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Segovia or Toledo

Hello travelers,

Could you share your experience and opinion about which city you recommend between Toledo vs. Segovia for a day trip from Madrid?

Thank you!

Posted by
11570 posts

We have taken day trips to each of them and much preferred Segovia with it’s history than
Toledo which we didn’t care for anywhere near as much as Segovia.

Posted by
4603 posts

I also preferred Segovia because I had never seen an aqueduct.

Posted by
28082 posts

I liked both cities a lot. Although the aqueduct is by no means the only worthwhile sight in Segovia, it's the one with the most visual impact. Numerically speaking, Toledo has a lot more sights, and they're scattered around a huge and atmospheric medieval district; it just doesn't have that one sight that's as big a "wow" as the aqueduct. I favor Toledo because I'm a big fan of Mudejar architecture and love wandering around medieval lanes, but I wouldn't discourage someone who really likes Roman ruins and/or engineering marvels from choosing Segovia. Note that if you don't buy your train tickets ahead of time, you could end up paying over 70 euros for round trip tickets to Segovia, whereas Toledo will always cost about 22 euros. (Those trains to Toledo can sell out, though.)

Posted by
7157 posts

Both are good choices. Toledo is my wife’s favorite town in Spain. The aqueduct in Segovia is still very impressive. To me, the main sites in Segovia are the aqueduct and Alcázar. Toledo, I feel, has more museums and historical sites to see. Which you choose depends on what you want to do while there.

Posted by
4825 posts

I love them both and spent 2 nights in each. That being said, if you only have a day trip, I might choose Segovia, simply because it seems easier for a day trip. Toledo would have felt rushed to me to try in only a few hours.

Posted by
8058 posts

You really could just flip a coin, if you have time for only one, and not miss out. Both are great, each has their own charms.

Segovia has some Roman history, a neat castle, a nice church with a town square, and pig centric cuisine. The transport options are a bit better, or at least no worries of sold out trains.

Toledo has more art (El Greco), again a spectacular church, better than Segovia, a nice town for wandering, a bit of the Spanish Civil war history, and the food, while meat centric, seems a bit more varied than Segovia. Transport is easy, just buy round trip, maybe even a day ahead.

Both offer views from a town perched on a hill, both can be touristy.

Posted by
59 posts

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your valuable insight! It’s so helpful. Happy holidays!