Toledo, Spain One Day Trip

Well, you could go by either train or bus. Not sure what else you are asking.

Thanks Nancy. Do you know of any tours for one day?

No, I don't, sorry. Some friends and I actually drove. It is very near to Madrid (about 90 minutes by car). I think most people just go there on their own.

Google Madrid Excursions. There are companies like Viator offering from Madrid tours to Toledo.

THANK YOU

Take the AVE train from Atocha Train Station to Toledo - the first and only stop on the route. 25 minutes and it leaves on time. An early train is best. You will exit the train station in Toledo, and can take a taxi or step outside the train station parking lot and take a local city bus to Plaza Zodocover - The center of town. From there you can walk to the Cathederal - get the admission ticket and a handheld audio guide. 2 hours for this. Then back to Plaza Zodocover and through the keystone arch (easily seen), down the steps past the Cervantes Staute. Turn left..there is a great sidewalk cafe directly ahead of you on the street. (1 hour) Adjacent to the cafe is the Museum de Santa Crus - Excellent (1 1/2 hour)..El Greco Paintins and other interesting artifacts. From there, walk up the hill to the Alcazar on the top of the hill. The military Museum is in the 'basement'--actually built under and incorporating the alzazar. Fantastic exhibition of the original old city walls. If you have time, then walk, or perhaps taxi, to the House of El Greco, Jewish Synagogue, El Blanca, all adjacent to each other. Great Pizza shop on the side street beside the House of El Greco (not his actual house). Then taxi back to the train station and 25 minutes later you are back in Madrid. I think there is a late train around 7 or 8 maybe. Check the AVE site for the schedules. There is a tourist office near the Zodocover Plaza as well. Don't waist your time on the sightseeing train.

Check Expedia/things to do.

Thank you HJ, great detail, thanks

The train is easy, fast, and comfortable. As HJ says, you can bus or taxi to Plaza Zocodovar, then walk around from there. Toledo is beautiful and full of things to see. We spent two nights ther with a full day between. Went running lalong the river both mornings, and saw people out fishing, walking their dogs, just enjoying the place. The town itself is very hilly with many narrow streets and alleyways. A great place to get lost and discover things, as it is small and you cannot really get lost. Lots of history there. Our guide to Spain aw Michner's Iberia, which is not a novel but a love note to his favorite place. We read each relevant chapter before visiting each city, and felt inspired to go discover the places he talked about.

Toledo is SO much more enjoyable in the evening and night. It turns from a crowded, tourist-infected city by day to a quick and "local" old town at night with neat bars, restaurants and tapas bats. Narrow streets give a totally different experience.
I would recommend spending at least one night in Toledo. We stayed at the Hotel Sol at the south gate of the old city. It was a Rick Steves recommendation with just a single $ recommendation. IT was a pure delight. Very clean and comfortable. Excellent wi-fi (free with Rick's book) and great location. Jose was a great host. Book on line and we got a 49 Euro rate. Only downside, rooms are one floor up with no elevator and the breakfast is optional and very limited and not particularly good.

We thought Toledo was over rated. However, we went in the morning via train from Madrid. After lunch, we had enough and went back. We found the town very confusing, lots of the same thing over and over again and not very appealing. Very dissappointing. If you only have one day, go to El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen instead. That was much better than Toledo.

Read the two posts from Randy and Charles above to see why people recommend spending the night in Toledo rather than just visiting for the day from Madrid.

We were driving. For a day trip, however, I'd go with the train to spend the least time in transit and give you more time to see Toledo.