Toledo

The city of the three cultures

Toledo

Max 12ºC / Min 1ºC

Christians, Muslims and Jews. Followers of the three religions lived side by side for centuries and left their mark in Toledo. It is one of Spain’s most interesting and intriguing cities, where you can see a Gothic cathedral, a 10th century mosque and two synagogues in the space of just a few metres.

It was once an Imperial City, and its beauty was depicted in the paintings of El Greco. Visitors to the city should be sure to see its views, visit the Alcázar, walk around its winding streets, or see a sunset from the Alcántara or San Martín bridges. Less than 80 kilometres from Madrid, it’s worth spending more than a day to see the city lit up at night and explore it in more depth.

One of the largest heritage sites in Europe

Go through the city walls -the Bisagra, Cambrón and Sol gates are still in use- and into the maze of streets of Toledo’s old town centre, a World Heritage site. You could begin the tour at the Cristo de la Luz mosque. At over a thousand years old, it is Toledo’s oldest monument and one of the most important examples of Spain’s Hispano-Islamic and Mudéjar architecture. The next stop is in the cobbled streets of the old Jewish quarter, a charming area which boasts two important sites: the synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca -the oldest in the city- and the synagogue of El Tránsito, now the Sephardic Museum. This area also includes a museum of one of Toledo’s most famous and beloved residents, the Mannerist painter known as El Greco. However, his most famous work, the Burial of Conde Orgaz, is in the nearby church of Santo Tomé. The Christian legacy includes the 13th century Cathedraland its stained glass, one of the city’s star attractions, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes - built to honour the Catholic Monarchs - and the imposing Alcázar, which dominates the city.

Viewpoints, guided tours and the modern side of Toledo

Apart from the “classic tour” of the city, there are plenty of things to do in Toledo. As well as the amazing Mirador del Valle, a viewpoint across the river with undoubtedly the best view of the city—there are also good views from the church tower of Los Jesuítas.You can enjoy the lively atmosphere in places like Plaza de Zocodover. And for breakfast, lunch or a few drinks, Toledo has been a centre of innovation for years and has some interesting options. There are classic dishes like migas, carcamusas, cochifrito and mazapanes, but you can also venture into the cutting-edge San Agustín market or one of the new “gastrobars” and get anything from venison croquettes to vegetarian dishes or the new local craft beers. You can find the same contrast if you go shopping, as well as the traditional shops selling swords and damascened metalwork, there are others with, for example, vintage clothes.More active travellers can even “fly” over the river Tajo on one of the longest ziplines in Europe, or walk along an Ecological Path alongside the river. At night, a fantastic experience is joining a guided tour of the legends and mysteries of Toledo.

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

The closest airport to Toledo is.

The trip from Madrid to Toledo can be done by train (the high-speed train takes only 30 minutes), by bus or by car.
More information

How to get to train

The most convenient and practical option is to get the high-speed train (AVE) from Atocha Station in Madrid, which takes about half an hour between cities.
Ticket booking
The Toledo railway station is separated from the old town by the Tagus River, about 2 kilometres (a 25-minute walk) from the city’s cathedral. You can also get to the centre by bus (services 61, 62 and 5) in less than 15 minutes or by taxi in around 10.

How to get to bus

Buses from Madrid leave from the Plaza Elíptica transport hub (south of the city) and take about an hour to get to Toledo.
The bus station is close to the centre, about 20 minutes on foot, less than 15 minutes by bus (services 12, 61, 62 and 5) and around than 10 minutes by taxi.

How to get there by road

Access from Madrid via the A-42 motorway, exit 68B.

Practical information

Toledo is a perfect city to explore on foot.
Toledo Monuments website tourist wristband gives you admission to seven of the city’s most important monuments.

How to get around in bus

There are more than 20 city bus services in Toledo (including three night buses) for getting around the city.
The bus times during the day in Toledo depend on the service (running from approximately 7 am to 12 midnight).
More information

How to get around in other means of transport

Taxis in Toledo are white with a purple or red diagonal stripe and the city’s coat of arms on the doors. There are taxi ranks in specific places such as the bus station, the Alcázar and the Puerta de Bisagra city gate. More information
You can also move around the city in the tourist bus.
Another option is the tourist train.