Sinagoga del Tránsito in Toledo
Transito Synagogue in Toledo Toledo is the city of 3 cultures and this top attraction, Sinagoga del Transito is good proof for this name. The
City-Guide
Toledo
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Make Toledo the right way!
Toledo may shadow today next to Madrid, the capital. Relatively small in size, Toledo is however large, actually huge, in the nations´s history. Learn about about to spend the perfect day in this fascinating city in this Toledo city guide.
Toledo, located in the region of Castilla la Mancha, used to be the capital of Spain till this honour changed in favour of Madrid. Toledo was once a super religious power and the centre of a multicultural society that, despite not always in peace, managed to live together in the middle ages.
Walking its streets is like walking in an outdoor museum. It is so close to Madrid that it is very easy to get to Toledo by either train or with one of the many excursions and tours that departure from Madrid everyday. The visit is worth every minute!
Toledo city guide - Contents
Practical information to plan your visit to Toledo
5 top reasons to visit Toledo
The perfect day trip from Madrid
Its proximity to Madrid and its easy access by train or motorway make of the excursion to Toledo the most popular amongst the day trips from Madrid. The high-speed train from Madrid to Toledo departs from Atocha and takes half an hour. From the train station, you will need to walk to the escalator to avoid the steep hill to the historical site.
A city of 3 cultures
Few cities in the world can pride themselves to offer a stroll through history and religions in such a small place. You will get lost in the labyrinth of streets of the old town of Toledo where Sinagogues, Mosques, churches, monasteries or the cathedral co-exist.
A Unesco heritage site
A stroll through the streets of the old town of Toledo is to walk back in history. Toledo was recognized as a Unesco cultural heritage site in 1986. There are so many sights that preparing for the trip to Toledo is no easy task. We strongly recommend planning well ahead and set your priorities to avoid hesitation on the spot. The most “typical itinerary” in the city will take you from Plaza de Zocodover (the modern main square of Toledo) all the way to the Monastery and Church of San Juan de los Reyes and the other side of the walled city. Through this itinerary, you will enjoy the top highlights: the Alcazar, Tornerias mosque, the Cathedral Primada, Jewish quarter and its Sinagogues, Santo Tomé and the Greco´s burial of Count Orgaz painting, interesting shopping streets full of shops that offer damasquinos and swords, and the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, from where you will be able to descend to the bridge of San Martin to enjoy fantastic views.
Amazing views:
Due to its location at a hill next to the Tagus river, you will be able to enjoy some of the best views in Spain from the other side of the Tagus river during your visit to Toledo. To enjoy the very best views you will have to cross the Puente de Alcantara (best by car or taxi) and stop at the Parador Nacional for a coffee, or at one of the restaurants or viewpoints. The views of the cathedral, Alcazar and the messy Jewish district are fascinating.
Art galleries, army museums, tortures museum, sky jump for children and much more
Due to the number of tourists that arrive in Toledo every day, the city has developed a good number of activities to ensure there is something to be enjoyed by everyone. You will find cultural activities, art museums, ethnographic museums, and activities for children.
Best time to visit Toledo
Our favorite months to visit Toledo are June (the Corpus Cristi Fiesta is the time of the year in which the city is most impressive due to the flower decoration in the streets. be ready however to share the experience with many other visitors!) Other excellent months are March, April, May, September and October.
Bear in mind that most restaurants in Toledo will be close on Sunday nights and mondays.
Weather in Toledo
You can expect pure continental weather. Rain is pretty unlikely in Toledo and you may only have some risk to get rain from mid October till March.
Temperatures in Toledo in both July and August range 90F and probability of rain on those months is almost nil (with the exception of some occasional summer storms) The city hall of Toledo installs awnings on many of the tourist streets. Most restaurants and hotels offer aircon and there are many shops where you can purchase bottles of water at reasonable prices.
Recommended attractions in Toledo
Spain´s old capital is probably the city in the country with more top sights per square mile. We have selected three of the top sights in Toledo below, but you can find all our recommended tourist attractions in Toledo and visitors guide for each of them on this sections.
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo
San Juan de los Reyes Monastery The monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes is located in the Jewish quarter in Toledo. Its elegant shape
Catedral Primada- Toledo
La cathedral Primada of Toledo is the Town´s major monument and one of Spain’s cathedrals best examples of pure Gothic style. It contains an outstanding
Recommended hotels in Toledo
While Toledo makes for a day trip for most visitors, nearly everybody that visits agrees that one day is simply not enough to enjoy everything there is to be enjoyed in Toledo. our recommendation is to stay at least one night despite this implies the hassle of changing hotels. You can find below our top three hand-picked hotels in Toledo, suitable for all budgets.
Eugenia de Montijo Autograph Collection – – Toledo
Eugenia de Montijo, Autograph Collection The Eugenia de Montijo, Autograph Collection hotel in Toledo, is housed within a former palatial estate, 200 m from the
Tres Lunas Apartments – Toledo
Tres Lunas appartments in Toledo These charming touristic appartments are located in the heart of the Medieval City of Toledo, near the Seminary, the Puerta
Hotel San Juan de los Reyes – – Toledo
Hotel San Juan de los Reyes is located in the historic city center of Toledo, housed within a charming old flour mill, that still conserves
Recommended restaurants in Toledo
Toledo may not have the reputation as a gastronomic city as other cities in Spain. Many restaurants specialized in the past in cheap menus to attract tourists and the roots of local gastronomy were lost for some time. But those days are long over and today Toledo offers excellent places to eat and enjoy truly manchego gastronomy. You can find in this post our top restaurants in Toledo, where we have included a selection of our favorite places, and a great mix to please all tastes and budgets.
Top things to do near Toledo
Discover some fascinating things to do at less than 1 hour from the city of Toledo. Below you can find guides to some of the best places at less than 1-hour drive from Toledo. Toledo is part of Castilla La Mancha, a region of Spain famous for its castles (like the one in Belmonte), the wind mills of Don Quixote, its wines, national parks like las Tablas de Daimiel, or hidden gems like Almagro, Consuegra or El Toboso…. Enjoy the discovery!
Belmonte castle in Cuenca
Comprising three squares buildings, the Belmonte Castle is the quintessence of what a castle should be like. The three buildings form a courtyard in the shape of an equilateral triangle. In the middle of this triangle, there is a fine gothic fountain. The walls of the Belmonte castle descend to the town. They have towers, embrasures, and parapets. The castle
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez and gardens
History of Aranjuez Royal palace In 1560 Philip II commissioned the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo to build an extension to the hunting lodge built by Charles V. After his death the work was continued by Juan de Herrera (El Escorial) . Between 1660-65 the castle was destroyed by fire; Philip V had it rebuilt in 1722. Under Ferdinand VI
Don Quixote Windmills
The Don Quixote Windmills “Tilting at windmills” is an English expression taken from Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel Don Quixote. In the book, the chivalrous, but crazy Don Quixote rides in to do battle with a group of giants who are terrorizing a local village. After he engages with the monsters he comes out of his trance and realizes he
Toedo in depth
Discover secret places, stories and more in Toledo
One of the best things about Toledo is that all its sights (and there are many) are at walking distance from each other.
The streets of Toledo are pebbled, so you want to make sure you bring with you comfortable shoes.
if you stay till dusk and manage to get to the other side of the Tagus river you will be delighted by the amazing views of the city at night.
History of Toledo in a nutshell
This provincial capital has some 53,000 inhabitants and lies above the Tagus in the middle of the Meseta of Castile. Toledo is one of the oldest cities in Spain, it was captured by the Romans in 192 BC and named Toletum. The Visigoths occupied the city in 418. In 527 the 2nd Council of Toledo took place. From 569 Toledo was capital of the Spanish Visigoth empire.
The city fell into the hands of the Moors in 711. Alfonso VI of Castile recaptured Toledo in 1085 and from then on Toledo became capital of the Kingdom and also the focal point of the Church in the whole of Spain. Ferdinand III, the Holy, founded the cathedral, and Alfonso X, the Wise, set up the famous school of translation, which made Toledo a centre of medieval knowledge. The city lost its political importance when Philip II moved his court to Madrid.
Toledo in a few minutes
More highlights in Castilla La Mancha
Almaden Mines: an amazing UNESCO world heritage site in Ciudad Real
Almadén Mines The Mines of Almadén, are located in Ciudad Real, in the region of Castilla la Mancha, which is also home to such gems as Toledo and Cuenca. These amazing mines are part of the “Mercury Heritage: Almadén and Idrija” and have been declared a World Heritage by UNESCO. They are one of the largest mercury deposits in the
Cuenca, Spain city guide
Cuenca is located in Castilla la Mancha in the center of Spain. Cuenca is brimming with history, culture, and charm. Most people know Cuenca because of its emblematic hanging houses that scarily cling to the cliff that the historic city center is built on. But the city has a lot more to see and experience. Cueca is known for its particular and delicious take on Manchego cuisine and the city is home to several museums and monuments that are absolutely worth a visit.
Almagro and Europe´s oldest comedy theatre
Almagro is one of those towns in Spain that are pretty unknown to most visitors to the country despite it boasts an enormous amount of heritage. Almagro is home to the Corral de Comedias, one of Europe´s oldest theatres, a fantastic square, many very interesting religious buildings and it serves as a perfect stop for anyone driving south to Andalusia.