Toledo, Spain makes for the perfect day trip from Madrid. You can easily spend one day in Toledo exploring all of the fun things to do in the area. This ancient city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and has a long history from the Middle Ages.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Toledo here.
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History of Toledo
The first mention of Toledo is noted during Roman times. Toledo used to hold the largest Roman circus. Throughout the next several hundred years, Toledo began to gain importance and grew to include private houses, villas, and churches.
During the Middle Ages, Toledo saw a decline due to the control of the Arabs. However, during this time, Toledo continued to preserve its status as a cultural center. In the 1800s, Toledo shifted to more of a bureaucratic city and tourism began to flourish. By 1986, Toledo became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
When to Spend One Day in Toledo
Toledo is a fun place to visit any time of the year. During the summertime, it will be very hot and crowded. In wintertime, there might be some snow and the highs are typically in the 50s. No matter when you visit, there is plenty to see during one day in Toledo.
How to Get to Toledo
The closest airport to Toledo is Madrid. From there, it is very easy to get to Toledo by train. Trains leave pretty much every hour from Puerta de Atocha station in Madrid. It takes a little over 30 minutes to get to Toledo.
You can book your tickets online ahead of time, or opt to buy them at the train station. Keep in mind that you may want to buy them ahead of time if it is during the peak or busy season. Tickets should cost around $15.
If you prefer not to go on your own, you can opt to book one of the tour options below.
- Full day Toledo Tour from Madrid
- Toledo Guided Day Trip
- Guided Bus Tour from Madrid
- Toledo Private Tour
Upon arrival in Toledo, you can opt to catch a bus, taxi, or walk to the main entrance of Toledo. Walking was very easy and took about 15-20 minutes. Once at the main gate, you can choose to walk up the stairs to the main plaza or you can head to the right and take the escalators to the top.
Transportation in Toledo
Toledo is a very walkable city. Although as stated above you can take a bus to the city center, once in the city center you can walk to all of the sites. Some people opt to take the hop-on-hop-off bus around, but it is really not necessary.
Where to Stay in Toledo
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Toledo hotels here!
Although we opted to visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid, you can opt to stay in one of the many hotels in Toledo city center. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price.
What to do During One Day in Toledo
There are many fun things to do in Toledo that provide a wide assortment of museums. Most of the places do not open until 10am, so if visiting Toledo as a day trip, opt to take a train after 9am.
Toledo Tourist Bracelet
Cost: €10
If you plan on visiting several of the Toledo attractions, opt to get the Toledo Tourist Bracelet. For one price, this bracelet gets you into 7 attractions across Toledo. You can buy it online or at any of the seven attractions.
- Royal College of Noble Maidens
- Church of the Jesuits
- San Juan de Los Reyes
- Cristo de la Luz
- Santo Tome
- Church of El Salvador
- Santa Maria la Blanca
* denotes attractions included in the Toledo Tourist Bracelet
Puerta del Sol
In order to get into the city of Toledo, you will enter through one of the city gates. The main entrance to Toledo is through the Puerta del Sol.
Museo del Queso Manchego
Cost: €
Hours: Wed: 10:30am-7pm, Thurs-Fri: 10:30am-8pm, Sat-Sun: 11am-8pm
The first stop during your one day in Toledo should be visiting the Museo del Queso Manchego. They have a free small museum where you can learn about the history of Manchego cheese. You can also opt to buy a sampler platter of Manchego Cheese paired with local wine. It is the perfect way to start your day.
Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes*
Cost: €3
Hours: 10am-2pm, 3pm-6:45pm
Next, head to the Franciscan Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes, It was founded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1476 to commemorate the battle of Toro. This monastery is popular due to its cloisters and will take less than an hour to explore.
Fly Toledo Zipline
Cost: €10 + €3 for photo
Hours: 10am-8pm
Another must-do during your one day in Toledo is the Fly Toledo Zipline. This zipline goes across the river and is Europe’s longest urban zipline. Although it is a quick experience, it offers a super awesome view of the area. You will get to walk back across the Puente de San Martín.
El Greco Museum
Cost: €3
Hours: Tues-Sat: 9:30am-7:30pm, Sun: 10am-3pm
The El Greco Museum will be the highlight of one day in Toledo. This museum is dedicated to the work of El Greco and is modeled after his one time residence in Toledo. It will take about an hour to go through the museum.
Catedral Primada de Toledo
The Cathedral Primada de Toledo is the main cathedral of Toledo and one of the three High Gothic Cathedrals of Spain. It was built in the 1200s. You can opt to walk around the outside or it is sometimes open to go inside and see the interior.
Lunch at La Clandestina
Cost: €€
Hours: Sun&Tues: 1pm-4pm, Wed-Thurs: 1-4pm, 8-11pm, Fri-Sat: 1-4pm, 8pm-12am
Once hungry, stop at La Clandestina for lunch. This is one of the most popular new restaurants in Toledo. Their menu constantly changes and they also sometimes have a tasting menu as well as a wine menu. You will not want to miss eating here during one day in Toledo.
Mezquita Cristo de la Luz*
Cost: €3
Hours: 10am-5:45pm
This mosque turned Catholic Chapel is located near the Puerta del Sol. It is in the area where the wealthy Muslims once lived. Built in 999, this building is still in similar condition as to when it was built. Inside, you can check out some of the art on the walls and see its transition from a mosque to a church.
El Alcazar de Toledo
Cost: €5
Hours: Thurs-Tues: 11am-5pm
Built in the 1500s, this stone fortification of Toledo lies on the highest hill of the city. Present-day it houses a military museum. You can walk around the outside for free or opt to pay to explore the museum.
Toledo Train Vision
Cost: €7
Hours: 9:30am-10pm
For those who want an easy tour of Toledo, you can hop aboard the Toledo Train Vision. This 45-minute tour offers a guided commentary of the main sites of Toledo. It also includes a stop at Mirador del Valle for some of the best views of Toledo. The Toledo Train Vision makes for a fun thing to do during one day in Toledo.
El Trébol
Cost: €
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 9am-11pm, Fri&Sun: 9am-12am, Sat: 11am-1am
This afternoon, stop at El Trébol for some afternoon drinks and tapas. It is a great place to rest your feet for a bit. You MUST get the sangria with lemon foam for a refreshing drink.
Barrio
Cost: €
Hours: Wed-Sun: 12pm-late
After visiting El Trébol, opt to stop at Barrio for a cocktail. This cocktail bar offers a wide variety of cocktails. They can make you traditional cocktails or you can describe what you like and they will create a cocktail for you. It is definitely worth stopping at during your one day in Toledo.
Other Things to do in Toledo
Other things to do in Toledo include the Convento de Santo Domingo el Antiguo and the Monasterio de Santa Clara la Real. You can also visit the Mirador del Valle for some of the best views of Toledo. If you need another place to eat at Bar Skala
Final Tips for One Day in Toledo
There are a ton of cool things to see in the Medieval town of Toledo and it is definitely worth the day trip from Madrid. If you have the time, visit other cities in Spain, some of the Spanish wine regions, or head to Lisbon in Portugal.
