Toledo in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Toledo is located in a quite favorable place if it comes to analyze its proximity to other major cities. And is that getting to this town is something quite simple with a car trip from Madrid and therefore many of the best things to see and do in Toledo are designed for short trips. This is for those who have a small getaway from the big city for a weekend or during a part of their working vacation.

With that in consideration I suggest you keep reading this post to get a more accurate idea about the kind of plans you could enjoy for about 72 hours in this picturesque city. In fact, I have taken care of planning the logistics for you to get to know as many attractions as possible in the most favorable way.

Toledo is known in Spain as one of the tourist destinations that best preserves its medieval essence and therefore has a large number of architectural attractions that make it an unmissable stop in a tour of Castilla-La Mancha.

For this reason I have planned the first day of your trip to focus on exploring the most important monuments and buildings in the city. Keep in mind that for this you won't need a car and you won't really walk too far to get back to your hotel. This is as long as you are staying in the historic center of Toledo.

Take a tour of the 3 cultures

A great way to start your first day in Toledo is by participating in a tour known as the walk of the three cultures. Basically, this is a guided activity that usually lasts about two hours in which a specialist in the city takes a small group of people to 3 churches representative of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Which were religions that in their time marked the cultural and social rules of this city.

The mosque of Cristo de la Luz, the church of Santo Tome and the synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca are usually the places chosen for this tour. At the same time you have to keep in mind that this tour is considered one of the best tours in Toledo and it can perfectly be something you do before or after breakfast.

Continue the day with a guided tour of the Alcazar of Toledo

When you have finished that walk you will still have plenty of other attractions to visit in Toledo and a guided visit to the Alcazar would be a safe and appropriate way to continue your historical tour of the city. It is undoubtedly the most representative construction of the whole city and it is a fortification of civil and military character that is located in one of the highest parts of this city. It is located on a picturesque and beautiful hill.

A guided visit to the Alcazar of Toledo usually lasts an hour and 30 minutes maximum and is an ideal opportunity to understand exactly the importance of this site and not to miss any of the details about the past of this construction. Keep in mind that this place is also home to the National Army Museum and therefore you will find impressive collections of armor and military relics associated with Spanish history.

• Hours: open every day of the week except Wednesdays from 11 am to 5 pm.
• Prices: the guided tour costs approximately 16 euros per person.
• Location: C. de la Union, s/n, 45001 Toledo, Spain.

Don't forget to visit the Cathedral of Toledo

After touring the Alcazar of Toledo with a guide , you cannot miss the opportunity to also have a guided tour of the cathedral. Both sites are quite close to each other and both places are worth visiting with a specialist who will tell you all the facts you want to know about one of the most important Catholic buildings in Spain.

This type of tour also usually lasts an hour on average and one of its great benefits is that you are saved from standing in line and you will go through each of the sites you can not miss in the Cathedral of Toledo. This means that you will see all the stained glass windows that adorn the naves, also the monstrance, the main altarpiece, the sacristy rooms and also a small museum with works by some of the Spanish Italian artists who have contributed to the art collection of this famous cathedral.

If you are worried about the accumulation of prices for a visit to the cathedral of Toledo you have to know that for about 25 euros of the cost of this guided tour is already included the entrance and taxes for admission to this national historic asset.

• Hours: open from 10 am to 6 pm every day of the week except Sundays when it opens at 2 pm.
• Prices: the guided tour costs about 25 euros per person.
• Location: Calle Cardenal Cisneros, 1, 45002 Toledo, Spain.

Catch the sunset on the banks of the river

After you have visited the most important attractions of the city it is important that you also have a moment of relaxation and family enjoyment. For this reason it would be a good idea to go to the banks of the Tagus River and there wait for the sunset while the little ones of the house play, this in case you are traveling with them

Actually this is one of the best activities to do in Toledo with children and without a doubt it is a good way to say goodbye to the evening of your first day in the city.

Have a nice dinner with locally produced wines

Many people don't know it, but Castilla-La Mancha is one of the most important wine regions in Spain. In fact, in terms of production volume, it is one of the most profitable at a global level and therefore it is a good idea to enjoy a dinner accompanied by locally produced wines.

Keep in mind that this is one of the best activities to do on a visit to Toledo at Christmas, as it will allow you to share the holidays in a traditional way. I advise you to bet on any of the restaurants in the historic center best gastronomic proposals and are those who are accustomed to deal with the needs of the tourist.

For the second day of your visit to Toledo there are still plenty of other places to see. In fact, with the places you know in the first day you could not have a really concrete perception about the historical importance of this city, because you will have missed many of its tourist attractions.

For this reason I have grouped other sites that will keep you entertained throughout your second day in the city and that you should definitely not miss. At least if you want to return home being able to say that you have seen a good part of Toledo in all its splendor.

Start the day with a hot air balloon ride

Riding in a hot air balloon is a special experience everywhere in the world and when you have the opportunity to fly over the city where you are the whole thing becomes even more incredible. For this reason a hot air balloon ride in Toledo is the best way to start your second day, at least if your budget and time allows it.

Keep in mind that hot air balloon rides in Toledo is a tourist alternative that does not include breakfast despite its high cost that usually exceeds 100€ per person. For this reason it is a good idea to have your breakfast directly at your accommodation if it is included or to have it right after leaving this activity. This way you will have the energy to face the rest of the itinerary.

Visit the Roman Baths and the Museum of the Holy Inquisition

The Roman Baths are subway ruins that you can visit quickly this type of environment interests you. At the same time, a couple of streets away from this site is the Museum of the Holy Inquisition. Toledo played an important role in this dark period of Spanish history and that is why this institution is dedicated to the historical and cultural analysis of that medieval period.

The Toledo City Hall and the campus of the University of Toledo are other places you could visit when touring this area. If you are interested in getting free or inexpensive access to many of these sites it would be advisable to purchase a Toledo Bracelet, which functions as a tourist pass within the city.

The Templar Museum is also located in this section of the city and a guided tour is a plan I can recommend for this part of your day if you are not interested in these other sites of tourist interest.

Take a walk through the Jewish quarter of Toledo and visit the Sephardic Museum

In Toledo's Jewish quarter you will come across several historical relics from the period when Sephardic society had the opportunity to thrive in a nation that was traditionally hostile to religions outside of Catholicism. The Arquillo del Judío, the archaeological remains of the Sofer Synagogue, the Tránsito Synagogue and the Casa del Judío are just some of the sites you can visit in this part of the city.

In fact, in this neighborhood located in the southeastern end of Toledo's historic center, there is also a museum dedicated to Sephardic history within the same facilities of the Tránsito Synagogue. It is not the only one of its kind in Spain, but it is certainly an institution you should not miss when exploring this part of the city.

In fact, the Jewish quarter is such an important site in the history of this city that it is also a must-see stop on a two-day trip to Toledo.

Stop by the El Greco Museum

By the end of your second day you will probably be tired of visiting monuments and important historical buildings. However, the El Greco Museum is too close to the Jewish quarter for you to miss the opportunity to visit it.

Although this Greek artist is not originally from this city , he did live there for a long time. Therefore this site has a significantly large collection of his works that mark the essence of Spanish art between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Keep in mind that this plan is one of the best activities to do in Toledo during the summer, as it is a safe and entertaining escape from the high temperatures that define Castilla-La Mancha during the hottest months of the year.

• Hours: Open from 9:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. It is closed on Mondays and opens at 10 A.M. on Sundays.
• Prices: admission is free on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. and the rest of the days the general admission is 3 euros.
• Location: P.º del Tránsito, s/n, 45002 Toledo, Spain.

End the day touring the gates of the walled city

Finally, for the night part of your second day you also need to have some entertaining activity. So I advise you to take a walk through the famous gates of what were once the walls that gave access to visitors to the city.

This is one of the best things to do in Toledo at night because of the beautiful lighting that has been created by the City Hall to these historic structures and without a doubt the Puerta de Bisagra is the most important of them all. The Puerta de Alfonso VI, the Puerta del Sol and the Puerta del Cambrón are also others that should be part of your tour, as long as it is something that interests you and fits your energy.

When the third day of your trip to Toledo begins, you will have already seen a large part of the tourist attractions of the city and therefore you can dedicate yourself to enjoy other sites that are not usually part of the list of must-see places for those who come in search of medieval history to this beautiful town.

Start the day with a walk along Toledo's ecological path

The ecological path of Toledo is the name that the city council has created to name the entire bank of the Tagus River from the eastern end to the western end of the historic center. So a walk along this site can be a good way to enjoy the morning.

I advise you to start the walk at the bridge of San Martin so that you arrive directly at your next stop after having walked the entire length of the path.

Go to the Alcántara Bridge and enjoy the Paseo del Miradero.

When you reach the Alcántara Bridge you will find one of the oldest and most representative constructions of the city. Another place you should not miss is the Palacio de Congresos de Toledo which is also located a few meters away from the Paseo del Miradero.

This last public space will allow you to enjoy a privileged and panoramic view of the newest section of the city and for many it is one of the most beautiful images of Toledo.

Take a bus ride if you feel you have missed some places to visit

If by this point of your trip you feel that you have missed some places to visit or to see from afar then it is recommended that you participate in the Toledo Hop On Hop Off bus tours.

These are tourist vehicles that take you throughout the city so you can get as close as possible to each of the tourist attractions while a guide or audio guide tells you about historical aspects of the community. Please note that this is an activity that will only take approximately 50 minutes.

Go to Aranjuez for a boat ride through its famous gardens

By the time you have had lunch in Toledo and gotten off that bus there won't be many places left to go or actually you will be a bit tired from walking all over the city.

That is why I advise you that your last plan to do this city is to start a short excursion to the neighboring community of Aranjuez to participate in a boat ride through the famous Prince's Garden.

Keep in mind that this place is so important that it is declared as a protected landscape by Unesco and without a doubt it is a plan that would perfectly close your trip to one of the most beautiful areas of Spain.