Looking for Madrid day trip ideas? Imagine this: a comfy 2 hour high-speed train ride from Madrid, and before you know it, you're in Toledo, a historic city that's over 1,000 years old.
The city itself is a beautiful mix of Jewish, Christian, and Moorish influences, and you can see it everywhere – even the train station has a cool Moorish vibe.
Toledo's perched on a hill, so prepare for amazing views! We walked from the station, and of course, we had to stop for a churro – a must-do in Spain. Then, we passed through the city gates and right into Toledo's ancient walls.
Sunshine and stunning views followed us the whole way. We even tried some delicious marzipan on Plaza de Zocodover, a local specialty that's way better than that sickly sweet stuff you might be thinking of if you are from the U.S. This marzipan was nutty and perfect for a chilly November day.
Wandering through the winding alleys, we stumbled upon a statue of Don Quixote, a literary legend from Spain. The whole town is full of little surprises, like a crest on a wall showcasing Toledo's history.
We even saw a street named after Toledo, Ohio – turns out American city has some pretty impressive roots.
We got lost a few times (hey, that's part of the fun!), but the cathedral was always a great landmark to get our bearings straight.
El Greco, the famous painter, called Toledo home, and although his house museum was closed the day we went, we still saw plenty of cool sights.
Toledo has two major synagogues (Sinagoga El Transito and Sinagoga Santa Maria la Blanca), another reminder of the city's multicultural past.
We even saw some birds hanging out in a church statue – guess even they like a good view! One thing that surprised us was finding a regular grocery store in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. It stuck out like a sore thumb!
By this point, all the hill walking in Toledo had made us ravenous. Luckily, we found a place called Bar La Cuesta where we got a three-course lunch with a whole bottle of wine for about 10 euros each – unbelievable!
The wind picked up a bit in the afternoon, but we decided to squeeze in one more walk before catching our train back to Madrid. We used some great itineraries we found online at go-toledo.com to plan our route.
Toledo's cobblestone streets are charming, but they're not exactly comfortable on your feet after a few miles!
We saw some gorgeous Moorish architecture right next to a kid's tire swing – such a cool mix of old and new.
Definitely make time to walk the city walls and check out the view from above.
We exited the city walls feeling satisfied after covering over 6.5 miles on foot.
If you're looking for a fascinating day trip from Madrid, Toledo is definitely the place to go! History, culture, delicious food, and amazing views – what more could you ask for?
Where to Next?
- Spend 3 days in Madrid on a weekend city break with one day in Segovia by high speed train?
- Explore Barcelona off the beaten path with a visit to Poblenou and Poble-sec neighborhoods?
- Visit Costa Brava and experience a day in Girona, alternative things to do in Lloret de Mar, or a Palafrugell festival?
- Go on an off-the-beaten track road trip to Merida's Roman ruins and Badajoz in Extremadura.
- Celebrate Las Fallas in Valencia?
- Take a relaxing break in the Balearic Islands with these things to do in Palma de Mallorca?
- Spend a day in Santander in winter?
- Experience the best of San Sebastian in a day and a night?
- Head to the Canary Islands with a short sun holiday trip to Lanzarote in January and savor Lazarote food and wine?
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