What not to miss in Toledo: what to see on a day trip from Madrid

The essentials to see in Toledo are the primate cathedral, the church of Santo Tomé with El Greco's The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, the synagogues of El Tránsito and Santa María la Blanca, the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Cristo de la Luz mosque, the Alcázar, the plaza de Zocodover, the San Martín and Alcántara bridges and the mirador del Valle viewpoint. Toledo is a World Heritage Site, known as “the city of three cultures” for its Christian, Jewish and Muslim heritage, and it is the most popular day trip from Madrid.

The primate cathedral

One of the great Gothic cathedrals of Spain, next to the plaza del Ayuntamiento and the archbishop's palace. Inside, the highlights are the Transparente, a spectacular Baroque altarpiece lit through an opening in the vault, the choir and the sacristy, a genuine picture gallery with works by El Greco and Goya, among other masters.

Santo Tomé and El Greco's Toledo

The Cretan painter lived and worked in Toledo for decades, and his work is all over the city. The small church of Santo Tomé holds The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, one of his masterpieces. Close by, the Museo del Greco recreates the atmosphere of the period and brings together several of his paintings.

The Jewish quarter: synagogues and San Juan de los Reyes

• Synagogue of El Tránsito: with its prayer hall decorated with intricate plasterwork, it houses the Museo Sefardí, devoted to the history of the Jews in Spain.
• Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca: its white horseshoe arches on pillars make it one of the most beautiful sights in the city.
• Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes: commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs, with an Isabelline Gothic cloister that is a gem.

The Muslim legacy

The Cristo de la Luz mosque, a small building from around the year 1000, is one of the finest examples of Islamic Toledo. The Puerta de Bisagra, the monumental gateway to the city, and the Puerta del Sol complete the tour of the walls.

The Alcázar, Zocodover and the bridges

The Alcázar, at the highest point of the city, houses the Army Museum. Below it, the plaza de Zocodover is the centre of Toledo life. And over the Tagus, the historic San Martín and Alcántara bridges offer some of the best views of the old town.

• By train: high-speed trains to Toledo leave from Atocha station. It is the fastest and most comfortable option; buy your ticket in advance in high season.
• By bus: there are frequent buses to Toledo from the Plaza Elíptica transport hub.
• By car: along the A-42. Bear in mind that parking in the old town is difficult and it is best to leave the car in the car parks in the lower part of the city.

If you are flying into Madrid and want to go straight to Toledo by train, our taxi takes you from any Barajas terminal to Atocha station for €33, with the Inside M-30 fixed fare, because the station is inside the M-30. All the pickup information is on the taxi in Atocha page, and in how to combine the AVE high-speed train and a flight in Madrid we give tips for connecting train and flight with time to spare.

• Comfortable shoes: Toledo is a city of steep slopes and cobbled streets.
• Combined ticket: there is a tourist wristband that gives access to several monuments; check what it includes and its current conditions.
• Get up early: organised groups arrive mid-morning and the old town fills up.
• Opening hours: check them for each monument, because some close at midday or one day a week.

On a layover at Barajas and not sure whether you have time? We look at it in Segovia, Toledo or Ávila on an airport layover. And if you are looking for more day trips near Madrid, there is what to see in Aranjuez, another World Heritage city on the Tagus, and the rest of the essentials in our guide to what to see in Madrid.