One Day in Toledo - The Shadrian Chronicles

At a little over a 30 minute train ride from Madrid, Toledo makes for a great day trip. Toledo is full of history and architecture, so plan for a full day of exploring. Check out our guide below for spending a day in Toledo.

How to get to and around Toledo?

Getting to Toledo is best done by train. The high speedo train takes roughly 33 minutes from the Atocha station in Madrid. You can purchase tickets at the Atocha station, however we do recommend purchasing them a day in advance. Tickets are around $10-15 for a round trip ticket.

The train station is located just outside of Toledo. There are a number of tour buses that will take you up and into the walled portion of the city. You can easily walk to the walled portion of Toledo, but be aware, it is primarily an uphill climb once you pass through the gates. Once you are in Toledo, walking is the primary method of getting around. Very few cars or motorbikes actually travel through the city. The city is built on a hill, so almost every street is either up or down a hill.

Driving from Madrid takes around an hour and parking is available. Unless you plan to continue on a road trip, we highly recommend taking the train as the cheapest and quickest way to visit.

Things to See and Do

Below is a list of highlights of things to see and do while exploring Toledo.

Alcázar de Toledo – From any location around Toledo, the fortifications stand tall above everything else. The building was used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, then later restored by the Spanish. Portions of the building are available to tour.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo – The church is one of the more architecturally impressive in the city. It is still an active Roman Catholic church, however you can tour portions of the church.
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes – The monastery has some beautiful architecture and is worth a stop at. Take some time to explore the halls and enjoy the views.
El Greco Museum – For art lovers, the museum is dedicated to the famous Spanish artist El Greco.
Get Lost in the Streets – In addition to the specific buildings listed above, there are a churches, monasteries, or historical buildings on every corner. We spent a few hours just exploring the streets and enjoying the sights.