnography
• Cuevas de Hércules: underground area dating back to the Roman Empire
• Duque de Lerma Museum, located in the old Tavera Hospital
• Roman Baths Ruins

There is no shortage of interesting options in Toledo for lunch/dinner. But here are two suggestions of 2 restaurants that I tried and really enjoyed:

• El Embrujo (€€): A tavern slightly further from the hustle and bustle of the centre and with food at very affordable prices. I tried the grilled squid and carcamusas (a delicious meat stew)
• El Trébol (€€): A pleasant place with a terrace and a wide variety of tapas. They work on a first-come, first-served basis and it’s quite crowded, so try going early! Try the famous Bomba Trébol (a potato stuffed with meat) or the Patatas al Pelotón with Morcilla. For dessert, a wonderful brownie with vanilla ice cream.

In terms of typical dishes of the city, these are probably the best known:

• Stewed game dishes (special emphasis on partridge)
• “Carcamusas” (meat stew)
• Cochifrito Manchego (fried suckling pig as the basis of the dish)
• Toledana Rice (Toledo’s version of paella)
• And for dessert, Toledo’s Mazapan or even Toledanas. There are plenty of shops in the city that sell many of these typical sweets 🥰

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