Toledo, Spain is a wonder of a city. Located about a half-hour south of Madrid, Toledo is an ancient walled city that boasts a quaint small-town atmosphere and rich historical background. (Did you know it’s one of only a few cities where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures have co-existed?) It was actually named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986!
But not only is Toledo rich in history, it’s also known for incredible art and culture. It was once home to the famous painter El Greco, whose house-turned-museum is host to hundreds of paintings. While wandering around, you can see many stunning examples of Italian baroque artwork and andalusian architecture resembling that of the stunning Alhambra. And – perhaps most famously – Toledo was mentioned heavily in Miguel de Cervantes’ classic adventure novel, Don Quixote.
So with famous artwork and fascinating history lining every street corner, how can you possibly pick and choose the best way to spend your time? Well, after nearly a week in the city, I’ve come up with an all-encompassing 24-hour itinerary that’s guaranteed to leave you with wonderful memories!
Breakfast
Start the day by grabbing a nice meal at your hotel or hostel. Spanish breakfasts are usually pretty simple, consisting of bread with jam and coffee or tea. Sometimes different places may add extra things, like fruit, meat, or eggs. Alternatively, you can find a nice café to sit in or even grab some food from a grocery store if you’re looking to save money.
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Explore
After breakfast, spend the morning wandering around the city at your own pace. Even though it seems large and winding like a labyrinth, Toledo is actually very comfortable to walk – at most it will probably take you a few hours to see the entire city.
TIP: The city center is the highest point of Toledo. So if you ever get lost, just go uphill and look for the Cathedral!
Head outside the city walls
Get some food to-go for lunch and head down to explore outside walls that surround old Toledo. Every Tuesday there is the Spanish equivalent of a flea market in a small park just outside of the main gates, so be sure to check that out – you can find all kinds of goods for very cheap prices! You can also walk along the route of Don Quixote or explore the newer part of the city.
Lunch
You’ve still got that food, right? Good, because it’s time to sit somewhere nice and eat lunch! You can picnic in a lovely park or – if you’re feeling ambitious – hike up the nearby hills and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city as you munch on your food. Depending on how far up you go, the hike can be tough.
But the view? The view is absolutely worth it.
See the Cathedral
By the time you head back into the old city, most businesses will probably be taking a siesta – in other words, they’ll be closing for a few hours. This means it’s the perfect time to pop into the Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo for a quick tour.
Now, I don’t care if you’ve seen a thousand cathedrals before, you have to see this one. Near the back is an 18th Century baroque sculpture that stretches from floor to ceiling, and that itself is worth the visit. I’m not kidding; it actually made me gasp.
You can wander around on your own or take an audio tour (which they have in English), and it shouldn’t take more than an hour.
Museums & Siesta
While you’re at it, take some time to sample the museums. There are certainly plenty to choose from, and there are a ton of exhibits that come and go, so you’re bound to see one that interests you. And the great thing is, most of them are pretty small! Some of them, however, aren’t worth it. Do a bit of research beforehand or ask a local which ones they’d recommend visiting – and which ones to skip.
My favorites were The Alcázar and the El Greco Museum.
If museums aren’t really your thing, you can certainly head back to your hotel/hostel and relax. Maybe join in on the Spanish tradition and take a “siesta” yourself! Most shops re-open between 5 & 6 p.m.
Get a sweet snack
Spaniards eat dinner very late (in fact, most restaurants don’t open back up for dinner until around 8 p.m.), so you should definitely grab a snack to curb that hunger. My recommendation? Get some world-famous marzipan from Santo Tomé, the best sweet shop in Toledo!
If sweets aren’t your thing, you can usually also find salty or savory treats in these shops. Or, if all else fails, grab some fruit or chips from a grocery store. You can always try a bag of ham-flavored chips, which are… um, interesting?
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Do some shopping
Now is the moment you’ve been waiting for, so take a few hours and shop ’til you drop! Empty your wallet! Stuff your suitcase! Weep tears of joy!
In all seriousness, there are so many shops in Toledo that you’re bound to find some pretty unique things. So even if you don’t spend a lot of money, it’s fun to just glance around.
TIP: Most locals have a limited knowledge of the English language, so learn some Spanish! “¿Cuánto cuesta?” translates to “How much does it cost?”
Dinner
To top off your perfect day in Toledo, grab dinner at a local restaurant. There are plenty of places to choose from, and you can get anything from a 3-course traditional Spanish meal to massive American-style burgers.
TIP: If you don’t want to break the bank, an easy way to save money is to make a meal out of tapas – small plates of food (like appetizers) that come free when you order a drink. Sometimes you can eat heartily for as little as 4 Euro!
How to spend the rest of the night is up to you; hit up a few bars, spend some time relaxing in your room, or take a few hours to rearrange your suitcase – heck, you can even head down to the McDonalds in Plaza de Zocodover if you get the late-night munchies! But remember to take some time to reflect on your day and all of the wonderful memories you’ve made.
And with that, your perfect day in Toledo, Spain comes to an end.
Is there anything that you would do differently? Do you have any other suggestions? Have you been to Toledo, or are you planning on going? Leave a comment below and let me know!
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