After starting our trip in Barcelona and then visiting Andalusia for the last two weeks of May, we are taking the train up to Madrid. We have 3, maybe 4, days to spend there, before flying to Lisbon for a few days and then returning home. We will be taking the train from Cordoba to Madrid. From what I have read in the RS guide book and on this forum, an overnight stay in Toledo is recommended. Unless I am mistaken, I understand, we will have to travel to Madrid, and then we'll have to transfer to another train taking us to Toledo. Is it worthwhile doing this (transporting and finding luggage storage before checking in and after checking out), or would it be better to do a day trip?
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
We will be in Spain next month and couldn't find a way to make Cordoba to Toledo with luggage work as we don't really want to have to change trains and unpack and pack just for one night. We are going to visit Toledo as an afternoon and evening trip from Madrid. We are planning to come back to Madrid by bus as buses run much later at night than the trains seem to, and also only cost €6 one way.
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1700 posts
Cheryl V, yes, you do have to take the train to Madrid, and then change to another train to Toledo.
I don't quite understand what you are asking about the luggage. So you want to spend one night in Toledo. Are you saying that you want to spend most of the second day in Toledo as well, so you don't know what to do with your luggage while you are sightseeing? Most hotels will store your luggage for you after you check out and while you are sightseeing. Just let them know around what time you will return to pick up your luggage. We have done this several times during our travels, and it's never been a problem. Also, if you arrive at your hotel in Toledo before check-in, they will store you luggage for you. Our hotel in Toledo did that for us because we arrived in the morning. Other hotels have done that for us as well. I hope I answered your question.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7804 posts
Hi Cheryl, if it’s a hassle for you with luggage, then just do a day trip from Madrid. The train for Toledo leaves from the Atocha train station. In case it’s helpful with some logistics, hotels, etc. here’s our trip report from our time in Spain:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/1st-time-to-spain-trip-report
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
Just chiming in to add that 3 full days is probably a bare minimum for Madrid itself, one of the largest cities in Europe. Toledo is lovely, but taking that time means either skipping worthy sites in Madrid or being very rushed there. (Which would mean skipping part of Madrid’s charm- its relatively relaxed pace for such a major city.)
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I agree with Scudder, if 3-4 days is all you have for Madrid, then Toledo should be a day trip at most. No changing trains, no luggage, no packing/unpacking. Yes, Toledo is nice at night, but not nice enough to give up that much time in Madrid when your total time is so limited.
Posted by
Detroit, MI
1040 posts
I will tell you what I did, which shows that what I did physically worked, which doesn't prove that what I did is the best plan but it wasn't the worst plan either. I didn't plan good and made a mistake going to the army museum in Toledo an hour before they closed, which wasn't enough time to see it properly. I spent 5 nights Madrid. I arrived in Madrid in the evening. A day and the second night in Madrid. A 2nd day in Madrid and the 3rd night in Madrid. A day trip to Toledo and the 4th night in Madrid. A 3rd day in Madrid and the 5th night in Madrid, woke up and took the bus to the airport.
A day trip to Toledo would work fine. Pick the top two or three sights you want to see and make sure you see those first. Buy your train or bus tickets in advance. OR you could spend 3 nights (or more) in Madrid, check out of your hotel, take the train to Toledo early, spend the night in Toledo and then take the trains and/or buses to the airport in Madrid in time for your flight to Lisbon.
Posted by
Sammamish
57 posts
For efficiency you could go from Cordoba to Toledo and spend the night. You would go Cordoba to Atocha train station, catch the train to Toledo and go to your hotel. You take the train back the next day Toledo to Madrid and start your Madrid stay. This way you are unpacking for one night in Toledo. We went Madrid to Toledo for a two night stay, then Toledo to Cordoba (with the train change at Atocha) and it was easy. Toledo is lovely to explore during the day and even more so at night.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
34 posts
Thanks for the suggestions! We will continue on from Madrid to Toledo for the first night, and I've found a hotel that offers luggage storage to accommodate an early arrival. We've also added a day to our itinerary to have some extra time in Madrid.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7159 posts
In Toledo we like Hotel María Cristina. It’s about a 10 minutes walk from the Bisagra gate and escalator up to the historic center. It’s 1.3km from the train station.