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

Toledo is located in a very favourable location when it comes to analysing its proximity to other big cities. It is quite easy to get here by car 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 short break from the big city for a weekend or part of their working holiday.

With that in mind, I suggest you read on to get a better idea of the kind of things you could enjoy for 72 hours in this picturesque city. In fact, I've taken care of the logistics of getting you to see as many attractions as possible in the most favourable way possible.

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 on 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 centre of Toledo.

Take a 3 cultures tour

A great way to start your first day in Toledo is by participating in a tour known as the Three Cultures Tour. 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 representing Judaism, Islam and Christianity. These were religions that in their time set the cultural and social rules of this city.

The mosque of Cristo de la Luz, the church of Santo Tomé and the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca are usually the places chosen for this tour. At the same time you have to take into account 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've finished that walk you'll still have plenty of other attractions to explore in Toledo and a guided tour of 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 civil and military fortification located in one of the highest parts of the city. It is located on a picturesque and beautiful hill.

A guided tour of the Alcázar 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. Bear in mind that this site is also home to the National Army Museum, which is why you will find impressive collections of armour and military relics associated with Spanish history.

• Opening hours: open every day of the week except Wednesdays from 11am to 5pm.
• 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 Toledo Cathedral

After a guided tour of the Alcázar of Toledo , you should not miss the opportunity to take a guided tour of the cathedral as well. 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 spared any queues and you will pass by each of the must-see sites in Toledo Cathedral. 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 Toledo Cathedral you should know that for about 25 euros the cost of this guided tour already includes the entrance fee and taxes for the entrance to this national historic asset.

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

Catch the sunset on the river banks

After you have visited the city's most important attractions, it is important that you also have a moment of relaxation and enjoyment with your family. 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 play, in case you are travelling with them

This is actually one of the best activities to do in Toledo with children and it is undoubtedly 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 regions in the world, which is why it is a good idea to enjoy a dinner accompanied by locally produced wines.

Bear in mind that this is one of the best things to do on a visit to Toledo at Christmas, as it will allow you to share the festivities in a traditional way. I advise you to go for any of the restaurants in the historic centre that offer the best gastronomic proposals and are the ones we are used to dealing with tourists' needs.

For the second day of your visit to Toledo there are still plenty of other places to see. In fact, with the places you have seen on the first day you will not be able to get a real sense of the historical importance of this city, as you will have missed many of its tourist attractions.

For this reason I have grouped together 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 feeling that you have seen a good part of Toledo in all its splendour.

Start the day with a hot-air balloon ride

Hot air ballooning is a special experience all over the world and when you get the chance to fly over the city you are in, the whole thing becomes even more incredible. For this reason a hot air balloon ride over 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 breakfast directly at your accommodation if it is included or to have it right after the activity. This will give you the energy to tackle the rest of the itinerary.

Visit the Roman Baths and the Museum of the Holy Inquisition

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

The Toledo Town Hall and the University of Toledo campus are other places you could visit when touring this area. If you are interested in getting free or cheap access to many of these sites, it would be advisable to buy a Toledo Bracelet, which works as a tourist pass inside 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 stroll through Toledo's Jewish quarter and visit the Sephardic Museum

In Toledo's Jewish quarter you'll 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 other than 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 neighbourhood located in the southeast corner of Toledo's historic centre, you will also find a museum dedicated to Sephardic history within the same premises as 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 part of the city's history that it is also an unmissable 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 the Greek artist is not originally from Toledo , he lived here for a long time. That is why this site has a significantly large collection of his works that mark the essence of Spanish art between the 16th and 17th centuries.

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

• Opening hours: open from 9.30am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays and open at 10am on Sundays.
• Prices: admission is free on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. and on all other days 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-time part of your second day, you also need to have something entertaining to do. So I suggest you take a walk around the famous gates of what were once the city 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 Council for 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 suits your energy.

By the time the third day of your trip to Toledo begins, you will have already seen a large part of the city's tourist attractions, and so you can dedicate yourself to enjoying other sites that are not usually on the must-see list of those who come to this beautiful city in search of medieval history.

Start the day with a walk along the Toledo Ecological Trail

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

I recommend that you start your walk at the San Martín bridge 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 in the city. Another place you should not miss is the Palacio de Congresos de Toledo, which is also just a few metres 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've missed some places to see

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

These are tourist vehicles that take you all over the city so that 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've had lunch in Toledo and got off that bus there won't be many places left to see or indeed you'll be a bit tired of walking all over the city.

That's why I recommend that your last plan for this city is to take a short trip to the neighbouring community of Aranjuez to take part in a boat ride through the famous Prince's Garden.

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