Toledo, a Unesco heritage city located at less than 1 hour from Madrid, is known as the city of the 3 cultures since Jewish, Moorish and Christian populations lived in Toledo at the same time. We propose you different options to ensure you find the best Toledo tour from Madrid for your needs. Local experts have curated each of these tours to ensure you get to know not just Toledo, but also Spanish gastronomy.
Our top recommended Toledo tour is the private Toledo and Don Quixote mills tour, which includes hotel pick_up in Madrid, visits to the main monuments in Toledo, a winery visit, and fantastic lunch, and a short visit to the amazing mills of Don Quixote. But there are more affordable options that also offer a good experience and excellent value.
This Toledo tour has nothing in common with the typical daily tour buses travelling from Madrid to Toledo - it offers a truly unique opportunity to enjoy so much more than just Toledo city. This private tour to Toledo is led by a senior guide who will escort you through the history of Spain, introduce you to typical food from La Mancha, as well as provide you with expert knowledge on the production of wine in this area of Spain (which is, coincidentally, the world´s largest vineyard).
Toledo is a shrine of art. It is also one of the medieval city centers best preserved in Europe. This private Toledo tour includes a superb wine tasting experience and offers you the opportunity to stroll its laberynth of winding cobbled stones along with a certified Toledo expert. Discover Toledo´s top highlights and taste manchego gastronomy during lunch at an iconic building.
Experience the wonders of Toledo through this exciting and fun group tour which includes not just Toledo, but also the captivating sights of La Mancha and the iconic windmills of Don Quixote and a visit to a cherished family-owned winery where you will indulge with some local fine wines. The tour includes a traditional manchego lunch and, of course, you will immerse in the rich history of Toledo by visiting 2 of its monumental landmarks; the awe-inspiring cathedral and one of its magnificent synagogues.
This tour offers an easy and fantastic way to get to Andalusia from Madrid while discovering some of Spain's top highlights: a family owned winery, the land of Don Quixote and its windmills and Toledo, the city of three cultures,. Enjoy fantastic local gastronomy and wine during this 2-day tour that ends in Cordoba, Andalusia, where you will have the chance to discover its famous mosque. The tour is designed to return to Madrid, but you can opt to continue your trip in Andalusia.
This private tour connects Madrid with Seville in the best possible way. The route between Seville and Madrid offers some hidden gems, unknown to the majority of travelers. With this 2-day tour, you will arrive to Seville from Madrid enjoying the spectacular city of Toledo, the Don Quixote windmills landscapes, gastronomy and culture on the way
With this 3,5 day tour you will be able to enjoy 4 of Spain´s most impressive attractions: Toledo, Cordoba, Seville and the windmills of Don Quixote. Enjoy private tours, excellent hotels and great wine too!
Our top recommended Toledo tour is the private Toledo and Don Quixote mills tour, which includes hotel pick_up in Madrid, visits to the main monuments in Toledo, a winery visit, and fantastic lunch, and a short visit to the amazing mills of Don Quixote. But there are more affordable options that also offer a good experience and excellent value.
Toledo Spain offers a unique experience for the senses and a journey through time. Remnants of ancient Romans can be seen through the historic streets and buildings, while the story of Muslims, Christians, and Jews is deeply entwined with the city’s culture. Despite the many tourist traps, traditional and hearty cuisine is still served in family-run taverns, providing a taste of the city’s long-standing heritage.
A tour to Toledo is one of the best options to enjoy a day private tour in Spain. Having said this, there are a myriad of options departing daily from Madrid, mainly group tours.
Toledo lies in the northern part of Castilla-La Mancha, an autonomous region adjacent to Madrid to the south. The distance between Madrid and Toledo is approximately 72 kilometers (45 miles), allowing for a journey from the Spanish capital in under an hour.
The nearest airport to Toledo, Spain is Madrid. Madrid is located at 1-hour drive from Toledo. Toledo can be reached by motorway from Madrid, but also by high-speed train (30 minutes from Atocha train station to Toledo). Most visitors to Toledo get to the city using a day tour from Madrid since in this way they avoid having to change hotels often.
The weather in Toledo is continental and summers can be hotel (July and August) In our opinion the best months to enjoy Toledo are April, May, June (though it can be very busy if a tour is booked at Corpus Cristi), September and October.
Local gastronomy in Toledo is influenced by the cultural heritage of the city. Different civilisations co-existed in Toledo for centuries and this impacted local dishes. Toledo´s most famous food is marzipan, a local sweet made with almonds, sugar and egg yolks. Another famous dish, this time a tapa, is carcamusa. Carcamusa is a stew served in a small pot (a cazuela) This typical stew is made with slowed cooked pork, peas, tomatoes and white wine. It is served in a small clay pot or cazuela. The third most outstanding dishes in Toledo are game dishes. The region of Toledo is home to both big and small wild game and the most well-known dishes are venison and the red partridge.
Since Toledo receives so many tourists every day, there are many restaurants that offer mediocre food and menus. The situation has however improved a lot in recent years, and a growing number of restaurants located in the most touristic streets offer today reasonable menus.
The whole historic center of Toledo can be described as a monument or an open-air museum. This Unesco heritage site offers a lot for a day tour. The Cathedral (Catedral Primada) is for many experts the best example of Gothic architecture in Spain. Its construction started in 1226 and it took “only” 250 years to get it completed. The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is another top highlight in the city. It was commissioned by the Reyes Catolicos. El Puente de San Martin, not far from the Monastery is one of the most beautiful bridges in Spain. There are many more top attractions in Toledo, including two synagogues, the Greco Museum, the outstanding Iglesia de San Ildefonso, la Puerta de Bisagra or the beautiful Alcantara bridge. Toledo is so amazing that some top sights like Zocodover square are almost neglected by visitors that enjoy a day tour in the city. The amazing heritage of Toledo has contributed to its inclusion in the Unesco Heritage sites. The Unesco site is worth reading prior to a tour in the city to understand the most important things that make of Toledo such an amazing place to visit.
The Sinagoga del Transito is a true jewel of Sephardic heritage in Spain. The synagogue was built at a time in which building sinagogues was not permitted. At that time Pedro I was King and his treasurer was Samuel Levi. The King permitted Samuel to build the Sinagogue. Both the decorations and the dimension of the Sinagogue are impressive. But this is not the only jewel Toledo offers for those seeking to understand jewish heritage. The Sinagona Santa Maria La Blanca and also the Puerta del Cambron (the gate to the judería or jewish quarter). The Jewish were expelled from Spain in 1492, the same year Columbus arrived to America. Though there are not clear statistics, some studies propose the number of 200,000 people expelled and many more converted.
If you are visiting Toledo on your own and if you have enough time, your walking tour should include a stop at the Iglesia de San Ildefonso. It offers fantastic views of the city but you will need to climb to its tower. However, most tours to the city include stops on the other side of the Tagus river. The views or vistas from different areas of this road outside Toledo are breath-taking. This is one of the things you would miss if you get to Toledo on train.
El Greco is an icon painter. His style is unmistakable and holds a top position in the history of European art. Born in Crete, el Greco studied in Venice and Rome and he then settled in Toledo, where he found the patronage of several rich people. He was, like many geniuses, an extravagant character. Toledo holds a museum dedicated to his art, and also a good number of pieces can be enjoyed at the Convento de Santo Domingo El Antiguo. But the top highlight for El Greco lovers is Santo Tomé, where the famous painting, the burial of Conde Orgaz is not to be missed.
Toledo is not the easiest city to walk and you will have to be realistic because there are many things to see and enjoy and you will not be able to “do it all”. Most streets in the old city are cobbled and comfortable shoes are a must. There are some hilly streets but since it hardly rains, the streets are not slippery. Unless you have serious mobility issues you should be able to enjoy a guided tour in Toledo, or be able to stroll at your own pace. In summertime the most important touristic streets are covered with canopies to create artificial shadows.
Many children will find Toledo a dream come true: stone walls, ancient streets that look like a maze, and attractions like the torture museum, which can be of special interest to older children. Even at places like the cathedral´s museum kids can become mesmerized by its size and the amazing stained glass windows and gold relics.
There are many things to see and walking up and down in Toledo can get tiring for kinds and adults alike. You have to be realistic about your objectives for the day. If you decide to visit the city by train we would strongly recommend not walking from the station but rather taking a taxi to avoid unnecessary walking time.
For a truly authentic souvenir from your Toledo day trip, why not pick up a locally-made sword? Toledo has a long steelmaking tradition and is renowned for its handcrafted swords. Swords made in Toledo have been used in many movies and you will find replicas of the ones portrayed in Lord of the Rings in some shops. There are still few local artisans committed to producing the finest Toledo swords. You can purchase in Toledo and asked to get your sword shipped.
Another interesting gift option is Damascene Jewelry. This art form has been a part of the Toledo landscape since the Moorish period, and is renowned for its distinctive style of oxidized steel inlaid with gold or silver. It has become an iconic representation of the city’s culture and history. You will have no problem finding damascene items since it is a top item in many local shops.
Yes another option for the perfect gift in your Toledo tour is marzipan. Be it for a foodie friend or for yourself, the marzipan treats of Toledo are a surefire way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Artisan bakers and pastry chefs alike craft the almond-based delicacy into a variety of interesting designs.
These are some of the most famous dishes from Toledo. Though not as well-known for its food as Segovia or San Sebastian, Toledo holds a long tradition and some local dishes hold a well-earned reputation and are very tasty.
Let´s start with marzipan. Toledo has a longstanding affinity for marzipan, unlike other places where the confection is usually only associated with the Christmas season. This traditional local product can be found at bakeries throughout the year.
Perdices a la Toledana: Toledo gives name to this classic poultry stew. Featuring a base of white wine and vegetables, this savory and simple dish is sure to please.
Venison Stew is a popular dish in Toledo.This slow-cooked stew is made with succulent venison and a delectable sauce that has been infused with a blend of white wine and herbs.
Let´s end this short list with Manchego cheese and pisto Manchego. Though not specifically from Toledo but from La Mancha, these 2 dishes are stars in Toledo. Cheese lovers cannot get it wrong with Manchego cheese.
Pisto is a perfect option for vegetarians and vegans (though watch out since on many occasions it is topped with fried egg) This delicacy is comprised of fresh vegetables cooked at low temperatures to create a delicious combination of flavors.
There is another sweet and delicious speciality to enjoy in Toledo. Toledo is known for a number of desserts and confections but none as famous as “mazapan” or marzipan, made the traditional way. There are still cloistered nuns that hand make these treats which are particularly delicious when enjoyed sitting at a “terraza” on a beautiful day with a nice cup of coffee.
Here you will find some of the highlights of the city portion the Toledo tour that has been shown above. . You will find information about the Medieval City of Toledo. The full tour also includes a visit to the amazing windmills of Don Quixote in La Mancha and also a stop at a traditional winery.
Only an hour away by car from Madrid we arrive at Toledo. As the highway turns and the Medieval city comes into view it is hard not to be immediately impressed. An image straight out of Game of Thrones, the walled city sits atop a rocky mountain carved out of its surroundings by a river that creates a natural moat.
Even from a distance the age and history of Toledo is palpable, and even more so once you cross through the original entrance (Puerta de la Bisagra) and begin winding your way through the small cobbled stone streets.
The first stop is the Alcazar, a fortress built at the highest point in the city. It has been an important strategic location since the 3rd century AC, when the Romans built a fortress in the same location. Since then, whoever conquered the city built their fortress at the same site. The latest update of the fortification was made in in the 15th century.
It currently is an important government building and contains the war museum of Toledo.
From the Alcazar, we head west towards the old Jewish Quarter of the city. On the way, you will get to admire one of Toledo’s main attractions: the metalwork. Toledo was famous in medieval times for its blacksmiths, especially for the quality of the armor and swords it produced. Nowadays there is store after store showcasing swords, shields, and other medieval paraphernalia that can be purchased as souvenirs.
But Toledo is also known for a much more delicate form of metalworking. Thanks to the Arab influence on the city, there are many artisans that are experts in “damasquinado”, the art of inlaying gold into burnt steel, a technique that originated in Damascus. You will get to visit a traditional workshop and see how these beautiful works of art are created.
As impressive as Toledo is, it was once one of the most important cities in the world. Under Charles the V, Toledo became the capital of Spain, but even before that, Alfonso the X used Toledo as a cultural hub where he brought together the 3 most important cultures in Spain at the time: Jews, Arabs and Christians. This was done as a way to share knowledge, translate each other works and advance the culture.
This is the reason there are 3 distinct neighbourhoods in Toledo. In the Jewish part of town is one of the most important sites in all of Toledo: The synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. Built in 1180 it served as a synagogue for over 200 years and like most historical buildings in Toledo it has been repurposed many times over the years (even as a munitions silo during the Spanish civil war) but it is still a stunningly beautiful relic of the Jewish culture that was once such an important component of the city.
The cathedral of Toledo is one of the three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered, by some to be the most important of the Gothic style in Spain. Construction began in 1226 under the rule of Ferdinand III and the last Gothic contributions were made in the 15th century. It was modeled after the Bourges Cathedral in France, although its five naves plan is a consequence of the constructors’ intention to cover all of the sacred space of the former city mosque with the cathedral, and of the former sahn with the cloister. It also combines some characteristics of the Mudéjar style, with the use of multifoiled arches. The spectacular incorporation of light and the structural achievements of the ambulatory vaults are some of its more remarkable aspects.
Once you leave Toledo there is one last treat to be enjoyed. There are several vantage points that are worth driving to take in the breath-taking views of Toledo from the surrounding mountains. Particularly at night, when the city is lit up, driving to one of these points and enjoying a glass of wine is the perfect way to wrap up your visit to Toledo.
In case you are planning a visit to Toledo and you are wondering about the weather there we recommend you have a look at our on weather in Toledo.
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