Visit Toledo in 1 day: A detailed guide to the must-see places in Toledo
We know that visiting a city in 1 day can be stressful and complicated. Unfortunately, there are times when time only allows us to enjoy certain places in a short space of time. That is why we want to bring you our experience of visiting Toledo in 1 day.
Toledo is a city with an extensive artistic, cultural and architectural heritage that will not leave you indifferent. It is a pioneer city in the coexistence of different religions (Jewish, Christian and Muslim), it was co-capital of the Spanish Empire and one of the cities where the Inquisition had an important influence. This is why we have influences from all these historical periods spread throughout the city and why it is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
¿Como llegar a Toledo?How to get to Toledo?
BUS Alsa: There are buses leaving from Plaza Elíptica in Madrid every 15-30 minutes and with a journey time of between 45 and 1 hour. It’s a great option as you buy a return ticket for one day and can go and come back whenever you want. The price of the ticket is €12 return.
Train: The fastest option. They leave from Atocha and the direct ones take about 30 minutes. The price varies depending on the date, you can check the timetables on the official RENFE website. BEWARE, they sell out very quickly, so get them in good time, otherwise you won’t be able to get there.
Guided tour: If you are interested in being guided and more comfortable, there is the possibility of hiring an all-inclusive tour with transport and guide. This is a great option if you want something more comfortable and don’t want to worry about timetables. Here is an example of Tour to Toledo from Madrid.
Private transport: There are some public car parks outside the old town (it is almost impossible to park in the old town) which can be a good option if you come by private car. Here is the location of one of the larger ones here.
Pulsera TurísticaTouristic Bracelet
Planning de Toledo en 1 díaPlanning to see Toledo in 1 day
We know that the planning we did is super tight, but we managed to do it (if you really want to see everything, the walking tours are super short). We started the day with a free tour by Guruwalk. It is a 2 hour tour that tells you the history of the city and takes you to the most emblematic places such as the Alcázar, the Cathedral and the Town Hall Square, explains the history of El Greco…
Then, after finishing, we decided to follow the recommendations of the guide and buy the city bracelet. She recommended us to visit the Cathedral inside, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz and the Alcazar.
We were a bit stubborn and ended up visiting the 7 monuments included in the bracelet + Cathedral + Alcazar. To want is to be able to 😉
After this introduction, let’s go to the places to see in Toledo in 1 day.
What a marvellous building! Of course, it is the city’s must-see, especially if you visit Toledo in 1 day. Entering the cathedral is a must if you visit the city. The entrance ticket costs 10 euros and you can buy it right in front of the entrance, where you will be given an audio guide that explains all the details of the place.
It is a Gothic style building and its completion dates back to the 15th century. The truth is that the exterior in this case is not the most impressive thing in our opinion. The great treasure lies inside the building. Inside, you can find wonders such as:
- Capilla Mayor: This is a chapel full of works of art and thousands of details and stories.
- Choir
- Custody of Enrique de Arfe: This is an impressive gold relic, super large and with lots of details. It is located in the Treasury room.
- Sala Capitular: Room where you will find portraits of all the archbishops of Toledo since 1508.
- The Transparent: architectural work that is an opening in the ceiling that allows the light from the skylights to pass through and is naturally illuminated and gives light to the interior.
Another good option to visit the cathedral is to do a tour with a local guide that can explain you the details of this incredible building.
Zocodover square
This is the nerve centre of the old part of the city and its most historic square. It owes its name to the Arabic, meaning “market of beasts of burden”, as the square was once the place where this market was held. It was also the site of the Inquisition and public executions.
If you are going on a free tour, this is the place where most of them start, so you are sure to visit it and it is a good place to start your route to see the different highlights of the city.
Former Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
As we have already mentioned, Toledo has been home to people from different cultures and religions for many years, which is why you can find large cathedrals, synagogues and mosques here. The most beautiful Synagogue in the city and one of the places you must see if you visit Toledo in one day, is the Synagogue of Santa Maria Blanca (included with the bracelet) which is located in the old Jewish quarter of the city.
It was built in 1180 and, after the period of conflict with the Jews in the city (anti-Semitic massacre of 1391), it was converted into a church.
The truth is that we were really surprised by this place, because although it is quite small, we thought it was a super nice and cool place to visit and to get to know the Mudejar art. As its name suggests, it is almost all white, especially the pillars that support it from the inside, making it a very photographable place.
El Tránsito Synagogue and Sephardic Museum
We will start by saying that we could not visit this place as it is closed on Mondays, but it was recommended to us by the local guide of Toledo. Obviously, it is located in the old Jewish quarter of the city, very close to the Old Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca and, if you don’t go on a Monday, it is one of the must-see places on visit to Toledo in 1 day.
It dates from the 14th century and is also Mudejar in style. Its main attraction is the east wall, where you will see the henal (the cupboard where the Torah scrolls are kept). You will also find a Sephardic museum, the name given to the Jews who lived in the Peninsula.
The entrance fee to this Synagogue is 3 € and it is NOT included in the Toledo bracelet, but according to what the guide told us, it is well worth it.
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, a basic visit to Toledo in 1 day
Another essential if you are going to see Toledo in 1 day. It was built by order of Queen Isabella I of Castile with the intention of making it a mausoleum. It is an architectural gem and one of the great pearls of Elizabethan Gothic architecture.
We especially loved the cloister, it is one of the most beautiful we remember because, although it is not very big, it has a lot of vegetation and a very characteristic architecture, which is why it seemed to us to be the highlight of the monastery.
Inside the monastery you can also visit the church, which is also worth a visit, especially the main altarpiece.
It is included in the Toledo Bracelet and is located very close to the two Synagogues.
Real Colegio de Doncellas Nobles
Jesuit Church
This is the largest baroque church in the city. In our opinion, it is well worth going inside, as it is a very beautiful church with great architectural interest and a great attraction such as its viewpoint, which will give you one of the best views of Toledo from the top of its 50-metre towers. From the top, you will see an unbeatable perspective of the Cathedral and the rest of the city.
Therefore, for us, you have to go there if you visit Toledo in 1 day.
Former Mosque of Cristo de la Luz
As we have already mentioned, Toledo was one of the cradles of coexistence between different religions (Jewish, Muslim and Christian). That is why, on your tour of the city, you will also find an old mosque that is open to visitors.
This is the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz, a super important building of Mudejar art. It is amazing to see the contrast of cultures within the city and this small mosque is a great example. It was built in 999 and has been renovated many times, most recently in 2006, resulting in the current version of the building we were able to visit.
Apart from the mosque itself, which is very small, it has a viewpoint overlooking the city wall, and a nice courtyard outside where you can take good pictures.
Santo Tomé Church
This place is mostly famous for having one of the most famous works by El Greco, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. As we had the bracelet and it was included, we went in to see the work which, if you like art, is really very interesting. The building itself did not surprise us too much, but if you are an art lover and want to know more about El Greco’s character, it is a real must-see in Toledo in 1 day.
Salvador Church
Alcazar of Toledo
This is a civil and military fortification located in one of the highest places in the city. Historically, it has been a place of great strategic interest due to its location in the city. It has been used in different ways and by different conquerors such as the Arabs and the Romans, making it a building of great historical interest and a must-see in Toledo in 1 day.
We were surprised to learn about the history of this building during the Spanish Civil War. We recommend you to read about what happened there, it is very worthwhile.
Nowadays, you can visit the army museum and the public library. We, on the recommendation of the guide, went up to the top of the library, as it is one of the most spectacular views of the city and it is free. There is a cafeteria, so it’s a good place to stop :).
Alcantara Bridge
This is a medieval bridge that leads into the old part of the city and where all the attractions mentioned above are located. We ended the day there and we think it is a good choice, as it is one of the best places to take a photo in Toledo, especially in the light of the sunset.
BONUS: Where to stay in Toledo?
As you know, we stayed in Madrid and visited the city in one day, but we thought it would be a good plan to take it easy and visit the surrounding area, so it would be ideal to spend a couple of days in the area.
For example, we were highly recommended to visit Puy du Fou, a theme park with numerous performances depicting passages from the country’s history.
That is why we have made a selection of places to stay in the wonderful city of Toledo (prices are taken for weekend nights in November):
High price (>120 night)
– El Rincón de Toledo, quite well located, is a complete flat, so even if you pay a higher price, you can save some costs by having meals inside the apartment.
– Also located on the outskirts of Puy de Fou, is this spectacular flat with classic decoration, which if you are in a place with so much history, will take you to another era. It has a private terrace of 60m2. It is a perfect location for visiting the theme park and visiting Toledo in 1 day.
Map of Toledo in 1 day
We had never had the opportunity to be in the city of Toledo and, to be honest, we think it is ideal to visit Toledo in 1 day. It has that mix of history, architecture, interesting places and gastronomy that we like and, we spent a super cool day.
If you have any questions about the information in the post, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’ll be happy to help you!
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