10 Things to Do in Toledo in Summer

Although Toledo does not have beaches as it is an inland city, this does not mean that it is not worth visiting in the summer months. If you are going this time of year to the City of Three Cultures and don't know what to see and do in Toledo, read on.

From relaxing sessions in Arab baths to walks along the Tagus River, Toledo has an endless list of things to do in the summer months without having to suffer from the heat.

Toledo is a beautiful city with a great cultural, artistic and historical richness. Although it is true that the best way to get to know the cities is walking, in summer this is a bit difficult. That is why I recommend you to make use of the best sightseeing bus tours in Toledo.

By taking a bus tour with free stops in Toledo, you will be able to get on and off at any of the stops along the route with total freedom and independence.

The bus passes through the main sights of the city, such as the Bisagra Gate or the Jewish Quarter. From the upper deck of the vehicle, you will be able to observe the views of the city. In addition, the route is completed with an audio guide through which you will be able to understand each of the places and monuments you see.

Although Toledo does not have a beach, this does not mean that you cannot take a relaxing dip in the city. Toledo has several Arab baths, which have their origins in the time of the Arab conquest. Precisely for this reason, all of them are located in the old town.

One of the most famous is the Medina Mudejar Toledo. With an Islamic wall from the 12th century, its cisterns and the tiles that decorate it, visiting this Hammam, you can teleport to the Middle Ages.

It is a perfect plan to escape the summer heat and at the same time relax during your vacation. The establishment has pools at different temperatures, as well as a Turkish bath and a relaxing patio where you can have tea or play a game of chess. The Medina Mudéjar Arab Baths are located at Plaza de Santa Eulalia 1, very close to the Jesuit Church and the Convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo.

If you want to walk the streets of Toledo and not die trying because of the heat, you can take this night tour of the city. It is a tour with a local guide, who will explain the curiosities of the different places you visit.

Beyond getting rid of the summer heat, this night tour allows you to see the city in a different way, thanks to the magical touch provided by the lights of the street lamps. With this tour you will learn about the main legends of the City of the Three Cultures, as well as stories about magic and witchcraft, which you will love if you are a fan of fantasy.

What better time than summer to enjoy a nice boat ride. This activity is ideal for the warmer months and with it you can leave the borders of Toledo and get to know one of the most beautiful municipalities that are located next to the city: Aranjuez. The gardens of Aranjuez are declared Cultural Landscape of Humanity by UNESCO, so you can imagine the great beauty that characterizes them.

The boat trip can last approximately 45 minutes. During the trip you can see the gardens of the municipality and even enjoy a drink. The tour includes a tour guide who will explain the curiosities and history of this place. In addition, you can also make a photocall with the captain of the boat and have fun with an audiovisual trivia. This activity is one of the best things to do with children in Toledo.

Since the heat presses hard in the city of Toledo, one of the best things to do in Toledo in summer is to take the air under the shade of the trees and enjoy the freshness provided by the vegetation. Toledo has many parks and most of them have terraces where you can have a drink.

One of the most important parks in the city is the Parque de La Vega, which is located next to the Bisagra Gate and the Tavera Hospital.

It is one of the best things to do with children in Toledo, as it has different playgrounds and several terraces.

Many of the city's events are held in La Vega Park, such as music festivals, workshops, sporting events or temporary exhibitions. In addition, the park is home to the Casa del Corcho, a house dating from the nineteenth century and a clear example of romanticism.

Other parks in Toledo

• The Park of the Three Cultures, named in honor of the peaceful coexistence of Jews, Christians and Muslims in the city, is the largest park in Toledo and has all kinds of sports courts, so you can practice from paddle tennis to basketball or beach volleyball. This is the place where families go for walks and the favorite place for the people of Toledo to enjoy the outdoors.
• The Circo Romano Park is a place where you can breathe fresh air and take refuge from the heat while observing the imposing archaeological remains of the city's Roman circus. This circus was built during the 1st century under the orders of Emperor Octavian Augustus.
• The Parque del Tránsito, which is located in the old Jewish quarter of the city, right in front of the Synagogue of El Tránsito and the El Greco Museum. From the park you will be able to see the views of the Tajo River, as well as the hermitage of the Virgen de la Cabeza.

When the sun goes down, the heat decreases; so it is the perfect time to take advantage of the great beauty of Toledo. Therefore, I recommend you to visit some of the best viewpoints in the city. The most famous of them all is the Mirador del Valle, from which you can see the wall surrounding the city.

The viewpoint has been awarded the prize for the Most Beautiful Night Panoramic of the World and is one of the most photographed places in the city. In the viewpoint itself there is a kiosk where you can buy something to drink while enjoying the views.

Also, next to it is the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Valle, whose pilgrimage is celebrated on May 1. You can access the viewpoint either on foot or by car. However, in summer it is better to avoid going on foot, since Toledo is a hot city during these months of the year.

Other viewpoints worth visiting in Toledo

In addition to the Mirador del Valle, Toledo has other impressive places to enjoy the views of the city. One of them is the viewpoint of the hospital of the Virgen del Valle, which is less known than the previous one and therefore provides a greater tranquility.

Also, next to the area of the Cigarrales is the viewpoint of the hermitage of the Virgen de la Cabeza, from which you can see the bridge of San Martin, the Cathedral of Toledo and the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.

If you want to escape from the heat, take advantage of the Tagus River to do a hiking route. I recommend you to do this route first thing in the morning. The most famous is the Vuelta al Valle, a 6 km route that becomes even more beautiful at dawn.

On this route you can enjoy privileged views of the city and the main monuments that compose it, such as the famous hermitage of the Virgen del Valle. It starts at the Alcántara Bridge, which dates back to the year 866. From here you can see the castle of San Servando and the remains of the Artifice of Juanelo.

You will pass by the New Bridge, from where you will be able to see the Alcázar and the remains of the convent of Carmen. Continue your route reaching the bridge over the stream of La Degollada and skirt the Cerro del Bú, where you will find one of the most important archaeological sites in Toledo.

Afterwards, you will continue climbing up to the hermitage of the Virgen del Valle and enjoy the privileged views from the viewpoint. From this point, you will begin to descend until you reach the bridge of San Martín, where you will be able to see the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. If you cross the bridge, you can finish the route by jumping on the longest urban zip line in Europe, which crosses from bank to bank of the Tagus.

In Toledo in summer there are different open-air concerts in the main parks and squares of the City of the Three Cultures. Most of these concerts are part of the Toledo fair, which is held in the summer months, around August.

The inauguration of the fairgrounds is the event that kicks off this festivity and is held in the Town Hall Square. From here starts a parade of giants and big-heads accompanied by music bands. You can also enjoy a free lemonade tasting and different concerts of national artists.

From July to September, Toledo celebrates Heritage Thursdays. These consist of 10 Thursday nights with free and guided access in which you can enjoy the different spaces that make up the historic center of Toledo.

This is undoubtedly a great way to access places without having to pay for the entrance. In addition, you will also get to know monuments that otherwise you would not be able to visit.

Among the spaces that make up Heritage Thursdays are the Caves of Hercules, a water reservoir that was built during Roman times to supply the entire city. You can also enter the Roman Baths Amador de los Rios, which are located in the subsoil of the city and were made at the end of the first century.

On the other hand, you will have the opportunity to visit the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, the only space that remains today of what was the old church of San Juan Bautista, which was demolished in the eighteenth century.

On this occasion, I head to the neighborhood of the Convents of Toledo to propose a night route through its sheds, one of the best plans to do at night in Toledo. This area is located in the northern part of the old city and includes all the streets and squares that were once taken by priests, nuns and different members of the Catholic Church.

As you can guess, it receives this name because of the large number of convents it houses. You can leave your car in the Paseo del Recadero and cross the Puerta del Sol to access the interior of the neighborhood. At the time, the Puerta del Sol was the entrance to the medina and was built for defensive purposes.

If there is something that characterizes the neighborhood of the Convents, it is its sheds. To get to them, you will have to go through Alfileritos Street, named after the tradition that young women from Toledo had of sticking pins in their bodies and the Virgin, in the belief that this way they could have a suitable groom.

Many of the sheds that were in the neighborhood of the convents were destroyed during the reign of Juana la Loca, who ordered to demolish those sheds that did not have the height of a rider on horseback. You can see the shed of the Convent of Santo Domingo el Real, as well as the one in Colegio de Doncellas street.

The climate of Toledo is Mediterranean, so summers are very hot. In terms of temperatures, they are usually similar to those of Madrid, although a little higher. The hottest month of the year in Toledo is July, when the average temperature is about 27°C (77°F). The highest temperatures during this season reach 41 degrees at midday. As far as rainfall is concerned, it rarely rains in the city in summer, although in the month of June some thunderstorms may break out.