Toledo Cathedral

Hey Mike,

Ticket office is across the street from the main entrance. Prices start at about 11 € for the basic tour with audio-guide (they require you to leave a photo ID for this).

https://www.inspain.org/en/toledo/toledo/the-cathedral-of-toledo/

http://www.catedralprimada.es/en/info/museos/venta-de-entradas/

The rail fare from Madrid to Toledo does not vary depending on how early you buy your tickets. However, trains sometimes sell out. Rick specifically warns about sell-outs on the late trains back to Madrid. In a pinch you can take a bus, but that is slower, and you end up at a bus station that is probably less convenient to your hotel than Atocha. Speaking of Atocha: It's a very large place, and many folks find it confusing. Ticket lines can be slow, though I think there's a separate area for short trips that's not so bad. I'd plan to use the vending machines, and I'd allow extra time to find my platform, just in case. I recommend buying the return-trip ticket at the same time as the outbound ticket.

Toledo has many lovely buildings to explore, at least two significant museums, and more than a day's worth of medieval streets to wander. It sounds as if you don't have a guidebook, and you need to remedy that.

Unless you want to spend a significant amount of time waiting in line, I suggest you buy "skip the line" tickets trough a consolidator like Trip Advisor or Viator.

We were just there a fee days ago. We arrived at around 9:55 and there was a short line and got tickets when the office opened. It was nice to go early as the cathedral was very quiet.

We looked at the Viator tour and it skips the line for 18Euro and the Toledo green pass is 34Euro and gets you into 8 different sites. I'm not sure if the green pass is worth it, has anybody done that?

Hello Mike,
I was there in October and even though they were having trouble with the computer it was still about 10 minutes to get tickets.
The only surprise was the 50 euro deposit they wanted for the audio guides (!). I guess because they are use smart tablets/phones of the guides, but it's the only place that did that.

As to the green pass are those sites that would be on your list? They seem to all be religious sites but it doesn't include the el Greco or Military museums or the Sinagoga del Tránsito which are the sites people usually talk about. There is a freedom in being able to wander into someplace and just visit for as long as you feel is interesting but it comes down to want is on your list. Outside of the Cathedral Toledo is a bunch of relatively small attractions - what interests you? For instance here is a tapestry museum across town housed in a renovated ancient school that is included in your cathedral ticket (hang into it) if you are interested in that.

Personally I think places like Toledo are great just wander around in and explore rather than go on whirlwind sightseeing tour but it comes down to personal taste. Are there things you will regret not seeing? Then make a firm plan to see those and stick to it.

We wandered, saw a couple of sites, wandered around some and got lost a couple of times and a great time. Note that in Toledo GPS doesn't work that well because of the lack clear sky so even using a map app walking to a restaurant you have an address for can be an adventure in circling around it.

=Tod

Thanks everybody for your input. After your advice I think we will just go early and buy them the day of. We can also go late afternoon when the Madrid trains head home. I hate line-ups but like being flexible.