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Toledo Culture & history

Our most recommended Toledo Culture & history

Toledo: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Walking Tour & Alcazar

1. Toledo: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Walking Tour & Alcazar

Travel back in time to explore a unique city where 3 cultures have historically lived in harmony for centuries. Jump aboard the city sightseeing bus in Toledo and discover its many attractions at your own pace. Embraced by the River Tajo, Toledo is a throwback to a time when religion seemed to harmonize rather than divide. From the top of an open-top double-decker bus, you will see evidence of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities that lived side-by-side. Marvel at Sephardic synagogues and mosques with horseshoe-shaped forms. The entire city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its monuments from the past are many. With your ticket, enjoy unlimited hop-on-hop-off bus rides, with buses that run every 40/60 minutes (depending on time of day), and depart from the Alcazar. You can take a full loop in just 50 minutes, but your ticket is valid for 24 hours, giving you plenty of time to explore at leisure. The Silver Ticket includes 24hr Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour, entry to the Alcázar palace (closed on Mondays), and a Guided walking tour. Tour stops: Stop 1 - Alcazar de Toledo Stop 2 - Bisagra Gate Stop 3 - Estacion Renfe (railway station) Stop 4 - Remonte Safont Stop 5 - Mirador Del Valle Stop 6 - Cigarrales Stop 7 - Puente San Martin (San Martin Bridge) Stop 8 - Cardenal Stop 9 - Tavera Stop 10 - Bisagra Gate

Madrid: Toledo and Segovia Guided Tour with Avila Option

2. Madrid: Toledo and Segovia Guided Tour with Avila Option

Immerse yourself in the history, architecture, and cultural delights of Toledo, Segovia and visit the historic and beautiful Alcázar. Choose between a shared or private tour experience departing from Madrid. Your journey into Toledo begins with a breathtaking view of the city at the Mirador del Valle, a perfect opportunity to snap a stunning panoramic photo. As you enter the old district of Toledo, a walking tour will guide you through the historical Jewish quarter. The second half of your excursion takes you to the historical city of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the impressive Roman aqueduct, its impressive cathedral, and marvel at the architecture from ancient Roman and medieval times.  Saving the best for last, you’ll be led to the Segovia Alcazar, one of Spain's most famous castles from the 12th century. Afterward, take some time to explore the city on your own, along with insider tips from your guide to discover hidden gems.  Enhance your experience with an optional tour of the city of Avila. Start your guided visit at the Four Postes viewpoint and admire the skyline of this ancient city. Then, follow your guide through the historic streets. Stroll past the San Vicente Church, the city walls, and the impressive Cathedral of Avila. Hear the history behind each turn and explore the plazas of Adolfo Suárez and Mercado grande.

Toledo: Walking Tour with Tourist Wristband Access Pass

3. Toledo: Walking Tour with Tourist Wristband Access Pass

Meet your guide at City Hall Square and walk through the charming cobbled streets of Toledo. Arrive at the Jewish quarter, where the 3 monuments that you will visit with your guide are located.  Discover why the Catholic Monarchs commissioned the fabulous Monastery St. John of the Kings in the 15th century. This exceptional church is a marvelous example of flamboyant gothic architecture, which was erected by the most popular architects at the time. Admire El Greco’s masterpiece, The Burial of the Lord of Orgaz, where the artist portrayed the society of his time. Listen to the story behind this iconic painting in order to know why the Lord of Orgaz was honored by the saint while his body was being buried in 1323.  See the inside of The Old Synagogue named Santa Maria La Blanca. Inside its walls evokes the atmosphere of the city of the three faiths, where the Christians, Muslims, and Jews were able to coexist.

Toledo: Cathedral Tour with a Local Guide

4. Toledo: Cathedral Tour with a Local Guide

Meet your guide in the City Hall Square and admire the western façade of Santa María de Toledo Cathedral. Then, with your guide, go on a tour into one of the biggest cathedrals in Spain and admire the pointing arches, the ribbed vaults, and the stained-glass windows in the greatest gothic cathedral of Spain. Learn about the history of this basilica from its construction in the 12th-century up until the modern day. Discover that before the cathedral, other temples were erected here over this sacred land.  Stroll down the naves to see the Treasure Chapel and to admire the fabulous Monstrance, made by Enrique de Arfe in the 16th-century. Explore the main altarpiece, which is wonderfully carved and summarises the life of Jesus. Hear the stories about the depictions in the choir stalls. See the vast organs that are still in use. Have time to admire a unique window called the Clear, made of wonderful marble, bronze, and alabaster. Do not miss the exquisite artworks of El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, and Caravaggio. 

Madrid: Segovia and Toledo Tour, Alcazar, and Cathedral

5. Madrid: Segovia and Toledo Tour, Alcazar, and Cathedral

Discover the historic cities of Toledo and Segovia on a guided day tour from Madrid. Admire the imposing Alcázar of Segovia, the Cathedral of Toledo, as you stroll through both cities learning about their fascinating history. Depart Madrid and journey first to the city of Segovia. See the UNESCO World Heritage Roman aqueduct. Marvel at the iconic 1st-century monument, considered the most important example of Roman-era civil engineering in Spain. Visit the royal palace of the Alcázar of Segovia, built on a rocky crag above the confluence of 2 rivers near the Guadarrama mountains. Continue to the imperial city of Toledo. Once in Toledo, discover the medieval neighborhoods and historical monuments of the city on a walking tour and learn why it is called the City of Three Cultures. Depending on the option selected, finish with a guided tour inside Toledo Cathedral. Return to the center of Madrid at the end of your tour.

Madrid: Full-Day Guided Tour of Toledo with Cathedral Visit

6. Madrid: Full-Day Guided Tour of Toledo with Cathedral Visit

Discover the treasures of Toledo on a guided day trip from Madrid by bus. Soak up the views of the medieval city from the Mirador del Valle and witness El Greco's masterpiece in the Church of Santo Tomé. Depart from Madrid and travel to the Mirador del Valle. Here, admire the views of Toledo from across the Tagus River. Next, head to Toledo's historical center, recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. Learn about the coexistence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims who shaped the city over the centuries from your guide. Step into the Church of Santo Tomé, and see El Greco's "The Burial of Count Orgaz." Continue to the Synagogue of Saint Mary and finish your tour at the imposing Primada Cathedral.

From Madrid: Segovia, Ávila & Toledo Guided Tour with Lunch

7. From Madrid: Segovia, Ávila & Toledo Guided Tour with Lunch

Discover three cities in one day on a full-day tour of Segovia, Ávila, and Toledo from Madrid. Depart early and head to Segovia, where you start with a guided tour accompanied by an official guide, taking you around Segovia's historic center.  Find out why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll through the city’s main square - Plaza Mayor, beholding monuments such as the aqueduct and the cathedral. Then leave for Ávila, visiting the Ávila's historic center and discovering the legacy of this city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Be amazed by its fascinating history.  Continue along the famous Walls of Ávila and discover how the city preserved itself throughout history. Admire important monuments, including the Cathedral. Then make a stop to have lunch in a local restaurant in the old town, where you will enjoy a traditional Iberian lunch. Continue your trip heading to Toledo, your third stop of the day and your third city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Toledo has a long-standing Christian, Jewish, and Muslim tradition. Therefore, it is also known as the city of three cultures.  See important monuments as well as off-the-beaten-track gems known only to locals. Discover the secrets of Spain's second-largest cathedral with your official guide. The tour ends in Toledo, visiting one of the city's most magical and hidden gems. Cross the city through its narrow and picturesque streets, memorable to treasure unforgettable images. Visit one of the best panoramic views of the city, where you will surely capture your best photo.  At the end of your tour, you will return to the center of Madrid in a comfortable minibus, where your guide will be able to recommend things to do during the rest of your stay.

Toledo Guided Day Tour by AVE (High-speed Train) from Madrid

8. Toledo Guided Day Tour by AVE (High-speed Train) from Madrid

Start this incredible experience in the most comfortable way, aboard the fastest train in Spain (reaches a top speed of 300 km/h ), highlighting its punctuality, avoiding up to 2 hours of delays and traffic jams of big cities and getting to Toledo in just 30 minutes. You will get impressed by the countryside you often wouldn't see if you were driving the highway or flying thousands of miles in the air. In ecological terms, train travel remains overall the most environmentally friendly mode of traveling. Enjoy comfortable seating, toilet access, even take a break in the cafeteria to drink some coffee or beer and more service on board to guarantee your comfort. After a scenic ride, arrive in the beautiful Imperial city of Toledo, declared a World Heritage by UNESCO. Toledo is one of the oldest cities in Europe with buildings that mix architectural styles including Arabic, Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque, also it is called the “city of the three cultures” since Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together here. The great painter El Greco lived in Toledo in the sixteenth century. Immerse yourself with our official expert guide and enter the heart of Toledo, and its most valuable monuments, visit the Jewish Quarter and the area of the convents, with stories and legends that will trace back to the centuries before the Muslim conquest gems. We will discover the most emblematic places of the city, its history, its corners and anecdotes, and its main monuments such as the Cathedral of Toledo, whose architecture is a wonderful example of the Spanish Gothic style. Your guide will reveal all the secrets of the city.

From Madrid: Toledo with 7 Monuments and Optional Cathedral

9. From Madrid: Toledo with 7 Monuments and Optional Cathedral

See the UNESCO World Heritage monuments of Toledo on this day trip from Madrid on an airconditioned bus. Stroll down medieval streets to learn the story of how Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities lived in harmony in this imperial city. Depart aboard a comfortable and spacious bus from central Madrid and relax on th drive to Toledo. Visit emblematic sites such as the church of Santo Tomé, the Jewish District and the Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca.  Head to the city’s most important historic districts and monuments with fast track entry. Explore 3 sites with your guide and 4 sites on your once. Depending on the option you select, be able to visit the Toledo Cathedral with our guide.  Have free time to explore the rest of the city on your own. Return to places already visited or enter freely into further locations with tickets provided by your guide, including the Church of the Saviour and the Colegio de las Doncellas Nobles.  Spend free time purchasing lunch or a drink to enjoy on a beautiful terrace. Get recommendations from your guide and what to see and where to eat and drink. At the end of your Toledo Tour, return to central Madrid by bus and get advice on what to do in Madrid. 

Madrid: Toledo and El Escorial Full-Day Coach Tour

10. Madrid: Toledo and El Escorial Full-Day Coach Tour

Begin your tour in El Escorial. This was the symbol of the Spanish power in the 16th-century and commemorates the battle of St. Quentin. It is also mausoleum for Charles V. Due to the symmetry and balance of its construction, according to the humanist Renaissance style, for years it had been considered for years the eighth wonder of the world. Explore Habsburg Palace, the Kings and Princes Mausoleum, the Chapter House, and the Basilica. Next, 9 kilometers away from El Escorial, discover an enormous monument built between 1940 and 1959 to honor the fallen during the Spanish Civil War.  The basilica is carved into the mountain at 1,350 meters where an impressive 150 meters high cross places itself over the magnificent landscape of Madrid’s mountain range. Discover the City of the Three Cultures, 70 kilometers from Madrid. Toledo is a beautiful city-museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe and has great artistic beauty with buildings from almost all periods in history including Arabian, Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance, and Baroque style. Visit the outside of the Cathedral and the interior of the Sto. Tomé Church with The Burial of the Lord of Orgaz, a masterpiece by El Greco. Explore the interior of the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the interior of the incredible monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes. Go to see a demonstration of the famous technique of damascened, inlay of precious metals in steel and forging of swords. Finish your tour with a panoramic sightseeing tour of Toledo and stop at a viewpoint for breathtaking views of the city where you can take the best pictures of Toledo.

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What people are saying about Toledo

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 2,766 reviews

Our guide for the day was Alex and he was very knowledgeable about the history and architecture of Segovia and Toledo. He was helpful in pointing out to us where we were able to sample the food typical to the area.

A great introductory tour of Toledo and Segovia. The host was entertaining and the tour was well timed. I wish we’d had more time in Toledo to look around but understand that we had to travel quite a distance.

Great tour, very knowledgable guides. Definitely makes for a long day, but very worth it. It’s a comfortable bus ride to each destination, with plenty of time to see things and learn.

We enjoyed our trip. The tourist guides are very accomodating . It is a very memorable experience for us. Highly recommended.

Great day to spend outside Madrid with great tour guides