Toledo in 1 Day: all you need to know

Toledo is one of the most important cities in Spain. Given its value over the centuries, various civilizations have passed through the city, which have left their mark on the monuments that compose it.

If you travel to the City of Three Cultures in one day and do not know what to see and do in Toledo, read this travel itinerary that I propose.

One of the entrances to Toledo is the Puerta de la Bisagra, a medieval tower that was once built as the Arch of Triumph. In its center, you can see the imperial coat of arms of Charles V and just to its sides the remains of the wall. As for the origin of the Puerta de la Bisagra, it is not clear whether it is from the Arab or Mudejar period.

In the middle of the 16th century it was rebuilt and the works lasted more than 30 years. As you can see, the door has two bodies, which are joined by two walls. In the middle of them, you can see a courtyard with a statue of Charles V.

In addition to the Bisagra Gate, there are other entrance gates to the city, such as the Alfonso VI Gate, the Cambrón Gate or the Alcántara Gate. However, the most famous of them all is the Bisagra Gate. My recommendation is that for your day trip to Toledo, you take a walking tour of the city. This way, you will be able to see the main sights of the capital of Toledo and learn about its curiosities and history.

From the Puerta de Toledo, the Calle Real de Arrabal begins. If you continue along this road, you will end up in Zocodover Square. The journey takes about 10 minutes and along the way you will see some of the main streets of the old town of Toledo. Zocodover Square is the main square of Toledo.

It is the nerve center for the inhabitants of the city and has very good bus connections, as well as a cab rank. It is here that Toledo's main events are held, such as the Christmas market, the Book Fair, the New Year's Eve chimes or the craft markets.

In the Zocodover Square itself, you will find the Arco de la Sangre (Arch of Blood), right where Cervantes Street begins. You can see a bronze sculpture in honor of Miguel de Cervantes just down the stairs of the arch. The Arco de la Sangre has centuries of history, since its origin dates back to the tenth century, being built under the Arab occupation.

Originally, the arch was part of a wall that surrounded the entire city. However, today there are no remains of that wall. As for its name, it owes it to the Brotherhood of the Precious Blood of Christ.

If you are in the Plaza de Zocodover, you will only have to walk about 5 minutes, approximately, to find the Alcázar of Toledo. It is one of the main monuments of the city and can be seen from different points of it, thanks to its magnitude. The Alcazar is located on one of the seven hills of Toledo, which is said to be the highest point of the capital of Toledo.

Its origins date back to Roman times. At the time, it was a palace that housed the Roman army barracks. During the Visigothic period, it underwent certain modifications. Again, under the reigns of Alfonso VI and Alfonso X the Wise, the fortress was rebuilt to make it a fortress.

Finally, the Alcázar became what it is today in 1525, during the reign of Carlos V. However, since its construction, the Alcazar has suffered 3 fires, so it has had to be rebuilt on different occasions. The last of them took place in 1961, after an episode occurred in the building during the Spanish Civil War.

Today, the Alcazar houses the Museum of the Spanish Army, which has been located in this place since 2010. During the works and adaptation of the space, Roman, Arab and Visigoth remains were discovered, as well as a hanging garden from the 11th century. If you are interested in entering the museum, the opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 hours.

One of the most important cathedrals in Spain is the Cathedral of Santa María de Toledo. It is an architectural complex with a great artistic and historical richness. The Cathedral is located a little more than 5 minutes walk from the Alcazar.

The monument has a clear Gothic style and its origins date back to the 13th century. In the same square where it is located, are also located the City Hall of Toledo and the Archbishop's Palace. There are areas that can be seen for free, although to have access to all the spaces that make it up, you will have to pay.

Given its size and the amount of relics that are hidden in the Cathedral, my recommendation is that you take a guided tour of it, so you can know what to see in the Cathedral of Toledo. The construction of this architectural complex began in 1227 and was built on the remains of the 6th century Visigothic Cathedral, which was used as a mosque during the Arab conquest.

The completion of the works ended in 1493, under the reign of Isabella the Catholic. Around the cathedral, different legends converge, such as that of the Descent of the Virgin. It also has important tombs of royalty.

After you have seen the Catedral Primada, it is time for you to head to the church of Santo Tomé. This temple is located a little more than 5 minutes walk from the Cathedral. It is one of the most important churches in the city, since inside it hides the work of El Greco 'El Entierro del Conde Orgaz' (The Burial of Count Orgaz). In order to enter the church, you will have to pay for the entrance, although it is quite cheap, about 3 euros, and it is worth it.

Its origins date back to the 12th century, but it was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century at the request of the Lord of Orgaz. It was at this time that the Christian bell tower that you can see today was added. This steeple is one of the most representative works of the Mudejar style in Toledo and the second great attraction of the church of Santo Tomé.

In addition to the El Greco painting and the Mudejar tower, the church hides other works such as a 16th century marble baptismal font, several canvases by Luis Tristán and a beautiful 16th century altarpiece.

From the Church of Santo Tomé, if you go to the Plaza del Conde and continue along Descalzos street, you will arrive at the restaurant Víctor Sánchez-Beato, one of the best restaurants in Toledo.

This is the place I suggest you to have lunch during your visit to the city. It is a small restaurant specialized in meat, fish and seafood. It has a tasting menu with avant-garde touches in which it is cooked in front of the customers themselves.

Since it is one of the best restaurants in Toledo, I recommend that you make a reservation so as not to run out of room. The tasting menu consists of 4 appetizers, three starters, a fish dish, a second meat dish and a dessert. In addition, you can also add the pairing option, which includes 7 glasses of wine.

Just a 4 minute walk from the restaurant Victor Sanchez-Beato, is the synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca.

At the time, this was the largest synagogue in Toledo and today is the largest exponent of the Jewish population that lived in the city. The synagogue is located in the Jewish quarter and dates back to the 13th century. It is called Santa María la Blanca because of something that you can see with your own eyes, since it is entirely of this color.

This Mudejar architectural ensemble is composed of five naves, all separated by arcades, which are supported by brick and tile columns.

The synagogue was restored in 1250 after suffering a fire. Although it is a Jewish temple, it shows a clear Muslim influence. The synagogue is open from Monday to Sunday and opening hours vary, but are usually from 10 am to 5 pm.

After seeing the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, you will go to one of the best places to see the sunset in Toledo. From the Mirador del Valle, you will feel like you are transported to another era, thanks to the medieval character of the city. Next to the viewpoint you will find a kiosk where you can buy something to snack and a drink or two, so you can enjoy the moment to the fullest.

Also, next to the viewpoint is the Cerro del Bú. This hill is famous because it was the origin of the city of Toledo during the bronze age. There is one of the most important archaeological sites in Toledo and the entrance is free. Therefore, if you have enough time, I recommend you to visit this place.

On the other hand, in the viewpoint of the Valley is also the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Valley, which is precisely what gives this name to the viewpoint. The pilgrimage of this hermitage is celebrated every year on May 1, a celebration in which the Virgin is taken for a walk in the surroundings.

If you go to the viewpoint from the synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, I recommend that you do it by car. You can also walk, but it will take you about 40 minutes. On the other hand, if you go by car, you will reach your destination in less than 10 minutes.

To end your visit to Toledo, I advise you to go to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. This building was built at the request of the Catholic Monarchs in 1476. The temple has a single nave with a starry dome and the main chapel.

One of the most beautiful areas of the monastery is the cloister, which was designed by the architect Enrique Egas. From the cloister you can access the beautiful courtyard, where you will get a magnificent view of the windows of the monastery.

The place suffered a fire during the French invasion. This accident destroyed the original altarpiece of the monastery, as well as the library and the second cloister. The place was not restored until 1977.

If you walk to the monastery from the viewpoint of the Toledo valley, it will take you about 30 minutes. You can also make use of public transport, as the l71 bus leaves you very close to the monastery. Finally, you can also arrive by car, in which case the trip will take no more than 10 minutes.

After lunch in an exemplary and refined place in the city, I propose a dinner in the purest Toledo style. If you want to try the typical gastronomy of Toledo, I advise you to go to Taberna El Botero, one of the best traditional bars in the city.

Taberna El Botero is located at Calle Ciudad 5, a little more than 10 minutes walk from the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. During dinner you can enjoy the works of art that decorate the walls of the establishment. Although it is a simple and unpretentious place, the food offered is of high quality.

I recommend you try their meats, such as deer tartar, veal cheeks or beef ribs. If you are more of a fish lover, you can opt for the caramelized salmon, the cod and crispy bacon cocochas carbonata or the yellowfin tuna tartar. Finish the dinner in style with one of the desserts of the tavern, such as torrija de horchata, lemon pie tartlet or saffron rice pudding.

As you have seen, there are many activities that can be carried out in a day in Toledo. It doesn't matter if you go to Toledo in summer or if you travel with children to Toledo; you will always find great things to do in the city.